Throughout history, royal women have been admired, emulated and celebrated for their style choices.
In modern times, Queen Elizabeth II’s style mantra is to never be too trendy, but also never go out of style, striking the perfect balance that gave her a timeless and distinctive look in the final decades of her life.
Her granddaughters, Princess Kate and Meghan Markle, have more freedom when it comes to following modern trends, but they too often strike a balance between staying on top of fashion and taking inspiration from the past.
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Both royals have demonstrated a taste for vintage-inspired outfits throughout their marriages to Prince William and Prince Harry, resulting in some of the most celebrated royal fashion moments in recent years.
Here, Newsweek presents a collection of Meghan and Kate’s best vintage-inspired fashion moments, from ’50s-style ball gowns to elegant ’40s skirt suits.
Meghan Markle – Statement capes and collars
When Meghan Markle made her final official appearance as a working royal at Westminster Abbey in March 2020, she wore a powerful 1950s-inspired outfit designed by Emilia Wickstead.
The emerald green calf-length long-sleeve day dress came with an asymmetrically draped cape and a hat embellished with green tulle and adorned with an oversized bow.
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Meghan Markle – Glamorous 50s Ball Gown
Meghan once again opted for a 1950s-inspired look when she attended the 2021 Salute to Freedom Gala in New York City, wearing a brand new ball gown designed by Carolina Herrera.
The event was the first major red carpet ceremony Meghan has attended since stepping down from the royal family, and her vibrant red silk design, with a plunging neckline and petal-paneled skirt, added a dramatic touch to the occasion.
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Princess Kate – 80s Elegance
Princess Kate wore an elegant black and white polka dot dress with a 1980s-inspired silhouette to the memorial service for the late Prince Philip at Westminster Abbey in March 2022.
The dress was designed by Alessandra Rich, a designer who creates a modern twist on vintage and retro aesthetics. Kate’s dress featured a pleated skirt with a side slit and jeweled buttons on one shoulder. Princess Kate paired the dress with a wide-brimmed feathered hat reminiscent of Edwardian fashion from the 1900s.
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Meghan Markle – Classic Tailoring
Meghan chose a classic coat dress inspired by historical men’s tailoring for the Queen’s Golden Jubilee celebrations in London in June 2022.
The Duchess wore a chic white coat dress designed by French fashion house Christian Dior, which featured a matching covered belt, oversized collar detail and pleated back vents.
The look was accessorized with a 1970s-style molded hat and other Dior accessories.
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Princess Kate – 40s skirt suit
Kate wore a striking deep navy floral skirt suit by Erdem to attend the Commonwealth Day service at Westminster Abbey in 2023, which will be her first service under her new title as Princess of Wales.
The suit featured a fitted jacket with a fit-and-flare waist and a mid-length ruffled skirt with a contrasting white lining.
The suit is reminiscent of the “Bar suit” style introduced by Christian Dior in 1947 and widely imitated throughout the 1940s.
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Princess Kate – 90s Chic
Kate looked to the 1990s for inspiration for one of her most lauded looks to date: the green coatdress she wore to the 2023 Military Flag Ceremony in London.
For the event, Kate wore a striking emerald green coat dress by Singaporean designer Andrew G. Ng, which featured silk piping and contrasting jeweled buttons.
The design is similar to the clean, streamlined outfits that Princess Diana favoured in the latter years of her life.
Kate paired her coat dress with an oversized hat designed by British milliner Philip Treacy.
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James Crawford Smith is Newsweek’s royal correspondent based in London. You can find him on X (formerly Twitter) at @jrcrawfordsmith and read his articles on Newsweek’s The Royals Facebook page.
Do you have a question you’d like our experienced royal correspondents to answer about King Charles III and Queen Camilla, Prince William and Duchess Kate, Meghan Markle and Prince Harry or their families? Email us at royals@newsweek.com. We’d love to hear from you.
