The Princess of Wales wears so many outfits each year — it’s a dizzying style spectacle of red carpet outfits, down-to-earth daywear and ceremonial fashions. Still, many of Kate’s fabulous styles go unnoticed or unappreciated.
Here we revisit some of Princess Kate’s most overlooked fashion statements and offer our sartorial seal of approval.
Here are 7 of Kate Middleton’s Most Underrated Looks of All Time:
1. Sapphire Showstopper
Sapphire blue is Princess Kate’s signature shade and it’s easy to see why. The royal is radiant anytime she steps out in cobalt colors. Though the princess owns numerous statement sheaths from Packham in colors like ivory, black and blue — her peaked lapis shoulder dress is a standout for its formfitting and figure flattering silhouette; the retro minded bespoke wiggle dress has been worn by the princess on two occasions but has never garnered the attention it deserves.
2. Chic in Chloe
The princess made admirers do a double-take in this elegant ivory cotton blend tea dress by Parisian fashion house See by Chloé. Though the delicate and dainty party dress was a hit, many duchess disciples forgot all about the fit and flare dress designed with a unique pointelle bodice and ruffled collar. Kate wore the elegant day dress in the fall of 2016 for a children’s garden party in Canada and later in May 2017 for a charity tea party on the grounds of Buckingham Palace. Though the style went under the royal radar, the look was extra special thanks to Kate’s smart accessory add-on specifically, a cream colored belt by Acne Studios called the Orione.
3. Check Her Out
Hailing from Erdem’s Resort 2016 collection, this checked coat was largely forgotten by the media and duchess devotees. The stunning textured tweed coat has a navy and pink plaid pattern with white specks. Pre-princess, Kate wore the knee-length coat for engagements in Manchester in October 2016. The patterned coat should be celebrated for its chic check design and scattered white confetti flecks.
4. French Fashionista
Perhaps it was because the silhouette was so familiar that Kate’s style squad did not make a big fuss over her French fashion lookbook and in particular her lacy latte bodycon from Jenny Packham. The peplum waist piece with a peter pan collar was engineered with the help of French textile house Sophie Hallette (the designer was also commissioned to construct the lace used in Kate’s wedding dress and shoes) and was perfectly tailored for Kate’s fit figure. The cream colored vintage minded sheath has been seen on the princess on just one occasion in July 2016 in France. Let’s cross our fingers for the royal leading lady to revisit this striking sheath.
5. Magnificent in McQueen
Though the Princess of Wales has many military coats from her go-to British design house Alexander McQueen, the softer elements of her black wool and velvet patchwork coat made it feel extra decadent and special. The luxe coat was worn for Remembrance Sunday in November 2015 and again the following year at a memorial tribute to the sixth Duke of Westminster in Chester in November 2016. Here’s to hoping Kate replays this opulent outerwear.
6. Erdem Elegance
Though Princess Kate’s Erdem fashions are often polarizing, there was no pushback on this polished plaid look from the Canadian born designer. Kate wore the frayed off-the-shoulder midi with plush velvet bordeaux pumps, Erdem floral hoop earrings and a burgundy satin belt. The check bouclé-tweed midi dress with a fluted hem was made in Italy with special decorative accents including pearl trimmed crystal buttons. We need Kate to recycle this evening gown ASAP and get the dress the hype it deserves.
7. Timeless in Teal
In May 2022 the princess presented the Queen Elizabeth II Award for British Design in this ‘Pedernal’ pebble textured dress from Edeline Lee. The color, fit and flounce of the feminine dress made this a significant addition to Kate’s Windsor wardrobe. Yet, despite intriguing details like a chunky square statement belt, self-tie sleeves and a swishy skirt, this dress didn’t register on the royal radar for long. Fingers crossed Kate resurrects this winning style. Shop the dress HERE
