Kate Middleton's Most Talked-About Looks To Date

With its gorgeous lace sleeves and nearly 9-foot-long embroidered train, Kate’s wedding dress was, for many, utter perfection. But there was one problem: it actually sparked a lawsuit. A designer called Christine Kendall took Alexander McQueen to court, maintaining the fashion house had used her original ideas without consent. By the looks of things, the case hasn’t been resolved.

We like to think Kate’s a party girl at heart — and this photo from 2008 seems to prove it. Check out the glow-stick bracelets! She was off to have fun at a roller disco at the time, and given that she was in her pre-princess era, Kate could technically wear whatever she liked. Of course, the tabloids still had a thing or two to say about the outfit choice, with the Daily Mail labeling it “inelegant.”

Turns out Kate seemed to rather like flaunting her stunning figure back in the day. While taking part in a college fashion show fundraiser, she strutted her stuff in this see-through dress — if we can even call it that?! William is said to have attended this event, and seeing Kate in the outfit was apparently a game-changer for him. The duke’s friend Pat Duncan revealed to E! News back in 2011, “He was sitting [in the] front row, and his eyes were like stalks.”

The outfit Kate wore when she and William announced their engagement was perfect — just the right shade of blue to match the enormous sapphire gem in her ring. But this didn’t stop the dress from causing controversy. Oh, no. Predictably, lots of fans decided they’d like the same one. And the designer’s company crumbled under the high demand.

Sometimes, the wind can be a real “b” word. Kate knows this, having fallen foul to its tricks many a time. One of the most memorable such incidents took place back in 2011, when she and William visited those in the Air Force in North America. It looks like it was all she could do to keep everyone from seeing her knickers!

It’s got to be said: the Princess of Wales loves a wedge. It’s a pity the Queen reportedly didn’t feel the same, then, isn’t it? In the war, lots of people fashioned footwear from cork, as it wasn’t a rationed material. The monarch supposedly never liked to look back on those times. Understandable, really.

Members of the royal family usually honor the countries they travel to with their outfit choices. It looked as though Kate tried to do this back in 2012, when she and William flew to the Solomon Islands. No doubt she was meant to be wearing a dress from this region. But it turns out that what she had on was actually made miles away in the Cook Islands. Whoops!

Kate always stands out at events, but this was especially true at the 2018 BAFTAs. Lots of people chose to dress in black to show their allegiance with the Time’s Up campaign, but the princess stepped out in a floor-length dark-green number. Royals aren’t meant to engage in any politics, you see. Though some think the black belt was her discrete way of showing her support.

Just look at Queen Elizabeth and Camilla in their muted-toned dresses. Yep, that’s them in the background! Your eye probably went straight to Kate in that bold get-up, though. And while the princess looks stunning here, she did receive criticism for taking the focus off of her grandmother-in-law. It was the Queen’s Diamond Jubilee, after all.

What’s wrong with this outfit, we hear you ask? To us, the Alexander McQueen looks perfectly appropriate for a day out at the races. But to others, the lacy look was, er, a bit too racy. Yep, you read that right. Apparently, many felt the dress wasn’t long enough and that, because of the translucent material, Kate was showing too much skin. You can’t please everyone!

Kate looked positively radiant when she stepped out after giving birth to Charlotte — well, the same could be said for all of her post-birth appearances, come to think of it. But some people watching still found a reason to complain. Apparently, on this particular occasion, they thought the then duchess looked “too perfect” for someone who’d had a baby just hours before. You really can't win...

Here are Kate and William sweetly play-fighting in the snow on their skiing vacation. While most of us were likely cooing over how happy the couple looked, PETA was quick to point out that the princess' mittens had been made with real fur. Following the controversy, Queen Elizabeth made a public announcement that she would never dress in real fur again — but we don’t know if Kate followed suit.

Word has it the Queen wasn’t a fan of bright nail polish. According to sources, If she were ever going to sport painted claws, it would have been a very subtle, light pink shade. Kate bucked this trend when she arrived at an evening event in London. Fans’ eyes were drawn straight to her toes, which were painted bright red. On the duchess, it looked gorgeous. But then again, Kate could make neon green look classy.

When Kate stepped out in this gown, made by London-based designer Erdem, it sparked a hot debate among fans. Some thought Kate was a vision in the heavily patterned dress, while others weren’t so keen. As one disgruntled fan wrote on Twitter, “Not my favorite floral dress on Kate today. Too old for her! A bit frumpy.”

Usually, royal ladies’ dresses must reach, or at least skim, their knees. So, when Kate emerged wearing a pair of shorts, fans were forced to do a double-take. To be fair to the princess, she was taking part in a fundraiser sailing race. And she was competing against William, so she had to be fully prepared to get stuck in.

