When you’re a part of a royal family, your personal style is broadcast to the world and becomes a vital part of your identity. Sure, you’re a public figure, but you’re also a role model and a style icon (we’re looking at you, Princess Di). Despite stepping down from her royal duties years ago, Meghan Markle still faces intense scrutiny from the media whenever she leaves the house. While her style is mostly chic and demure, Markle is no stranger to a fashion faux pas. She admitted this regarding one of her outfits in an interview with Glamour, talking about a DVF lace dress that was “too tight and too short, and trying too hard.” Here are Meghan’s top looks that aren’t exactly flattering, from her days as an actress to the present day.
A neutral baggy look that was more frumpy than slouchy chic
Fit is everything when you’re picking the right outfit, and going baggy can be a tricky task. It needs to be casual yet flattering with an oversized look that still somehow fits. When she attended an SXSW panel called “Breaking Barriers, Shaping Narratives: How Women Lead On and Off the Screen” in 2024 for International Women’s Day, she was in a pinstripe champagne shirt and skirt by Giuliva Heritage. An attempt to go business casual ended up looking underwhelming, poorly fitted, and dull on stage. Fortunately, the earrings brightened things up!
Her wedding gown
Choosing your wedding gown is a big deal, and it’s an even bigger deal when you’re marrying into the royal family. Meghan opted for a simple Givenchy dress in white with three-quarter-length sleeves. While there was nothing heinous about it (it did cost $100,000 after all), those with criticism weren’t into the simplicity of the gown and the way it was fitted. One of Kate Middleton’s stylists called it “quite loose,” saying that if you choose a simple dress, the fit should be impeccable. Katy Perry said she would have done “one more fitting” on the look.
A patterned dress that had corporate office energy
Before becoming a British royal, Markle was a household name for her role in the TV show “Suits.” While many of her pre-royal looks were glamorous, this one on Annual Charity Day in 2013 wasn’t a knockout look. Photographed in NYC, where style is everything, Markle kept things modest and rocked a knee-length dress with a bold yellow pattern and shiny material. The look had office vibes, and not the chic kind. Rachel Zane would not be impressed, especially since 2013 was all about monochrome looks and girl boss suits. This look was busy, overwhelming, and a bit confusing.
A two-tone fail
In 2019, Markle wore this look when attending a talk on gender equality with the Queen’s Commonwealth Trust, accompanied by Harry. Tucked into a tight leather skirt, the sweater had a bulky look that looked unfinished, especially with a messy up-do. While we’re big fans of a monochromatic look, these were two different shades of burgundy that didn’t go great together. Overall, it looked a bit unprofessional, but it’s not her worst look.
The Royal Ascot in 2018
The Royal Ascot, a well-known racehorse competition for the elite, is an event to be seen at, and it’s assumed that people will show up in their finest looks of pastels, daring silhouettes, and bold prints or textures. Instead, Meghan opted for something more subdued, and dare we say, a bit uptight. Her white button-down Givenchy shirtdress was paired with a black belt and had a matronly vibe. The New York Post called the look “frumpy.”
Loading…
A confusing look at the Platinum Jubilee
After leaving the royal family, Meghan returned to the UK in 2022 for the Platinum Jubilee Celebrations. While she seemed to be in good spirits, her Dior trench coat looked tight rather than well-fitted. She paired it with a wide-brimmed Dior hat, and while it was worn at an off angle to fit around Meghan’s signature low bun, from certain perspectives, her hair wasn’t at all visible, and it made her look bald.
Wearing a dress with a tag during a state visit
When visiting New Zealand in 2018, the Duchess wore a red floral dress from Self-Portrait that was pretty cute on its own, but she committed a classic faux pas; she forgot to take off the tag. The look was overshadowed by the little rectangle that could be seen hanging off her hemline. The public cringed at this mistake, and while many people found it relatable, you would think that if you’re in the public eye, you have someone to remind you about little things like this. What ensued were jokes about whether Meghan had a plan to return the dress.
A gloomy grey dress
When Meghan was doing her royal duties and made a trip to the Emerald Isle, she wore a sad-looking grey dress that people can’t seem to forget. Although she also wore an impressively tailored black suit on this trip, this calf-length Roland Mouret dress didn’t have the wow factor that many were hoping for, and the color wasn’t flattering on her. It didn’t help that she rocked a strapless bra, which didn’t flatter the shape of the dress and created a bunched-up effect that looked pinched.
A shapeless purple dress
Tailoring is key—even if you’re rocking a shift dress that is meant to fall loosely around the body. In 2019, Meghan wore a rich purple dress to the One Young World Summit. Although the color was certainly regal on her, it was an affordable option that was on sale for only $50 at Babaton. Again, the main issue here was not altering the fit. The shapeless silhouette didn’t do much for her, and people speculated it was a purchase from when she was pregnant, as she was previously seen wearing it when she was with child. If only she had gotten it tailored a bit before wearing it post-pregnancy to show off her gorgeous figure!
