What styling advice should Meghan Markle take at this point?

Prince Harry and Meghan Markle visit Social Bite

I keep saying that Meghan Markle is a quick study and she’s learning a lot “on the job,” so to speak. Where the Duchess of Cambridge was largely coddled by the palace and by the press for years, Meghan is hitting the ground running, either by her own choice or out of necessity. I also get the feeling that she’s reading coverage about herself, which is fine – Kate reads coverage about herself, and I’m sure William and Harry read stuff too. So I’d like to offer some suggestions for Meghan, based off today’s appearance in Edinburgh:

Enough with the black trousers/black turtleneck combo. I like wearing black too. Everything matches and it makes me feel like a ninja. But this the second time you’ve worn an all-black outfit underneath your lighter or patterned coat. I get that you want to keep warm and keep it simple and possibly keep it monochromatic. But if you chose the tartan Burberry coat in green and blue, why not an all-blue ensemble underneath? A chic pair of navy trousers with a navy cashmere t-neck would have looked amazing.

Enough with the too-long pants. I defended your too-long inseam previously, but these Veronica Beard trousers are much too long. I get it – you’re not tall. But longer trousers don’t make you look longer, they just look sort of sloppy.

Double-check the sizing on your coats. Especially coats with build-in shoulder pads. If you’re preference is for looser-fitted coats, that’s fine. But you now have the money and connections to get the coats properly tailored so that you can have a looser coat without it looking like you’re wearing someone else’s coat.

Don’t encroach on the Duchess of Buttons’ territory. I get that it’s a fine line – you were criticized for wearing bathrobe-style coats and now you’re being accused of stepping all over Kate’s buttons zeal. But find a balance!

Keep wearing trousers. I love that you wear trousers! Keep it up! Just get them hemmed properly.

Hair-touching. I’ve given you a pass because you’re probably nervous and God knows, Kate spent much of her first four years of duchessing as fidgety hair-toucher too. But be aware of it – you’re touching your hair a lot. Too much.

Wear more color. You can still be monochromatic, just move out of the all-black style. Go for all-red or all-pink or all-navy.

Don’t let your husband-to-be get eaten by a pony.
You will be sad if a pony eats him.

Prince Harry and Meghan Markle visit Edinburgh Castle

Prince Harry and Meghan Markle visit Edinburgh

Harry Meghan Edinburgh

Photos courtesy of WENN.

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99 Responses to “What styling advice should Meghan Markle take at this point?”

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  1. erni says:

    Button on her pants *gasps*

    • Hazel says:

      I like those! I’ve never seen pearl buttons used that way. And I second each of Kaiser’s styling points.

      • Princessk says:

        Why are people complaining about her touching her hair? Does Meghan have control over the wind?

      • Honey says:

        I instantly thought of Prince as in “ you don’t have to be rich to be my girl; you don’t have to be cool to rule my world” when I saw the overly long trousers with pearl bottoms. Sexy MF just shaking that . . .

        Anyway, her trousers are too long and I sometimes feel that she pairs the wrong tops with the wrong bottoms. I wear black slacks
        Just about everyday, so not complaints. However, if she just wanted to shake it up a bit, then I say go for it.

    • Lahdidahbaby says:

      I agree with Kaiser on most points, though not especially on the “Go for all-red or all-pink or all-navy” bit–well, the navy would be nice, but I don’t think Meghan is especially a pink or red girl, and she looks wonderful in dark colors, which I find chic and refreshing. But those pants, though I like them, are as Kaiser says, WAY TOO BIG AND WAY TOO LONG. I also have to agree that the coat is too big and it swamps her. The purse is cool. I want it. Want it!

    • Lilly says:

      Ha ha. My first thought on the headline was “None, she’s doing fine.” But, I don’t think the tone of this piece is bad and I stick with my first thought. She’s doing well and is so lovely.

  2. Citresse says:

    I’d like to see MM with a flappers 20’s hair style ie- short, wavy then take lots of portrait shots in gowns and feathers.

  3. Rhys says:

    She does look like she is always wearing someone else’s coat, I agree. I like the idea behind the kind of pieces she chooses, but she needs to tailor them and/or pick the right sizes.

    • Princessk says:

      Meghan does not have a wardrobe allowance yet, and full access to stylists and seamstresses. Once Meghan is HRH she will have more control.

