Every move Meghan Markle, the Duchess of Sussex, has made since there was a mere whiff she and Prince Harry were involved has been hotly debated. She’s been scrutinized, analysed and tracked to the point that she now has her own verb (see: the Meghan-effect, so called for her marketing power and ability to make an item instantly sell out). Now pregnant with the couple’s first child, the newly initiated member of The Firm has a new challenge to deal with: dressing a bump.
Meghan may have forsaken her civilian status when she married into the royal family, but she has yet to give up her personal style. Navigating royal tours in Veja trainers and wearing custom Givenchy couture gowns has become her calling card. The question is, will she continue wearing navy and leather pencil skirts as the third-trimester dawns, or will she follow her sister-in-law’s lead and pick tailored coatdresses and maternity labels to see her through to Spring 2019 and her first child’s birth?
Maternity wear is a funny thing, it’s either determined to make the mother look like she’s not pregnant or highlight above all else that this woman is going to birth a child any day now. While those smocks aren’t fooling anyone the latter option comes with the risk of reducing the wearer to a mere womb with legs. Stretchy jeans and embracing the oversized trend can help the modern mother navigate this (sartorially-speaking) treacherous time.
‘Quite honestly, we don’t think her style will change!’ Amanda and Christine of Meghan’s Mirror - the cult blog that reports on every outfit the royal wear - confided in Grazia, ‘If the royal tour is any indication, she’s not going to change her style at all, rather embrace the changes happening to her figure’. They had one caveat: ‘What we might see are some footwear choices that may need to be amended for longer engagements with lots of walking (if those happen) as her signature sky-high heels might cause some discomfort as the pregnancy progresses’.
There are two people in Meghan’s life who will likely inform her next fashion steps. ‘We think Meghan will turn to her friend and stylist Jessica Mulroney, who has herself had two pregnancies,’ says Meghan’s Mirror. Mulroney flew out to Australia with the couple as part of their entourage for their first royal tour, which set off on the day the couple announced their pregnancy. So, yes this could be the case.
See: Meghan Markle's Maternity Wardrobe
Meghan Markle Australia Tour Outfits - Grazia
1 of 31Day 1
For the first stop on the royal itinerary, Meghan chose a cream shift dress by Australian designer Karen Gee, paired with Princess Diana's butterfly earrings.
2 of 31Day 1
For an afternoon reception, the Duchess changed into a khaki shirt dress by US designer Brandon Maxwell, thought to be priced at £1,728.
3 of 31Day 2
For a Wednesday visit to the rural city of Dubbo, Meghan wore the 'Serena' Boss oversized blazer, designed by her friend Serena Williams (which costs $203, or £109) with a pair of black high-rise jeans by Australian brand The Outland, which cost $199, a Maison Kitsune button-down collar shirt for $75 and ankle boots by J.Crew, which cost $318.
4 of 31Day 3
For the third day of the tour on October 18 Harry and Meghan visited Melbourne, the Duchess wore the 'Folded Sail' Navy Dress by Dion Lee and Manolo Blahnik BB Pumps in Navy.
5 of 31Day 4
For her first outfit of day four, Meghan more a £1,080 Martin Grant Maxi Dress which is no longer available to buy, and a pair of Castaner Wedges which she kicked off to walk in the sand on Bondi Beach
6 of 31Day 4
For her second outfit of day four, the Duchess wore the 'Athena' Midi Dress by Roksanda, and a pair of Stuart Weitzman 'Legend' Pumps to visit Macarthur Girls School
7 of 31Day 5
For the opening of the enhanced Anzac Memorial Meghan wore a black Emilia Wickstead dress and a pillbox style hat by Philip Treacy.
8 of 31Day 5
In the afternoon of Day 5 Meghan changed into a white Altuzarra 'Acacia' blazer and black skinny jeans by LA label, Mother. She finished the look with Illesteva sunglasses and Tabitha Simmons 'Millie' heels.
9 of 31Day 6
For a lunchtime reception hosted by Australian Prime Minister Scott Morrison Meghan wore a pinstriped white blazer by Californian brand L'Agence. She also wore her favourite Aquazzura Deneuve Bow Pumps and striped cross-body Orton bag.
10 of 31Day 6
Meghan and Prince Harry take in the sailing segment of the Invictus Games tournament. For this windswept occassion, Meghan wore a fashionable pair of Veja trainers, which likely marks one of the first occasions this royal has stepped out in public in sneakers. She paired the shoes with a pair of dark jeans, likely from Outland or Mother denim and an official merchandise jacket.
11 of 31Day 7
Meghan picked sustainable Los Angeles label Reformation's Pineapple dress for a walkabout visit of Fraser Island.
12 of 31Day 8
Meghan Markle left Australia wearing a white linen J Crew shirt (coming in at just £79.50), her Outland black skinny jeans, and Aquazurra DJ mules (£468).
13 of 31Day 8
The Duchess arrived in Fiji wearing white dress by Australian brand Stephen Zimmerman, with a matching white hat from Stephen Jones. She was also wearing a pair of earrings that were given to her by the Queen (and first seen when the pair visited Chester together) and a bracelet given to her by Prince Charles.
14 of 31Day 8
For her first state dinner at Fiji's Grand Hotel, the Duchess wore a caped gown by British label Safiyaa in Fijian blue, complete with earrings borrowed from the royal vaults. No tiara, though - that's because a state dinner is a black tie occasion (unlike a state banquet) and so tiaras are not required. Good to know.
15 of 31Day 9
For her second day in Fiji, the Duchess opted for a wrap dress in a floral print by Figue from Shopbop, paired with some Castaler espadrilles - and a traditional Fijian garland. She also carried a woven clutch bag, made by talented Fijian craftswomen as part of a UN initiative.
