Kate Middleton has spent 14 years as a working royal—she’s worn hundreds of outfits in the public eye.
The fairytale gowns, dazzling tiaras and bold coatdresses all grab headlines. It’s easy to forget the quieter, less heralded looks.
So, I’ve put together a list of looks that didn’t top any best-dressed lists, but are chic and still deserve a second look today.
Though a decade old, some of these looks were years ahead of the trend curve. From tonal tailoring and playful prints to sleek separates that feel straight off a fashion editor’s moodboard, these underrated looks deserve another moment in the spotlight.
Let’s start with this chic look from ten years ago:
1) An Early Monochrome Moment
Then-Duchess visited HMP Send in Surrey in 2015 wearing a tailored grey tweed dress by The Fold London.
The garment featured a soft V-neck, long sleeves and an asymmetric peplum waist.
Kate styled the piece with tonal accessories including grey suede pumps from L.K. Bennett, a slightly darker clutch by Hobbs London and Kiki McDonough’s ‘Grace’ earrings in white topaz & diamond.
Why this look deserves love: I think this look laid the groundwork for one of Kate’s now-signature style moves: elegant, monochrome dressing.
The silhouette is sleek yet approachable, and the tonal styling feels incredibly current, even a decade later.
2) Beautiful in Burgundy:
I love this look and think it’s quite fun and youthful. It’s from 2018, when Kate visited the Neuroscience department at University College London.
The Princess styled the bugundy skirt suit by Paule Ka with black opaque tights, her black suede Tod’s pumps, and her Mulberry “Bayswater” Wallet clutch, also in black suede. Gold oak leaf hoop earrings (by Asprey London) added a little luxe to the look.
The finishing touch? A black velvet ribbon tied into her ponytail.
Why this look deserves love: I think this playful and polished look was a youthful departure from Kate’s usual silhouettes. The Princess clearly loves the skirt suit, having worn it three times in public to date.
I do think the skirt’s shorter hemline means we won’t see it again—Kate tends to wear longer styles these days. But I secretly hope she’s tucked this suit away for Charlotte’s future wardrobe.
The bow in the hair, though? For me that was the *mwa* chef’s kiss.
Let’s go from one skirt suit to another now.
3) A Confident Choice in Armani Collezioni
Kate wore this striking red ensemble in 2017, at the opening of the Global Academy school in London for the Heads Together campaign:
It’s by Armani Collezioni. The collarless jacket features a sleek, sculpted fit that nips in neatly at the waist, with a series of horizontal, dart-like pleats—a standout detail that subtly enhances the hourglass shape. Kate paired the jacket with a coordinating knee-length pencil skirt.
The Princess kept her accessories neutral (beige Rupert Sanderson heels and a clutch by Etui), which let the bold poppy red colour take centre stage.
Her Mappin & Webb “Empress” diamond necklace and matching earrings added subtle sparkle to the look.
Why this look deserves love: This suit was a confident choice in my opinion. It’s fitted, vibrant, and a departure from her go-to silhouettes at the time. Eight years on, it still feels fresh. I could see her wearing this look again, perhaps with pumps in a matching shade of red.
4) Bold Bird Print in Berlin
OK, let’s pivot from structured daywear to one of Kate’s more informal evening looks now. The Princess wore this teal chiffon dress at a reception in 2017, during a visit to Berlin, Germany.
It’s the “Arabella” dress by German-born designer, Markus Lupfer. The garment featured an all-over sparrow print, high neckline and pleated skirt.
Kate accessorised with a silver waist belt by Jenny Packham, taupe sandals by Prada and a metallic beaded zip clutch by Anne Grand-Clément. She finished the look with baroque pearl earrings by Soru and Princess Diana’s triple-strand pearl bracelet.
Why this look deserves love: I’ll acknowledge that this ensemble divided opinion at the time—some called it too fussy, others loved the bold print—but in hindsight, I think it’s a beautifully offbeat moment for the Princess. The vintage-inspired print and floaty silhouette echoed the artistic backdrop of Clärchens Ballhaus, the styling felt relaxed yet refined. A re-wear (but with different shoes, in my opinion) wouldn’t go amiss.
5) Polished Print
Let’s keep with the relaxed theme now. Here’s a look from January 2020, when Kate took her “5 Big Questions” tour to Cardiff, Wales. She looked polished in a mix of high street and high-end brands:
The Princess wore a Massimo Dutti coat layered over a black roll-neck with a pleated midi skirt from Zara in a soft animal print.
She finished the look with black suede knee-high boots by Ralph Lauren, opaque tights, and delicate gold accessories, including her Daniella Draper initial necklace and a pair of Accessorize filigree drop earrings.
Why this look deserves love: It’s a high-street-meets-high-style moment that still feels fresh. Kate wore this ensemble over five years ago, but I bet she still wears this look regularly today.
The animal print was an unexpected choice for a royal — subtle, but a quiet departure from the usual florals, stripes and polkadots that she was known for. The overall effect was relaxed yet refined, perfectly suited to the family-focused setting.
I also love that this outfit is easy to replicate, it’s very wearable and definitely on-trend (I think you’d see this look on your favourite Instagram influencer today.)
6) A Fashionable Farewell
Let’s finish up with this graceful ensemble from the Canada tour of 2016.
To conclude the visit, the then Duchess bid farewell at the airport in Victoria wearing a bespoke cream Catherine Walker coatdress.
The piece features tonal piping, a shawl collar, and a softly flared skirt. Kate wore the coat over a pleated ivory skirt believed to be by Whistles and the beige L.K. Bennett “Floret” pumps.
Kate finished her look with a little added sparkle. She wore Queen Elizabeth’s diamond maple leaf brooch and her Annoushka pearl drop earrings suspended from Kiki McDonough diamond hoops.
Her hair was styled in a half-updo.
Why this look deserves love: This look was a regal finale to the Canada tour. I think you could easily overlook the whole outfit and dismiss it as just ‘another cream coat’. But sit with it a minute and you’ll appreciate the subtle piping and elegant shape of the piece.
I think the neutral palette felt fresh, feminine, and distinctly ‘princessy’. Understated, but a style win for me.
Have I missed an outfit?
Comment below and let me know which outfit you think I’ve missed!
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