How Meghan played the LONG game: from an actress in flesh-flashing mini dresses to the sophisticated, streamlined silhouettes of a true duchess

She has come a long way since she was a ‘suitcase girl’ on Deal or No Deal.

We certainly saw a different Meghan when the actress joined the cast of legal soap Suits, her breakthrough role, in 2011.

But the real change has come since he married into the royal family in 2018.

If the color palette has remained the same, Meghan – now the Duchess of Sussex – has steadily adopted longer and more streamlined silhouettes for a suitably sophisticated look.

Reports that she has teamed up with former Juicy Couture creative director Jamie Mizrahi only add to the sense that Meghan is keen to relaunch herself – along with her new commercial brand, American Riviera Orchard.

Mizrah, who also lives in Montecito, California, has had a long-standing relationship with Meghan’s neighbor Katy Perry as well as Hunger Games actress Jennifer Lawrence.

Here we look back at some of Meghan’s standout fashion moments over the years – and her evolving style as the Duchess plays the long game…

Cool camel shades

One of Meghan Markle’s most notable appearances was at the Variety Power of Women event in Los Angeles in 2023.

The former actress captivated onlookers as she posed for photographs in a Proenza Schouler dress, featuring an asymmetrical off-the-shoulder neckline and thigh-high side slits.

Earlier in 2013, Meghan wore a Lanvin one-shoulder dress, in a similar caramel shade, to a gala at the American Ballet Theatre.

Then she told Hello! Canada: ‘I love this Lanvin dress and wearing neutrals from head to toe. It always elongates your figure – especially with nude Louboutins.

She continued: ‘I absolutely love this look because it speaks to my personal aesthetic: classic and simple.’

Exciting in red

Meghan enjoyed a moment on the red carpet when she attended a Veterans’ Day Gala in New York with Prince Harry in 2021.

She looked radiant in a scarlet silk dress by Carolina Herrera, teamed with Giuseppe Zanotti slingbacks, her favorite Birks earrings and a Cartier Love bracelet.

The Duchess has long been in love with the vibrant shade of pillar box red. Back in 2006, during her appearance on Deal or No Deal, she wore a mini dress in an identical shade.

Meghan’s love of red demonstrates her timeless and bold yet elegant fashion sense.

Denim dresses

Meghan took inspiration from her pre-Duchess days when she chose a Carolina Herrera dress to watch Harry play polo.

The denim design incorporated a wrap front, wide waist belt and full mid-length skirt, perfectly complemented by Aquazzura heels and a J Crew clutch in cream shades.

Similarly, two years earlier, she donned a Yigal Azrouel navy shirt dress for an appearance on the Today Show at NBC Rockefeller Center Studios in New York.

Paired with Sarah Flint leopard print pumps and a patent black tote, the actress showed off her playful side.

Breezy pants

Meghan confidently posed for photographs at the NBC New York Summer Press Day held at the Four Seasons Hotel in 2015.

The highlight of her outfit was a pair of off-white trousers, designed by her friend and fashion designer, Misha Nonoo.

More recently, at a 2022 Invictus Games event in Düsseldorf, the Duchess wore a similar style by Brandon Maxwell.

Tailored from wool-blend twill, these trousers have a belted waist and soft pleats that accentuate their relaxed shape.

To round off her streamlined ensemble, Meghan opted for a knit top by Anine Bing that showed off her shoulders and gave the look a fresh edge.

Shorts suits

The Duchess of Sussex has consistently shown her penchant for shorts suits, a style she has favored for some time.

This was especially evident during her appearance on The Today Show in 2016.

Meghan looked effortlessly glamorous in a Veronica Beard striped two-piece, elevated by sky-high court shoes and a bouncy blow-dry.

While she continues to embrace wearing shorts, Meghan now tends to pair them with flats – as seen during the 2023 Invictus Games.

Jeans and a white shirt

Meghan Markle has often relied on a fail-safe combination of jeans and a white shirt.

For her first public outing with Prince Harry, Meghan wore the ‘Husband’ shirt by Misha Nonoo with ripped skinny jeans and flat shoes.

The couple attended the Invictus Games in Toronto two months before announcing their engagement.

Meghan’s laid-back California girl style was a fitting and welcome choice for the occasion.

Fit-and-flare silhouettes

Meghan appreciates the effortlessly flattering aesthetic of a fit-and-flare dress.

The Duchess has showcased such designs both before and after becoming a mother.

In recent years, however, Meghan has leaned towards mid-length silhouettes, as seen in her choice of a Wales Bonner design for her first public photograph with son Archie.

She teamed her dress with nude court shoes, marking a departure from her previous preference for bolder colors or crocodile prints.

Color block print

The Duchess of Sussex wowed in two blue colourblock dresses a decade apart.

Although they shared similar design elements, these dresses differed significantly in length.

Attending a fashion launch in 2013, Meghan showed off her pins in a jovial Diane von Furstenberg mini dress.

Fast forward to the 2023 Invictus Games, she opted for a long-line shirt dress in similar shades by Carolina Herrera, demonstrating her evolving sense of fashion.

Monochrome

As Meghan herself has put it, her natural style is ‘classy and simple’, which explains her preference for monochrome outfits.

Meghan made one of her first public appearances as an acting actress at the Golden Globe Suites in 2007, wearing a black and white gown by ABS Allen Schwartz.

The bandeau style came complete with oversized bow detailing and a puffball skirt.

Later in 2022, she wore a sophisticated strapless jumpsuit by Gabriela Hearst, continuing her penchant for understated elegance.

Meghan swapped flashy metallic heels for barely-there sandals and completed the look with a burgundy Bottega Veneta bag.