Two duchesses. Two completely different styles. One extremely challenging year. When it comes to 2020, Kate Middleton and Meghan Markle have definitely made huge splashes in big and small ways: They both advocated for important causes like early children's education and anti-racism, navigated the royal shocker of the Duke and Duchess of Sussex stepping down from royal duties (though obviously on different sides), and tried to move forward, like the rest of us, during a year that we'd all like to turn the page on. They also managed to add to their fashion icon statuses with some showstopping looks. At a time when we all need a bit of an escapist boost, we've enjoyed looking at (and imitating!) their outfits, even the ones that we got only a partial peek at through a Zoom video.
Duty and service to others may be what the royal family — and now, separately, Meghan and Harry — base their lives around, but let's face it, no one wants to wear a burlap sack while shaking hands with world leaders or meeting schoolchildren, or even helping plant a community garden. And no one wants to watch them in a burlap sack, either. So royal fashion is important — and Meghan and Kate deliver on a daily basis. But they do this in different ways. The Duchess of Cambridge wears more conservative clothes, and her wardrobe is full of expertly tailored royal classics like coats, long-sleeved dresses, and evening gowns, and very British gear like outdoorsy quilted jackets and tartan scarves. She's all about keeping the monarchy and tradition alive.
Meghan's style couldn't be more different, though it's just as polished. She prefers simple, soft but modern lines in everything from pencil skirts to silky blouses to palazzo pants. Meghan's challenge in 2020 was continuing to try to find a place in royal life, and when that did not happen in a satisfying way, starting a new life — and that challenge is reflected in the changes we saw her wardrobe take as she left royal duties behind.
Comparing the two women's styles is like comparing apples and oranges (we love both!), but we do have favorite looks that they each wore this year, and we've gathered them here. May both continue to thrive and give us plenty of fashion inspo.
Kate: Oversized Coat
Ya know, Kate is the last person we'd expect rocking the oversized clothing trend, but we gotta say, it looks good on her. The duchess gave it an English twist by going with a checked wool coat and carrying an umbrella. She also balanced the big coat with slim pants and fitted cashmere sweater. The necklace, which has three small medallions featuring the initials of her three kids, is the sweetest touch.
Meghan: Asymmetrical Top & Vegan Leather Pants
For a video appearance with Prince Harry, Meghan went with a sensual but classy look that would nevertheless have never flown when she was a working royal. The edgy asymmetrical top by Haitian American designer Victor Glemaud, and matching Stella McCartney vegan leather pants, are super sleek and modern, and are yet another way in which Meghan has sent a message through fashion, and the message this time was that there is no going back to life inside the Firm.
Kate: Shimmering Green
The Duke and Duchess of Cambridge's trip to Ireland featured lots of green clothes — an example of how the royals use fashion to send diplomatic messages (Ireland, is, of course, the Emerald Isle). This is a fun take, a shiny midi party dress with pared-down ruffling. Also on display in this outfit: Kate's mastery of pairing high and low, given that she's wearing her $2,000 Vampire's Wife dress with $10 H&M earrings.
Meghan: Sky Blue Dress
For her final three high-profile royal engagements in March, Meghan chose one-color outfits in bright, optimistic colors, starting with this simple bright blue Victoria Beckham dress, which she wore to the Endeavour Awards. And like the other outfits, she matched them what Harry was wearing, making a statement about unity that spoke loud and clear.
Kate: Rosy Dress
Kate has been queen of the midi floral dress all year, and this beauty is no exception. The strawberry red color is so cheery, as are the white florals printed on (and we love that she wore a floral mask!). But the best feature of this Beulah dress may be the lace cuffs on the sleeves. Kate had debuted the dress on a Zoom call but this is one of those times when we needed to see the whole thing, so it's great that she repeated it for a visit to a bakery.
Meghan: All White Combo
Here's another outfit that flew under the radar as Meghan wrapped up her royal duties: a pretty monochromatic outfit in white, starring a flowy, feminine blouse tucked into a pencil skirt featuring textured zigzag lines. She wore it to a private meeting at the National Theatre, one of the institutions she was patron of during her time as a working royal.
Kate: Summery Shirt Dress
We just figured out why this dress is so appealing: The sky-blue background and clumps of roses seem straight out of a painting by Renaissance artist Botticelli. It's just so lovely and feminine, but also practical, with its breast pockets and just-below-the-knee hem. It's the kind of dress that we'd live in all summer long.
Meghan: RBG Shirt & Jeans
As a working royal, Meghan was muzzled when it came to making political statements. These days, she's unshackled, even if, as in this picture, she actually has a mask over her mouth. The mask reads, "When there are nine," which is derived from a famous Ruth Bader Ginsburg quote, in which the late Supreme Court justice answers the question, "When will there be enough women on the Court?" Meghan paired the mask with an RBG sweatshirt, and added jeans and over-the-shoulder cardigan for a casual yet polished look that is instantly imitable.
