We know that Meghan Markle left behind her life as a working royal, partly because of the heavy-duty scrutiny that came with being in the world's most visible royal fishbowl — including being photographed by outlets who then used pictures to portray her negatively. Honestly, that's totally her right, and we're glad she seems happy now, but boy do we miss photographs of the Duchess of Sussex — full-length shots of her doing good stuff, yes, but also, wearing seriously fabulous clothes. (Call us shallow.)
We found a fashion icon in Meghan, and we miss ogling her lewks — especially in fall — when she busts out gorgeous coats, chic sweaters, leather skirts, wide-brimmed hats, and on and on. We've been making do with her post-royal video appearances for fall inspo, and we can't wait until she's able to be out and about full time … along with the rest of us!
Meghan dresses well year-round — whether she's making an appearance, making a video at home, or just out and about — but fall brings out the layers, and few people know how to not just layer well, but also arrange the layers in the best angles. Unlike many royal women, who mostly stick to dresses even in cold weather, Meghan makes the most of a wide array of pieces — from jeans to pantsuits to skirt-and-shirt combos. Then, there is her selection of warm coats, light coats, jackets, and trench coats. In short, there's a lot ot love, and it's tough to arrange them in terms of favorites. Still, we took on the task, delighting in the way Meghan put together many of the most memorable royal fall looks, and fall wardrobes ever, period.
Here are 20 of Meghan's greatest fall outfits, ranked.
Check out our Meghan Markle page for all the latest news about Meghan, Prince Harry, and their growing family.
20. Still Worth a Look
The stars of this ridiculously adorable picture — taken at an official outing to a community center for Army families — are definitely Prince Harry and the little girl. But there were those of us who looked to the left to glean what we could from the shot of Meghan's outfit. It featured a white blouse with a long tie (or untied bow), and a pencil skirt. Simple and lovely.
19. Ready to Work
For her first official appearance with Prince Harry in early December 2017, Meghan went with a look that was not high wattage, as might have been expected, but as simple and accessible as her new fiancé's: a black turtleneck with pushed up sleeves, tan trumpet skirt with a skinny belt, and black boots.
18. Showing Her Stripes
During her working royal days, Meghan often looked to shirt and skirt combos as her go-to outfits for less formal events, and the result was both pretty and practical, and probably put people at ease — as opposed to tweed suit or a dress, say. One standout is this white A-line skirt with hairpin stripes, paired with a sleeveless tank, which Meghan wore while meeting activist women in South Africa. It may have been hot in the Southern Hemisphere, but it's a great example of how to incorporate white in the fall — with the addition of a jacket, of course!
17. Moment of Silence
The royal family goes to several ceremonies and concerts every year to honor those who have sacrificed their lives in war. Though the dress code is understandably limited to one color, everyone — from the Queen to the duchesses — wear their best black outfits, from hats to coats. For one ceremony, Meghan chose a beautiful wide-brimmed hat and a matching coat with a simple chromed belt buckle.
16. Picture Perfect
Aside from being Meghan, the Duchess of Sussex, the royal is also Meghan, Patron Saint of Unexpected Necklines. That's because she has broken the royal mold with how her collars frame her face. She's worn everything from halter and boatneck tops to off-the-shoulder suits, and this a retro dress with three-quarter sleeves and full skirt (with pockets). The dress's barely there jacquard print is typical of fall dresses without being a heavy brocade.
15. Pretty in Purple
So many times, we expect to see royal women arriving at an evening event dressed to the nines, shining in sequins or jewelry, but Meghan never felt the need to do that each and every time. Instead, she often chose simpler outfits, such as this purple sheath dress that she wore on a solo outing. It's all about that gorgeous deep fall color, and how it and her loose hair frames her brown skin.
14. Check Her Out
Peer into Meghan's closet, and we're not likely to see lots of patterns, given that she prefers to keep it simple with solid, muted colors. But there are exceptions, of course, like this trench coat that she wore in New Zealand in 2018, which featured a brown and gray check pattern and reinforced shoulders. It's a great example of a variation on a fall staple.
13. Showing Some Skin
Meghan Markle wore this sequin halter top and full-length skirt combo to a musical performance in the middle of November, so we're guessing the walkway leading to the building was blasting heat lamps. Even if that wasn't the case, the outfit gave off its own heat. It was the most skin we've seen a royal show in a very long time, but it was still tasteful.
