A Royal Restart

FASHION RESTART A Royal

HOW ROYALTY HAS SHAPED THE WARDROBE OF PAST AND PRESENT DUCHESSES

By Grace Reber, Staff Writer

It’s no secret that there are many duties that come with being a royal. Royal rules extend far past public etiquette into the wardrobes of princes and princesses alike. For those born into royalty, these style standards are customary, but for those who marry into the family, it is possible to see style changes from before and after their royal weddings.

These transitions from a ‘normal’ to royal wardrobe can be clearly seen in the British royal family. The women who have married into this family have had drastic style revisions, the most iconic being Meghan Markle, Kate Middleton and Princess Diana. Many have speculated the rules that must be followed when it comes to a royal closet, including a preference for skirts and dresses over pants, skirts of an appropriate length,and modest necklines. While duchesses are occasionally seen breaking these rules, their royal style is a world away from their pre-wedding wardrobe.

The most recent royal and perhaps the most talked-about of the duchesses, Meghan Markle, went through arguably the most photographed transition into her regal style. Pre-wedding, Markle was in the spotlight for a number of different acting roles, frequently wearing mini-skirts and low cut tops. Her style represented modern business casual clothing, incorporating textured pencil skirts, silky midi-length dresses and v-cut tops. Additionally, her outfits centered around the deep blues, bright pinks and fiery reds, a stark contrast to her current go-to palette now as the Duchess of Sussex.

After her marriage to Prince Harry, the Duchess traded the bright colors and satin ensembles for a more modest, neutral-toned wardrobe. The Duchess’ current color palette consists of deep jewel tones including emerald greens, deep reds and purples, as well as neutrals and blush pinks. This distinct difference is one of the most visible of the royal family With color-coordinated looks and a lack of diversity among outfits, the classic royal style has not shifted much in the past century. Though the royal style lacks range, Markle continues to incorporate her previous style into her new royal wardrobe. Markle’s shift in style has been placed on display for the world to see, further highlighting exactly how royalty has changed her wardrobe.

Following the first major royal wedding of Queen Elizabeth II’s grandchildren, all eyes were on Kate Middleton, Duchess of Cambridge. Unlike Markle, prior to Middleton’s royal wedding, she was not frequently in the public eye. However, her 2000s style was not necessarily hidden from the public. Before entering into the royal family, Middleton can be seen photographed in the classic early 2000s low-rise jeans and white cami combo. In addition to her everyday denim looks, Middleton sported club-wear that included sequined, low-cut dresses and short skirts. Middleton’s pre-royal clubbing style is unrecognizable in comparison to her current wardrobe as the Duchess of Cambridge.

As the Duchess of Cambridge, Middleton is far more known for her modern fashion. Her trademark blues and neutrals are what she’s now associated with, rather than her pre-royal style. Unlike the Duchess of Sussex, Middleton experiments with her royal wardrobe. She’s often seen in floral printed dresses and textured ensembles, while still remaining loyal to the rigid royal style recommendations.

In 2019, Middleton wore one of her most iconic ensembles following her Royal Tour of Pakistan.1 Her floor-length, shimmering emerald green gown is reminiscent of her pre-wedding flashy club style,while still incorporating the royal elements of high necklines, draping gowns, and jewel tones. When considering a royal wardrobe, many look to the Duchess of Cambridge, as she has accumulated the perfect regal wardrobe in her nine years of royalty.

The ‘People’s Princess’, the late Diana Spencer, has been considered a style icon even long after her death. The Princess of Wales’s style outside of the royal rules had two different eras, before her marriage and after her divorce to Prince Charles. Before her princess-hood, Spencer’s style consisted of plain trousers and sweaters. Her post-divorce style differentiates between a “commoner” style and a royal wardrobe. Following her divorce, Princess Diana stepped out in one of her most iconic looks, an off-theshoulder little black dress deemed “The Revenge Dress,” which was worn in the middle of her four year separation from Prince Charles before their divorce in 1996.2 Given the many regulations surrounding royal attire, Diana arguably used her wardrobe as a weapon against the royal family following her split.

During her years as a princess, the Princess of Wales followed most of the rules that came with being royalty, yet many labeled her style controversial. While she stuck to many of the royal rules, including dress length and necklines, her choice of colors and fabrics tended to stray from the classic royal style. However, her regal-wear is a huge adjustment from her style before and after marriage. This shift is clear in the raised level of elegance following her marriage to Prince Charles, and her more risque, daring fashion statements following their divorce.

The Duchess of Cambridge, the Duchess of Wales and Princess Diana all exemplify the harsh restrictions that come with a royal wardrobe. In color, cut and length, royal women are held to a standard of modesty, femininity and classiness in all aspects of life, especially in their wardrobe. Although none of these women grew up in the royal realm, their change in style is very evident from their appearances before and after marrying into the royal family. Style is just another addition to the list of changes and rules that come with being regal. ■

“The women who have married into this family have had drastic style revisions, the most iconic being Meghan Markle, Kate Middleton and Princess Diana.”

2 Marie Claire, “Princess Diana’s most iconic style moments, from Revenge Dress to wedding dress” Marie Claire. 2020.