21 Times Meghan Markle Proved She Has Royal Style Mastered Already
It's no secret that the world has been obsessed with Meghan Markle from the moment it was revealed that she and Prince Harry were an item. After all, it's been awhile since Prince William and Kate Middleton first started seeing one another - the public was ready for another Royal romance! And, unlike Kate and William, who took several years to take the plunge and decide to walk down the aisle, Meghan and Harry have had a bit of a whirlwind romance.
Kate Middleton has long been known for her style, but Meghan Markle just may surpass her, given the way things have been going.
Middleton's style is classic Royal. Markle's style, on the other hand, is Royal with a bit of a twist. She follows Royal protocol when it comes to her wardrobe, trading in her former actress gear for more conservative fare, but she often picks pieces that have a bit more of an edge - and she's been absolutely slaying it.
From amazing coats to killer separates, Meghan Markle has been showing us that she has Royal style mastered already - and we can't wait to see what kind of wedding gown she picks! These 21 looks are just some of her best.
21 A Stunning Navy Coat, Straight Out Of Kate's Playbook
Everyone knows Kate Middleton is basically the Royal queen of coats - she always manages to find stunning outerwear for every occasion. However, Markle just may be taking her crown. Like Kate, she's been forced to amp up her outerwear wardrobe for attending events in chillier weather where the photographers will capture your entire outfit, not just what's underneath the coat. For an event in Birmingham, she went with a relatively affordable brand, J.Crew, and donned a two-tone wool blend coat. Unlike Kate, who almost always has a dress and nylons underneath her coats, you can see Meghan's simple skinny black pants and heels - a chic look that goes flawlessly with her coat and proves that she's definitely marching to the beat of her own drum when it comes to her Royal sense of style.
20 A Much More Casual Royal Look
We can count on one hand the number of times we've seen Kate Middleton wearing pants. Every now and then, particularly for more athletic events, she'll don them, but she almost always wears skirts and dresses, often in the same silhouettes.
However, Meghan Markle isn't confining herself to those rules - she rocks pants quite often, and as you can see in this look, does so in a way that's super chic.
For this event, she paired black slim-legged trousers with a cozy, white oversized turtleneck and some simple pointed-toe stiletto heels. The black and white color palette adds a timeless quality to the outfit, but the fit of the sweater proves that Meghan is definitely adding her own twist to Royal style and trying to make the Royal wardrobe a little less stuffy.
19 The Invictus Games Look That Launched It All
Meghan Markle attended the Invictus Games before her and Harry's engagement was announced, so she didn't quite have the same set of Royal style rules placed upon her. However, she likely knew that the world would be watching and analyzing whatever she wore, which is why we find her outfit particularly fascinating. It's a fairly basic look - jeans, a white shirt, some flats and a tote bag, something many women have worn to many events that weren't really a big deal. However, in execution, it's flawless. The white shirt is a crisp "husband" shirt from designer Misha Nonoo, and the fit makes the look effortless, while the shirt's name is a bit playful. Her ripped jeans add a definite casual vibe to the outfit, and the warm brown leather accessories really pull everything together.
18 Looking Stunning At The Royal Foundation Forum
Meghan Markle has attended quite a few events by Prince Harry's side at this point, but the Royal Foundation Forum was definitely one of the more major ones - particularly since Prince William and Kate Middleton were there as well.
The Forum wasn't just a photo opportunity where the Royals turned up to show their support - it required thoughtfulness, and for Markle to share her opinions, which she did perfectly.
For the occasion, Kate chose something that seems classically her - a perfectly tailored look in a pastel shade. Meghan went a different route, rocking a satin wrap dress from designer Jason Wu that has a bit of an edgier look - and she looks amazing! While Kate is known for her tailored pieces, Meghan is quickly becoming known for pieces that have an air of effortlessness about them.
