As style princess Kate Middleton has proved, if it ain’t broke, DON’T fix it. (Just buy the same trusted outfits in four different colours – and repeat!)
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The Princess of Wales knows how to repeat an outfit – and does it with aplomb.
Favouring sleek silhouettes in flattering hues, Catherine knows what suits her and doesn’t stray far from key items in her wardrobe – which is why she tends to concentrate on a handful of pieces in two, three and even four different shades.
Among the most notable is the Emilia Wickstead ‘Kate’ dress, which was named after in her honour after the princess requested repeat versions in lavender, navy, olive green and teal.
Catherine’s seal of approval has stretched to power suits, which have been at the forefront of Kate’s wardrobe in recent times, with one Alexander McQueen style spotted in shades of pink, white, navy and teal.
Each shade puts a new spin on a favourite silhouette.
Emilia Wickstead ‘Kate’ Dress
This teal version of the Emilia Wickstead dress came out at Windsor Castle as Kate and William played host to Crown Princess Victoria of Sweden and husband Prince Daniel
The same model in blue for the National Emergencies Trust at St Martin-in-The-Fields in 2019
Sticking to a tried and trusted approach, Catherine wore this green version to the Anna Freud Centre for children and families in 2019
It could almost be a different dress, such is the colour contrast. But it is the same Emilia Wickstead model, this time worn for a Global Ministerial Mental Health Summit in 2018
Long-sleeved and belted at the waist, Emilia Wickstead’s ‘Kate’ dress was first spotted in lavender in October 2018 when Catherine attended the Global Ministerial Mental Health Summit in London.
Less than a year later an olive green version of the bespoke gown was worn to open the Anna Freud Centre in London, although the neckline had been slightly modified.
Next was navy in November 2019 when the Princess of Wales attended the launch of the National Emergencies Trust, and in November 2023 the familiar A-line dress was seen again but this time in teal and with a longer hemline to welcome Princess Victoria of Sweden with her husband, Prince Daniel.
Alexander McQueen Trouser Suit
Catherine, Princess of Wales, Patron of Evelina London, opens the new Children’s Day Surgery Unit at St Thomas’s Hospital. She wore a favourite McQeen trouser suit for the occasion
It’s one we had seen before. Here Catherine is pictured arriving in Boston for the second annual Earthshot Prize awards last year
Catherine wears the McQueen trouser suit after hosting an early years discussion panel last year
This time it appeared in white – for the state visit to the Caribbean in 2022. Here Catherine visits a teachers’ college in Kingston, Jamaica
Since becoming Princess of Wales, Kate has perfected the art of power dressing, repeatedly turning to her trusty Alexander McQueen trouser suit in a rainbow of colours.
Flatteringly cropped at the ankle, the tailored trousers and matching single-breasted jacket have become Kate’s alternative to the fitted dresses of the past. She first chose a crisp white version in March 2022 during a Jamaica tour, adding a pop of colour with an orange Ridley London blouse and matching bag.
A few months later it was pretty in pink for Catherine at a roundtable meeting she hosted with the Royal Foundation Centre for Early Childhood, this time she kept things tonal by layering it over a classic white top. In November 2022 when arriving in Boston the suit was repeated in navy for a formal take on the tailoring, and most recently teal was the colour of choice for Kate’s wardrobe essential as she stepped out to open the Evelina London Children’s Day Surgery Unit.
Emilia Wickstead Coat Dress
The coat dress has been an important part of Kate’s armoury, worn here for Saint Patrick’s Day with the Irish Guards in 2012
The same silhouette, but this time in pale blue for Easter Sunday at Windsor last year
Catherine wore this deep pink Emilia Wickstead coat dress for a Buckingham Palace Garden Party
The elegant longline coat dress has become one of Kate’s most relied upon fashion styles, which was first adopted by Princess Diana in the 1980s. A cross over bodice design with neat lapels, nipped in waist and flared skirt by Emilia Wickstead has become a firm favourite of Catherine’s and has been worn multiple times in different colours.
Her first outing in this style of coat dress was in 2012 to the Saint Patrick’s Day parade in emerald green, worn with a chocolate brown Lock & Co hat and a shamrock brooch.
She looked radiant in the pale blue version when she appeared on Easter Sunday featuring the same flattering silhouette. Most recently it was seen again in a bold shade of deep pink with a coordinating Jane Taylor fascinator for the 2022 Buckingham Palace garden party.
Eponine London Midi Coat
Cobalt blue Eponine for Glasgow in November 2021
The Eponine coat dress was chosen for last year’s Carol Concert at Westminster Abbey, this time in festive Burgundy
The Princess of Wales showcased the best of British fashion with her elegant choice of coat dress at a reception to mark the opening of COP26 in Glasgow.
The cobalt blue design by London-based brand Eponine flatteringly fell to just above her ankle and features bracelet length sleeves and a cross over neckline.
It was déjà vu for the Together at Christmas carol service held at Westminster Abbey in 2022, when Kate chose the same piece but this time in a festive burgundy with gold buttons.
Alexander McQueen Pink Dress
This stylish McQueen dress was worn in pink to Trooping the Colour in 2017
The following year, Catherine wore the dress in raspberry pink for the wedding of Princess Eugenie Wedding. This time the shoulders were puffed
Did the outfit that Kate wore to Princess Eugenie’s 2018 royal wedding look familiar?
