Meghan Markle is known for her chic style, which has evolved significantly since she and Prince Harry stepped down as working royals and moved to California to start a new life together.
But as she and the Duke of Sussex carry out ‘quasi-royal’ duties including their tour of Nigeria and events marking the Invictus Games, a new trend appears to be emerging in Meghan’s outfits as she dons trousers, skirts and dresses that appear altogether too long for her.
Instead of tailoring her maxi outfits so they perfectly match her 5ft 6in frame, the Duchess often wears clothes that no doubt add to her chic style, but also drag along the floor as she walks.
It might seem an odd miss in the otherwise incredibly stylish Duchess’s repertoire – but a celebrity style expert has suggested Meghan’s perceived oversight may actually be a very deliberate decision on her part in order to create a particular illusion.
During Meghan and Harry’s ‘quasi-royal’ tour of Nigeria, the Duchess showcased several examples of very long clothing.
One such outfit came in the city of Abuja, where she opted for an aptly-named Windsor dress in blush silk, which retails for £1,106.
Its California-based designer, Heidi Merrick (one of the Duchess’s favourites) actually offers a slightly altered version of the frock for petite customers via its tailoring service.
However as Meghan danced the afternoon away at the Wuse Lightway Academy, she appeared not to have opted for the tailored version of the frock and instead donned a version which skimmed the floor as she bopped to Jump Up, Turn Around.
Similarly in Lagos, the former senior working royal chose to wear a Carolina Herrera Silk Overlay Column gown in ‘taxi cab’ yellow.
Meghan was all smiles as she soaked up the sun in the 30-degree weather and visited the Lagos State Governor’s Office.
And yet again, she wore a lengthy vibrant and flamboyant ensemble that dragged along the grass lawn.
Celebrity stylist Rochelle White told Femail that the Duchess likely wears long clothing that covers her feet because it gives the illusion of height.
She said: ‘Long dresses and trousers, depending on body type, can help to elongate the body and shape.
They can make you look taller and depending on the styles can help to define areas of the body you either want to highlight or cover up.’
When the royal couple spent a week in Frankfurt last summer to attend the Invictus Games, Meghan wore an all-brown ensemble on a day that saw them both watching events and attending a NATO meeting.
This was made up of a chocolate-coloured blouse and creased taupe trousers that trailed along the floor.
She stood next to Prince Harry – who is a whopping 6ft 2inches in height – and although she barely came up to his shoulder, Rochelle says she appears taller because of her outfit choice.
She said: ‘Looking at Meghan, I feel that these styles make her look taller and highlight her silhouette. I feel it makes her look taller.
‘I feel that she knows her body and the things or items that work for her best and is tapping into that with her looks.’
In 2018, during Meghan’s trip to Edinburgh with Harry, she proudly donned a pair of lengthy, flared black trousers which were too long for her despite wearing a pair of heels.
As the Duchess was busy greeting people who braved the unpredictable Scottish weather to see the former royals, the slacks were pulled along the wet concrete, gathering dirt on the bottom of them.
In 2018 during her visit to Sydney, the mother-of-two was pictured walking along the sand in a black and white striped maxi dress and the following year during her visit to Morocco with Harry, Meghan donned a large cobalt patterned frock.
It’s no secret that her wardrobe is different from Kate’s, with Rochelle noting that the Princess of Wales opts for more traditional pieces of clothing.
She said: ‘Meghan has more of trendy edge when it comes to her style. Kate is very classic and chic in her fits and style with traditional pieces thrown in.
‘With Meghan, I feel she is very much herself and has elements that really showcase her personality and personal style.
‘With off the shoulder tops, shorts, co-ords and racer back tops, she doesn’t hide what she likes and what works for her.’
