When Meghan Markle stepped out in a striking black Balenciaga bodysuit for Kris Jenner’s 70th birthday celebration, she was channeling the signature glamour synonymous with the Kardashian family.

The bodysuit, long embraced as a staple by the Kardashian-Jenner clan, has become an emblem of chic sophistication.

Once reminiscent of 1980s aerobics tapes and Jane Fonda’s vibrant workout attire, the bodysuit has been reinvented by fashion moguls like Kim Kardashian, transforming it into a central piece of her multi-billion-dollar fashion brand.

This versatile garment gives the impression of effortless elegance, even when paired with the simplest of outfits.

“Bodysuits are an intelligent fashion choice,” says celebrity stylist Miranda Holder. “They eliminate the hassle of tops coming untucked and avoid any excess fabric that might disturb the outfit’s silhouette, making them a reliable staple for layering in any wardrobe.”

She adds, “Bodysuits are sleek and form-fitting without adding bulk, serving as the perfect complement to the flowing skirts Meghan has recently favored, creating a harmonious blend of sleekness and volume.”

Meghan was striking in a long-sleeve black turtleneck and maxi skirt by Balenciaga

Gracing the cover of Time magazine in 2023, Kim accentuated her curves in a Skims black bodysuit with a leather maxi skirt alongside cutouts and buckles down the right leg

For Meghan, this was no accident.

Ms Holder explains that Meghan’s choice to wear the bodysuit for Kris Jenner’s party would have been an inspired decision to the host. ‘She likely chose this outfit out of homage to the Kardashian’s success and brand identity.’

In the Kardashian universe, the bodysuit is armour. It sculpts and supports, creating a sense of control over form and presentation. And that, in many ways, aligns perfectly with Meghan’s own approach to fashion.

This isn’t the first time the duchess has turned to an all-in-one for a public appearance. Long before her Balenciaga moment, she had already established herself as a quiet advocate for the bodysuit’s understated practicality.

‘The bodysuit is a blank canvas so looks great on everyone,’ explains Holder. ‘With Meghan in particular, it is a perfect choice as she has a tricky body shape which is difficult to dress. Meghan has a super short torso with long legs, so the bodysuit works well as it doesn’t add bulk to what is already a small area proportionally.’

On her first official engagement with Prince Harry in Nottingham, she wore Wolford’s £160 Colorado Body, a refined turtleneck version which is also personally favoured by Kim, paired with a camel skirt by Joseph.

Kim Kardashian showed off her nipped-in waist with a black bodysuit and high-waisted skirt from Balenciaga while flaunting her figure in New York in 2022

Kris Jenner dressed in a velvet version of the black bodysuit for Lauren Sanchez’s bachelorette party in Paris, pairing it with a Chanel feathered skirt in 2025

Meghan made a modern choice back in 2017 during her first official engagement with Prince Harry in Nottingham, wearing a Wolford body paired with a camel skirt by Joseph

Luxury brands are embracing the bodysuit, explains Holder, ‘because despite all the glitz and glamour we are still having a moment of quiet luxury, reverting to a less is more approach which is about beautifully cut basics and the bodysuit embraces this’.

Bridging the unapologetically body-conscious aesthetic of the Kardashians with the controlled, image-conscious universe of royal dressing, the bodysuit celebrates curves, contouring and the kind of sculpted perfection that Meghan aims to achieve.

And so in that sleek black all-in-one, Meghan was staking her claim. With one impeccably cut bodysuit, she wasn’t merely channelling Kardashian energy, she was marking her territory as the family’s most unexpected missing member.