Princess Kate employs a smart technique to maintain her modesty and enhance her elegance during public engagements. The Princess of Wales is frequently photographed in chic designer dresses, which she occasionally modifies.
Kate follows in the footsteps of other royals, including style icon Princess Diana, who was the first Royal to experiment with designs. Royals often adjust their outfits to adhere more closely to protocol.
This can sometimes be as simple as altering a neckline or eliminating a side slit. However, for Kate, it’s not just about complying with the rules; she also modifies her outfits to re-wear them on different occasions.
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The mother of three is often seen turning heads with her familiar yet altered outfits, which she is known for recycling, such as her Alexander McQueen gown. This year, when Kate made her public comeback at the Trooping the Colour, she elegantly re-wore a Jenny Packham dress from 2023.
She updated the black-and-white design with a striped ribbon belt and a matching bow on the shoulder. On another occasion, for the wedding of Crown Prince Al-Hussein and Rajwa Al Saif in Jordan, Kate replaced a sheer panel in the bodice and skirt with opaque fabric, reports the Mirror.
The breathtaking dress was from Elie Saab’s autumn/winter 2017 collection.
Kate Middleton previously tweaked the design of a £1,455 Alessandra Rich dress for her appearance on the ‘A Berry Royal Christmas’ TV programme in 2019. The original dress featured a keyhole detail that revealed some cleavage, but Kate opted to have it removed and instead added an elegant wide bow at the neckline.
Admirers have long considered Kate a fashion icon since her entry into the Royal family, often noting her choice to wear attire that aligns with public perception. In the Channel 5 documentary ‘William and Kate: Too Good To Be True’, Royal author Tom Quinn noted that Kate’s wardrobe choices evolved to be “more appropriate” as seen by both the palace and the public.
He said: “Her clothing almost began to reflect what people saw in her character, a kind of restraint, kind of modesty almost. I think that did come about because William and Kate were coming towards the point where they would announce their engagement.”
Anthony McGrath, senior lecturer at the Fashion Retail Academy, previously told Insider: “Kate enjoys adjusting outfits to suit current trends. She will quite often add a bow, remove a keyhole, or change the length of skirts or sleeves to make them her own.”