26 Fall Styling Lessons to Steal From Kate Middleton

There are some colors that the duchess wears all year round — hello, royal blue! — but there are others which are strictly seasonal, and Kate always reserves berry hues for the colder months. She teamed her burgundy Paule Ka skirt suit with black, including a little peek of crochet underneath her jacket.

The duchess opted for plum on burgundy for one berrylicious November engagement. The coat is from an undisclosed independent dressmaker, the burgundy silk dress is from Whistles (it's the one she wore for the unveiling of her first official portrait), and the belt is Alexander McQueen. So as not to make things too matchy-matchy Kate added a little splash of yellow with her citrine Kiki McDonough drops.

Kate is the queen of knowing how to show a little skin in the Fall without looking chilly. The densely worked plum lace of her Dolce & Gabbana cocktail dress showed just enough but kept the focus on the exquisite fabric. Kate accessorized with burgundy Gianvito Rossi pumps and a burgundy Mulberry clutch.

Who doesn't love a sunshine glow in their hair during the Summer months? But when it comes to Fall, it's all about rich tones and warming lowlights — the duchess often tweaks her hair accordingly.

Nothing says pumpkin spice latte season like a palette of toasty browns . . . . Kate teamed her brown and cream wool jacquard Orla Kiely shirt dress with brown opaques, her Aquatalia ankle boots in espresso, her Emmy London Natasha clutch in chocolate brown, and her Kiki McDonough citrine drops.

Kate knows that chocolate brown really pops against brunette hair when the look is pulled together with chic black accents. The duchess wore her Hobbs coat with a black turtleneck and a Stuart Weitzman Muse clutch.

One of Kate's trademarks is her nude hosiery, but what is the protocol when it comes to switching the shimmery Summer look for warm Winter opaques? Well, there isn't a particular date, as Kate has gone for opaques as early as September while the nude hose have popped up on the occasional Winter engagement, but for the most part in the Fall and Winter, Kate goes for heavier, more richly toned fabrics that call for thicker and darker hosiery.

It's almost worth saying goodbye to Summer if it means splashing out on gorgeous knitwear! The sun is still shining so there's no need for the full-on Winter coat yet, but for al fresco fun, it's all about a good sweater. Kate teamed her Really Wild cashmere/merino ruby jumper with her khaki Zara skinnies and chocolate suede cowboy boots from R Soles.

Kate teamed her chic gray Sentaler wrap coat with her trademark skinnies, chocolate suede cowboy boots from R Soles, and bronze earrings from Canadian jeweler Shelley MacDonald.

We've always been advised to steer clear of double denim, but what about double plaid? Well, in the case of Kate's Blackwatch Tartan McQueen ensemble, it's a big thumbs up. It's simple, it's warm enough to not need a coat, and it looks fabulous with black tights and knee boots.

For a September trip to church, Kate wore her blue and gray Moloh coat with opaques, heeled Aquatalia boots, and a black clutch.

Kate loves turtlenecks almost as much as the cast of Love Actually, and it's actually a neat styling trick. When the temperature drops and she doesn't want to fuss with a woolly scarf, it's the perfect way around keeping warm and maintaining the lines of an outfit. Sweeping the hair into a ponytail means that there's not too much going on around the neck and shoulders.

While Kate's beloved Gianvito Rossi, LK Bennett, and Stuart Weitzman pumps are perfect for the Spring and Summer months, when the leaves start falling, it's time for boots. Black, brown, ankle-height, or knee-length, Kate has them for every occasion. Her black Aquatalia heeled knee-highs are among her favorites.

Kate loves to wear her flat brown Penelope Chilvers knee-high boots with jeans, but for skirts and dresses, it's all about her black Stuart Weitzman half and half knee-highs.

Whether it's being influenced by the smell of woodsmoke in the air or memories of those back to school skirts, Kate loves to wear gray in the Fall. There's something about the shade, fabric, and pleats of Kate's Orla Kiely dress that has shades of school uniform chic about it — especially when teamed with a high pony, although the Stuart Weitzman black pumps and Mulberry Bayswater clutch keep the look grown-up and sophisticated.

For the premiere of Spectre, Kate was on message with her diaphanous smoke-colored Jenny Packham gown. Evening dresses are often chilly with their spaghetti straps, but Kate covered up and stayed chic with sheer 1930s style sleeves.

Who would have thought that a gown with no color could create such a wow effect? Kate's silver chiffon satin Jenny Packham gown shimmered when she moved and was accentuated by sparkling accessories — a diamond bracelet that was a gift from Prince Charles and crystal earrings.

The fold-over collar on Kate's Reiss coat transforms the piece from simple to stunning, especially when worn with chic black accessories.

We've all been there — you think it's going to be a cold day and you bundle up accordingly, only to discover that we're having an Indian Summer. Or vice versa, and a promisingly sunny day disappears as the goosebumps set in. However! Kate knows it's all about adding and removing layers to go with the flow of a temperamental Fall. She teamed her navy and white gingham Topshop shirt with a teal Jigsaw sweater, skinny jeans, and her Penelope Chilvers boots.

Blouses and jackets are one of Kate's favourite looks, and this ensemble worn last Fall in Canada is perfection. Kate wore her ivory Somerset by Alice Temperley blouse with a khaki Smythe blazer, Zara skinnies, and chocolate suede cowboy boots from R Soles.

Inky, slinky, and chic, this shade is perfect for Fall, and Kate pulled off the look from head to toe last year, teaming a Max Mara jacket with an Orla Kiely crepe skirt, blue semi-opaques, deep blue McQueen pumps, a Stuart Weitzman clutch, and Cornelia James gloves.

The shade can also be effective against black. Kate wore her Goat dress in a shade the label calls "iron" with her black Stuart Weitzman half and half boots, Weitzman clutch, and sapphire earrings.

Kate often favors warm necklines over scarves, and this palest pink 50 percent wool, 50 percent cashmere number from Max Mara kept out the cold while looking fresh and feminine. The duchess wore it with her leopard-print chiffon Max Mara dress, brown opaques, and her Aquatalia ankle boots in espresso.

Fall is all about the rich hues, but Kate isn't afraid to mix it up with a well-placed pastel. Because the Mulberry Paddington coat is a wool/mohair blend and has a fuzzy texture, it looks season-appropriate, especially teamed with a black turtleneck and a black and white Dolce & Gabbana bouclé wool-blend skirt.

Halloween is just around the corner, so a little dash of gothic black is wholly appropriate. Kate wore her Temperley London Emblem Flare dress with black Jimmy Choo Cosmic heels and a black beaded vintage Magid clutch.

Black can also be achingly glamorous, and Kate's Diane von Furstenberg Zarita gown was a show-stopper.