Throughout history, royal women have been praised, emulated and celebrated for their style choices.
In the modern age, Queen Elizabeth II’s style mantra was to never be ahead of fashion but to never be behind, striking the perfect balance which gave her a uniquely timeless look in the last decades of her life.
While her granddaughters-in-law, Princess Kate and Meghan Markle, allow themselves more freedom when it comes to following modern trends, they too have often struck a balance between being fashion forward and drawing inspiration from the past.
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Both royals have displayed a flair for vintage-inspired dressing over the course of their marriages to Prince William and Prince Harry, resulting in some of the most celebrated royal fashion moments of recent years.
Here, Newsweek takes a look a collection of Meghan and Kate’s top vintage-inspired fashion moments, from ’50s-style ballgowns to elegant ’40s-skirt suits.
Meghan Markle – Statement Cape and Color
When Meghan Markle appeared at Westminster Abbey in March 2020 to attend her last official engagement as a working member of the royal family, she did so wearing a powerful 1950s inspired outfit designed by Emilia Wickstead.
The emerald green calf-length day dress with long sleeves featured an asymmetric draped cape topped with a hat embellished with green tulle arranged in an oversized bow.
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Meghan Markle – ’50s Ballgown Glamour
Meghan opted for another 1950s inspired look in the form of an updated ballgown designed by the house of Carolina Herrera for an appearance at the Salute to Freedom gala in New York City in 2021.
The event was the first major red carpet ceremony that Meghan attended after her split from the monarchy and the vivid red silk design with plunging neckline and petal paneled skirt added a sense of drama to the occasion.
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Princess Kate – ’80s Elegance
Princess Kate wore an elegant black and white polka dot dress in a 1980s inspired silhouette for the memorial service in memory of the late Prince Philip held at Westminster Abbey in March 2022.
The dress was designed by Alessandra Rich, a creative who draws on vintage and retro aesthetics with an updated twist. Kate’s dress featured a side slit up the pleated skirt and jeweled buttons along one shoulder. The princess paired the look with a wide brimmed feathered hat reminiscent of the Edwardian fashions of the 1900s.
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Meghan Markle – Classic Tailoring
Meghan selected a classic coat dress look inspired by historic menswear tailoring for the Platinum Jubilee celebrations for Queen Elizabeth II held in London in June 2022.
The duchess wore a chic white coat dress with a matching covered belt, oversized collar detailing and pleated back venting designed by the French fashion house of Christian Dior.
The look was paired with a 1970s inspired molded hat, with matching accessories also from Dior.
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Princess Kate – ’40s Skirt Suit
To attend the Commonwealth Day service at Westminster Abbey in 2023, her first under her new title as Princess of Wales, Kate appeared in a striking deep navy floral printed skirt suit from the brand, Erdem.
The suit featured a closely tailored jacket with fit-and-flare waist silhouette, and a mid-length fluted skirt with contrasting white lining.
The suit is reminiscent in style to the “Bar suit” debuted by Christian Dior in 1947, which was widely replicated throughout the 1940s.
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Princess Kate – ’90s Chic
Kate looked to the 1990s for the inspiration behind one of her most celebrated looks to date, a green coat dress worn for the Trooping the Colour celebrations in London in 2023.
For the event, Kate wore the striking emerald green coat dress with silk piping and contrast jeweled buttons which was designed by Singaporean designer Andrew Gn.
The design is similar to the sleek streamlined outfits favored by Princess Diana in the latter years of her life.
Kate paired the coat dress with an oversized hat designed by British milliner, Philip Treacy.
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James Crawford-Smith is Newsweek‘s royal reporter, based in London. You can find him on X (formerly Twitter) at @jrcrawfordsmith and read his stories on Newsweek‘s The Royals Facebook page.
Do you have a question about King Charles III and Queen Camilla, William and Kate, Meghan Markle and Prince Harry, or their family that you would like our experienced royal correspondents to answer? Email royals@newsweek.com. We’d love to hear from you.
