How Kate Middleton and Meghan Markle Embraced 2023’s Style Trends: From Silent Luxury to Statement Shoulders

Meghan Markle and Kate Middleton sported a variety of looks this year, with each drawing inspiration from popular trends, colors and aesthetics.

Both women were seen wearing monochrome outfits, quiet luxury-inspired pieces and trending knitwear while attending events, appearing at speaking engagements and walking the red carpet. However, while the sisters-in-law were both praised for their respective style choices, each approached their looks with vastly different lenses.

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Here, WWD breaks down the similarities and differences between Markle and Middleton’s style statements throughout 2023.

Off-the-Shoulder Dresses

Each woman put their own spin on the popular off-the-shoulder silhouette when on the red carpet at events. While Markle embraced quiet luxury at the Variety Power of Women event in Los Angeles on Nov. 16 in a camel Proenza Schouler dress with asymmetric shoulder detail and a thigh-high slit, Middleton arrived at the EE BAFTA Film Awards in London on Nov. 9 styling her flowing white Alexander McQueen gown with a pair of black opera-length gloves.

Silk Blouses

Both Markle and Middleton brought a unique perspective to the way they styled their respective silk blouses. While Markle leaned into a darker color palette, choosing a deep caramel-colored L’Agence blouse to match her brown trousers during day five of the Invictus Games Düsseldorf in Germany on Sept. 13, Middleton chose a light shade of pink as a base for her Alexander McQueen monochromatic power suit during her visit to Wales on May 25.

Monochrome

Though each sister-in-law styled a cream monochrome look using pieces of high-quality knitwear, their choice of silhouette made the two looks decidedly different. While speaking at the Project Healthy Minds’ World Mental Health Day Festival on Oct. 10, Markle paired her cream off-the-shoulder Altuzarra sweater with a pair of wide-leg trousers. To mark World Mental Health Day on Oct. 12, Middleton opted for a more fitted Sezane sweater and paired hers with a knit pencil skirt in the same shade.

Blazers

Both women chose to style the popular blazer trend so that it matched with their personal aesthetic. While Markle wore a more minimal fitted linen blazer in cream to attend day six of the Invictus Games Düsseldorf on Sept. 14, Middleton chose a boxy ’80s-inspired mint Balmain blazer that featured large white buttons and shoulder pads to attend day one of the Wimbledon Championships on July 14.

High-Neck Tops

Each woman chose to style a simple high-neck top in different ways. Markle chose to pair her simple knit top during the warmer weather, coordinating with high-waisted pants, to attend the Invictus Games Dusseldorf’s One Year to Go event on Sept. 9, while Middleton cozied up in a granita pink Hobbs Lara Merino wool roll-neck sweater with a matching Tilda coat in the same shade to visit Windsor Foodshare on Jan. 26.

Knitwear

With two styles of knitwear, each woman presented her own take on a classic preppy style. Markle’s choice of knitwear, a white J.Crew Giselle V-neck sweater blazer, gave her look an aptly sporty twist during day six of the Invictus Games Düsseldorf on Sept. 13, while Middleton’s choice of knitwear, a gray sleeveless Ceffin Studio sweater, was sharp and casual during her visit to the Vsi Razom community hub on Oct. 4.

Collared Dresses

With two different choices in a collared dress, each sister-in-law was able to create an entirely different look. Markle chose a Banana Republic shirtdress in true black for day four of the Invictus Games Düsseldorf on Sept. 12, while Middleton chose a two-tone ME + EM dress in bright pink for her visit to the Chelsea Flower Show on May 22.

Everything Kate Middleton Has Worn in 2023

Launch Gallery: Everything Kate Middleton Has Worn in 2023

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