Meghan Markle’s ‘heavily criticised’ red Carolina Herrera dress was made for a ‘different body type’… so how SHOULD the royals dress for their different shapes? CLAUDIA JOSEPH reveals all

Social media has been abuzz with users criticizing the Duchess of Sussex’s wardrobe since she quit as a working royal – with numerous videos on YouTube of her ‘fashion fails’.

While many continue to praise Meghan’s glamorous wardrobe, she was recently criticized for her red Carolina Herrera dress — with its plunging neckline, daring front slit and ill-fitting bodice — which she wore to the Children’s Hospital Los Angeles gala last month.

Fashion stylists branded the £4,730 altered poppy red dress one of her biggest ‘fashion faux pas’ and said it was inappropriate for the event, which started early at 5.30pm.

One TikTok user said: ‘The Carolina Herrera song she chose was so inappropriate for a children’s event that it can only be described as shockingly revealing.

“We’re talking bare shoulders, arms and even a flash of leg that should have been reserved for a late-night adult dinner, not a wholesome children’s charity event.

‘It’s almost comical that a dress that cost so much can end up looking so tacky. It might look better on someone else, but on Meghan it looks like it was made for a different body type with better posture.”

But Meghan isn’t the only royal woman who struggles to dress for her body shape.

Here, former Dior model and personal stylist Emma Davison, who trained at the London College of Fashion, analyzes some of the company’s biggest hits and flops – and how best to dress for their specific body type.

Princess Beatrice – Body shape: Hourglass

When Beatrice arrived in a carriage at Ascot on June 18, 2019, she matched the color of her £189 Maje light blue dress with her sister Eugenie’s teal Calvin Klein dress.

But the embroidered guipure lace did nothing to enhance her hourglass figure.

In contrast, the stunning £7,000 Roksanda Ilincic teal Viola dress, which she wore to Harry and Meghan’s wedding, really plays to her strengths. The fit-and-flare design shows off her tiny waist, accentuated by the billowing sheer sleeves.

Now that she’s put fashion stylist Olivia Buckingham on the payroll, it’s unlikely we’ll see the first mistake again.

Certainly, her wardrobe at this year’s Royal Ascot was widely admired and earned her a top spot on Tatler magazine’s best-dressed list. ‘If you’re an hourglass like Beatrice, flowing fabrics will always be flattering,’ says Emma. ‘This pastel blue lace-up dress from Maje sits on top of her, rather than working with her curves. And I’m not a fan of the angular sleeves.

In contrast, the beautiful teal Roksanda dress she wore to Harry and Meghan’s wedding really plays to her strengths. The fit-and-flare design shows off her tiny waist, accentuated by the flowy, sheer sleeves.”

Queen Camille – Body shape: apple

It’s been 25 years since Charles and Camilla made their first public appearance at her sister Annabel’s 50th birthday party, but she’s not immune to fashion disaster.

Although the red dress she wore to the annual Royal Variety performance on December 6, 2016 did nothing for her figure, she looked perfectly elegant in a maroon Fiona Clare dress at the Buckingham Palace State Banquet for the President and First Lady of Korea in November. November 21, 2023. Thanks to her dresser Jacqui Meakin.

“Camilla is a bit lost in this lace dress,” Emma explains. ‘It lacks the structure that I think Camilla needs.

‘I’m not crazy about this wide, scooped neckline, which is something she often prefers. It narrows the width of her shoulders and casts shadows around her neck. We also lost any semblance of waist because the detail sits too low.

‘I prefer a neat neckline on Camilla. The empire cut accentuates the narrowest part of her, which, together with the puff sleeves, gives shape and balance to her frame. By far her best dressing style.’

Princess Eugenie – Body shape: pear

Eugenie was literally engulfed in the emerald green Fendi couture dress she wore to a Vogue World: London event on September 14, 2023 — her first public appearance since giving birth.

In contrast, the Cefinn Mia forest green silk satin belted midi dress, which she wore to Ascot on June 20, 2019, suited her petite figure.

Certainly, her stylist Sarah Price has encouraged her to wear more figure-hugging dresses.

‘Although it’s a beautiful colour, I don’t understand why anyone thought this green Fendi dress was a good choice for Eugenie,’ says Emma. ‘It’s hard to see where she starts and the dress ends.

‘When styling a pear shape, all the attention and detail should be on the top half of the body. All we have here is lots of ruffles and Eugenie smothered in dust.

‘The neckline and cut of the sleeves are awkward, giving the impression of sloping shoulders and no waist.

‘The forest green dress from Cefinn Mia does exactly the opposite. The first thing we see is her tiny waist. Check one. The cap sleeves provide more structure on the shoulders. Check two. While the flowing skirt jumps harmlessly over her, the widest part of her hips. Check three. I love this dress.’

The Princess of Wales – Body shape: column

While Kate rarely puts a foot wrong in her fashion choices, the £2,400 Eponine London green shift dress she wore to a primary school in Wembley on February 5, 2019 doesn’t define her tiny waist enough.

However, the £1,380 Emilia Wickstead green Denver dress she chose for the Wimbledon singles final on July 10, 2021 gives her the suggestion of an hourglass figure.

“Honestly, it’s hard to find fault with anything Kate wears, being the fabulous clotheshorse that she is,” Emma admits, “but these are great before and after examples of how to dress a columnar.”

‘Columns don’t have natural curves, so you have to find a way to create them. The straight up and down Eponine dress isn’t terrible, but it doesn’t do anything to thwart the column look.

‘By contrast, the dress she wore to Wimbledon this year, with cap sleeves and a flowing pleated skirt, gives the illusion of curves and a defined waist.’

The Duchess of Sussex – Body shape: inverted triangle

As an inverted triangle, Meghan has broad shoulders and slim hips. But she doesn’t always dress according to her body shape.

While she looks boxy in the £4,265 ivory floral Valentino dress she wore to the Global Citizen Live concert on September 25, 2021, and the £523 Karen Gee sheath dress she wore to the reception of the Admiralty House in Sydney on October 16, 2018, flatters her shape.

“This Valentino dress is doing Meghan absolutely no favors,” says Emma. ‘She often wears short dresses, but the danger of this style is that it shortens her body.

‘She ends up looking quite square and shapeless. The Karen Gee dress, on the other hand, is one of her most flattering styles.

‘The clean lines elongate her frame and give her the ideal ratio of one to three. The wide straps minimize the width of her shoulders, while the ruffles give her a waist. She should keep up this style more often.’

Zara Tindal – Body shape: column

What a difference a decade – and a good stylist – makes. When Zara turned up at Royal Ascot on June 16, 2015 in a canary yellow Paul Costelloe dress, it did nothing for her figure and even sparked rumors that she was pregnant.

In contrast, the £1,900 Laura Green Masai dress, which she teamed with Sarah Cant’s £900 Rosa Hat, ticked all the boxes.

Zara owes her transformation from doll to butterfly to Australian stylist Annie Miall, who also styles TV presenter Natalie Pinkham.

‘You can wear fitted or short, but not both,’ says Emma. ‘This body con dress gives the impression that Zara is pregnant, but she wasn’t.

“It doesn’t speak royally or formally.” But I love her in this soft apricot midi dress. It’s more mature, but still feminine and appropriate for the occasion. She looks tall and slim. The thin belt emphasizes her waist while the puffed chiffon sleeves keep the dress youthful.’

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