Great Outfits in Fashion History, All Stars Edition: Meghan Markle

There are perfectly good celebrity style moments, and then there are the looks that really stick with you, the ones you try desperately to recreate at home. In ‘Great Outfits in Fashion History: All-Star Edition‘ Fashionista editors are revisiting their all-time favorite lewks from the stylish stars who make regular appearances on best-dressed lists.

We’ve followed Meghan Markle’s style in our column, “Meghan Markle Wore a Thing” since her engagement to Prince Harry in 2018 — and the Meghan Markle Effect™ has yet to waiver, six years later.

While Harry and Megan have stepped back from their royal duties, the Duke and Duchess of Sussex are still modernizing the Royal Family from afar. And Markle has a proven power of bringing under-the-radar brands to stardom with a single look.

Since their move to Montecito, Calif., she’s leveled up her style game: Instead of the neutrals and straight-lined outfits of her time in London, she now favors color and freeform cuts — and that sartorial approach was on full display during her and the Duke’s recent tour of Nigeria. (To one event, the Duchess wore a backless Heidi Merrick dress with simple glam and loosely braided hair, allowing her Cali girl roots to shine at the event.)

The couple now focuses on humanitarian work, as well as a variety of business ventures (including Markle’s soon-to-launch American Riviera Orchard). In this chapter, the Duchess’ looks are reminiscent of her business-professional days on “Suits,” but with a confident edge that one can only develop by stepping fully into the spotlight.

Browse our favorite looks below, then shop our roundup of Markle-inspired picks.

Meghan Markle wearing Marchesa to the Elle Women in Television Celebration in 2013.

Meghan Markle attending the American Ballet Theatre Opening Night Gala in 2013.

Meghan Markle wearing a Line the Label coat and P.A.R.O.S.H. dress for the announcement of her engagement to Prince Harry in 2017.

Meghan Markle wearing her custom wedding gown by Clare Waight Keller for Givenchy at her 2018 wedding to Prince Harry.

Meghan Markle wearing Goat to the then-Prince of Wales’ 70th Birthday Patronage in 2018.

Meghan Markle wearing custom Givenchy to her first royal engagement with Queen Elizabeth in 2018.

Meghan Markle wearing Brandon Maxwell to a Commonwealth Secretariat reception in 2018.

Meghan Markle wearing custom Dior for the RAF100 service in 2018.

Meghan Markle wearing Ralph Lauren to Wimbledon in 2018.

Meghan Markle wearing Givenchy to the Royal Academy of Arts in 2018.

Meghan Markle wearing Boss on a trip to Sussex in 2018.

Meghan Markle wearing Safiyaa to a Fiji state dinner in 2018.

Meghan Markle wearing custom Theia during a trip to Tonga in 2018.

Meghan Markle wearing Oscar de la Renta to the Australia Geographic Society Awards in 2018.

Meghan Markle wearing Gabriela Hearst during a 2018 visit to New Zealand.

Meghan Markle wearing Safiyaa to the annual Royal Variety Performance in 2018.

Meghan Markle in Givenchy at the 2018 British Fashion Awards.

Meghan Markle wearing a Soia & Kyo coat to the Royal Variety Charity’s Brinsworth House in Twickenham in 2018.

Meghan Markle wearing an Amanda Wakely coat and Paul Andrew heels to the 50th anniversary of the investiture of the Prince of Wales at Buckingham Palace in 2019.

Meghan Markle wearing Aritzia at the 2019 One Young World Summit Opening Ceremony in London.

Meghan Markle wearing Scanlan Theodore Cravat at a meeting with Association of Commonwealth Universities scholarship recipients in 2020.

Meghan Markle wearing Massimo Dutti at Canada House in 2020.

Meghan Markle wearing Victoria Beckham at the 2020 Endeavor Fund Awards in London.

Meghan Markle wearing Emilia Wickstead at a Commonwealth Day celebration in 2020.

Meghan Markle wearing Carolina Herrera at Global Citizen’s VAX LIVE: The Concert to Reunite the World in 2021.

Meghan Markle wearing Loro Piana during a 2021 visit to NYC.

Meghan Markle wearing Carolina Herrera at the Salute To Freedom Gala in 2021.

Meghan Markle wearing Khaite to the Invictus Games in 2022.

Meghan Markle wearing Valentino at the 2022 Invictus Games in the Netherlands.

Meghan Markle wearing Another Tomorrow at the One Young World Summit in 2022.

Meghan Markle wearing Bleusalt during the One Year To Go Event in 2022 prior to the 2023 Invictus Games in Düsseldorf, Germany.

Meghan Markle wearing custom Louis Vuitton to the Robert F. Kennedy Human Rights Ripple of Hope Award Gala in 2022.

Meghan Markle wearing Johanna Ortiz to the Ms. Foundation Women of Vision Awards in 2023. Markle took home the “Women of Vision” award.

Meghan Markle wearing a J. Crew cardigan with Staud shorts and Chanel flats at the 2023 Invictus Games.

Meghan Markle wearing Cult Gaia at the 2023 Invictus Games closing ceremony.

Meghan Markle wearing Altuzarra at the Archewell Foundation Parents’ Summit in 2023.

Meghan Markle wearing pants and a blazer by Valentino to a talk during The After LA Tastemaker.

Meghan Markle wearing Proenza Schouler at the 2023 Variety Power of Women red carpet.

Meghan Markle wearing Carolina Herrera at the 2024 premiere of “Bob Marley: One Love.”

Meghan Markle wearing Heidi Merrick on a visit to Lightway Academy in Abuja, Nigeria in 2024.

Meghan Markle wearing Orire to a talk at a Women in Leadership event in Abuja, Nigeria in 2024.

Meghan Markle wearing Johanna Ortiz at a 2024 volleyball match in Abuja, Nigeria.

Meghan Markle wearing St. Agni on a visit to the Nigeria Unconquered charity in 2024.

Meghan Markle wearing Carolina Herrera on a visit 2024 to Lagos, Nigeria.

Shop our Dutchess-inspired picks below: