The Duchess of Sussex has showcased a dazzling array of outfits on the royal tour but one key element has been kept surprisingly simple – her choice of shoes.
Meghan, 37, carefully selected versatile styles ahead of the 16-day trip with her husband Prince Harry, 34, and has given a masterclass in how they can be repeated without becoming boring.
The pregnant royal has relied on go-to designers including Manolo Blahnik, Aquazzura, Sarah Flint and Stuart Weitzman, and mixed things up with the likes of J.Crew and Castaner.
FIVE WEARS, £556 ($928 AUD) Manolo Blahnik BB navy stilettos: The Duchess of Sussex has recycled several shoes on the royal tour but the most repeated has been these classic heels. Meghan wore them with a £520 (AU$939/US$666) white tuxedo dress by New Zealand designer Maggie Marilyn, pictured, for an outing to Courtenay Creative, Wellington on Monday
True blue: The elegant heels were first seen on 18 October, when the duchess paired them with a £703 ($1290 AUD) dress by Australian designer Dion Lee, in Melbourne. Right, the Duchess sported the shoes with a gown by designer SAFiYAA for a Fiji dinner on 25 October
Wardrobe staple: The duchess wore the Manolo Blahniks and a Jason Wu Collection dress, approx £2,229, as she departed Fiji on 25 October, left. By the time she landed in Tonga, right, she had changed into a customised Self Portrait dress, £380, but kept her shoes the same
She even found occasion to wear trainers – the first time she has done so in public – with pairs from eco-friendly brand Veja and Stella McCartney x Adidas both featuring in her royal tour wardrobe.
Speaking to FEMAIL, celebrity stylist Rochelle White explained Meghan’s decision to repeat shoes might be partly down to practical considerations, like packing, but will also be based on comfort.
When you have a good pair of shoes (heeled or not), that you are comfortable in and can walk around in they can be your go-to shoe,’ Rochelle explained.
‘I think Meghan packed shoes that she knew would be comfortable to walk around in and that she could last in on her trips.’
THREE WEARS, £490 Aquazzura Deneuve Bow Pumps in black: These favourite heels have had a number of outings on the royal tour, most recently to the Australian Geographic Society Awards in Sydney on 26 October. She wore the heels with a £10,000 Oscar de la Renta gown
Dressed down… or dressed up: Meghan wore the heels with a pair of black jeans from US brand Outland Denim and a £510 blazer by L’Agence for lunch with the Australian Prime Minister at Pavilion restaurant in Sydney on 21 October, left. Right, in THEIA in Tonga on 25 October
The most worn style has been her £556 ($928 AUD) Manolo Blahnik BB navy stilettos which have been rolled out for four different engagements.
The elegant heels were first seen on day four of the tour, when the duchess paired them with a £703 ($1290 AUD) dress by Australian designer Dion Lee and a £1,510 ($2,650 AUD) Gucci Sylvie chain bag.
She most recently wore the shoes – which she has sported on a number of occasions including Princess Eugenie’s wedding in Windsor earlier this month – on an outing with Prince Harry on the second day of their trip to New Zealand on Monday.
On this occasion Meghan teamed the heels with a £520 (AU$939/US$666) white tuxedo dress by New Zealand designer Maggie Marilyn.
THREE WEARS, £478 Sarah Flint Jay pumps: After touching down in New Zealand on 28 October, Meghan wore the Sarah Flint shoes with a £35 ASOS maternity dress and a £540 Karen Walker trench coat. It was the third time the shoes had been seen on the royal tour
Ready for business: Meghan teamed the shoes with a £429 crepe knit jacket from Theodore Scanlan and Outland Denim jeans for the Invictus Games wheelchair basketball final in Sydney on 27 October. She also wore the shoes in private at Admirality House, Sydney, on 15 October
Rochelle said the A-list favourite label was a sensible choice for the royal.
‘Finding a good shoe or style of shoe that suits your and lifestyle is so important,’ she said. ‘Meghan knows that she will be doing a lot of royal engagements and knows that she could be on her feet for a good few hours.
‘If she has found that her perfect shoe is the classic Manolo Blahnik, I feel that this will be a designer she will stick to. She was a fan of the shoe before becoming a royal and I think not only is this a brand she loves, she knows what works for her.’
Designer brand Aquazzura has long been a favourite of the royal’s and she has continued her support on the tour by packing four different styles, including the £490 Deneuve Bow Pumps in two colours: black and olive.
THREE WEARS, £566 Tabitha Simmons ‘Millie’ heels: Meghan wore the slingback heels by British brand Tabitha Simmons with a black high-neck dress by Emilia Wickstead for the opening of Anzac Memorial in Sydney on 20 October
Keeping it casual: That same day the duchess wore her Tabitha Simmons heels with her £159 Mother ‘Looker’ skinny jeans in black and a branded Invictus Games top for the Invictus Games Jaguar Land Rover Driving Challenge on Cockatoo Island
Contrasting colours: The pregnant duchess gave a masterclass in monochrone dressing when she wore the pumps with a Zimmerman dress while arriving in Fiji on 23 October
This decision reflects Meghan’s wider strategy of sticking to neutral-coloured shoes so they can be paired with a wide variety of colours on top.
‘Most outfits can look, casual, smart or formal within these tones,’ Rochelle explained.
‘They are also very flattering and considering that she has recently announced her pregnancy, she probably wanted to pack shades that would be flattering on her and not bring to much attention to her bump.
‘Not to mention, these tones really suit Meghans complexion and compliments her well.’
THREE WEARS, £360 Stuart Weitzman Legend High Heel Pumps: Meghan’s classic heels proved the perfect pairing for her £1,850 Roksanda ‘Athena’ dress when she joined Harry at Macarthur Girls High School in Sydney on 18 October
Classic combination: The heels with Karen Gee ‘Blessed’ dress, left, in Sydney on 16 October. Right, with the £1,526 Stella McCartney ‘Cady’ sheath dress and £395 Gillian Anderson x Winser London swing coat at the Invictus Games opening ceremony in Sydney on 20 October