Meghan Markle’s Style: What Are The Rules She Always Follows?

Meghan Markle is one of the most-photographed women in the world. The fact that she manages to look great for every public appearance is largely down to the fact that she has a very established sense of her own style. Always elegant, never too fussy – Markle's style relies on tried and tested combinations that never let her down, as well as go-to labels that major in modern power dressing (Carolina Herrera, Oscar de la Renta, Stella McCartney and Victoria Beckham are designer favourites, but she's also a fan of championing smaller sustainable brands).

What does one wear to Wimbledon? A button-down shirt. Trooping the Colour? A hat that matches the colour of her dress, naturally. This is because Markle, like all of us, has certain rules that she usually follows when deciding what to wear. That’s what becoming one of the most photographed women in the world does to a person, you see. You decide, pretty sharpish, what works for you and what doesn’t.

From the power of a great white shirt to her favourite shoes, here are the style lessons we can all learn from Meghan Markle.

If In Doubt, Wear A White Shirt

Markle practically made Misha Nonoo a household name when she chose the white ‘Husband’ shirt for her first public appearance with Prince Harry at the Invictus Games in September 2017. She proved a crisp button-down is even a winner at Wimbledon, too, tucking a white number by Givenchy into her BOSS pleated skirt.

More recently, Markle wore a white shirt yet again, this time for a virtual discussion with young leaders from The Queen's Commonwealth Trust, of which the Duke and Duchess of Sussex are President and Vice-President.

Don't Be Afraid To Match

The thought of getting dressed for a wedding, or any smart occasion, is enough to bring us out in hives. It doesn’t have to. Take a leaf out of Markle’s book and make things simple. Matching your hat, heels and handbag to your dress - in this case coal-black Emilia Wickstead - will take the faff out of colour-coordinating. Sorted.

If It Ain't Broke, Keep Wearing It

The Duchess of Sussex has a favourite pair of shoes - and isn’t afraid to keep wearing them. Aquazzura’s Deneuve black suede pumps, with a spindly heel, cut-out sides and elegant bow at the back, have been her near-constant companion (she also wore them for her megawatt moment at the Endeavour Fund Awards), as well as Manolo Blahnik's BB Pumps. Pick your equivalent and invest in several pairs.

Find Your Length

Whether she’s wearing a trench coat (or a trench dress for that matter), a dress coat or a wrap coat, the Duchess generally opts for a hemline that hits that sweet-spot on the leg between the mid-calf and ankle. Find your most flattering length - and stick to it.

Go Tonal

If you’re struggling to match separates together, bear in mind that going tonal is your safest bet. It’s a favourite styling hack of many a celebrity - and Markle’s a firm fan too, whether that be shades of green or even camel.

Embrace Casual

We’re not naming names, but not all the royals know how to nail casual. Markle’s strappy beach dress and lace-up sandals were the perfect combination for a scroll around the Kingfisher Bay Resort as part of the royal tour around Australia. (In South Africa, she wore smart-casual dresses from Club Monaco, House of Noni and Room 502, as well as a jumpsuit from Everlane.)