      • O Howie says:

        She’s wearing a $3000 coat so she DOES have access to a wardrobe allowance. Her outfit today in total cost about $5000. She can’t afford that on her own (she isn’t even paying for her own wedding dress) so someone is paying for it. Likely Prince Charles has already given her a clothing allowance.

      • Sam says:

        ….those are her damn money she’s spending and she can considering some of the stuff she’s worn recently has been from her own wardrobe pre Harry.She isn’t getting taxpayers money until she marries in and that’s a fact.wth

      • Surely after years of auditioning and being in the spotlight as an actress MM has some idea of what suits her and what doesn’t, even without the help of a stylist. Cannot understand the oversized coats, too long trousers and most irritating of all, the long flyaway hair. She has a lovely figure, get clothes tailored, how hard can it be? As to the hair, any sane person knows Wales, Scotland, anywhere in winter will be windy, tie up the hair, there are multitudes of hair styles to choose from. Princess Diana was young and naieve, but she caught on a lot quicker than her two daughters-in-law.

  4. Sayrah says:

    The long pants. How did no one notice this?

    • CynicalAnn says:

      This-they’re dragging in the mud. Ugh. Otherwise they’re great.

      • someone says:

        Right, you just know the edge of pants are all dirty and ragged after she walked around outside dragging them on the ground.

    • Lahdidahbaby says:

      Yes! How could that get past anyone before she wore them out in public?

      • magnoliarose says:

        Because they probably stretched some beyond already being too long and went from a bit too long to dragging in the dirt too long.
        Rookie mistake.

    • anne says:

      The pants are long by design. If they are any shorter, they loose the effortless chic look.

  5. Who ARE these people? says:

    Controlled hair and tailoring. Otherwise she can wear whatever she likes, and if black is her go-to, so be it.

    • MousyB says:

      Agreed, her pants are too damn long but she should wear what she wants, just as Kate does. I think she is going to continue to dress how she wants regardless of we or tabloids say and I think that’s great.

    • Who ARE These People? says:

      Tailoring as in “proper hem lengths” and “thing fitting properly,” that’s all.

  6. minx says:

    I go with all of the recommendations, particularly getting her clothes tailored, and wearing more color. She has beautiful skin and hair and can wear bold colors that would overwhelm other people.

  7. harla says:

    My only piece of advice would be to be mindful of her posture. She has a tendency to look down a lot, hunch her shoulders and jut her head forward. Fashion wise, definitely hem your pants they should skim just above the ground not drag through the puddles.

  8. Tana says:

    I like it – I mean she has worn this combo before, or something similar, but it’s bloody freezing, so I give her a pass. Now if she wears this in the summer…

  9. Becks says:

    She needs a good tailor!

    • Lahdidahbaby says:

      A-freaking-men. And it’s a shame, because the pieces she selects are all quite nice…just WAY TOO LARGE.

      • Plantpal says:

        maybe she’s just into looser fitting coats? Maybe she doesn’t want everything tailored just so to show off her fabulous body? Maybe she’s just keeping herself to herself (and her prince) for the time being? Maybe the fact that all the sizing is different from anything she’s used to is tricking her a bit?
        I agree with the hair. On her engagemnent video I remember thinking, oh, please don’t turn into Kate, please leave your hair alone. Etc.

      • L says:

        I’ve said it before but I think she is a petite frame… not tall and needs smaller shoulders, arm length etc. I’m a petite frame and when You wear petite sizes, it makes a huge difference!

  10. Anners says:

    She is so beautiful that she makes Harry better looking, too. Or maybe that’s happiness. *shrug*

    I love love love that she’s wearing trousers. Also smiling and looking normal. She gets a pass on everything else from me.

  11. Nicole says:

    That last one made me laugh out loud.
    I agree with the monochromatic sans color, the too long/too wide pants those are my biggest gripes. I can deal with everything else.
    Maybe she and kate share a secret love of buttons. Maybe they *gasp* have this secret closet of things with too big buttons HA

  12. Petty Riperton says:

    If she’s wears bright colors then she’s a narcissistic woman who wants everything to be about her.

    If she reads things about herself then she would’ve worn something colorful by one since this was the criticism for her last few engagements

  13. What's Inside says:

    She needs to polish her image and that sometimes requires a stylist that you can trust. Once she has the image firmly in mind, then she will be gold.

