While many people associate the Princess of Wales with her conservative clothing and demure dresses — the British beauty has been experimenting with her fashion choices in recent years. Kate has transformed her closet and traded covered up camisoles for baring bodysuits, blush lipstick for bold berry, simple shirt-dresses for skintight sheaths, nude nails for scarlet digits and plain pumps for sky-high stilettos.
She’s also experimented with bold opera gloves, large statement earrings, sequin capes and highlighter hued dresses. So, is Kate transforming her style from carefully conservative Crown rep to daring Queen-in-waiting?
Here are 8 Signs Proving Kate Middleton’s Style is More Daring than Ever:
1. Plunging Blouses
In June 2022 the princess stepped out in a bubblegum pink Alexander McQueen trouser suit for an Early Years roundtable discussion. A year later, she recycled the pretty pink pantsuit for a Foundling Museum visit but this time opted for a far more revealing deep v-neck blouse in a coordinating color.
2. Vixen Vibes
For Royal Ascot in 2017, Kate’s lacy Alexander McQueen had Marilyn Monroe energy. Unbelievably the ladylike dress was considered “too sheer” but she stayed the conservative course with a soft pink lipstick. Years later, rather than tone down her style, the princess went further with the bombshell glam and opted for a moody maroon lip for the Order of the Garter ceremony in June 2023.
3. She’s a Good Skort
Shunning tracksuit pants for designer skorts — Kate has transformed her tennis apparel style from undercover athlete to coquettish competitor. Gone are the full coverage Monreal London side panel track bottoms with a neon waistband. Hello to frisky and flirty Stella McCartney flared mini skorts.
4. Legs for Days
While the world was waiting for news on Baby Sussex’s arrival into the world in early May, the princess was attending to her usual royal duties. Kate stepped out five days before Archie Harrison was born in 2019 to make a stop at Anna Freud’s Kantor Centre — for the visit she wore a very prim and proper square neck ‘Kate’ dress by Emilia Wickstead. Four years later, the princess ditched demure in favor of a rather risqué and revealing Suzannah shirtdress which showed off her tennis-toned legs.
5. Houndstooth Happy
The princess wore this $1595 ‘Austin’ dress from Ralph Lauren to visit Anna Freud Centre in September 2015. Far from being sultry or sexy, this belted houndstooth shirtdress was business appropriate and conventional corporate. Seven years later, the princess put pause on the professional garb in favor of a formfitting and shape-showing houndstooth dress from Emilia Wickstead. The ‘Mad Men’ era sheath was snug and skimming — a far cry from the shy shirtdress of yore.
6. Nailed It
Rumors have long persisted that employees of the Firm are forbidden from bright or boisterous nail polish; it’s believed the directive was part of Queen Elizabeth’s sartorial and beauty protocol — ONLY nude or neutral nails for royal duty or off to the tower! Princess Kate has recently chucked the Crown commandments in favor of some showy and scandalous lacquer. For Easter service in April 2022, the mom of three wore typical clear polish with her Emilia Wickstead coat dress. A year later, she stepped out in a striking cobalt coat from Catherine Walker; she paired the 2023 Easter ensemble with rebellious rich red nails.
7. Shoe Story
Taking a page from her sister-in-law Meghan Markle’s style bible, Kate has adopted a new love affair with alluring Aquazzura pumps. The come-hither shoes have suggestive cut-outs which reveal skin with their peek-a-boo ankles. The 4.3 inch heels are embellished with a fiercely feminine bow detail and are rendered in soft suede. Kate’s traded her basic bespoke navy McQueen pumps for the sensational stilettos.
8. Shape Shifter
In early days as a senior member of the royal family, Kate rarely stepped outside the style lines. She wore a lime colored Catherine Walker coat dress with a big belt in Canberra, Australia in April 2014. The then-duchess even admitted the heavy dress made her feel a “bit hot” — years later, she resurrected the neon shade but this time opted for a slinky and sultry Solace London evening gown which hugged her fabulous figure in all the right places. Bet she was plenty cool in the bold shoulder-revealing sheath.
