Kate Middleton, the Duchess of Cambridge, is a royal style icon for the ages.
Over the special weekend to celebrate the Queen's Platinum Jubilee, the Duchess treated us to an array of characteristically chic ensembles, from the balcony-appropriate pink Stella McCartney dress, to her primrose yellow Emilia Wickstead coat dress, which she wore to attend St Paul's Cathedral.
Today (17 June 2022) marked another celebratory occasion, with Kate Middleton making an appearance at the Royal Ascot. She wore a monochrome polka-dot dress by London-based designer, Alessandra Rich, complemented with a striking fascinator hat and a pair of brown pumps by Gianvito Rossi. You can take a look, here:
The polka-dot dress (which is, of course, sold out) originally retailed for $2,520 and was described as “inspired by '80s yacht club culture,” which accounts for the “retro patterns and ladylike silhouettes.” It was also described as being “cut from floaty silk crepe de chine [with] a ruffled overlay that drapes elegantly from one shoulder, and a belt to accentuate your waist.”
Modesens also advised that wearers “match the brown spots to [their] accessories” – guidance that Kate has clearly adhered to with those brown shoes.
Kate Middleton's stylish Ascot look bared a striking resemblance to another royal fashion icon: the late Princess Diana. Back in 1988, Diana attended the Royal Ascot wearing a polka-dot gown by Victor Edelstein, topped off with a matching fascinator hat. Kate also appeared to be wearing the exact diamond and pearl-drop earrings that Princess Diana also wore to the 1988 Ascot – royal style fans will remember that she also wore these earrings to the Brit Awards back in 2019. You can see Princess Diana's timeless look, here:
Bethan Holt, fashion director at The Times and author of The Duchess of Cambridge: A Decade of Modern Royal Style, was one of the first royal fashion critics to make the connection, posting a photo of Princess Diana at the Royal Ascot in 1988 alongside a shot of the Duchess of Cambridge at the event today.
Fancy replicating the look? GLAMOUR has rounded up our pick of the most stylish polka-dot dresses on the market. We've also spotted a few look-a-likes that are bound to sell out:
It's not the first time Kate has paid homage to her late mother-in-law through her styling choices. For her 40th birthday back in January, The National Portrait Gallery released three photos of The Duchess, in which she wore a pair of diamond and pearl drop earrings that previously belonged to Princess Diana.
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In fact, we have an entire gallery dedicated to all the times that Kate Middleton took her fashion cues from Princess Diana's rulebook.
For more from Glamour UK's Lucy Morgan, follow her on Instagram @lucyalexxandra.
