Meghan Markle and Kate Middleton Have One Surprisingly Similar Style Obsession — and It’s the Effortlessly Chic Shirt Everyone Is Talking About
Meghan Markle and Kate Middleton may have very different public roles and personal approaches to fashion, but there is one surprisingly understated item they have both embraced: the relaxed button-down shirt.
The connection became particularly noticeable in 2026, when both women were seen wearing shirts from With Nothing Underneath (WNU), a London-based label founded by former British Vogue editor Pip Durell. The brand’s signature “Boyfriend Shirt” has become known for its loose silhouette, crisp poplin construction and deliberately uncomplicated aesthetic.
Kate has worn WNU’s sky-blue version with tailoring, turning what could easily be considered a casual wardrobe basic into polished daytime dressing. In February 2026, she paired the organic-cotton shirt with a chocolate-brown blazer, leaving the cuffs relaxed for an intentionally effortless finish. The shirt retails for around $150 and is designed with dropped shoulders, a curved hem and double-button cuffs.
Meghan, meanwhile, has demonstrated just how naturally the same style fits into her California-influenced wardrobe. She has been photographed in the brand’s white version, including during her appearance in Jordan, while also wearing similar relaxed shirting in other settings.
The appeal is easy to understand. Unlike highly structured royal tailoring or elaborate eveningwear, an oversized button-down can look polished without appearing overly formal. It can be worn with jeans, tailored trousers, skirts or layered underneath a blazer, making it one of those rare pieces that can move between casual and sophisticated settings.
For Meghan, shirts have been a particularly consistent part of her fashion identity. Her preference for classic shirting dates back years. Before marrying Prince Harry, she famously wore a white “Husband Shirt” by Misha Nonoo during the 2017 Invictus Games, pairing it with jeans in one of her earliest high-profile appearances alongside Harry. British Vogue has also identified crisp cotton shirts as one of the key building blocks of Meghan’s wardrobe.
Kate’s relationship with the classic button-down is similarly longstanding, although she often incorporates it into a more structured, tailored royal wardrobe. Her recent blue-shirt appearances demonstrate how the traditionally masculine-inspired silhouette can be softened through styling and accessories.
Interestingly, the WNU shirt’s popularity is not simply about celebrity recognition. The company was founded around the idea of creating timeless shirts inspired by menswear and British tailoring. WNU has also emphasized sustainability, including organic and responsibly sourced materials, and became B Corp certified in 2021.
The result is a fashion coincidence that is more subtle than matching gowns or identical designer outfits. Meghan and Kate are not necessarily dressing alike—but they have independently demonstrated the enduring power of the same wardrobe philosophy: less fuss, better tailoring and pieces that look elegant without appearing as though they tried too hard.
And that may be precisely why this humble button-down has become such a recognizable part of both women’s style stories.
