Meghan bidding to be First Lady of fashion – by choosing identical outfits to presidents’ wives, from Jackie Kennedy to Melania Trump?

Is Meghan bidding to be First Lady of fashion – by choosing identical outfits to presidents’ wives, from Jackie Kennedy to Melania Trump?

She has been said to echo Princess Diana in some of her fashion choices.

But it seems that the Duchess of Sussex has now been drawing inspiration from a different source: The First Ladies of the United States.

And their influence appears to stretch back to the 1980s as Nancy Reagan’s formal, almost regal approach to dressing has seemingly found its way into Meghan’s wardrobe.

From the elegance of Jackie Kennedy to Michelle Obama’s chic modernity, mixing contemporary designs and bold prints, Meghan’s wardrobe has subtly mirrored some of the most iconic figures in American political fashion history.

Back in the 1990s, Hillary Clinton turned heads when she donned a cold-shoulder Donna Karan gown at a White House event. That bold choice was a statement, pushing boundaries in an era when presidents’ wives were often expected to be conservative and demure.

Now Meghan has adopted these First Lady formulas for her own fashion choices

Both Meghan and Melania share a very similar fashion taste, dressing with clean lines for a minimal American style look.

Meghan stood out in this Brandon Maxwell frock in 2018
Only occasionally incorporating vibrant hues in her wardrobe, she was bold and bright in a canary yellow dress by Brandon Maxwell, which looked strikingly similar to a design worn by Michelle in 2009.

First Lady Michelle selected the flattering Jason Wu bateau neck dress for a meeting at the Quirinale Palace in Rome almost a decade earlier.

As one of the most enduring fashion icons the world has ever known it’s no surprise that Meghan has followed the style set by former first lady Jackie Kennedy more than 60 years ago.

Jackie wore this chic outfit by Oleg Cassini on a State visit to France in 1961
The duchess wore this very similar Prada ensemble when she attended a service in
The duchess wore this very similar Prada ensemble when she attended a service in 2019
One of Jackie’s most famous fashion accessories was the neat and chic pillbox hat. Originally designed by Roy Halston while working for Bergdorf Goodman, she was seen wearing her trademark hat with her Oleg Cassini outfit during a state visit to France in 1961.

Meghan channelled the former First Lady and donned a short-sleeve Prada skirt suit featuring oversized buttons and a waist belt for the Young Leaders Awards in 2018. Skipping the iconic pillbox hat, Meghan’s ensemble mirrored Jackie’s look when she visited the JFK memorial in 1965, from the wavy blowdry to the contrasting Prada black bag she carried.