Bardot necklines and a neutral colour palette: What Meghan’s Duchess outfits all have in common

Ever since a media-shy Meghan Markle stepped out hand-in-hand with Prince Harry at the 2017 Invictus Games, the former actress’s wardrobe has been picked apart by royal fans far and wide.

Be it the ‘hidden meaning’ behind her now-trademark messy bun or questions surrounding her surprising footwear, there is not an accessory gone undocumented.

But even the media circuit could not anticipate the overnight contrast between her Hollywood closet and shiny new duchess-worthy uniform.

From her newfound penchant for slim-fitting belts to a muted colour palette, here’s what all of Meghan Markle’s Duchess outfits have in common.

How has Meghan Markle’s style changed since the royal wedding?

The classic belt

In the run-up to the royal wedding, Meghan had a soft spot for belts. But to undertake her first engagements as Prince Harry’s wife, the Duchess has built up rather an impressive collection.

To mark her one-month wedding anniversary, Meghan opted for a shirt dress by the designer behind her wedding dress – Givenchy’s Clare Waight Keller – at the Royal Ascot. To finish the look she added, you guessed it, a juxtaposing belt by the label.

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The Duchess of Sussex also sought inspiration from the French fashion house for her road trip to Cheshire with the Queen, as she fastened a logo-emblazoned belt around her third Givenchy get-up.

Bardot necklines

The jury is out on whether or not the Duchess of Sussex’s Trooping the Colour skirt suit broke protocol but one thing is for certain, she has become a firm fan of the Bardot neckline.

For her debut parade, the former ‘Suits’ star opted for a Carolina Herrera off-the-shoulder co-ord.

Just a mere matter of weeks later, the 36-year-old donned a strikingly similar Prada two-piece for her debut appearance at the Queen’s Young Leaders Awards alongside Prince Harry.

A neutral colour palette

One of the most noticeable differences between Meghan’s pre and post-wedding wardrobe is the shift in colour palette.

Ahead of the May 19 nuptials, the former actress donned everything from a £1,995 tartan Burberry coat to that emerald-hued Self-Portrait dress. But in recent weeks – aside from her wedding guest attire – the fledgling royal has stuck to a neutral colour palette.

Royal etiquette expert, Grant Harrold, told Yahoo Style UK: “Members of the Royal family tend to go with neutral toned colours when it comes to tights and nail varnish. This is not a written rule but a practice that the royal family have been following for many years.”

He continued, “When it comes to their clothes, this is a personal decision but they do have their own styles. I have always said that we would notice a change in the dress codes of the new Duchess. This is because – as we have seen with previous royals – they opt for a more formal look especially when carrying out day to day engagements. The Duchess of Sussex is a thoroughly modern royal and we will see her create a style that works for the Duchess and her new role.”

Now, let’s examine the sartorial evidence…

Meghan Markle’s post-wedding debut

It is no exaggeration to say that Meghan’s newfound Kensington Palace wardrobe happened overnight. Just two days after the royal wedding, the newly-crowned Duchess of Sussex stepped out for her first engagement to celebrate Prince Charles’s 70th birthday at Buckingham Palace.

Within a mere matter of minutes, the former actress graced the headlines all thanks to a pair of flesh-hued tights. But the questionable hosiery stands for more than what it says on the label, as it was a disappointing indication that Meghan was swapping her American roots for Windsor’s rules.The Duchess of Sussex teamed the sheer numbers with a peach-hued dress by London-based label, Goat and accessorised the duchess-worthy look with a Philip Treacy hat.

Trooping the Colour 2018

The Duchess of Sussex’s next engagement was even more anticipated by royal fans across the globe, as Trooping the Colour 2018 was her first opportunity to wave from the Buckingham Palace balcony.

Dressed in a cold-shoulder blush pink Carolina Herrera dress and co-ordinating Philip Treacy hat, the royal once again opted for a surprisingly muted colour palette.

Meghan’s joint engagement with the Queen

For her debut engagement alongside Queen Elizabeth II, Meghan looked to wedding dress designer Claire Waight Keller for Givenchy.

This time, the duchess donned a cream-hued cape dress by the French fashion house and accessorised the regal aesthetic with a slim black belt and Givenchy clutch.

Her first Royal Ascot appearance

Fast-forward to 19 June and Meghan made her Royal Ascot debut in yet another strikingly similar look.

Once again, the duchess looked to Clare Waight Keller for Givenchy for sartorial inspiration and donned a white shirt dress. She paired the look with a co-ordinating hat and £1,390 satin Givenchy clutch.

The Duchess of Sussex’s debut Queen’s Young Leaders Awards

On 27 June 2018, Meghan joined her new husband at the Queen’s Young Leaders Awards. For the prestigious ceremony hosted at Buckingham Palace, the Duchess opted for a powder pink twinset by Prada.

Although it was a far cry from her penchant for Givenchy, the look mirrored Meghan’s Trooping the Colour aesthetic courtesy of its hushed hues.

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