Kate Middleton's Best Outfits In Every Color
While trends come and go, style is eternal, and perhaps no one has better displayed a sense of poise, elegance, and fashion in its purest form better than Catherine, Princess of Wales. Sure, her title and prominent role within the royal family have all but guaranteed an impressive wardrobe. Still, the princess balances royal expectations, gorgeous tailoring, and an element of relatability — she is a mom of three, after all. Catherine has absolutely dazzled on red carpets, at state events, and even looked stunning while mourning the late Queen Elizabeth II — she's also given us plenty of enviable day-to-day looks, with her white and navy striped boat shirt and paper bag shorts ensemble being an all-time favorite of ours. No matter the occasion, Catherine always looks picture perfect — and she always manages to outdo herself — a feat that not many of us can meet.
Although Catherine married William, Prince of Wales, more than a decade ago — and has been on the royal scene for much longer than that — some of her outfits truly stand out from the rest. We're talking about that dazzling gold gown she wore on the red carpet, her poised look of perfection at the "Top Gun: Maverick" premiere in London, and her effortlessly chic sweater/skirt combo that has us right in our fall feels. So — taking a cue from the rainbow — we're taking a deep dive into the Princess of Wales's best outfits in every color.
Red
What color is more indicative of Britain than red? The red buses, red telephone booths, prominent red color in the Union Jack flag — the list goes on, and one of Catherine, Princess of Wales's best looks featured the color in all its British glory. In October 2021, Catherine headed to BAFTA to launch her "Taking Action on Addiction" campaign, aimed at raising awareness for those struggling with drug and alcohol addiction, Yahoo! notes. As a working royal, Catherine is tied to a number of charities and organizations, and her impassioned speech at the event clearly displayed her level of dedication.
"We can all play our part in helping this work by understanding, by listening, by connecting so that together, we can build a happier, healthier, more nurturing society," the Princess of Wales said. And while we wanted to give ample voice to the cause she was there to champion, we have to pay special attention to the ensemble Catherine wore to the event. Wearing a red turtleneck top, a Christopher Kane skirt with subtle pleating, brown Ralph Lauren pumps, and carrying a brown DeMellier bag, Catherine stunned in her look, bringing a chic element to an otherwise bright, monochromatic look.
Kate's Closet – which details many of the princess's looks — found that the Ralph Lauren turtleneck jumper she chose was easily over $250, and the skirt came in at just under a grand, but in this ensemble, the princess looked like a million bucks.
Light Blue
If you take a moment to scroll through some of Catherine, Princess of Wales's looks while she's out and about, it only takes a couple of minutes to realize that light blue is definitely a go-to color for her. With that in mind, we struggled to narrow down our favorite ensemble.
Yet, there's something so incredibly chic about the coat she chose for her walkabout while visiting Ballymena, Northern Ireland, in 2019. As noted by Elle Canada, Catherine and her husband William, Prince of Wales, were in Northern Ireland for a two-day royal tour, and they hit the streets to greet fans and warm-wishers while heading to their first event of the day. While Catherine had been spotted in a gorgeous red ensemble the day prior, she struck a different chord with her light blue, very "Sleeping Beauty" looking coat from Mulberry, which featured prominent buttons, a cinched belted waist, and an eye-catching cape detailing amid the shoulders.
In classic Catherine fashion, the princess let her perfectly barrel-curled hair do the talking, and her subtle but effective makeup was perfect for the day outing. Underneath the coat, Catherine wore a dress of a dark blue hue, perfectly contrasting her powder-sky coat. Simply put, this look isn't just one of our favorite light blue ensembles of the princess's, it might be our favorite look, period.
Dark Blue
Catherine, Princess of Wales, clearly knows that blue shades work incredibly well with her alabaster skin and walnut-brown hair. While there are oodles of dark blue options to pick from for Catherine's best look in this shade of the rainbow, we had to go with the ensemble that she sported at the D-Day exhibition at Bletchley Park on May 14, 2019. As noted by Metro, Catherine attended the event in question, which honored the codebreakers who broke down the German Enigma machine during World War II. And while the event as it stood was incredibly meaningful, it meant that much more to Catherine — her grandmother, Valerie Glassbow, worked as one such codebreaker during the Second World War, bringing such a full circle, meaningful experience to the day. And, of course, Catherine looked stunning while honoring the important woman in her life.
Broken down by Kate's Closet, the princess was seen in a dark blue and white polka dot dress from Alessandra Rich, which featured a bold white lapel, accented buttons from the neck down, and prominent white cuffs. She paired the look with a simple, dark blue clutch and a pair of classic pumps in a brushed light blue color. Her hair is perfectly curled at the ends, and her dazzling figure stealing the show makes this look one of our favorites. The same dress can be yours, though we're not sure if you have about $2,000 hanging around to purchase it.
