Meghan Markle's Bold Red Dress Had a Romantic Detail That's So Smart for Summer

Nicol Natale

Fri, May 17, 2024 at 1:00 AM UTC

3 min read

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Shop ruffle dresses from $39

<p>Andrew Esiebo/Getty Images</p> — Andrew Esiebo/Getty Images

Meghan Markle has been serving up major fashion inspo on her and Prince Harry’s Nigerian tour. After beginning the trip in a collection of neutral-tone outfits, she then opted for a bold red dress, which had a special meaning.

During a panel discussion with Dr. Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala, Director-General of the World Trade Organization, Meghan shared that her cherry midi dress was inspired by the “incredible” colorful fashion choices of the people of Nigeria and an ode to her heritage.

But it wasn’t just the vibrant red hue that stood out to us — her midi dress also had ruffles along the hem, which is a romantic detail that Laura Dern likes to wear during warm weather, too. Not only do ruffles add an elegant touch, but they can also make your outfit more flowy.

Looking to add a ruffle dress to your summer closet? Read on for styles in an array of colors and patterns from Amazon, Nordstrom, J.Crew, and more starting at just $39.

Ruffle Midi Dresses Inspired by Meghan Markle

Lulus Never a Dull Moment Bright Red Dress, $79; lulus.com
J.Crew Ruffle Beach Dress in Airy Gauze, $49.50 (orig. $98); jcrew.com
Loveliest Darling Light Pink Floral Ruffled Tie-Back Midi Dress, $79; lulus.com
Prettygarden Puff Sleeve Ruffle Dress, $38.99; amazon.com
Prettygarden Ruffle Tulle Dress, $44.99; amazon.com
Miduo V-Neck Ruffle Dress, $47.99; amazon.com
Lulus Perfectly Divine Blue Floral Tulle Dress, $79; lulus.com
Abercrombie & Fitch Tiered Ruffle Maxi Dress, $120; abercrombie.com
J.Crew Cotton Voile Ruffle-Trim Shift Dress, $138; jcrew.com
Anthropologie Love The Label Short-Sleeve Ruffled Tiered Maxi Dress, $268; athropologie.com

Lulus Never a Dull Moment Bright Red Dress

If you’re a fan of the vibrant hue of Meghan’s dress, this one from Lulus looks so similar. It has adjustable spaghetti straps that are ideal for summer weather and a midi silhouette that offers optimal coverage of the legs, with flattering pleats and front ruffles to make it breathable. The waist is fitted to accentuate your shape, and it’s lined to prevent anything from showing through. You can also get the dress in blue and orange.

J.Crew Ruffle Beach Dress in Airy Gauze, $50 (Save $48)

The perfect summer dress may exist in the form of this breezy midi style available at J.Crew. Although it’s casual enough to wear as a beach cover-up, the dress has subtle ruffles along the crew neckline and more flowy ones at the hem that dress it up. Right now, you can get it on sale for 49 percent off, and it’s machine-washable for an effortless clean.

Loveliest Darling Light Pink Floral Ruffled Tie-Back Midi Dress

Jennifer Aniston and Meryl Streep are a few of the many stars wearing florals for spring. For something similar, this dress has a pretty pink floral pattern and flowy ruffle sleeves for an elegant look. The back has a cutout design to let some air in, which resembles a style that Meghan has also worn recently. The tie in the back is adjustable for a custom fit, plus you can tie it into a bow for added style.

Ruffle dresses are bound to be a staple that you’ll want to wear all summer long. Scroll on to shop more of our favorite styles.