
Since the day she went public with Prince Harry, Meghan Markle's style (opens in new tab) has been a source of fascination for royal reporters and fans alike. What she wore or didn't wear immediately makes headlines—remember the whole tights controversy (opens in new tab)?—and plenty of brands have benefited from the "Meghan Markle Effect (opens in new tab)." The Duchess of Sussex even chose to create a fashion capsule collection (opens in new tab) reminiscent of her go-to pieces to benefit a nonprofit.
Basically, people care deeply about what she wears. Ever since Meghan and Prince Harry stepped back as senior members of the Royal Family (opens in new tab), she's kept a relatively low profile by working behind the scenes (opens in new tab) rather than taking on as many front-facing opportunities like attending events. (Plus, there's a pandemic going on, so Meghan's public engagements in the States are limited.) Still, fans are eager to see what she's wearing on virtual calls and how she's styling her new home (opens in new tab) with Prince Harry and Archie. (Yes, she likes Diptyque candles!)
As we wait for Meghan's next public appearance, let's reminisce over her previous outfits (opens in new tab). The star, in addition to having quite the shoe collection (opens in new tab), has an ever-growing coat collection. She has every royal-approved style, from the timeless trench to a more casual "blanket" coat, which maybe she will wear more of now that she lives a more independent life (opens in new tab) on the West Coast. I've analyzed the six types of coats Meghan wears on repeat, below.
A Beige Coat
Wearing a camel coat for her baby shower, Sentaler, and Reiss.
Repeatedly popping up in Meghan's wardrobe are neutrals like beige and nude. Reasons for why the Duchess of Sussex originally adopted this as her shade of choice (opens in new tab) range from, "it's a way for her to not overshadow the Queen and more senior family members" to "it's simply a color palette she feels most comfortable in." Meghan has a specific preference for beige outerwear, having debuted several coats in this shade in public. For example, at an appearance at Canada House, she wore a tailored nude Reiss coat.
A Wrap Coat
Wearing Soia & Kyo, Sentaler, and Stella McCartney.
A wrap coat is timeless, which is why Meghan has them in multiple colors. She wore a gray Soia & Kyo wrap coat over her pregnant belly back in 2018 and showed off her fun side in a red Sentaler outerwear a year later. The belted style is flattering on the Duchess of Sussex's figure, whether she's expecting or not, and suited Meghan's preference for coats that didn't distract you from recognizing her royal duties.
A Double-Breasted Coat
Wearing Mackage, Burberry, and Smythe.
Meghan knew she might not be able to rock a PVC coat or casual puffer without raising some eyebrows back in London, so the royal chose classic outerwear pieces that contained subtle designs. When it came to tiny details like a built-in belt or buttons on the coat, these mattered to Meghan. One of her favorite styles was the double-breasted look, as evidenced in the photos above.
Our favorite was the tartan one she wore while visiting Scotland back in 2018. The print, which Kate Middleton also wears frequently, looked great on Meghan and it stood out from her usual solid-colored hue coats.
A Trench Coat
Wearing Aritizia, Martin Grant, and Burberry.
A trench coat (opens in new tab) is an essential part of anyone's closet, so of course Meghan owned a few in this style. (The outerwear also works very well for the kind of weather she experiences in Los Angeles.) In line with her taste for neutrals, Meghan has mostly worn versatile olive and beige trenches. (She debuted two light-colored options when she embarked on the 16-day royal tour in 2018 with Prince Harry.) They're definitely the perfect piece to layer on top of her designer dresses or even jeans, when she's going the more casual route.
A Tailored Coat
Wearing Smythe, Club Monaco, and Smythe.
Meghan never met a tailored wool coat she hasn't liked. The outerwear in this category differs slightly from her double-breasted style in that there are less buttons and feature v-neck lapels, though her maroon Club Monaco coat had a sharp collar. The overall fit is slim, clinging close to her silhouette. She owns a tailored wool coat in various colors, as seen above, which kind of makes me question if I should invest in a cobalt blue jacket as well.
A Blanket-Like Coat
Wearing Club Monaco, Line the Label, and Mackage.
One of Meghan's least fussy coats is what I'd like to call her blanket or shawl coat. The oversize style drapes over her body and has a wide, folded lapel. This design is the least polished and tailored of all her outerwear, which was refreshing to see because it proved she didn't completely abandon her tastes pre-royal life. (She can wear all the "blanket coats" she wants now!) The colors she chose for the outerwear were in muted tones, which made styling them for public events easier. Meghan's all about looking cozy and comfy 24/7 with this number.
Marina Liao is the former fashion news editor at MarieClaire.com, where she covered celebrity style (from Meghan Markle to Katie Holmes), fashion trends, and shopping advice, plus conducted original interviews with industry insiders. She's also had many opportunities to write content in other areas such as beauty, food, tech, and even home. Her previous fashion stints include POPSUGAR and Cosmopolitan.
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