17 A Vision In Neutrals At Sandringham
We can only imagine that it must be intimidating to choose your outfit for occasions where you'll be joined by your future sister-in-law Kate Middleton. After all, for years and years, Middleton was definitely the Royal best known for her style. However, Meghan proves that she's definitely stepping up to the occasion - and doing so on her own terms. For Christmas at Sandringham, Kate has gone a bit vintage with a furry black cap and tartan coat with a sweet black collar. It's a lovely outfit, but it's something we could imagine on a much younger Royal as well. Meghan, on the other hand, has gone effortless and elegant with a wrap coat by Sentaler and custom Philip Treacy fascinator, all in neutral shades of beige and caramel brown.
16 Rocking Burberry Tartan In Scotland
When it comes to her outwear, Meghan Markle definitely isn't afraid to take risks - and she's not going to be boxed in by a certain silhouette or shade. She's rocked several wrap coats during her various appearances that are belted to accentuate her waist, and she's also worn several coats like this one that have a more androgynous fit.
The Burberry wool and cashmere blend coat with a forest green tartan print is definitely an appropriate choice for a visit to Scotland, and the cross-body bag is a huge style statement given that Royals almost always carry a clutch, if anything.
Plus, you get a glimpse of her pants underneath, and the wide-legged proportions definitely make a style statement that many Royal outfits don't. It just proves that she's marching to the beat of her own drum!
15 A Dress For Her Engagement Photos That We'll Never Forget
When you're a Royal, every occasion is a major occasion. After all, if the public catches a glimpse of you in a particular dress or coat, even if it's just for a minor event, there's a huge chance that piece will sell out online within minutes - everyone wants a taste of Royal style! However, something like engagement photos is a whole new ball game - it's something that the public will likely remember for decades to come. After all, everyone still has vivid memories of the blue wrap dress Kate Middleton wore to match her sapphire engagement ring. Markle went full couture for her engagement photos, selecting a custom Ralph & Russo gown that allegedly cost around $65,000, and she secured her effortless style by pairing it with a Victoria Beckham sweater. The whole look is just amazing.
14 Slaying It On Date Night
When they're traveling, the Royal women often try to show their support for the nation they're in by selecting a piece or two from a designer from that country. In Scotland, they'll don something from a Scottish designer; when they're in Canada, a market Meghan Markle knows well from her years on Suits, they'll wear something from a Canadian designer, etc.
For events in the Royal family's native Britain, they'll often don clothing from British designers, and Kate Middleton has shown an affinity for Alexander McQueen in particular.
It seems Markle is following in her footsteps, but rather than rocking a dress, she opted for a pantsuit that we're totally obsessed with. We love that Meghan isn't afraid to trade in typically feminine, Royal dresses for more menswear-inspired looks.
13 Slouchy Boots And A Midi Skirt For A Modern Look
When you're a Royal, you have to say goodbye to thigh-grazing dresses or skirts that show off miles and miles of leg. Markle likely got accustomed to wearing all sorts of outfits for the red carpet, but for her Royal life, she's had to tone things down a little bit. However, she's not about to let herself get boxed into any one silhouette. Kate Middleton has found a look that works for her, and you'll almost always see her in dresses and skirts that hit right at the knee, generally in a bit of a loose, A-Line fit. Meghan, on the other hand, is far more willing to experiment. For this appearance, she paired a black turtleneck sweater with a flared Joseph midi skirt and some slouchy boots. The boots themselves are a huge statement - we can't remember the last time we saw Kate in something other than perfectly polished pumps.
12 A Menswear-Inspired Coat That's A More Modern Take On Royal Style
There's one thing about Meghan Markle that can't be ignored when it comes to her style - her physique. You see, Meghan has the kind of body that looks good in just about anything, so she's often able to take major style risks without fearing that they'll be unflattering. This coat is the perfect example. On some women, the slightly menswear-inspired fit may make them look boxy, despite the belt in the middle to cinch it all in.
On Meghan, however, the black Stella McCartney coat is flawless.