12. True Fall Blue
She may have a grand collection of amazing coats, but Meghan rarely, if ever, wears a brightly colored one. Here's an exception: When she held a launch event for the cookbook she helped put together for charity — and brought along mom Doria Ragland! — the duchess put on a royal blue wool number, and it was a welcome surprise.
11. Anything But Basic Black
No one can go wrong with black, unless they're flouting the royal rules, as Meghan supposedly was in this picture. (The royals rarely wear black outside funerals and remembrance ceremonies.) Well, we think she looks great, and expanded what it means to dress as a working member of the royal family by wearing both the darkest of colors, and pants.
10. Ladylike Dress
For some reason, we didn't get a lot of good pictures of Meghan and Harry's departure from New Zealand during their 2018 tour. It's too bad, because Meghan's plum-colored midi dress was so pretty. True to her style, it's a classic, universally flattering cut in a flowy fabric and a gorgeous, deep color. The ankle strap heels are a subtly sexy finishing touch.
9. Chocolate
After they came back from spending the 2019 holidays with just Archie in Canada, Meghan and Harry visited Canada House in in London. It was January, but Meghan was wearing a tonal outfit in a quintessentially fall color: brown — or rather browns — since she included the rich tones of mocha, chocolate, and camel.
8. Gray Garden
A radiant, pregnant Meghan stepped out in a gray coat and dress combo that is far from dull. The dress, y'all, is taffeta, a type of stout, shiny silk that is usually reserved for evening dresses, particularly '80s prom dresses, lol. But Meghan gave it a chic update with this light gray floral-print number, and the whole thing just works.
7. Cutting-Edge Style
Meghan has always tried to send messages and open minds through her fashion choices, and that hasn't changed since she and the ginger hubs peaced out of their lives as working royals. When the couple did a video in 2020 in which they discussed systemic racism, Meghan's clothes once again spoke loud and clear. Her stunning nude top, featuring an asymmetrical slash neckline, was by Haitian designer Victor Glemaud. The pants? Vegan leather.
6. Royal Re-Wear
Remember Meghan's forest green engagement dress, which was featured in her and Prince Harry's video interview at the time? She recycled it a year later, when attending an event with the hubs. This time, she topped off the sleeveless sheath, which features a simple tie at the waist, with a camel-colored coat worn over the shoulders, ladies-who-lunch style — finishing it off with a handkerchief-handled purse.
It made for quite an entrance.
5. Hidden Colors
This outfit made headlines for the wrong reasons: In some angles, the skirt appeared slightly too sheer, showing Meghan's undergarments. That's unfortunate, because not only is it the sort of thing that has happened to all of us, but it overshadowed the beauty of the Givenchy ultramarine blue shirt and skirt combo, which featured unexpected royal blue pleats.
4. Well-Executed
Matched clothes tend to be boring, unless they're being put together by someone as skillful as Meghan, who built this instantly iconic and imitable work-y look out of just two colors: the forest green of her blouse, pencil skirt and bag, and the nude hue of her light coat and heels. It's totally on-brand for someone who seemingly has meant business all her life.
3. Casual Vibe
Meghan's post-royal lewks are trickling into our screens and we gotta say, Meghan's closet 2.0 is glorious. (Goodbye pillbox hats and panty hose!) Case in point is this laid-back but sexy combo of a silk camel-colored blouse and black (vegan?) leather pants, which she wore on a taped appearance on America's Got Talent in September. It's serving some serious California fall vibes.
Meghan blessed us with a surprise appearance, and we don't deserve it.
2. Pure Elegance
For her first solo official outing, Meghan went with a custom Givenchy dress that was probably just a bit extra for the occasion — the opening reception of a museum exhibit — and boy was it memorable. The black midi dress with a front slit, and sheer long sleeves and a touch of gold on the belt is sophisticated without being stuffy. One of her all-time best.
1. Red Red Rose
Tone-on-tone outfits are a Meghan specialty, a look that is easier said than done and that she's come back to again and again. This is a lovely example from October 2019, when she participated in a roundtable discussion on gender equality and wore red. Meghan paired a v-neck, three-quarter sleeve sweater with a leather skirt and suede heels — all in fall berry shades. It's a polished look that's soft and powerful at the same time — especially with with a version of her signature, play-by-my-own-rules messy updo. It's our fave.