  14. someone says:

    So Harry’s outfit reminds me to ask everyone’s opinion: does navy blue and black go together? My mom always said you don’t wear navy blue and black together. Harry has a navy blue sweater and black pants.

    • Kaiser says:

      Navy & black goes together just fine, but I was raised in a “never wear brown & black together” household.

      • Lahdidahbaby says:

        But Kaiser, Carolyn Bessette Kennedy wore black and brown together in that now-classic pic of her in the fitted black sweater, tan pencil skirt, and rich brown leather boots. Ever since the day that pic first appeared, I have enjoyed wearing black and brown together. For me, the secret to it working is that the pieces are simple and of good quality.

      • WestCoastBetty says:

        Why do you have a Scottish Fold as your avi? Meant for Kaiser, came up under the wrong post.

    • SoulSPA says:

      I simply LOVE navy/black and wear this combo in all seasons.

    • Erinn says:

      I think it’s mostly important to make sure the shades are obviously different. Not like black and a navy that looks like you THOUGHT you were putting on a second black piece, but it was dark and you didn’t notice it was navy until you’d left.

      I don’t really like black and brown together – that was always a no-no. But it can occasionally be pulled off, and again – tone/saturation of the color is important to watch.

    • magnoliarose says:

      There aren’t any rules really. It is about tones and not colors. Lines even more than styles. One of the most stylish women in my life is my grandmother. Her style never really changes, but the tones and lines do. She has worn slightly oversized sunglasses my whole life, but the frames adjust a little over time, but the style has not.
      She has always worn chignons, but they have updated over the years, and yesterday we Face Timed, and she had a low, sleek updo with no puff at the top like she wore in the 90s. So it is lines, and the trick is finding your basic style and what looks good on you.
      Do not follow trends like a slave especially color combination trends. Some of something for fun but go all in and you are stuck.
      Base your wardrobe on 4 or 5 basic colors. Basic colors, not orange. Mine are navy, black, white and brown. Hers are black, ivory, camel and gray. Then you have secondary colors. Hers is red. Mine is red. Within those are different shades and tones and seasons. Then you build and of course branch out, but when you have these colors in mind when you go shopping and see a basic brown rider trendyish jacket say, it is easy to pull together five looks in a second from memory, and it becomes a keeper.
      My grandmother is in Florida right now, but it doesn’t stop her colors from being appropriate. Lighter shades with more accent colors but still the basics.

      • Hotsauceinmybag says:

        Your gran sounds like an icon! Love it.

      • magnoliarose says:

        She brings it even at her age. She is always pulled together. We had to take her to the ER a few years ago and had on her lipstick, earrings and a made sure to be presentable. It wasn’t anything serious, but even then she looks great.
        Society sells women a story that we aren’t attractive or vibrant after a certain age. I look at her, and I know it is a lie.

    • Plantpal says:

      i don’t like black and blue together most of the time. It sounds like one is bruised “black and blue”……

      • Lahdidahbaby says:

        I’ve never heard any other woman say that, Plantpal, but yes, I think of that, too, and for years after I got free of a violent husband I would not wear black and blue together because the black and blue combination scared me, made me feel vulnerable.

  15. BaronSamedi says:

    I honestly don’t understand the hair touching thing? If you wear your hair open you are going to end up touching it a lot when you move around outside. It just tends to get in the way?

    I have honestly never really paid attention to anyone touching their hair a lot. It’s like blinking. People just do it and it gets lost in the noise.

    I am also not sure I agree on the coat criticism. I personally LOVE a good bathrobe style coat. I feel like they are a chic alternative to a buttoned one. And on the tailoring – the current trendy style seems to actually be oversized, slightly boxy looking coats? At least that is what I keep seeing and NOT buying because I feel that only women with a figure like Meghan can get away with that. I can’t wait for the more tailored in the waist ones to come back actually!

    • SoulSPA says:

      Hair touching: never seen a female TV anchor doing it. Or in movies unless super gimmicky. Or a teacher, nurse, salesperson, and I could go on. It’s not nice. It can express nervousness, or hair seems unkept. Doesn’t look good. My biggest pet peeve. I don’t care much about “average” people but not at that royal level. I just can’t.

