Every fashion girl knows that rules are meant to be broken, and that's one of the many reasons we love Meghan Markle [1]. On top of doing her wedding her way [2], the Duchess of Sussex has also chosen to ignore some of the royal style rules [3] more often than not, opting for risky necklines [4] and frowned-upon colours [5] — and we've been loving every minute of it.
Thanks to her impeccable outfits [6], Meghan always manages to stand out among the crowd, and the fact that she has broken protocol [7] so many times only makes her more relatable. Read on to see all the times she won our hearts with her rule-breaking outfits.
All Black Everything
Meghan Markle [8] loves a good black outfit [9] (honestly, who could blame her?), and being a member of the royal family hasn't stopped her from wearing the (non)colour [10]. While the queen and the rest of the family usually reserve this colour palette for more sombre events [11], the Duchess of Sussex hasn't been afraid to stand her ground when it comes to this rule.
During a visit in Edinburgh, Meghan wore a jet-black outfit under a beautiful tartan Burberry coat [12].
In January 2018, Meghan ditched royal protocol by wearing a jet-black outfit [13], which she accessorised with a green DeMellier handbag.
Meghan showed off a head-to-toe black outfit when she visited an underground music station in London [14]. For the occasion, she wore a black Marks & Spencer sweater, black Burberry high-waisted flares, and Sarah Flint shoes.
Revealing Necklines
Duchess or not, Meghan's not been afraid of pushing the boundaries when it comes to her royal style. More often than not, she's opted for outfits that we've never seen on the likes of the Duchess of Cambridge, and that includes more revealing necklines. While female members of the royal family are generally advised to keep their shoulders covered, it's yet another unspoken rule that Meghan has chosen to ignore — and we're so glad she has!
In April 2018, she wore a stunning off-the-shoulder Theory jacket [15] that immediately brightened up the room.
On the day before her wedding, Meghan stepped out in a dreamy off-the-shoulder Roland Mouret dress [16], which she wore with grey suede Manolo Blahnik pumps.
For her first Trooping the Colour, Meghan stunned in a pink off-the-shoulder dress by Carolina Herrera [17], which she accessorised with a matching Philip Treacy hat and a clutch.
Of course, everyone will remember that Meghan's Givenchy wedding gown [18] also featured an off-the-shoulder neckline. However, seeing as the Queen had to approve her dress [19] before she walked down the aisle, we have a feeling this specific fashion rule might be a thing of the past.
Bag Preferences
When it comes to handbags, Meghan doesn't take the same approach as Kate Middleton. According to Myka Meier, founder of Beaumont Etiquette, the Duchess of Cambridge carries clutches so she can "hold her bag in front of her in both hands when shaking hands might be awkward." However, the Duchess of Sussex seems to prefer the practicality of a tote or crossbody bag.
When she attended the Christmas Day church service in Sandringham alongside the rest of the royal family, Meghan opted for the eye-catching Chloé Pixie shoulder bag [20].
In February 2018, when Meghan and Harry made their first joint official visit to Scotland, she wore a Strathberry crossbody bag [21] over her beautiful Burberry coat.
When she stepped out for the Commonwealth Youth Forum, Meghan took our breath away in a stunning Altuzarra midi dress [22], which she paired with a Camilla and Marc blazer, Tamara Mellon heels, and an Oroton crossbody bag.
The Curious Case of Tights
When the Duke and Duchess of Sussex announced their engagement, Meghan's stunning outfit [23] made headlines because of one specific item — or lack thereof [24]. Fans were quick to point out that she had stepped out without stockings, despite the fact that the accessory is thought to be required by the queen.
Of course, the Duchess of Cambridge is known to sport flesh-toned tights while making public appearances, and it seems as though Meghan has now embraced them too. She was first spotted wearing stockings in March 2018, when she attended the Commonwealth Day Service [25], and she most recently wore a pair when she stepped out for her first royal engagement as the Duchess of Sussex [26].
While on a visit to Belfast, the duchess wore a gorgeous Mackage coat [27], a Victoria Beckham [28] jumper, a Greta Constantine skirt, and Jimmy Choo pumps. She accessorised her outfit with a Charlotte Elizabeth Bloomsbury bag and didn't wear any tights.
When the Duke and Duchess of Sussex arrived at a special reception in honour of the 2018 Invictus Games, Meghan was wearing a Self-Portrait dress [29] . . . without tights.