Meghan Markle has long been considered a style icon, even during her run on the hit TV show Suits. Her recent inclusion into the Royal family, however, has catapulted her style icon status even further.
The Duchess of Sussex has been known for erring on simplicity, a trademark that continues to this day. That being said, her style has gone through a few different looks before settling on the preppy sophistication that we know today.
The small-screen era
Markle’s earlier red carpet looks featured mostly skin-tight dresses and simple accessories. Her love affair with color also started early on, sporting dresses in magenta, taupe, and sparkling white hues. The former actress would forego flashy accessories, choosing instead to match her dress with her pumps and let her wavy locks work as one of her main assets.
Her look at Sports Illustrated’s 3rd Annual NFL Characters Unite event in 2014 exemplified her fashion icon status. Meghan paired her nude pumps with a sleek bodycon dress; the dress’s feathered pattern looked like rich embroidery.
Meghan Markle, style correspondent
While most people know her for her role as Rachel Zane, Markle also featured as a style correspondent for the Today Show. She would come on set to discuss the upcoming season’s trends – often wearing some of the best herself. The self-professed California girl emphasized the importance of tailoring garments and finding cuts that flatter your body instead of going for flashy trends.
It was at this time that Markle began blogging on The Tig, her lifestyle blog that has since been shut down. Her fashion posts would feature up-and-coming designers while highlighting the importance of sustainable living and slow shopping.
Gorgeous, Royal rule-breaker
Markle’s style hasn’t changed all that much ever since becoming royalty. In fact, Markle has garnered a reputation for being a bit of a rebel; the dress that Markle sported in 2016 recalled the late Diana’s sheer Laura Ashley skirt, proving that Markle comes in a long line of Royal women breaking away from more conservative dress codes.
What’s considered to be a Royal fashion faux pas is, however, just a fashionable look to everyone else. It all started with Markle’s signature messy bun, which she has worn on numerous occasions on outings with Prince Harry. The look, although sophisticated, drew ire from those who expected a Royal-to-be to look more ‘polished’. Markle continuously proves, however, that confidence is the secret to always looking glamorous… even when taking fashion risks. Markle wore a demure off-shoulder gown during the Royal wedding held at St. George’s Chapel in Windsor Castle, which some saw, again, as a tad too unbecoming of a duchess. And now that Markle and Prince Harry have had a child, the pressure will be on her to dress like a ‘Royal mother’ as opposed to a risky trendsetter. Not that these criticisms seem to get to Markle; she showed up to her wedding reception in a sparkling white halter gown, letting her toned arms show through.
These supposed fashion mistakes have made Markle a style icon on a global level, with her simple and no-nonsense approach to fashion mirroring that of her sister-in-law, Kate Middleton’s. From the off-shoulder, pale pink dress she wore to her Trooping the Colour debut to the many J. Crew staples she has on rotation, Meghan Markle proves that effortless style comes through the wearer, and not the clothes.
Content written by Jenni VB for blog.lauraashleyusa.com
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