Meghan Markle’s subtle wardrobe detail that conveys a ‘sense of optimism’ as Duchess of Sussex makes a return to her acting roots

Meghan Markle has never been one to let a fashion choice go unnoticed. Every outfit she wears seems to whisper something intentional – and lately that story has been told in just one colour: white.

From the sleek caped Balenciaga look she debuted during Paris Fashion Week to many monochrome trouser suits, Meghan’s all-white wardrobe has become her signature – a palette of calm, control and quiet power.

In her festive As Ever advert, the Duchess of Sussex appeared in a soft white sweater and matching trousers, as she poured tea in golden Californian light.

The setting was impossibly curated, with every detail deliberate – including the colour. White, long associated with perfection and purity, projected serenity. But beneath that serenity lies a certain steel.

Colour psychologist Jules Standish told the Daily Mail: ‘Meghan is constantly reinventing herself and the colour white gives a sense of optimism, making it the perfect shade for her.’

It comes as the Duchess of Sussex, 44, is set for a return to her acting roots after an eight-year hiatus. 

After she quit Hollywood to become a working royal in 2017, Meghan has landed a role, playing herself, in a new film titled Close Personal Friends. 

The mother-of-two is said to be ‘very relaxed and happy’ on the set of the movie, which also stars Lily Collins. 

From the sleek caped Balenciaga look debuted during Paris Fashion Week to many monochrome trouser suits, Meghan’s all-white wardrobe has become her signature – a palette of calm, control and quiet power 

In her festive As Ever advert, the Duchess of Sussex appeared in a soft white sweater and matching trousers. The setting was impossibly curated, with every detail deliberate – including the colour

It’s likely she’s gravitating towards white – a colour that is seen as ‘presenting an image of perfection’ – as she embarks on a new chapter.

Ms Standish explained: ‘It’s a colour that is seen as pure, as well as presenting an image of perfection and calmness. It also sends a message of expensive high fashion and sophistication, combined with a no-nonsense approach to dressing in a simplistic and chic way.’

But this is far from a one-off. The duchess’s affinity for all-white dressing has been years in the making. 

In fact, Meghan began her royal chapter cloaked in white. When Prince Harry announced his engagement to the former Suits actress in 2017, she wore a crisp white coat by Line The Label as the couple posed for photographs in Princess Diana’s Sunken Garden at Kensington Palace.

For her first official royal engagement in Tonga in 2018, Meghan chose a custom embellished white gown by New York designer Theia, to attend a state dinner and reception with the King and Queen. 

Attending a gala performance of The Wider Earth at the Natural History Museum in 2019, Meghan rewore an Amanda Wakeley coat paired with a bespoke Calvin Klein turtleneck dress. 

And the white theme continued, even as Meghan’s royal life fell away. In April 2022, she attended the Invictus Games in The Hague, marking her first major public appearance since stepping back from the Royal Family.

Dressed head to toe in white Valentino, she looked fresh, confident, and completely in command.

‘To wear white, you’ve got to have a lot of confidence,’ Jules Standish notes. ‘You’re not hiding anything as it gives a sense of fresh openness and purity. It’s a very brave move to put an all-white outfit on’

Colour expert Jules Standish explains: ‘Meghan is constantly reinventing herself and the colour white gives a sense of optimism, making it the perfect colour for her’

A few months later, Meghan attended the Human Rights Ripple of Hope Gala, wearing a white Louis Vuitton dress – a custom, off-the-shoulder design by Nicolas Ghesquière. 

The gown featured long sleeves and front slit, and was accessorised with Princess Diana’s aquamarine ring. 

Similarly in 2023, Meghan looked chic in a white off-the-shoulder blazer and trousers as she attended a World Mental Health Day event in New York.

Her Altuzarra jacket featured a wide, folded-down neckline and was paired with wide-leg trousers. 

Arriving at the Defence Headquarters in Nigeria in 2024, Meghan wore a striking all-white trouser suit also designed by Altuzarra. 

The blazer was layered over a matching top to complete the all-white ensemble. 

When making a high-profile appearance at the 2024 ESPY Awards, Meghan wore a custom Oscar de la Renta halterneck evening gown with an exposed back.

The look was reminiscent of one of her most iconic outfits – the Stella McCartney reception dress from her 2018 wedding.

Meghan attended the 2022 Human Rights Ripple of Hope Gala wearing a white Louis Vuitton dress. The gown featured long sleeves and a front slit, and was accessorised with Princess Diana’s aquamarine ring

Markle looked chic in a white off-the-shoulder blazer and trousers as she attended a World Mental Health Day event in New York in 2023. The Altuzarra jacket featured a wide folded-down neckline and was paired with wide-leg trousers

Arriving at the Defence Headquarters in Nigeria in 2024, Meghan wore a striking all-white trouser suit designed by American design house Altuzarra. The blazer was layered over a matching top to complete the all-white ensemble

Meghan wore a custom Oscar de la Renta halterneck evening gown with exposed back. The look was reminiscent of one of her most iconic outfits – the Stella McCartney reception dress from her 2018 wedding

Meghan gave the approach a business-oriented spin in a vegan leather skirt and blouse, both by Brochu Walker, for the 2025 Fortune Most Powerful Women Summit in Washington D.C

Attending a gala performance of The Wider Earth at The Natural History Museum in 2019, Meghan rewore an Amanda Wakeley coat with a bespoke Calvin Klein turtleneck dress

This year, her white looks have become almost trademark, proving that monochrome minimalism can still make maximum impact.

For the 2025 Fortune Most Powerful Women Summit in Washington D.C., Meghan gave the approach a business-oriented spin in a vegan leather skirt and blouse, both by Brochu Walker.

Wearing white, of course, takes confidence. It’s a colour that leaves no room for error – or insecurity.

‘To wear white, you’ve got to have a lot of confidence,’ Ms Standish notes. ‘You’re not hiding anything as it gives a sense of fresh openness and purity. It’s a very brave move to put an all-white outfit on.’

Brave indeed – and deliberate. For Meghan, white is both a fashion statement and psychological play. It’s the colour of calm after chaos, of a woman who wants to appear untouched by turmoil.

After all, white is never just white when Meghan Markle wears it. It’s a strategy to dazzle in simplicity, the non-colour that says everything.