Meghan Markle's Best Outfits In Her 40s (So Far)

Although there are some outdated items that women over 40 should avoid wearing, fashion is ultimately subjective — every woman should wear what she feels best in, regardless of other's opinions. One woman who has always done just that (even before entering her 40s) is Meghan Markle. Meghan, who married Prince Harry in 2018, was in the spotlight long before entering the British royal family. When her acting career took off with the 2011 hit legal drama "Suits," Meghan could be somewhat adventurous with her outfits. However, after becoming the Duchess of Sussex, Meghan's style was scrutinized on a granular level — infamously, Meghan Markle's 2018 Trooping the Colour outfit was labeled inappropriate by royal standards for her bare shoulders, and even Meghan Markle's wedding dress was deemed inappropriate for another antiquated reason.

Since stepping back from senior royal duties alongside Prince Harry in 2020, a lot has changed for Meghan; she's developed her food and lifestyle brand "As ever," traveled the globe of her own accord (not the royal family's), and welcomed her and Prince Harry's second child, Princess Lilibet. During this time, Meghan also entered her 40s. The Duchess of Sussex, who turned 44 in August 2025, has gone through a stunning style transformation over the years. Now that she's started a new chapter in her life, her approach to fashion is changing once again. We've gotten to see Meghan embrace her 40s quite stylishly so far, and we can't wait to see what the future holds for the "As ever" founder (and her wardrobe).

Meghan Markle's inappropriate outfit at the 2023 Invictus Games became beloved online, and for good reason. Meghan attended the morning events on September 15 in a casual cream Celine blazer and Zara belted romper, which she dressed up with a pair of black sunglasses and Saint Laurent leather slides. The Duchess of Sussex looked effortlessly chic, even though some believed that her bare legs were inappropriate for the event. Despite the bit of criticism, the majority of her fans loved the outfit (as do we!).

Meghan Markle proved that she's free from royal style rules with an "inappropriate" outfit during her April 2026 trip to Australia, and did so beautifully. The Duchess of Sussex attended the Nexus Summit in Melbourne, where she was pictured in a black off-the-shoulder top, black pants, and strappy black heels. This look is undoubtedly classic, yet her exposed shoulders gave it a bit of an edge — as we know, off-the-shoulder dresses used to get Meghan in trouble during her early days as a royal.

Meghan Markle attended the ESPY Awards for the first time in 2024, showing off her figure on the red carpet in a crisp white Oscar de la Renta gown. Meghan's dress featured an exposed back due to the halter top, and was paired with some low-key bling from Cartier and a pair of black Celine sandals. The "As ever" founder looked incredibly chic at the ceremony as she posed with sports icons like Serena Williams; she even coordinated inverse black-and-white looks with husband Prince Harry.

The Duchess of Sussex gave us some amazing summer fashion inspiration while on a trip to Cartagena, Colombia in August 2024. Meghan Markle arrived to the Escuela Tambores de Cabildo, a local drum school, hand-in-hand with Prince Harry. She donned a black maxi dress printed with rope details for the day's events, which included a special drum lesson with Colombian Vice President Francia Márquez and her husband Rafael Yerney Pinillo. Meghan completed the stylish look with a pair of brown heeled sandals and the perfect bouncy ponytail. 

Given that filmmaker Tyler Perry is the godfather of Meghan Markle and Prince Harry's daughter Lilibet, it's no surprise that Meghan attended the 2024 Paley Honors Fall Gala, where Perry was the guest of honor. Meghan wore a strapless black gown from Oscar de la Renta. With a low sweetheart neckline and thigh-high slit, this dress certainly wouldn't have been in Meghan's wardrobe if she were still an active member of the royal family. Nevertheless, the Duchess of Sussex looked amazing in the somewhat risqué gown.

Meghan Markle's August 2024 visit to Colombia saw the Duchess of Sussex wear some pretty fantastic outfits. One such outfit came from Meghan and Prince Harry's first day in the country. The pair attended an Bogotá arts event at the Centro Nacional de las Artes, where Meghan wore a stunning jacquard dress made by Colombian designer Johanna Ortiz. The dress featured Latin American patterns and motifs in various shades of pink and cream, colors that suit the Duchess perfectly.

At a 2023 World Mental Health Day panel in New York City, Meghan Markle looked as sophisticated as ever in a matching two piece set. Meghan wore an cream blazer that bared her shoulders and collarbone, which she paired with wide-legged pants and tan heels. The Duchess of Sussex pulled her hair pack into a chic bun, showing off the blazer's unique cut. Meghan's outfit was professional, posh, and a little risqué — easily making it one of the "As ever" founder's best looks of her 40s (so far).