She took some style cues from Rachel Zane.
Meghan Markle is continuing to distance herself from the demure, Palace-approved sartorial choices she wore as a working royal. While the Duchess of Sussex is no stranger to breaking royal style protocol, from donning messy buns to bright colors, Markle wore one of her boldest looks yet while stepping out for a surprise appearance. On Saturday, October 5, the Suits alum turned heads as she posed in a little red dress with a deep plunging neckline that looked like she could have borrowed it from her character Rachel Zane’s wardrobe.
As Prince Harry continues his solo Africa trip, Markle had a glamorous solo night out as she unexpectedly attended the Children’s Hospital L.A. 2024 Gala. The star of the evening was the actress’s floor-length bright crimson Carolina Herrera gown, which featured a halter neck that plunged into a deep v-cut that extended several inches down her bodice. The skin-baring number also showed off some major leg, thanks to a sky-high slit in the skirt that went all the way up Markle’s upper thigh.
While Markle’s little red dress might not have gotten a royal stamp of approval, the star appeared to take a leaf from sister-in-law Kate Middleton’s book by re-wearinga dress from another occasion. Royal watchers might remember that Markle last wore the red gown while attending the Salute to Freedom Gala back in 2012 with Prince Harry. However, it looked like she’d slightly altered the dress for her Saturday appearance, as it no longer had a full skirt with a long train that trailed behind as she walked.
The royal also made the look much more casual by swapping out her tight ballerina bun from before with effortlessly beachy waves that were parted in the middle. Strappy red sandal heels and a simple gold Cartier bracelet added minimalist glam to her gala outfit. Markle also appeared to experiment with a different beauty look than normal, foregoing her signature smokey eye for a more natural metallic eyeshadow, subtly bronzed skin, and nude lips.