A forensic guide to Meghan Markle’s Noughties style

Back in 2012, Meghan attended the USA Network Upfront 2012 after party sporting a quintessentially 00s tube skirt. In the 2000s, tube skirts were a go-to staple, hugging silhouettes and often paired with heels, crop tops or oversized belts. Perfect for clubbing.

Like tube skirts, pencil dresses are a Noughties relic. Worn for in-office occasions and after-parties alike, these form-fitting garments were beloved by women with a penchant for elegant fashion. Duchess Meghan paired hers with some black heels and a matching clutch, in true 2000s style.

There’s a lot of Noughties nostaglia to unpack here. The bootcut jeans, the cropped jacket, the pearls. All-in-all, a thoroughly Y2K outfit, elevated by a statement bag and point-toe kitten heels. A Depop user’s dream.

Never underestimate the power of a magenta dress in the early Aughts. Meghan understood the assignment while gracing the scene at the ELLE’s Women in Television Celebration in 2013. She slipped into a strapless midi number with contrasting crepe-satin structures. Oh-so Noughties. 

Back in 2013, Meghan stepped out in LA for the Weekly Screen Actors Guild Awards pre-party at Chateau Marmont. Serving up the ultimate Noughties look, the actress championed beachwear as partywear in a multicoloured strapless number.

It’s giving Kate Moss for Topshop and we’re here for it. This plunging gold number worn by Meghan in 2015 is a true 2010s classic. Silhouette-skimming, mini cut and metallic? The trifecta.  

Embellished leather jacket? Tick. A-line dress? Tick. Bandage detailing? Tick. A throwback look that ticks all the boxes, Meghan’s mini dress and leather jacket combo was the peak of Noughties fashion. Aexa Chung, eat your heart out.

Championing glossy straightened locks and a plunging party dress, the then-Suits star turned heads in her violet concoction at a 2012 Golden Globe after party. Another hue that was plucked from the Y2K history books, this deep shade of purple made for a statement style choice.

Yet another early Aughts artefact, the little lace bodycon (preferably with long sleeves) was a piece we all stashed in our questionable club-ready wardrobes. Typically paired with heels that not even a Victoria’s Secret runway model could walk in, these dresses were undeniably popular back in the day.

Ah, the T-shirt dress. Worn by teens and adults alike, the style was one of fashion’s most versatile. Comfortable and twee, the tee-inspired number packed a punch, especially when teamed with a chunky faux-boho necklace from Topshop’s ‘Freedom’ collection and something of the coral persuasion.  

Today, the duchess is celebrate for her monochrome style and chic silhouettes. Yet, her taste used to centre more colour creations, such as this statement midi dress. Featuring a strapless cut and a pencil skirt, Meghan’s colourblock dress served up Noughties rom-com to perfection.