Kate has become known for her impeccably tailored outwear, so we kind of love that Meghan often takes a more relaxed approach to her outwear. Plus, we love that she's paired them with pointy-toed boots - an all-black look is always impossibly chic.
11 Looking Sporty And Adorable At An Invictus Games Outing In Bath
This shot is from a recent outing where Prince Harry and Meghan went to Bath to see the UK team trials for the Invictus Games (we have to admit, we're already excited to see what kind of outfits Meghan Markle serves up for her second Invictus Games appearance). They were wandering around the pitch outdoors, so Meghan went with a more casual look of athletic pants, a polo and an olive-colored coat in what looks like a soft, almost canvas material. It just proves that she's equally comfortable wearing a more casual outfit for a casual outing and wearing a glitzy gown for a red carpet event or gala. That's one of the things we love most about her style - you never really know what you're going to get, and she always keeps you guessing.
10 Proof She Can Even Serve Up Major Style At A Church Service
While Meghan Markle is no stranger to style risks, there are a few places where you really do need to keep things fairly conservative - and church is definitely one of them. For a Commonwealth Day church service, Meghan kept her look classic by wearing a classic navy sheath dress and navy pointed-toe pumps, pairing it with a navy clutch - something we could totally see Kate Middleton wearing.
However, she's added a punch of interest by topping it with a stunning Amanda Wakeley cream coat with interesting details, and a sassy beret.
It's a more prim and polished outfit than she typically tends to wear, but the detailing on the coat proves that even when she's playing it safe, she's not afraid to pick pieces that have some visual interest to them.
9 A Gorgeous Pencil Skirt And Unstructured Jacket Combo
While there's definitely something to be said for tailoring, one of the things we've learned from Meghan Markle's style is that you don't necessarily need to have every single piece tailored. Sometimes, it's okay to add a piece or two that has more of an effortless fit to add some of that quality to your overall look. This outfit is the perfect example. Her pointy-toed pumps and green pencil skirt are all business - fitted, polished, flawless. Rather than wearing a structured top and coat with it, though, she's rocking a soft cream sweater and a flowing, unstructured jacket. Plus, the hair - while Kate is known for her flowing locks, we have a feeling Meghan just may become known for the messy bun she's rocked to so many events. It's effortless and utterly chic.
8 The Infamous White Engagement Announcement Coat
Unlike Kate and William, who made their announcement indoors, Prince Harry and Meghan Markle decided to share their news with the world in the scenic outdoors - which meant that Meghan had to wear a coat for her engagement announcement outfit. And she definitely picked a good one.
Now, Royal style fans will remember that she caused quite a stir with this outfit because she broke one major Royal fashion rule by not wearing pantyhose with the outfit.
However, it's tough to argue with the overall look - the strappy nude heels make her legs look amazing, the deep green dress underneath is a stunning shade, and the crisp white coat is just flawless. Of course, it doesn't hurt that she also looks insanely happy to be standing by her man's side.
7 Totally Fierce At A Gala Event Back in 2013
We're throwing it back a little with this one to Meghan Markle's pre-Royal days, but come on - can't you totally see her rocking an outfit like this to an edgier, artsier Royal outing? She wore this black cut-out dress to the Novak Djokovic Foundation New York Gala back in 2013, and she looks absolutely amazing in it. When it comes to dresses, we've primarily seen Meghan in pieces that are a solid color, so we can't wait to see her explore options with fantastic prints and great details like the cut-outs on this dress. Who knows, perhaps she still has this one stashed in her closet somewhere and can bring it out - if Kate can repeat outfits from time to time, why wouldn't Meghan be able to, especially when it's a dress that looks this amazing on her?
6 Proof That An All Black Outfit Is Always Super Chic
Every woman knows that, when in doubt, an all-black outfit is always a chic option. You can play with different pieces and silhouettes, but the sheer fact that all the pieces are the same color adds a bit of cohesiveness to the outfit. For a trip to Edinburgh, Markle once again passed up the typical Royal dress in favor of separates - and she looks amazing.
