From her gorgeous Jenny Packham gown to her flowing Roland Mouret number, see Kate Middleton’s best dresses here.
Dress: Jenny Packham
Event: Tusk Conservation Awards
It may have been her first evening outing since the birth of Prince George, but the Duchess of Cambridge certainly didn’t disappoint when she joined Prince William at the Tusk Conservation Awards. True to form, Kate wowed in a glittering golden gown by one of her favourite British designers, Jenny Packham. The dreamy dress, was set off a diamond bracelet, Jimmy Choo heels and perfectly blow-dried glossy locks.
Dress: Jenny Packham
Event: First post-baby appearance
It came as no surprise to hear that the delicate dress worn by Kate Middleton for her first post-baby outing is in demand. In fact it crashed the designer’s website, so many people were searching for the royal’s pretty look. Unfortunately, the bespoke blue crêpe de chine creation, made by British design star – and one of the Duchess’s favourites – Jenny Packham isn’t available to buy.
Dress: Max Mara Weekend
Event: Action On Addiction charity visit
We caught the first sneak peek of Duchess Kate’s tiny baby bump as she visited an Action On Addiction centre in London earlier this year. The outfit she chose? A pretty blue Max Mara wrap dress (from the 2011 collection, no less) which showed off her fuller figure to perfection, an Asprey 167 button pendant and Episode heels.
Dress: Alice Temperley
Event: Diamond Jubilee Tour
Kate looked simply exquisite in a delicate blue and white Alice Temperley dress at a tea party thrown in her honour at the British High Commission in Kuala Lumpur. The lace and intricate detailing make this, in our opinion, one of Kate’s best looks of the trip.
Dress: Alexander McQueen
Event: Diamond Jubilee Tour
For a formal dinner in Kuala Lumpur Kate wore one of her most memorable looks – a white and gold embroidered Sarah Burton for Alexander McQueen gown.
Dress: Prabal Gurung
Event: Diamond Jubilee Tour
Kate was the talk of the fashion world when she stepped out in a daring printed shift dress by Singapore-born designer Prabal Gurung. The burst of bright hue and eye-popping print was a departure from the Duchess’s usual muted colour palette.
Dress: Alexander McQueen
Event: Diamond Jubilee Pageant
For the Diamond Jubilee celebrations the Duchess wowed in a series of Alexander McQueen looks. During the pageant, Kate dazzled in the vibrant design which she teamed with LK Bennett heels (natch), a red clutch and matching hat by Sylvia Fletcher at James Lock & Co.
Dress: Jenny Packham
Event: Our Great Team Rises Olympic gala
One of our favourite of the Duchess of Cambridge’s dresses to date, Kate pulled out all the stops for an Olympic red carpet appearance in a delicate teal gown with capped lace shoulders and an intricate buttoned back by one her favourite designers, Jenny Packham. How to accessorise such a dress? Kate got it spot on (yet again) adding glittering Jimmy Choo heels, and dazzling diamond drop earrings. Just perfect.
Dress: Roland Mouret
Event: Thirty Club dinner
A glamorous departure from her usual chic, yet safe style, Kate well and truly wowed when she stepped out in that Roland Mouret cream gown, a sweeping cream creation complete with daring, Angelina-style, thigh-high split, delicate pleats and simple long sleeves. She may have arrived on the arm of Prince William, buy all eyes were on Kate as she made super-stylish entrance. And we can certainly see why.
Dress: Alice Temperley
Event: War Horse premiere
She rarely (actually, never) lets us down in the style stakes, and Duchess Kate scored yet another hit on the red carpet at the War Horse premiere, in a full-length black lace Alice Temperley gown. A red carpet-worthy ensemble if ever we saw one, Kate teamed her premiere number – complete with flowing skirt and velvet waistband – with a chic black clutch by Mascaro, heels and oodles of sparkle. She wouldn’t look out of place in Hollywood.
Dress: Alexander McQueen
Event: The Sun’s Military Awards
Kate’s velvet, strapless Alexander McQueen gown, in all it’s screen-siren glory, has to be one of our all-time favourites. Exhuding red Hollywood glamour, confident Kate swept up the red carpet in the scene-stealing gown, which reportedly came with an eye-watering £4,000 price tag. The perfect accessory? A delicate touch of sparkle in the form of a beautiful diamond and ruby collar-style necklace and matching bracelet, given to her at the Royal Wedding. Clarence House confirmed Kate’s sparkler was a gift, but would only reveal was ‘from a family friend who wishes to remain anonymous.’
Dress: Amanda Wakeley
Event: In Kind Direct dinner
It was her first solo engagement, so Kate made sure to pull a suitably stunning gown out of her closet to attend an In Kind Direct dinner hosted by Prince Charles at Clarence House. The dress in question? A dove grey vintage Amanda Wakeley number, with a ruched bodice and sparkling straps. The perfect frock for a glamorous evening affair.
Dress: Erdem
Event: Royal tour of Canada
The Duchess donned a royal blue Erdem dress with delicate lace detailing for a Sunday service aboard the Canadian frigate HMCS Montreal during the royal tour. The perfect elegant choice for such an occasion, it was the second time during the trip Kate had donned a dress by the Canadian-born, British designer.
Dress: Jenny Packham
Event: ARK Gala
One of Kate’s most stunning looks to date, the Duchess was positively dazzling in a nude Jenny Packham gown, embellished to stunning effect with all-over sequins, at an ARK gala dinner last year. While she may have opted for a designer dress, Kate, whose complexion was made glowing by the dress’s pretty shade, stayed true to her high street roots, opting for L.K. Bennett nude heels and a coordinating box clutch.
Dress: Alexander McQueen
Event: Royal Wedding
The most memorable dress of the year, and probably the decade, Kate kept her wedding gown a closely guarded secret pre-ceremony. But when she finally stepped out of the car, boy was it worth the wait. Reminiscent of Grace Kelly’s 1956 wedding dress, the elegant gown featured a 1950s neckline and delicate lace sleeves. Thoroughly British, with all fabrics, save for the French Chantilly lace, sourced by UK companies. the four flowers used in the design of the lace, roses, thistles, daffodils and shamrock, were symbolic of the four nations of Great Britain.