Kate: Country Casual
We've seen Kate wear this sort of outdoorsy outfit before: Utility jacket paired with pants and boots. But we never get tired of it because she always manages to choose great jackets, like this beautifully fitted, belted olive green number, which she left slightly open to reveal a checked shirt. This time around, she wore black leggings to minimize bulk and pulled on her favorite rugged Penelope Chilvers boots, which she's had for over a decade.
Meghan: Little Navy Dress
Oh, man. We love this look, even though it didn't get a lot of play, photo-wise. For her final solo royal engagement, a Buckingham Palace meeting with student scholars as patron of the Association of Commonwealth Universities, Meghan kept it simple with a navy blue form-fitting dress with one lovely detail: a side-swept cravat. A side-part ponytail completed the sleek look.
Kate: Tweed With a Twist
Tweed skirt suits used to be exclusively the domain of Chanel, whose founder Coco Chanel invented them in the 1920s as a way of liberating women from corsets. But as Kate proves here, Dolce & Gabbana are no slouches when it comes to the fashion classic. Kate wore this playful take, complete with a fluttering short circle skirt, to visit a children's hospital in January.
Meghan: Tweed Jacket & Pants
Meghan excelled at looking approachable during outings as a working royal. For an International Day of the Woman speech during a surprise visit at a high school, Meghan chose this polished outfit, which is unfussy but still grown up: A cream tweed jacket, paired with a plain white blouse and slacks, and some reserved but cool heels. The adorable bag is a playful touch.
Kate: Festive Red Coat & Scarf
Often, simple ideas make for impactful outfits. Kate chose a rich shade of red to dominate her look during a visit to Cardiff Castle in Wales, while on a train tour of Britain in December. The lean cut of her Alexander McQueen coat keeps the color classy, not brash, making the tartan scarf stand out all the more.
Meghan: Boho Palazzo Pants & Hat
Meghan is a born feminist who, as a kid, called out a company about a sexist ad, so it's no surprise that one of the highlights of her post-royal life was a sit-down chat with feminist legend Gloria Steinem. The outfit she chose for the occasion was a take on something Steinem herself would have worn in her late '60s and early '70s heyday. The wide-legged striped pants, simple shirt, and wide-brimmed hat also give off very Meghan Cali vibes.
Kate: '80s-Inspired Suit
In October, Kate debuted a refreshed look in a video for the Natural History Museum, with golden highlights in her hair and impeccable skin and makeup (we detect a bit of Botox magic in there! Not that we're judging!). Her all-black suit and shirt brought attention to her beauty lewk, but it also held its own with slightly padded shoulders, lending a certain elegance.
Kate: Gold & White Gown
Red carpet moments have been nearly nonexistent this year, due to the global health challenge, but in February, we got a stunning one from Kate, who attended the BAFTAs (British Oscars) wearing a shimmering white bespoke Alexander McQueen gown flecked with gold accents. She'd previously worn the gown at a state dinner in Malaysia.
Meghan: Red Cape Gown
This dress was a showstopper. For her and Harry's appearance at the Mountbatten Festival of Music, Meghan chose a scarlet Safiyaa dress with a cape and a train. It matched Harry's red military jacket perfectly. The train made a huge statement: She doesn't need a tiara to be regal.
Meghan: Tan Shirt & Leather Pants
In a video that served as a surprise appearance on America's Got Talent, Meghan gave us a great look at her post-royal style (as well as her and Harry's new home!), which is laid-back and subtly sexy — very California. She wore a camel-colored shirt by pal Victoria Beckham and black leather (or vegan leather) pants, creating a look that is so easy to recreate, even on a budget.
Kate: Blue Floral Dress
When Kate and her family stepped outside their Anmer Hall home to clap for frontline health workers in a video — the first time the family had been seen outside a Zoom call, people had tears in their eyes. But fans were just as emotional to finally see a Kate fashion moment during lockdown, and her Ghost brand blue floral prairie dress quickly sold out. Ghost had anticipated that, and as soon as the video aired, announced that all proceeds would be donated to the National Health Services charities.
Meghan: Green Dress
What does one wear for one's last appearance as a working royal after shocking the world (and Queen Elizabeth) with the announcement that one is bouncing? For an event at Westminster Abbey with the entire royal family in March, Meghan's outfit was one for the books, standing out at an otherwise super awkward moment. Her stunning custom-made Emilia Wickstead dress was emerald green (the color of hope, which matched Harry's suit jacket lining) and literally featured a cape that caught the wind and soared. Peace out!