The wide-legged trousers have some retro, almost military details, thanks to the high-waisted rise and the buttons.
And then the turtleneck neckline and slightly looser fit through the waist adds the perfect proportions to the look. The overall vibe is effortless and elegant, which is pretty much Meghan's trademark at this point - I mean, you literally can't find fault with this outfit, she looks totally amazing.
5 A White Jumpsuit We Kind Of Hope She Brings Back Out Of Her Closet
This is another look from her pre-Royal days, this one from a press day event at NBC back in 2015. And, we have to admit - it kind of makes us wish that Meghan would decide to bring the jumpsuit back to Buckingham Palace - can you imagine the fierce option she could find? The overall look is absolutely stunning and really relaxed, and the crisp white color adds a huge impact to the look. In order for her to wear it as a Royal, she'd probably have to get the top lined to avoid any peek of her bra, as this version shows, but we don't see why she couldn't wear something like this to a Royal event - after all, she's become known for wearing pants, why not mix it up with a jumpsuit?
4 Not Afraid To Mix Up The Silhouettes For Her Outerwear
Okay, this look is definitely peak Meghan Markle. Let's just compare her to her future sister-in-law again for a second. Kate Middleton is almost always seen with her hair loose, with a tailored coat, and rarely wears cold-weather accessories such as scarves. Meghan, on the other hand, is all about effortless chic.
She's paired a Smythe camel midi coat with a messy bun and scarf for a look that we're totally into.
Meghan is showing time and time again that she's finding a way to mix her street style and her years of style as an actress with the Royal rules, and the result is a totally unique style that we haven't seen in the Royal family yet - and we love it. We can't wait to see what she has up her sleeve next!
3 A Stunning Gown That Proves She Can Definitely Ace The Gala Circuit
While she's attended several events with Prince Harry so far, we haven't really seen Meghan Markle wearing evening gowns for any of those occasions yet - and we know from her years walking the red carpet as an actress that she can definitely pull off some majorly chic evening looks. This look, in particular, wasn't one she wore to an entertainment industry event, but rather one she wore to the 2014 Elton John AIDS Foundation's 13th Annual An Enduring Vision Benefit. The silhouette showcases her physique perfectly, the color is flawless against her skin, and the neckline has a bit of an interesting detail that catches your eye - all in all, a flawless look. We can't wait to see what kind of gowns she rocks for Royal events with a more formal dress code.
2 A Classic Navy Coat - Look Out, Kate!
Okay, we have to admit, we're getting major Kate Middleton vibes from this look - from the waist up, at least. You can see a glimpse of her boots and midi-length skirt, two things that Kate very rarely wears, but the loose curls and tailored navy coat are definitely Kate-approved.
We have to wonder if she ever feels like she's giving a style nod to her future sister-in-law when she rocks these kinds of outfits, or if it's just a happy coincidence.
Either way, she looks absolutely amazing - and we can't wait to see those two ladies battle it out to see who has the best outerwear in the future. Kate may finally have to give up her title! Although perhaps they can just decide to share the crown.
1 An Edgy Look For Fashion Week That We Hope She Replicates
Okay, Meghan Markle likely couldn't wear something quite like this look she wore to the Misha Nonoo fashion show at Mercedes-Benz Fashion Week back in 2015 to a Royal event. We're not sure exactly what the Royal style rules are, but we have a feeling that bare midriffs are definitely off limits. After all, can you imagine Kate Middleton being spotted in a crop top? However, we absolutely love the proportions and unique details in this outfit. Given that Meghan has shown a penchant for separates over the past few months, perhaps we'll see her rocking more skirt-based looks - and we totally can't wait. She looks absolutely amazing in anything, but it's always fun to see her in outfits that have a bit of an edge to them - she can pull off just about anything!
References: usmagazine.com, cheatsheet.com, elle.com, radaronline.com, vanityfair.com, hellomagazine.com, people.com, harpersbazaar.com.sg