For the non-royals among us, maternity style is defined by ill-fitting hand-me-downs, oversize sweatshirts, plus that one pair of elastic waistband jeans you wear constantly. But for the duchesses in the room, pregnancy is just another chance to wear designer labels and look utterly fabulous. Here, a look at how Meghan Markle and Kate Middleton’s bump styling compares.
Who Wore It Better: Pregnant Kate or Pregnant Meghan?
•
Published Mar 6, 2019
Karwai Tang/Pool/Getty Images
Sequin Dresses
Both duchesses went for all-over sequins when attending nighttime engagements. Markle (six months pregnant) wore a navy Roland Mouret sequin dress to a charity performance of Cirque du Soleil, while Middleton (four months pregnant with Prince Louis) opted for baby blue embellishments courtesy of Jenny Packham at the Royal Variety performance.
Get the look: ASOS Maternity ($140); Teri Jon by Rickie Freeman ($450); Sachin & Babi ($822)
Chris Jackson/Pool/Getty Images
Cream Cape Dresses
Not all queens wear capes, but it seems all duchesses definitely do. Markle wore her custom Dior cream cape dress on the recent Morocco tour, while Middleton wore her silky Alexander McQueen gown while pregnant with Prince Louis to visit Sweden and Norway.
Get the look: Halston Heritage ($207); Badgley Mischka ($372); See by Chloe ($450)
Marc Giddings/Ricky Vigil/Getty Images
Black Floral Midi Dresses
Long sleeves, a midi-length silky skirt and a whimsical floral print: We’re hard-pressed to find a more flattering silhouette when you’ve got that third trimester glow. Markle’s sheer Oscar de la Renta dress paired perfectly green suede boots, while Middleton wore nude heels with her Orla Kiely ruffled frock in February 2018.
Get the look: Rachel Pally ($110); Loyal Hana ($155); Tiffany Rose ($220)
Samir hussein/Karwai Tang/Getty Images
Black Skinny Jeans & Military Jacket
Markle wore her Rag & Bone skinny maternity jeans with a J. Crew military jacket from her pre-royal days while on tour in Morocco. The Duchess of Cambridge rocked her dark denim with a Barbour wax-coated jacket during her gardening outing at a primary school. Both outfits are a win, but we love how Meghan’s really shows off her belly.
Get the look: Rag & Bone maternity jeans ($225); Hatch maternity jeans ($248); J.Crew jacket ($120); Barbour jacket ($399)
Ian Vogler/Karwai Tang/Getty Images
Emerald Sheaths
The crown jewel of maternity items? An emerald-toned dress that clings in all the right places—and none of the wrong ones. Markle’s sophisticated Jason Wu flutter-sleeved sheath is more figure-hugging than Middleton’s long-sleeve Catherine Walker, though the Duchess of Cambridge was three months further along.
Get the look: ASOS Maternity ($60); Kim and Kai ($78); Isabella Oliver ($150)
Heathcliff O'Malley/Samir Hussein/Getty Images
Form-fitting Turtleneck Dresses
For an event in NYC in 2014, Middleton nailed the NYC "it" girl uniform in head-to-toe black. Markle went the other route—an all-over white dress and jacket by Calvin Klein. The takeaway? Monochromatic turtleneck dresses are the way to show off a royal bump.
Get the look: Leith ($42); Topshop ($75); Eileen Fisher ($178)
Yui Mok/Dominic Lipinski/Getty Images
Blue Floral Prints
Is this a conspicuous gender hint or do you both love bright blue? Markle’s Carolina Herrera floor-length dress provided more wiggle room for baby Sussex, but Middleton’s Erdem midi dress still looked pretty darn cozy.
Get the look: Nom Maternity ($108); Ingrid & Isabel ($128); Michael Kors Collection ($558)
