Meghan Markle has found a pant trend that works for her in 2026, and she’s sticking with it for date night.
Everyone knows a court-side basketball ticket calls for denim—or even an elevated sweatpant— but choosing the right pair of jeans can be a daunting task. For Markle, who attended the NBA All-Star Game with her husband Prince Harry on February 15, baggy jeans and barrel silhouettes don’t quite fit her effortlessly polished approach to dressing. Sure, she’s embraced the wide-leg trend in the recent past, but typically in the form of flowy trousers that give her classic, tailored aesthetic a more relaxed touch. When it comes to casual denim, skinny jeans continue to dominate her denim drawer.
So, what’s a Duchess to wear to a more casual date night? As 2026 denim trends skew in a more slim direction, Markle has found an option that meets her needs: the bootcut jean. Since 2025, the mid-rise denim with a fit-and-flare silhouette have been experiencing a bit renaissance just in time for the humble ankle boot’s own spike in popularity.
Surprisingly versatile, many Gen Z-beloved stars like Bella Hadid have adopted a more relaxed take on the silhouette, while Markle has, unsurprisingly, gravitated to the most slimming versions with a more prominent flare. Earlier this year, Markle made a surprise appearance at the Sundance Film Festival in a monochrome black look, pairing black bootcut pants with a mockneck sweater and simple gold jewelry.
She took a similar approach to her skinny-flare bootcut look at the All-Star game in California, pairing slim indigo jeans with a soft navy sweater and minimal jewelry, finishing off the look with black, pointed-toe heeled boots. Meanwhile, Prince Harry looked similarly streamlined in a button-up shirt, baseball cap, grey cigarette jeans, and suede green sneakers.