    • Olive says:

      Ugh the hair criticism is too much here, between the hair touching being such a problem, and Kate’s hair is too long for a woman in her mid-30’s, apparently, because mid-30’s is sooooo old.

  16. Sage says:

    Start with a tailor and work with someone to regain her confidence. She looks nervous.

    She should stick with the neutral colours, it works on her.

  17. Lucy says:

    Still don’t get the big deal around the button thing. It’s either that, or a zipper, or a belt, and not much else. The rest of the advice is good, though. I’m sure Meghan will be fine. I think she has genuine interest in fashion and has worn some lovely things pre-Harry, so I’m positive she’ll improve her current style.

  18. Beth says:

    Was she always touching her hair before she was wearing that big, sparkling, pretty engagement ring?

    • Peeking in says:

      Yes, she was.

    • Valiantly Varnished says:

      I highly doubt that’s the motivation. We all know what her ring looks like it’s been plastered in every publication. Perhaps she is simply tucking her hair behind her ears like I do everyday myself.

    • Olive says:

      Never. She never once touched her hair in public prior to the engagement.

    • magnoliarose says:

      Who? Kate or Meghan? I have heard both criticized for this, so I am curious which one is being discussed here? No snark intended either.

      • Addie says:

        Both women over-utilise their ring hands in public. Kate has done it forever, and now Meghan is doing it too. Perhaps both men suggest their women flaunt the ring. It is unnecessary and… over-egged.

  19. Valiantly Varnished says:

    I think she should keep wearing what she feels confident and good in. She has natural classic taste.

  20. vanna says:

    Honestly I think her style is just fine right now. She is still figuring it out and trying to distance herself from Kate’s style – which is GOOD since her style is rank. I’m sure she’ll add more colour and more bodycon clothing when she feels more comfortable. It’s hard to please the critics and so far she has done an outstanding job by my estimation. I’m happy she’s out there and putting in work already. Makes her seems enthusiastic and willing for the job.

    • Princessk says:

      Meghan is just managing to put things together with things she already has in her wardrobe. She does not have a wardrobe allowance yet.

  21. Alexandria says:

    Can’t go wrong with good tailoring.

    Shorter coats with smaller lapels.

    Put hair up.

  22. KiddV says:

    Navy blue pants and top under that coat would have looked amazing. I do like her pants, the sailor type buttons. A little too long, but not by much.

    • Lahdidahbaby says:

      Yeah, I would love those pants on her if they’d been shortened a wee bit so they didn’t drag.

  23. Adele Dazeem says:

    If you guys recall, the folklore around her rumored fashion inspo Carolyn Bessette Kennedy was that she wore all black to make people NOT focus on her fashion. While I doubt this is the case w Meghan, she does seem to be going extremely low key fashion wise after that engagement photo…no statement necklaces, all basic working girl pieces. Could she be trying to get us to focus on her work and not her looks?

  24. MrsBump says:

    Hmm to me she dresses like someone terrified of making a style faux pas, totally understandable btw given the criticism she received for some of her outfits.
    She’s currently dressing like Jane commoner would, sweater, trousers and coat, not stylish but safe.
    Once she feels a little more confident, I’m sure her wardrobe options will widen a little. Im always so impressed by Queen Letizia, Rania and Carla Bruni when she was the First Lady of France. Their style is/was incredibly polished and professional and it doesn’t feel like it’s so hard to emulate and yet it must be since neither Kate nor Meghan quite manage it, despite their fabulous figures

    • Tea says:

      YES-+1000, that is probably exactly what she is doing. Preventing the commentary Kate gets. But yeah, now she is swinging in the other direction of not doing enough.

    • notasugarhere says:

      I’d like her to look to Queen Letizia’s style when she was Crown Princess. Lots of separates, trouser suits. A professional wardrobe.

  25. PJ says:

    After that video, can we name that adorably fancy, nippy pony “Nibbles”? Just a suggestion. Nibbles, it’s not very polite to chomp on a prince!

    Also, yes, Meghan. Please stop all of the hair touching 😒

    • Princessk says:

      She has no control over the wind!

      • Addie says:

        Then she should make sure she has her up or in a style that doesn’t fly all over the place since a good portion of the visit is outdoors. She knows by now what the weather is like; it’s just common sense for anyone with long hair.