The structured raspberry pink frock which was paired with burgundy accessories and a Philip Treacy hat was previously seen in a lighter shade in June 2017 for Trooping the Colour, although on this occasion she gave it a fresh spin with puffed shoulders.
At the 2017 celebration, the Princess of Wales paired the lighter pink version of the modern dress with a matching hat by Jane Taylor.
Alexander McQueen Coat Dress
The McQueen coat dress was an elegant choice for Charlotte’s Christening in 2015
It reappeared at Harry and Meghan’s Wedding three years later
This time the McQueen coat dress was worn in light blue – an appropriate shade for the 100th anniversary of the Royal Air Force
For Princess Charlotte’s christening in 2015, Catherine looked pristine in an ivory Alexander McQueen coat dress.
A few years later for Harry and Meghan’s royal wedding celebrations it looked very similar but was actually in a pale shade of primrose yellow.
Later proving that a classic cut can stand the test of time she donned the same piece but this time in pale blue to attend the Westminster Abbey service for the Centenary of the Royal Air Force in July 2018.
Preen Finella Dress
The stylish Finella dress was worn in Canadian red for Canada in 2016
A black version of Preen’s Finella dress for the Place2be Awards in 2016
When you find the perfect figure-complimenting frock you want it in every colour, and it seems the Princess of Wales has found that in the form of this mid-length ‘Finella’ dress from Preen, which she owns in both red and black.
First seen in pillar box red during a tour of Canada in 2016 with a maple leaf brooch and Gianvito Rossi heels, the box pleated frock was seen again later in the year in black for the Place2be awards and this time given a glamorous edge with the addition of a sparkly Temperley London belt.
Catherine Walker Bow Coat
This slender Catherine Walker Bow Coat was worn for Prince Philip’s Funeral in 2021
A very different colour for a very different occasion that same year. This time Kate wears Catherine Walker for a Westminster Abbey Carol Service
The Princess of Wales wore a stylish black ensemble to mark the sombre day of Prince Philip’s funeral at Windsor Castle.
Featuring a striking oversized bow across the shoulder, her Catherine Walker coat dress was accessorised with a pearl necklace and a Philip Treacy netted hat.
Showing how colour can transform a look, when we saw the same coat later in the year at Westminster Abbey for Kate’ annual carol service in red, the look was bright, festive and fun.
Catherine Walker Double Breasted Coat
Kate wrapped up in a Catherine Walker coat with velvet cuffs and lapels and a Lock & Co hat for St Patrick’s Day in 2017
Catherine Walker was chosen for the 2018 Christmas Day service at Sandringham
Dressing for the occasion with a nod to Irish style, Kate wrapped up in a Catherine Walker coat with velvet cuffs and lapels and a Lock & Co hat for St Patrick’s Day in 2017.
The modern fit and gold buttons gave a regal edge to the ensemble making it an obvious choice to be repeated in another colour as we saw at the Christmas Service in Sandringham in 2018.
Festive in burgundy, this time the buttons were in velvet and the look was topped with a Jane Taylor headband.
Emilia Wickstead Pleated dress
William and Catherine attend a reception for Sovereign Monarchs and guests in celebration of Queen Elizabeth’s Diamond Jubilee at Windsor Castle n 2012
Kate attended a visit to the Action on Addiction Centre for addiction treatment studies at Action on Addiction Centre in 2015
This pleated dress has been a firm favourite of the Princess of Wales, and she has worn both the pink and turquoise colours on a number of occasions. Kate first wore the pretty pleated frock to the Queen’s official Jubilee lunch at Windsor Castle, before wearing it again 11 days later to a Buckingham Palace Garden party.
The outfit was such a hit that it was recommissioned in turquoise for a New Zealand tour in 2014 and then worn (above) to a centre for addiction
Smythe Duchess Blazer
Catherine pictured at Heathrow airport as she embarks on the Royal Tour of Canada in 2011
She wore an oliver green Smythe blazer for another visit to Canada in 2016. Here, she has just arrived Haida Gwaii by canoe
Catherine wore the Smythe Duchess Blazer in navy blue frequently during her time as the Duchess of Cambridge, and it was renamed the Duchess after she wore it.
The tailored piece was first debuted in 2011, just months after joining the Royal Family while boarding a plane at Heathrow Airport ahead of the Canada tour.
Later in 2016 in Haida Gwaii during another tour of Canada the blazer was seen again with the same gold buttons, but this time in a shade of olive green.
Catherine Walker Coat Dress
This Catherine Walker Coat dress appeared in 2011 at Calgary Zoo
It was seen again in Berlin in 2017, this time in cornflower blue
Kate was radiant in red on the final day of the royal couple’s tour of Canada in 2011. For their appearance at Calgary Zoo she wore a scarlet Marianne coat dress by Catherine Walker, with a maple leaf brooch.
In 2017 the bespoke coat with self-covered buttons, three-quarter sleeves and shawl lapels was seen again, but this time in cornflower blue when arriving in Berlin. It was here that Kate refined the art of pantone dressing as she colour coordinated with the rest of the family.
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