The Princess of Wales is often called a ‘frugal fashionista’ for her penchant for recycling old clothing, shoes and handbags.
Often reworking and rewearing her beloved blouses, accessories and dresses for multiple outings and royal engagements, the princess shows off her sustainable style credentials every time she salvages her ‘past date’ styles.
While the princess isn’t the only royal who has learned the art of upcycling (see: Princess Anne) — her commitment to making something old into something new is an epic fashion feat that continues to encourage her ever-growing fanbase to reuse, repurpose and recycle.
Here are 10 Times Kate Middleton Upcycled her Fashion Favorites:
1. Belt to Bow
In Southport in October 2024, Kate revived and revamped her past season burgundy Whistles shirtdress by turning the matching dotted belt into a fashion-forward neck tie.
2. Long to Short
Clad in a Harris tweed Katherine Hooker coat, Kate looked magnificent in North Wales for her first ever royal engagement on a brisk February day in 2011. Still, onlookers were surprised by Kate’s dedication to sensible styling with her thrifty tailoring– she had remade her long beige coat circa 2006 into a shorter version for the outing with then-future husband Prince William.
3. Bling Belt Swap
To upcycle her floaty pale purple Alexander McQueen evening gown from 2011, the princess traded in a white glitter belt for a silver rhinestone encrusted one for the green carpet at the Earthshot Prize Awards in October 2021.
4. Shoulder Scarf Detached
Far from spending more Crown cash, Kate opted to budget her bills from King Charles and upcycled a shimmery sequin green Tenille gown for the annual Royal Variety Performance in November 2021. Previously, she donned the identical dress but with a matching shoulder drape detail in Pakistan.
5. Shamrock Separation
The princess made her Daniella Draper gold mini cupid hoops look like a new pair of earrings simply by removing the baby shamrock charm. She wore the hoops in Ireland in March 2020 on four occasions with the clover charm then later removed it for 12 more royal engagements back on her home turf in England.
6. Fanciful Flourish
Princess Kate reworked her simple colorblock Jenny Packham ivory sheath with the addition of a contrast striped black waistband and a large bow embellishment on the bodice for Trooping the Colour celebrations in 2024.
7. Buckled Up
The princess made her aubergine ‘Christmas coat’ (from her first yuletide season with the late Queen and her crew of corgis in 2011) hailing from an unknown independent dressmaker into a brand new look when she added a black Alexander McQueen suede belt for a day of engagements in October 2012 in Newcastle.
8. Sleeves Upgrade
Wanting to be more ‘demure and mindful’ the princess ditched her scandalous shoulder baring silhouette for short capped sleeves when she altered this black Alexander McQueen’s Long Tier Violet Dress for an outing at the National Portrait Gallery in March 2019.
9. Coat Lengthening
Proving she’s an eco-minded fashion warrior, Kate took her Hobbs Celeste coat in brown and gave it a fresh twist with a longer hemline. The princess had her knee-length coat tailored to midi-length in February 2023.
10. Flowy Drape
Kate made her past season white Alexander McQueen dress feel brand new by removing a frilly floral shoulder appliqué and adding a dramatic drape detail.
{Images via Getty/PA, Kensington Palace}
