(Culture)
Meghan Markle Kicked Off Her New Zealand Tour In A $56 ASOS Dress
From the moment Kensington Palace announced that Meghan Markle and Prince Harry were expecting their first child, all eyes immediately turned to the Duchess of Sussex's maternity style. And though in recent weeks she's donned a handful of designer pieces that ring in at slightly higher price points, Meghan Markle's black maternity dress from ASOS is proof that she certainly won't shy away from a more wallet-friendly pick. Better yet, the Duchess' $56 find is still in stock (but it won't be for long).
The Duke and Duchess of Sussex's 16-day tour is almost complete — between Oct. 16 and Oct. 31, they were scheduled for a total of 76 engagements, making stops in Australia, Fiji, the Kingdom of Tonga, and New Zealand. With an incredibly busy itinerary, a handful of standout maternity style moments were guaranteed — and, unsurprisingly, the Duchess' outfits have been nothing short of impressive. Take, for instance, Markle's latest wardrobe change that took place the midst of the couple's three-hour flight from Sydney to New Zealand.
After a busy Sat. spent at the closing ceremony of the Invictus Games in Australia, Markle and Prince Harry landed in Wellington, New Zealand on Oct. 28 for their final stop of the Oceania region. Prior to departing Sydney, Markle boarded the plane donning a Hugo Boss dress, complete with a high neckline and belt detailing. When the couple arrived in New Zealand, Markle had changed into the simple little black dress from ASOS.
The affordable piece features a round neck, short sleeves, and a v-cut back — it's perfectly classic and so easy to dress up or down. Markle styled the LBD with a plaid trench coat by Karen Walker (which is, unsurprisingly, already sold out), topping off the look with black suede Sarah Flint pumps. Her hair was pulled back into a wispy bun, revealing a pair of citrine and diamond drop earrings.
This isn't the first time Markle has opted for a slightly more budget-friendly pick in lieu of high-end, designer pieces. Just on the 16-day tour alone, she's donned a protocol-bending dress from Reformation, sported a pair of $150 sneakers from eco-friendly brand Veja, and found the perfect $178 black ankle booties from J.Crew.
Markle's black ASOS dress is a wardrobe staple, and considering its price tag, you definitely won't have buyer's remorse with this one. Think of this piece as your new wear-with-everything dress: You can easily style it for work, but it also lends itself well to any upcoming holiday parties — just add in a few sparkly jewels and some velvet pumps.
Ahead, shop Markle's ASOS dress while it's still in stock, as well as The Zoe Report's favorite under-$100 black dresses on the market right now.
