Maternity Like a Duchess: What Meghan's Pregnancy Fashion Is All About

Ever since the Duke and Duchess of Sussex officially announced they were expecting their first child, we knew the Meghan Markle's maternity style would be nothing short of polished perfection, and it's certainly living up to our to our expectations so far. Refusing to give up on her sartorial USP, so far, we've seen Markle sport chic tailoring, elegant dresses and pared-back separates, as well as directional pieces like coloured leather and asymmetric hems. The final trimester of a pregnancy can throw fashion hurdles your way, but in these early stages, she proves there's no great need to eschew your usual go-to options. From the early stages of her pregnancy right through to her due date, stick with us as we chart Meghan Markle's maternity style.

Style Notes: Meghan looked the epitome of chic as she visited the Royal Variety Charity's residential nursing and care home at Brinsworth House on 18 December 2018. Wearing a Soia & Kyo robe coat, the duchess opted to leave it open to let her Brock Collection dress shine through. 

Style Notes: Making a surprise appearance at the Fashion Awards on 10 December 2018, Meghan presented Clare Waight Keller, who created her Givenchy wedding gown, with the award for Best British Designer of the Year. Naturally, she chose a one-shoulder velvet gown by the atelier for the special occasion. 

Style Notes: On an official engagement to the Hubb Community Kitchen, which raises funds for the victims of the Grenfell Tower fire with the Together: Our Community Cookbook, Meghan looked elegant in her burgundy Club Monaco dress complete with preppy velvet collar, which she effortlessly paired with a co-ordinating Smythe coat. 

Style Notes: On 19 November 2018, Meghan Markle attended the Royal Variety Performance hand-in-hand with husband and soon-to-be father, Prince Harry. Once again opting for a peplum silhouette, her sequinned Safiyaa dress looked the red carpet-part. 

Style Notes: On 11 November 2018, Meghan and Prince Harry attended the Centenary of The Armistice Service at Westminster Abbey; their first public appearance together since their Australian tour. For the service, Meghan donned a navy peplum jacket and a matching skirt. 

Style Notes: Another day, another excellent dress choice from Meghan. To visit Macarthur Girls High School in Sydney on 19 October, the duchess opted for a navy sleeveless dress with a powder-blue hem by London Fashion Week designer Roksanda. The nipped-in waist and circle-cut skirt enhance her hourglass silhouette perfectly, with room for bump growth, too.

Style Notes: As part of their Australian tour, Prince Harry and Markle took to Bondi Beach to meet with the local surfing community. For the occasion, she looked bohemian in a striped maxi dress from Martin Grant—the same designer that created the trench she's worn on repeat. We also love her lei.

Style Notes: Much like sister-in-law Kate Middleton, Meghan is good at rewearing, choosing her Martin Grant trench coat on repeat. The duchess continued her strong maternity style streak in Melbourne on 18 October by slinging it over a Club Monaco dress and flat shoes by Rothy's. Simple but chic.

Related: Where Kate and Meghan (and Hundreds of Other Girls) Go for Flattering Dresses

Style Notes: On 18 October, Meghan and Harry continued their tour of Australia, visiting Melbourne's Royal Botanic Gardens before heading to a reception with local government. To greet fans and meet with the country's politicians, Markle opted for a classic asymmetric dress by Australian designer (kudos, Megs) Dion Lee. Styling it out with her signature Manolo Blahnik pumps and minimal accessories, this is a look we'd gladly emulate any day of the working week.

Style Notes: Our first real glimpse of her off-duty maternity style, Meghan Markle looked chic as she attended a renaming ceremony at Australia's Dubbo Airport on 17 October. For the occasion, Meghan chose a £110 blazer from close friend Serena Williams's clothing line, an untucked shirt by Maison Kitsuné, a pair of dark-wash skinny jeans from Outlander and black suede J.Crew ankle boots. If we were to sum up this look in two words, they'd be "comfortable" and "content."

Style Notes: Seeing as she's only three months along, Meghan Markle can naturally continue to wear non-maternity clothes. This dress, which she wore on 16 October in Sydney, is a prime example of mainline clothing that works for expectant mums. The full pleated skirt on this Brandon Maxwell dress means there's a little room for growth, and you know how much we encourage the rewearing of clothes. Keeping things simple, Meghan chose to accessorise her frock with a pair of butterfly earrings from Princess Diana's personal jewellery collection—a touching tribute.

Related: Meghan Markle Just Wore Another Look by Her Wedding Dress Designer

Style Notes: At their first official engagement since announcing their pregnancy the day prior, Meghan and Harry met the public at Sydney Opera House on 16 October in Sydney. For the occasion, Meghan chose a cream Karen Gee dress, taupe Stuart Weitzman suede shoes, and a versatile Martin Gant trench coat. Meghan clearly knows that sticking to a neutral colour palette is a fail-safe way of looking chic without much effort on her part—a trick to try whether you're expecting or not.

Style Notes: They say hindsight is 20/20, and although we didn't know Meghan was pregnant at the time of Princess Eugenie's wedding in Windsor on 12 October, the fact she fastened the top two buttons on her Givenchy coat to create an A-line silhouette is a sign she was attempting to detract attention from her stomach. Accessorising with a Givenchy bag, Noel Stewart hat and Manolo Blahnik heels, all in a rich navy tone, Meghan once again makes a case for tonal dressing.

Style Notes: While visiting the University of Chichester on 3 October, Meghan was still keeping her pregnancy a secret. Her evergreen leather Hugo Boss skirt might seem like a bold choice, but the rigid fabric actually makes for the perfect mini-bump disguise—how sneaky of you, Megs! Throw in a green shirt from one of our favourite high-street haunts, & Other Stories, and this look is near perfection.

Related: 24 Pieces Meghan Markle Should Be Adding to Her Wardrobe This Autumn

Style Notes: Riding solo, Markle turned to Givenchy—the brand that created her gorgeous wedding dress—once again for an outing on 25 September in London. True to form, the duchess completed her look with Aquazzura heels.

Style Notes: At the time, we wished Meghan would have chosen something more casual to play netball at Loughborough University on 24 September, but seeing as the royals have a penchant for wearing fancy clothes to play sports in, we assumed she was just following suit. However, we now know that her Oscar de la Renta peplum blouse was actually the ideal growing-bump disguise. Paired with Altuzarra trousers and shoes, it made for the ultimate elegant ensemble.

Style Notes: While it's yet to be confirmed, we suspect this outing on 6 September in London was one of the first for the couple after they found out they were expecting. Naturally, Meghan finished her look with a complimenting Dior bag and Aquazzura heels. Oh, to have the wardrobe of a duchess.

Before she was a duchess, Meghan Markle's style was just as good as it is now. Take a look back at her best pre-royal outfits…