  26. Laura Dawe says:

    I just love her smile and happy eyes! She is truly beautiful. I agree that she needs the assistance of a good tailor but I like that she looks comfortable in what she wears. I also like Catherine’s style, though being a very petite/short woman (like Meghan) I couldn’t pull it off. Both ladies are a pleasure to look at 💕

  27. Anna says:

    Her style before the engagement was actually quite nice and exciting. Now it’s like she only picks clothes that she thinks the public (other women) would prefer seeing her in, not what she herself likes. And I get that she’s not trying to make it all about her clothes, but those trousers and the oversized coats are very distracting.

  28. Saucy says:

    I see she also suffers from theme dressing affliction that engulfs royal wannabe brides. “Scotland, you say? I know nothing about it but I know they wear tartan!”

  29. nat says:

    Honestly it’s almost impossible to not do the hair touching here in the UK. It’s bloody windy all the time in winter so I’ll give her a pass on that. But yes to the properly tailored trousers and coats!

  30. Beluga says:

    I couldn’t care less if she wears boring clothes. She’s going for a professional look and if she dared wear a bright colour people would point to it to shout that she’s an attention seeking narcissist. I would love it if she branched out a bit, it won’t bother me if she never did. As much as I love pretty clothes, I’m more concerned about what she actually does on her engagements than what she wears.

    The hair touching I agree with – it irritates me that Kate’s hands are constantly in her hair and it’s going to irritate me if Meghan continues to do the same. More updos, both of you!

  31. Jenna says:

    1) lol at the pony bit
    2) I watched her on tv once and she touches her hair NONSTOP, it was so distracting. Drove me bananas.

    That is all.

  32. Blaire Carter says:

    God, she had such thick, curly hair. I wonder exactly what treatments she uses to stay that straight. Also, wouldn’t the mist in the air cause it to frizz up?

    • Carey says:

      Probably a Brazilian blowout.

    • Hotsauceinmybag says:

      She probably does a Brazilian blowout with keratin to permanently reduce frizz on the grown out hair and olaplex treatment to keep it smooth and rebond/strengthen the hair shaft from all the heat treatment.

  33. Angel says:

    Yes! Please wear more COLOR! You have the skin tone to wear it and wear it well! 💃🏽

  34. Angel says:

    And I really hope one day she would dare do a wash and wear and bust out a big curly “do” like Tracey Ellis Ross! I dare her!!!!

    • Hotsauceinmybag says:

      I know — same! She’s probably lost most of her curl pattern from all the blowouts though 🙁

      • Princessk says:

        Yes, that is my fear too. Her natural hair is probably damaged through too much straightening .

  35. magnoliarose says:

    Better tailoring and I would advise her not to be afraid to take some risks and get it wrong from time to time. Don’t get in a safe, boring rut where it looks like no time was taken to think through a look. It shows respect for the public.
    Try different hairstyles and don’t look too severe or aging.
    Find some signatures that can carry through time that work for her and give her confidence. Some women love brooches and always have a collection of interesting ones.
    Neutrals are a good base but branch out and wear some cheerful tones. Make sure to have substantial fashion moments when it counts. Iconic Moments. Bianca Jagger and the white suit. CBK and the tan skirt. Diana and the black gown. I know there are others.
    Leave your long if you like it that way.
    You will never please everyone all the time.
    Surprise us sometimes.

  36. tw says:

    Yes, yes, yes! Agree on all!

  37. sdf says:

    not fashion advice but STOP HOLDING HIS HAND ALL THE TIME!

  38. Tashiro says:

    I say wear whatever the hell you want to wear. If you want to wear black, pants or turtlenecks who cares? Most ppl wear the same thing all the time anyway. If she feels comfortable that’s all that matters.

  39. hey-ya says:

    …moreover she’s not trying to sartorially outshine her hubby2b….hope he appreciates her efforts but doesnt forget she had to be a strong woman in the past….

  40. PamelaJudy says:

    I’m just waiting to see how long before she gets “the chat” about being to handsy with Harry in public. I like that they’re casual and very obviously smitten with each other but I suspect it’s protocol not to be too touchy feely all the time. You rarely see Kate and Wills touching. I remember watching the Danish royal wedding and Mary put her hand on Frederick’s knee when they were sitting at the altar, in a very naturally affectionate way. He held her hand for a few secs and then removed it from his leg.