It seems like Meghan Markle decided to take a few pages out of Jackie Kennedy’s playbook when it comes to fashion and style. And who could blame her? Jackie always looked amazingly well put together. So when Meghan tried to copy some of her looks or borrow elements (like the pillbox hat), she looked stunning. However, there’s a difference between trying to copy looks and attempting to emulate the style in your own way with a nod to Jackie. That requires a lot of trial and error, and in some cases Meghan didn’t quite hit the mark. Let’s take a look at some of these.
1. Meghan wore a caped Givenchy dress during her first solo outing with the Queen
During her first solo engagement with Queen Elizabeth, Meghan dressed up in a Givenchy dress with a black belt and a cape-like overlay. It looked like a nod to the First Lady’s look. The outing looked like it was a great success, and both Meghan and the Queen seemed to enjoy each other’s company, and both were smiling and in good spirits.
However, the cape detail on Meghan’s outfit made the whole look a bit fussy instead of sleek and structured. The dress itself was very Jackie in terms of silhouette, but the cape part was confusing. Meghan also could’ve accessorized a bit more, because when you go for such a structured look, it’s the accessories that do the heavy lifting.
2. The off-the-shoulder Trooping the Colour dress that caused all the fuss
Meghan’s Trooping the Colour appearance in 2018 was one of the most discussed topics for a while. Her blush-colored Carolina Herrera outfit had strong Jackie Kennedy vibes. The color, the fabric-covered buttons, that matching hat—it was all very 1960s. The only thing that people had a problem with was the neckline. The off-the-shoulder moment not only modernised Meghan’s outfit, but also sparked a significant media reaction. Trooping the Colour even is very traditional, and baring shoulders isn’t the usual go-to for that type of event. It’s not strictly prohibited, but some saw Meghan’s off-the-shoulder neckline as a huge deal.
3. The black Emilia Wickstead Anzac Day look that needed better proportions
Sometimes you can have the best outfit, but if it’s not tailored and balanced to your proportions, it looks off. This is exactly what happened in April of 2018 when Meghan attended the Anzac Day service in London. She wore a beautiful bespoke Emilia Wickstead two-piece skirt suit. It was classic tailoring, a formal silhouette for the occasion, it should’ve been perfect and very Jackie in theory.
But the length of the skirt just didn’t work, it was too long, mid-calf, and made the whole look unbalanced and too heavy. The shape just felt wrong on Meghan, which is such a shame, because if only they made the hem shorter, perhaps just below the knee, it would’ve looked great.
4. The pre-royal printed shift that had the right decade but not the right refinement
This was before Meghan became a royal, so we can’t exactly be sure what she was going for, but the dress she wore to the USA Network 2013 Upfront event in New York is sometimes mentioned in the discussions of her trying to go for a Jackie-inspired look. The shape and pattern of this dress are definitely 1960s-inspired, but the styling is just nonexistent.
Jackie liked her outfits curated to the smallest detail and accessorized perfectly. And while the dress Meghan wore could be considered a mod shift dress, the way she wore it is giving wearing vs. styling when compared to anything similar Jackie would wear.
5. The wrinkled neutrals that proved Jackie’s energy needs maintenance
Meghan leaned into soft neutrals and crisp separates at the 2023 Invictus Games. She wore monochrome looks built around cream and white pieces. The vibe was meant to be relaxed luxury, understated polish, and expensive but casual. But it’s the attention to detail that was missing.
Jackie could absolutely dress down, but she liked a clean line, and even when she was wearing casual clothes, she still made it look intentional. We understand that certain fabrics wrinkle, and it’s ok when you’re off duty, but when you’re showing up to an event looking rumpled and like your trousers lost a fight with the car seat, that’s not very Jackie.
