Why does Meghan Markle hide her feet? Duchess of Sussex often wears clothes that are too long for her 5ft 6in frame during public appearances – but a celebrity stylist reveals the unusual reason for her fashion choice

Meghan Markle is known for her chic style, which has evolved significantly since she and Prince Harry stepped down as working royals and moved to California to start a new life together.

But as she and the Duke of Sussex carry out ‘quasi-royal’ duties, including their tour of Nigeria and events to mark the Invictus Games, a new trend appears to be emerging in Meghan’s outfits as she dons trousers, skirts and dresses that look completely too good. long for her.

Instead of tailoring her maxi outfits to perfectly fit her 6-foot frame, the Duchess often wears clothes that undoubtedly add to her chic style, but also drag on the floor when she runs.

It may seem like an odd omission in the Duchess’s otherwise incredibly stylish repertoire, but one celebrity style expert has suggested that Meghan’s perceived surveillance could in fact be a very conscious decision on her part to create a certain illusion.

During Meghan and Harry’s ‘quasi-royal’ tour of Nigeria, the Duchess showed off several examples of very long clothing.

One such outfit came in Abuja city, where she opted for an aptly named Windsor dress in blush silk, which retails for P1,106.

California-based designer Heidi Merrick (one of the Duchess’s favorites) is even offering a slightly modified version of the gown for small customers through his tailoring service.

But as Meghan danced the afternoon away at Wuse Lightway Academy, it appears she didn’t opt ​​for the tailored version of the gown and instead donned a version that skimmed the floor as she attended Jump Up, Turn Around jump.

Similarly, in Lagos, the former senior working royal chose to wear a Carolina Herrera Silk Overlay Column dress in ‘taxi yellow’.

Meghan smiled as she soaked up the sun in the 30-degree weather and visited the Lagos Governor’s office.

And once again she wore a long, vibrant and flamboyant ensemble that trailed across the lawn.

Famous stylist Rochelle White told Femail that the Duchess likely wears long clothes that cover her feet because it gives the illusion of height.

She said: ‘Long dresses and trousers, depending on body type, can help elongate and shape the body.

“They can make you look bigger and, depending on the styles, can help define areas of the body that you want to emphasize or cover.”

When the royal couple spent a week in Frankfurt last summer to attend the Invictus Games, Meghan wore an all-brown ensemble on a day when they both watched events and attended a NATO meeting.

This consisted of a chocolate-colored blouse and wrinkled taupe pants that dragged on the floor.

She stood next to Prince Harry – who is a whopping 6ft tall – and although she barely came up to his shoulder, Rochelle says she looks taller because of her outfit choice.

She said: ‘When I look at Meghan, I feel like these styles make her look taller and emphasize her silhouette. I feel like it makes her look bigger.

“I feel like she knows her body and the things or items that work best for her and plays into that with her appearance.”

In 2018, during Meghan’s trip to Edinburgh with Harry, she proudly wore long, flared black trousers that were too long for her despite wearing a pair of heels.

As the Duchess was busy greeting people who braved the unpredictable Scottish weather to see the former royals, trousers were pulled across the wet concrete, spilling dirt onto the bottom.

In 2018, during her visit to Sydney, the mother-of-two was pictured walking along the sand in a black and white striped maxi dress and the following year, during her visit to Morocco with Harry, Meghan wore a large gown with cobalt pattern.

It’s no secret that her wardrobe is different to Kate’s, with Rochelle noting that the Princess of Wales opts for more traditional pieces.

She said: ‘Meghan has more of a trendy edge when it comes to her style. Kate is very classic and chic in her fits and style, with traditional pieces included.

‘With Meghan, I feel like she is very much herself and has elements that really showcase her personality and personal style.

‘With off-shoulder tops, shorts, co-ord sets and racerback tops, she doesn’t hide what she likes and what works for her.’

While Kate tends to wear more fitted dresses and tailored trousers, Meghan’s style is said to be more relaxed and personal.