The style rules Meghan Markle swears by to always looks chic at 45

Meghan Markle has had quite the style evolution. Since becoming a global household name when her relationship with Prince Harry became public in November 2016 (although she was arguably already well known thanks to her leading role in US drama Suits), gone, for the most part, are the skinny jeans and mini dresses, replaced by elegant draped midi dresses and impeccably tailored matching sets.

Her wardrobe is now often referenced as synonymous with Quiet Luxury. The minimalist aesthetic became a mainstream trend in 2023 and is all about championing timeless, understated, high-quality pieces. 

As Tuesday marked her 45th birthday, I’ve taken a deep dive into the fashion formulas she relies on to always look chic in her forties.

The tonal two-piece

Tonal dressing is one of Meghan’s style signatures. Wearing a monochromatic outfit with the same colour on top and bottom is one of the most simple style rules to stick to and the easiest way to instantly look put together. For the Duchess, this ranges from silk pieces in statement silhouettes to low-key outfits like jeans and a sweater.

Perhaps most notably was her Balenciaga moment last year. Meghan made a surprise appearance at the Paris Fashion Week show in October to support her friend Pierpaolo Piccioli on his debut as creative director. She wore a custom white button-down shirt with a matching shawl and wide-leg trousers, proving an oversized tonal ensemble can look just as elegant as a gown.

Meghan embraces the formula just as often for more casual occasions, too. In February, she was pictured at an NBA game in LA with Prince Harry, pairing a navy cashmere crew neck sweater by Brochu Walker with matching flared Veronica Beard jeans. She completed the outfit with her signature gold Cartier jewellery.

In season two of her hit Netflix show With Love, Meghan, which dropped last year, the Duchess wore this neutral short-sleeved cashmere knit by Loro Piana. Known for their Quiet Luxury pieces, it’s one of her go-to brands. She paired it with white linen trousers, slinging a matching striped sweater over her shoulders.

In October, she looked suitably chic as she spoke about her growing business ventures and Netflix deal at Fortune’s Most Powerful Women summit in Washington. She wore a white silk blouse by Gabriela Hearst styled with a matching fitted vegan leather skirt by Brochu Walker, and custom nude Dior heels. It’s a look she has repeatedly made her own, from her green leather pencil skirt by Hugo Boss and matching & Other Stories blouse in 2018, all the way back to her days playing paralegal Rachel Zane in Suits.

In summer 2024, Meghan toured Colombia and nailed casual but chic warm weather style in a white sleeveless lightweight knit and matching long linen skirt. She accessorised with a boater hat by the Colombian designer Hannia Char, black thong sandals, her gold Cartier watch, and her signature Ray-Ban aviator sunglasses.

On the same trip, she styled a button-down shirt by Victoria Beckham with satin pants by La Ligne in complementary copper shades. She wore her hair pulled back to reveal her Birks diamond earrings, and added a pair of Aquazzura heels.

In 2021, she proved bolder colours can also look chic as she stepped out in New York wearing head-to-toe red, styling a boxy, oversized matching set by Loro Piana with Manolo heels.

Even at her most casual, while on the ski slopes of Whistler, Meghan looked ultra chic pairing a white sweater with matching jeans. She completed the look with a nude Calvin Klein puffer coat and snow boots by celebrity favourite Sorel.

Understated occasionwear

If the tonal two-piece is her wardrobe secret weapon, the zero-print dress is her red carpet staple. Across every silhouette, from structured pieces to fluid styles, you’ll rarely find a floral print or a busy pattern at formal events. Sticking strictly to single tones like classic black, crisp white or high octane red always looks chic and keeps the focus on the tailoring. It’s an effortless way to keep occasionwear looking clean and timeless at any age.

Exhibit A: the nude off-the-shoulder Proenza Schouler dress she wore to Variety’s Power of Women gala in LA in 2023. It featured a floor-length skirt with slits up the front and sides, and she completed the look with a pair of her trusty Aquazzura heels, a black leather clutch bag, her hair worn slicked hair back, and delicate gold jewellery.

It’s a cardinal rule that an LBD will always look chic, but the cut is important. For Meghan’s second look at Paris Fashion Week in 2025, her understated black Balenciaga cape dress was perfection. She paired it with matching pointed heels.

You can still look chic and make a statement, as she demonstrated in this red dress at the CHLA Gala in 2024. Designed by Carolina Herrera, the plunging silk-faille style featured a long column silhouette and leg slit for movement. She paired it with matching red satin heeled sandals.

In a look reminiscent of the second wedding gown she wore for her 2018 nuptials, designed by Stella McCartney, Meghan stepped out in a white backless halterneck dress by Oscar de la Renta at the 2024 ESPY Awards. The floor-sweeping hemline and draped detailing kept the fitted style looking sophisticated and elegant.

Meghan channelled old Hollywood glamour at the 2026 Fifteen Percent Pledge fundraising gala in February, pairing a champagne strapless gown by Harbison Studio with a glamorous oversized black shawl. The dress featured a black-piped sweetheart neckline and a structured column skirt. 

The classic striped shirt

When it comes to dressing down, Meghan likes to keep it minimal, but she’s partial to a striped print. These days, the Duchess often chooses a blue and white striped shirt, pairing them with everything from denim to lightweight trousers. They’re effortless and timeless with a touch of Parisian chic.

In April, she was pictured in this nautical striped shirt by Aussie brand Mateau to attend a sailing event with Invictus members at the Sydney Harbour during her trip to Australia. She paired it with Rolla’s Sailor Jeans in white, Freda Salvador’s Eda d’Orsay sneakers, and was later spotted with a navy sweater slung over her shoulders.

She also styles her striped shirts with blue denim, as seen here in an episode of With Love, Meghan. Her fitted jeans are by AYR, an independent New York-based brand, which priorities high quality and small quantities. Her shirt is by minimalist label CO.

In celebration of her 45th birthday, Meghan’s lifestyle brand As Ever shared a carousel of photos on Instagram, one of which was a striped shirt and denim ensemble. The classic outfit featured a Celine striped shirt with a contrasting collar and cuffs, and white straight-leg jeans by Anine Bing.

Back in 2018 when Meghan was a working royal, she wore a Ralph Lauren striped shirt with white tailored trousers to watch the Wimbledon Finals.  The now iconic look was the start of the fail-safe outfit formula for the Duchess and it’s showing no signs of losing its timeless appeal.