White
We truly wouldn't be able to talk about Kate Middleton's best outfits in every color without mentioning her wedding dress — of course, fulfilling her best look in white. On that highly anticipated day in 2011, Kate married Prince William and became the Duchess of Cambridge. Not only was the wedding itself an event of the decade, but Kate dazzled in her dress and inspired bridal looks for the foreseeable future. As noted by Brides, the dress was an Alexander McQueen gown designed specifically by Sarah Burton. The lace detailing and the romantic bodice were beautifully fitted on the duchess, and the full skirt brought a real-life princess effect to the day. Micaela Erlanger, a celebrity fashion stylist, further broke down the look for Brides.
"What I love about the dress is that there is so much more to it than meets the eye — as is typical for a McQueen design," Erlanger explained. "First of all, the tailoring of this gown was impeccable, and it flattered her figure so beautifully. Also, what you'll notice when you look closer is the lace detailing."
And all that detail truly amounted to a gorgeous bride and a hefty bill. As noted by Hello! Magazine, Kate's parents — Carole and Michael Middleton — covered the dress's cost, estimated to cost about $280,000. Adorned with Robinson Pelham earrings and the Cartier Halo Tiara, Kate was picture-perfect.
Gold
While the title "Woman in Gold" belongs to Adele Bloch-Bauer — pictured in the stunning portrait by Gustav Klimt — Catherine, Princess of Wales, gave the Austrian socialite a bit of competition while attending the world premiere of 007's "No Time To Die" in 2021. As noted by Harper's Bazaar, the highly anticipated premiere saw the royal couple in dazzling ensembles, and simply put, Catherine outshone the competition. Walking the carpet at the Royal Albert Hall, Kate's glittering gown from designer Jenny Packham was breathtaking. The dress's adornments — gathering at the heart and dispelling outwards — looked like the most dazzling firework, and the cape detailing brought a sophistication that only the likes of Kate could pull off. She paired the look with a pair of nude pumps from designer Aquazzura, gold drop-down earrings, a glamorous up-do, and a bit of a smokey eye (which we don't often see the princess sport).
Yet another interesting aspect of this dress is that — as detailed by Kate's Closet – it combines two Packham designs. The first — the Margot gown — makes up the bodice and mermaid-shaped skirt we saw Kate shine in. The second — the Elizabeth gown — is responsible for the gorgeous cape detailing that truly took this dress to the next level. While 007 might have been the film's star, the princess stole the show with this gold look.
Violet
The rule of thumb is that pastels should be avoided as it's easy to get washed out by those that make up the Easter palette. But there's nothing Catherine, Princess of Wales, can't do when it comes to her wardrobe, and she stunned when she attended the BAFTA Brits To Watch event — held at the Belasco Theatre — in 2011. As noted by E! Online, the newly married royal couple (at the time) was quite the ticket item at the event, and celebrities who are often in their own spotlight flocked to greet the royals. Specifically, Kate and Prince William were greeted by James Brolin, Jonah Hill, and Britain's own Nigel Lythgoe — known for his time as a judge on "So You Think You Can Dance." Simply put, the air around the royals was hallowed.
Let's get to the dress. As detailed by Kate's Closet, the then-Duchess of Cambridge looked picture perfect in the Lilac Grecian Gown by Alexander McQueen (the same designer as her wedding dress). The flowing chiffon skirt and cinched waistline flattered the duchess's figure perfectly, and the cap sleeve detailing was teasing enough for a more conservative dresser (regarding silhouettes). The Ready To Wear version of the dress is almost $2,800, though we should note that Kate's was custom.
What makes this dress even better, however, is that the Princess of Wales re-wore it while attending the Earthshot Prize event in 2021, bringing the Grecian goddess look back to the carpet (via Swirlster).
Green
Suppose there's one color that we would love to see Catherine, Princess of Wales, wear more of. In that case, it's green — specifically, the gorgeous emerald green that graced the royal while attending the Royal Variety Performance at the Royal Albert Hall in 2021. We have to break this look down from top to bottom, as the dress — and its wearer — is simply stunning. The custom-made Jenny Packham gown, as Hello! Magazine details, features a bold shoulder silhouette and a collarbone gracing neckline. The dress's long sleeves are perfectly tailored to be fitted (but not skin-tight), and the delicately jeweled waistline brings the dress in, creating the perfect focal point. The remaining aspects of the skirt and bodice are adorned with dazzling jeweled detailing, skimming the floor perfectly.
For this event in question, Catherine paired the look with simple drop-down earrings, and her hair was perfectly styled to flow on one side. Carrying a corresponding clutch and looking incredibly effortless, we think it's safe to assume that the carpet didn't know what hit it.
Not dissimilar to the Alexander McQueen gown she re-wore years later, this Jenny Packham look was a repeat for the princess, Kate's Closet notes. She debuted the dress during her 2019 visit to Pakistan, making it yet another dazzling look that royal watchers were fortunate enough to see twice.
