Kate Middleton's Always Had Great Style — but 2016 Was Her Boldest
Kate Middleton's fashion favorites included flirty skirts, pretty blouses, and micro-mini party dresses, then when she became a member of the royal family her wardrobe shifted gears and we saw a clutch of new silhouettes and go-to pieces. Sleek, structured knee-length dresses, cocktail hats, and color block coats have all become part of her trademark look over the past five years. However, this year saw some style changes for the duchess, which makes us look forward to what further surprises she has in store for 2017 . . .
Cut Outs
In June Kate moved away from her usual diaphanous evening gowns with the bold, bright Roland Mouret 'Nansen', complete with cut-out shoulders and exposed zip running down the back. It was teamed with Cartier diamond-encrusted Tricalore earrings, black satin Prada clutch, and black Gianvito Rossi strappy sandals.
Nude Panels
Saloni London's 'Mary Illusion Dot' dress originally featured more sheer elements, but when Kate wore hers in April, it was customized to be more befitting of royalty — however the sheer sleeves and nude panel at the front still created a very different look for the duchess. She accessorized with her Cassandra Goad Temple of Heaven earrings, and navy suede Rupert Sanderson pumps.
Bare Shoulders
Another completely different look for Kate came courtesy of this Barbara Casasola 'Tribal' dress. Sharply-structured and flashing lots of shoulder, the duchess wore it with a vintage crystal beaded clutch and pale pink Schutz 'Dollie' strappy sandals.
New Hat Shape and Lacy Coat
Moving away from her favorite cocktail hats in March, Kate wore a very different shape from Princess Diana's favorite milliner John Boyd. Her Erdem coat was also an unusual choice, featuring a lace design. Kate accessorized with gray suede Rupert Sanderson pumps and her trusty Emmy London clutch.
Skull-Print
For a trip to Wimbledon, Kate left behind previous more traditional choices she had made in the past for this "Obsession Talisman" print Alexander McQueen dress. Printed with flowers, jewels, butterflies, lipsticks, and skulls, it was an unusual option because in the past Kate has made an effort to avoid McQueen's trademark skull iconography — selecting clutch bags without their original skull clasp. The duchess accessorized with her Ray Ban Wayfarers and gold Brora earrings.
Smart-Casual Pants
Finding the mid-point between a smart day dress and her beloved skinny jeans, Kate chose patterned pants for the first time at an engagement. She teamed the Gap pants with her Smythe navy blazer, white top from H&M, taupe espadrille wedges from Monsoon, and her straw Natalie clutch from L.K. Bennett.
Eyeliner Flicks
Kate's kohl-rimmed eyes and structured brows are her signature makeup look, but earlier this month she debuted liquid liner flicks at the premiere for a A Streetcat Named Bob. She also wore Self Portrait for the first time — a white lacy floor-length gown with dark red Gianvito Rossi pumps, Mulberry Bayswater clutch, and outsize pearl and gold studs by Oscar de la Renta.
Boho-Inspired Midi Dresses
In 2016 Kate experimented with a new dress length for her, and wore many midi-length numbers. Many had a distinctly 1970s boho flavor including the Anita Dongre dress in India, the L.K. Bennett gown she chose for hosting the Obamas, and this white lace Dolce and Gabbana she wore for Ascot, along with beige Rupert Sanderson pumps, her L.K. Bennett Natalie clutch, and Jane Taylor 'Una' cocktail hat.
Retro Styling
This was also the year that Kate embraced assorted strong retro looks — one of the most chic incorporated the Missoni 'Long Snake Stitch' coat, vintage-style pillar box hat, and chignon covered with a hair net. The duchess accessorized with her black Gianvito Rossi pumps, black Mulberry Bayswater clutch, and faux-pearl and crystal earrings from Balenciaga.
Something Completely Different . . .
The pattern, the tiers and the shape gave Kate a totally fresh new look for her arrival to Vancouver. The duchess wore her new Alexander McQueen number with a red Miu Miu clutch and matching Russell and Bromley pumps.
Han Solo Inspiration
For a hike in Bhutan, Kate could have kept it simple in her Zara skinnies, Jaegar shirt, and Penelope Chilvers boots, but the waistcoat from Really Wild transformed it into A Look.
A New Silhouette
One of Kate's chicest and freshest looks of the year came courtesy of this bold red 'Finella' dress during her tour of Canada. Nothing about this look was uniform, with different cuts and shapes. Asymmetric, midi-length, and with lots of skin on display, the duchess teamed the dress with her misshapen Soru Baroque pearl earrings, red Gianvito Rossi pumps and Jenny Packham Casa clutch.
Bold design
Kate's cocktail hats are usually a frothy little concoction of frills, flowers, and feathers, so this strong design was something of a departure. She wore the Lock and Co Morning Rose Perching Hat with her trusty cream Day Birger et Mikkelsen coat, new Kiki McDonough citrine earrings, and blush L.K. Bennett Fern pumps and Nina clutch while attending a garden party in Northern Ireland.