4 Royally Banned Trends Meghan Markle Can Wear Now

It was the announcement heard around the world: Earlier this year, Prince Harry and Meghan Markle revealed their plans to step back as senior royals and spend most of their time in the U.S. Everyone has their own opinion on the change, but there's no denying that their life will look very different outside of the confines of royal duties. And yes, we predict that the ramifications will also extend to Markle's wardrobe.
While they will likely attend plenty of charitable functions, the events won't be sanctioned by the queen—which means Markle probably won't feel as much pressure to wear something that screams "duchess." For example, she used to be frequently photographed in ripped jeans before her marriage but never stepped out in them after joining the royal family. Now, we expect Markle to revert to her old ways and dust out some of her pre-royal favorites. Scroll down to see and shop the trends we predict Markle will be wearing more of.
Bare Legs
Yes, Markle has bent the rules on this one in the past, but royal reporters insist that Queen Elizabeth suggests women wear tights—even if they're sheer—while conducting royal duties. Now, Markle has more freedom to ditch tights, while Kate Middleton is expected to continue to wear them almost anytime her hemlines are shorter.
Ripped Jeans
Prior to her wedding, Markle was often seen in ripped skinny jeans. After becoming the Duchess of Sussex, she ditched ripped jeans in favor of sleek dark-wash versions. Perhaps we will now see a return to her shredded blues of yore.
Dark Nail Polish
Royal reporters say that there is an unspoken rule about royals and nail polish. They typically wear neutral shades like nude and light pink and rarely step out in dark colors. But now that Markle is leaving royalty behind, she can go back to wearing the dark colors she wore before getting married.
Leggings
Before joining the royal family, Markle was often photographed in leggings en route to yoga. But while she was in the spotlight as the Duchess of Sussex, she traded in the causal staple and wore trousers instead. Since moving to Canada, she's already been photographed in leggings, so we're considering that a harbinger of what's to come.
Next, an expert told me the 5 most soothing colors to wear right now.

Erin got her start as a Who What Wear intern in 2011—back when the site only published a single story per day. (We have since increased that number twentyfold.) She graduated magna cum laude from USC and lives in Los Angeles. In college, she also interned at Refinery29, where she was promoted to editorial assistant and then assistant editor. After nearly three years at R29, she came back to WWW in 2015, where she is now the Associate Director of Fashion News. From the Oscars to the Met Gala, she leads the site's entire red carpet coverage strategy. She specializes in celebrity and fashion news but also enjoys writing travel features and runway reports. She frequently contributes to WWW's social accounts and has a sizable following on her personal TikTok.
-
My Mom Only Shops Affordable Fashion—I Sent Her These 27 Chic Rich-Looking Pieces for Fall 2025
Everything is under $100.
-
All of the Coolest People I Follow Just Bought Into This New Fall Denim Shape
No, it's not barrel, wide leg, or bootcut.
-
This Just In: The Denim Wash That's About to Dominate Every Cool Outfit This Fall
Will you love it or hate it?
-
This Classic Shoe Is Every Parisian's Secret to Making Jeans Look Elevated in Fall
And you probably already own it.
-
Summer or Fall, This Is the Casual But Elegant Flat-Shoe Trend That Always Looks Good With Jeans
As seen on Jennifer Aniston.
-
I Just Started Investing—31 Chic Pieces That Will Have Me Dressing the Part
Effortless and elevated is the goal.
-
Spotted on Zoë Kravitz on a Stroll With Harry Styles: Fall 2025's It-Girl Denim Trend
Their style is already in sync.
-
The Numbers Don't Lie: This Is the Only Denim Trend More Popular Than Baggy Jeans Right Now
According to data.