16 of 31Day 9
For Meghan and Harry's final evening in Fiji, the coupel met with the King of Tonga. The Duchess wore an ivory cap-sleeved beaded silk satin column dress by Theia with Birks earrings, Aquazzura pumps, a Givenchy clutch and an aquamarine ring that belonged to Princess Diana.
17 of 31Day 10
For a commemorative ceremony to remember a British-Fijian soldier, Sergeant Talaisasi Labalaba, which was attended by the President of Fiji, Meghan wore a Jason Wu sheath dress, Manolo Blahnik suede navy pumps, Pippa Small earrings and bangles with a Christian Dior satin clutch.
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18 of 31Day 10
Meghan stepped off the plane in Tonga in a custom scarlet Self-Portrait dress, Manolo Blahnik navy suede heels and a bespoke Christian Dior clutch.
19 of 31Day 11
For the unveiling of The Queen's Commonwealth Canopy at Tupou College Meghan wore a blue shirt dress by the American designer Veronica Beard.
20 of 31Day 11
In the evening Meghan wore a tulle Oscar De La Renta gown for the Australian Geographic Society Gala Awards in Sydney.
21 of 31Day 12
While attending the Wheelchair Basketball Final at the Invictus Games Meghan wore a wrap top by Australian designer Scanlan Theodore.
22 of 31Day 12
For the Invictus closing ceremony Meghan wore a khaki halter dress by Antonio Berardi.
23 of 31Day 13
As Meghan and Harry bid farewell to Australia the Duchess wore a BOSS by Hugo Boss dress with Aquazzura Casablanca heels and a Cuyana mini bag.
24 of 31Day 13
Meghan visits the Pukeahu National War Memorial Park in Wellington wearing an ASOS dress, plaid trench by Karen Walker and pumps by Sarah Flint.
25 of 31Day 14
Meghan wore Stella McCartney x Adidas Grosgrain-Trimmed Faux Leather Sneakers, black 'Harriet' skinny jeans by Outland Denim and a blue weatherproof jacket, suspected to be by Seasalt Cornwall, for a walk in Abel Tasman National Park, Wellington.
26 of 31Day 14
The royals visited Courtnay Creative in Wellington for an event celebrating the city's thriving arts scene. Meghan wore a white sleeveless blazer dress by Maggie Marilyn for the occasion.
27 of 31Day 15
Attending an event for the Queen's Commonwealth Canopy, Meghan wore J. Crew jeans paired with a Karen Walker blazer and a simple top from Lavender Hill Company.
28 of 31Day 15
Visiting the Pillars charity in Auckland, Meghan paired a custom cream shift dress from US designer Brandon Maxwell with her Burberry trench and Stuart Weitzman's 'Legend' pumps.
29 of 31Day 15
For a formal reception hosted by New Zealand's Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern, Meghan opted to re-wear the navy Antonio Berardi dress that she debuted back in 2017, at her first (albeit unofficial) public outing with Prince Harry.
30 of 31Day 16
Meghan paired a bespoke Stella McCartney dress with Manolo Blahnik pumps and Boh Ranga earrings to viist a Rotorua, a town central to Maori culture.
31 of 31Day 16
Meghan wore her beloved Manolo Blahnik pumps a bespoke Givenchy sweater and pleated skirt for the final day of the royal tour.
One could say Meghan’s unofficial ‘stylist’ Mulroney spent her pregnancies dressing her bump as an afterthought. Throughout, she continued to look glamorous in heels and body-skimming dresses, wearing strapless gowns and skinny jeans until giving birth. As Meghan chose Karen Gee’s ‘Blessed’ dress for her first outing after the announcement and keenly cradled her micro-bump, it’s not certain she will follow Jessica’s lead.
It’s Catherine, Duchess of Cambridge, who Amanda and Christine think might also heavily inform Meghan’s style. ‘She’ll likely choose classic pieces like Kate did and find ways to make them her own,’ they said. Unlike Mulroney, Kate’s maternity wardrobe focused on brands that already specialized in clothing for expectant mothers.
‘Our range offers many designs that adhere to the royal etiquette to remain elegant and demure whilst on duty,’ explains Cecile Reinaud, founder of Seraphine, a British label that Catherine, Duchess of Cambridge, wore regularly throughout her three pregnancies. ‘When suggesting styles to royals we pay particular attention to very high-quality presentation to help them make their selection and then we put ourselves at their disposal to create bespoke pieces to match their requirements.’ If Meghan chooses this avenue she, at least, won’t have to forsake her love of made-to-measure.
‘When on duty, Meghan loves to wear sharply tailored pieces,’ assesses Reinaud. Prints are rarely on Meghan’s agenda but block colours and tailoring tend to be. Judging by her outifts so far, starting with her coatdress at Princess Eugenie’s wedding and considering the Emilia Wickstead dress she’s worn in Australia, by all indications, Meghan is veering in the Middleton direction.
Meghan’s Mirror predict her wardrobe will expand to include maternity brands like ‘Jojo Maman Bebe or even ASOS Maternity’ and ‘beautiful bespoke pieces especially for more formal events from her favourite designers like Stella McCartney or Givenchy that are tailored for her pregnancy.’ They noted that before royal life struck, the Duchess wore Ani + Wren, which happens to have a maternity range so perhaps this label will come back into rotation.
‘Her maternity fashion choices will be a hot topic,’ says Reinaud, And she’s right, even the soberest of ensembles has sparked conversation. What will be most intriguing is how Meghan brings her viral effect to the maternity market. Our prediction? The next decade of partum fashion will be set between now and next spring.