Duchess of Royal Style! See Meghan Markle's 18 Best Fashion Moments of 2018

From her power suits to her stunning wedding dresses, Meghan Markle rocked her first year as an official member of the royal family when it comes to style
By Stephanie Petit
December 28, 2018 05:25 PM
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Meghan Markle's fashionable first year as a member of the royal family was put to the test during her royal tour of Australia, Tonga, Fiji and New Zealand with Prince Harry.

For the royal parents-to-be's arrival in Tonga, Meghan opted for a bold red dress – just like the color of the country's flag! – with long sleeves as a precaution against the Zika virus

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The Duchess of Sussex's go-to color of the year was navy. She chose the color for Princess Eugenie and Jack Brooksbank's royal wedding, the Invictus Games opening ceremony, the night before her wedding and several other occasions.

However, it was this look – a navy (and periwinkle!) dress by British Designer Roksanda Ilinčić – from a visit to the Macarthur Girls High School on their royal tour may have taken the cake!

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Moving to the U.K. means dealing with frigid weather, but Meghan's closet is stocked with chic coats to stay warm and look stylish. Before her wedding, Meghan attended the Anzac Dawn Service in a grey coat paired with a high-necked black long-sleeved dress and a wide-brimmed black hat.

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Meghan gave off major Audrey Hepburn vibes in a dark navy bespoke Dior dress for the Royal Air Force centenary celebrations in July.

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Gorgeous in green!

The royal wore an appropriate color for her visit to Dublin with Prince Harry in July.

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Meghan surprised the audience at the British Fashion Awards to honor her wedding dress designer, Clare Waight Keller. The mom-to-be showed off her growing baby bump in a black one-shoulder gown by Givenchy by the designer.

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The Duchess of Sussex has mastered the art of the fascinator!

She was a vision for the couple's arrival in Fiji in a white long-sleeved dress by Australian brand Zimmermann and a matching fascinator by Stephen Jones. She carried a black Kaya Anna clutch and wore black heels.

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Meghan dressed the part for her first solo outing with Queen Elizabeth in June. For the trip to Cheshire (via the royal train), she wore a light beige pencil dress with a cape top by Givenchy (her wedding dress designer!).

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Meghan is a big fan of trench coats, and she has even mastered bringing the cold weather style to summer. In July, she stepped out with Harry wearing a light pink trench dress from up-and-coming Canadian label NONIE.

The duchess purchased the outfit while living in Toronto, just before she moved to London in the fall of 2017.

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For their visit to Fiji, Meghan and Harry embraced island wear! Meghan glowed in a new pink printed ruffle dress by Figue. The $1,495 dress features a wrap silhouette, long sleeves and an asymmetrical ruffle hem with pom pom and seashell details. She paired the ensemble with her Castañer espadrilles and wore her hair in a relaxed updo with flowers in it (courtesy of her wedding hairdresser who joined her on tour!).

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Meghan and Prince looked ready to walk down the aisle again in Tonga. For a formal dinner, the newlywed showed up wearing a white cap-sleeve beaded silk satin column gown by Theia. On her finger was an aquamarine ring from Princess Diana's jewelry collection, which made its debut on Meghan as the couple headed to their wedding's evening reception.

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Baby bump goes glam! For a state dinner in Fiji, Meghan glowed in the light blue Ginkgo cape dress by Safiyaa.

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During a reception in London for young people from around the Commonwealth in July, Meghan turned heads in a bright yellow Brandon Maxwell sheath dress – one of her boldest (and best!) dresses of the year.

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Meghan cheered on Harry in a charity polo match in late July. Despite the heat — the thermometer reached an unusual 91 degrees Fahrenheit! — she pulled off her perfect laid-back California-girl style in a midi-length denim dress by Carolina Herrera. She polished off the look with a straw clutch and sunglasses.

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Meghan made a fairy tale entrance in her most glamorous dress of the royal tour at theAustralian Geographic Society Awards: a tea-length black and white gown by Oscar de la Renta that appropriately featured bird designs. Though they grouped together in the bodice, the bird outlines became more spread out and apparent near the illusion neckline and full skirt.

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One of Meghan's other signature looks? The power suit.

Meghan wore a a black pantsuit by Altuzarra paired with a shirt by Deitas for the WellChild Awards in September. She styled her hair in a low side messy bun.

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Meghan stunned as she made her way to her evening wedding reception in a custom silk Stella McCartney evening dress that featured a high halter neck and daring open back.

"She wore other pieces of mine and we had a friendship. And then she asked me to do her second wedding dress. I was honored and I still am," McCartney told Elle UK.

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Of course, Meghan's showstopping wedding dress topped the list for her best looks of 2018!

Designed by Clare Waight Keller for Givenchy, the stunning silk gown featured an open bateau neckline and sculpted waist. The train flowed in soft round folds cushioned by an underskirt in triple silk organza.

"I wanted a female designer, that was very important, I wanted a British designer because I wanted to embrace my new home in that way," Meghan says in an audio recording at her dress exhibition at Windsor Castle. "I wanted something that felt reflective of the world in a way."

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By Stephanie Petit