Yellow
Of all the royal moments that have taken our breath away, perhaps none match the weight and impact of Diana Spencer's work within hospital communities. Prince William's mom — lovingly referred to as the people's princess — made it a habit to visit hospitals and those seeking medical care, bringing a much-needed spotlight to the issues plaguing the United Kingdom amid her lifetime. In a touching full circle moment, Catherine — now the Princess of Wales and the first person to use the title publicly since Diana — visited the maternity unit at the Royal Surrey County Hospital on October 5, 2022, and channeled her late mother-in-law with her kindness and dazzling ensemble.
As detailed by Kate's Closet, the Princess of Wales spoke to the maternity unit's staff about the "holistic support" it provides to expecting moms — they care for 3,000 moms and babies yearly. While listening about the important work done, Catherine looked stunning in her Karen Millen Crepe Forever Pleat Belted Midi Dress (we know, it's a mouthful) in the color ochre yellow. She paired the gorgeous dress with Emily Mortimer earrings and wore a favorite pair of Gianvito Rossi heels. While shades of blue are certainly the princess's most worn shade (as we detailed previously), the sunny yellow dress and her perfectly styled walnut-brown hair brought a lightheartedness and happiness to the appearance, firmly landing it on our best-dressed list.
Polka Dot
We know what you're thinking — polka dot technically isn't a color — but this look from Catherine, Princess of Wales, was too good not to include. The Royal Ascot is known for head-turning looks, and Kate has often set herself apart from the fashion pack with her superb choices. But in 2022, her look was genuinely spectacular, invoking a modern silhouette, all while presenting a timeless look for hundreds to draw inspiration.
As noted by Vogue, the white-based polka dot dress Kate wore for the occasion was from designer Alessandra Rich, and the princess paired it with a hat from Sally-Ann Provan. Vogue noted that Kate's look was a subtle nod to the Hollywood looks we've come to love over the decades — the dazzling costumes (and high-neck silhouettes) in "My Fair Lady,"or Julia Roberts' polka dot look in "Pretty Woman." But of course, Diana Spencer clearly served as inspiration, Vogue notes, as her 1988 look is a near carbon copy. It's certainly not the first time that the now-Princess of Wales has honored her late mother-in-law with poignant fashion choices, and we think that Diana would be proud of Kate's poise in this ever-dazzling look.
Kate's Closet further notes that the princess paired her Royal Ascot look with beautiful drop-down earrings, a sweeping up-do, and her classic makeup look. Pairing the look with a pair of classic pumps, Kate looked stunning — to put it mildly — and firmly landed an A+ from us.
Pink
When Kate Middleton first came on the scene, her wardrobe was very college chic — cute skirts, flats for those nights on the town, mid-2000s sunglasses — but her fashion began to evolve with time. In her early days as the Duchess of Cambridge, Kate walked the line of preppy, feminine chic, and timeless style, but we think it's been within the last two years or so that she's found her stride — this following best-dressed winner is proof of that. As noted by Vanity Fair, Kate joined the Royal Foundation Center for Early Childhood in June 2022 for a roundtable, working with the organization (as she does as a senior royal). And while the topics at hand were the show's stars, Kate's outfit deserves a moment. She wore — wait for it — a pantsuit and looked incredibly professional, Millennial, and shall we even say boss while doing so.
The suit in question was that perfect powder pink that has become synonymous with the Millennial generation, and it was designed by a favorite of the princess's, Alexander McQueen. Kate's Closet further noted that the tailored suit was just one of the new items on display that day, as Kate paired her "I'm the CEO here" look with an embossed leather writing folder from Smythson. Bringing some of her go-to jewelry to the event — her Mappin & Webb 'Empress' earrings and necklace — Kate looked like the kind, serious, and capable boss we all aspire to be.
Black
Don't think we've forgotten this absolutely immaculate Kate Middleton fashion moment in our round-up because we don't think it'd be possible to see her best looks in every color without bringing her "Top Gun: Maverick" premiere dress onto the scene. According to WWD, the Princess of Wales joined Prince William and Tom Cruise at the premiere in London, stunning everyone with a black column dress that featured an off-the-shoulder neckline — a little scandalous for an otherwise more conservative dresser. The dress in question was a Rolan Mouret design featuring bold white shoulder detailing and an immaculately fitting bodice. She paired the incredible look with a sleek, straight hairstyle — again, a far cry from the bouncy curls we know her for — and subtle drop-down earrings. Simply put, Kate let the dress do the talking, and we're so glad she did.
Kate Middleton's Style further detailed that — before the premiere — Kate and William joined the film's cast outside a Typhoon fighter jet. They then all hit the red carpet, and Kate continued to steal the show in her Mouret dress. Topping off her premiere look with a pair of pumps from Prada and an Alexander McQueen clutch, we think Kate's look may be her best to date. Cruise broke royal protocol by touching Kate's hand and assisting her as she climbed the stairs. If anyone is going to get away with violating the royal rules, it's our very own Maverick (via Hello!).