This dress is made for Kate. Just look how it perfectly hugs her gorgeous figure. More traditional fans may think the off-the-shoulder neckline to be a little too daring for a royal, but interestingly, that’s not why the outfit made the headlines. If you look closely, you’ll notice the zip is at the front. Was the dress on back to front? Well, no is the answer. Apparently, this is the correct way to wear it. But it still garnered lots of attention.

Kate has been known to step out with an item of clothing on back to front, though. Both times she has been seen in this purple Gucci blouse, the buttons have been at the front. But they’re actually meant to run up the back. Kate clearly prefers it this way around. And if anyone can pull it off, it’s her!

Are skinny jeans appropriate for a royal? Kate Middleton seems to think so. She often throws on a pair for more laid-back outings, such as walks or engagements where she needs to get a little more active. The pant choice is probably on the cusp of how casual the royal can go, though. And you’ll notice how she’s usually in a darker, classier shade — and there are no rips in sight!

This striking red dress marked a turning point in the Kate’s Wimbledon fashion. Up until 2015, the outfits Kate wore to the tournament allowed her to blend in relatively well. Not this year. All eyes were on her in this attention-grabbing ensemble from high-end British brand L.K. Bennett. And check out that iconic leopard-print clutch. Too much for Wimbledon? Some likely thought so. We, on the other hand, think it’s stunning.

Kate wore this crisp, clean Alexander McQueen dress to Princess Charlotte’s christening back in 2015. Lots of fans loved the outfit, thinking it fit the occasion perfectly. But some fashionistas disagreed. Fashion expert Maureen Callahan commented, “It’s hard to imagine Alexander McQueen letting such a young, photogenic royal — the future queen, no less — look this deathly boring.”

It was in India that Kate had her Marilyn Monroe moment — unintentionally, we might add. Just as she bent over to lay a wreath to commemorate soldiers who fought in World War I and the Anglo-Afghan War, an almighty gust of wind blew her skirt to the skies. It wasn’t ideal at such a solemn location. Maybe Kate should have taken a leaf out of the Queen’s book and get weights added to the hems of her dresses.

Later that day, William and Kate made their way to the Gandhi Smriti Museum. While there, Kate had to remove her footwear — not doing so would have been disrespectful. But, of course, eagle-eyed news outlets shot their glance straight to her feet. “Corns, clawed toes, bunions AND fallen arches,” was the title of the Daily Mail article that followed. And others were quick to point out that her toenails were au naturel.

Lots of people would kill to have legs like Kate, so why shouldn’t she show them off? Well, as a royal, it’s simply not the done thing. Every now and then, though, the princess will push the boundary with how high that hemline can go. The Queen’s 90th birthday party was one of those times. Just look at the length of Eugenie’s dress in comparison!

When Kate stepped onto the red carpet in this sexy number, website InStyle called it her “most revealing gown” yet. And they were probably right. The combination of the sheer bodice and that super-high slit grabbed the attention of royal fashion watchers everywhere. She looks gorgeous. Let’s hope this is a look she’ll recycle someday soon — that’s if she wasn’t given a talking to by the Queen, of course.

It would appear the wind has really got it in for Kate! Here she is bending down to talk to a little girl at the 2013 Place2Be Forum — an organization dedicated to helping children have good mental health. She’s got her clutch in one hand and a bunch of flowers in the other. How she managed to keep her dignity intact we’ll never know!

Rumor has it that when royal ladies attend engagements, they shouldn’t take off their jackets or coats. Apparently, the Queen believed that removing an extra layer wasn’t very elegant. Kate doesn’t always abide by the rules, though. In November 2021 she met Holocaust survivors at the Imperial War Museum in London. She chatted with them and explored the museum — all without her coat on. It must have been nice to know she wasn’t simply there for a fleeting visit!

For royal expert Victoria Arbiter, wearing pantyhose was “the only hard, steadfast rule in terms of what the Queen required.” Sometimes, though, Kate will prefer to keep her legs bare — as she did in this photo. Mind you, her skin is so flawless that it’s actually pretty hard to tell!

It wasn’t just Kate’s wedding dress that ended up causing controversy, but her wedding hair, too. Kate was supposedly asked to tie it up for her big day. But she apparently wanted to wear it loose, which is how William prefers it. Perhaps her part-up, part-down look was a way of meeting advisers halfway?

We know Kate’s a fan of an off-the-shoulder gown, and we’ve even seen her in a one-shoulder look. But it’s very rare to see her in a strapless dress. This look is particularly memorable, then. The black-velvet number hugged her figure perfectly, and no sleeves meant fans got a glimpse of Kate’s envy-inducing toned arms. William can’t keep his eyes off her, by the looks of things!

Kate has bucked the royal light-nail-polish trend on more than one occasion. When she and William attended a fancy dinner in Mayfair, London, fans couldn’t help but notice her purply-red toenails. It’s not like people weren’t going to see — those gorgeous, sparkly Jimmy Choos sent everyone’s eyes to her feet.

On this outing, it wasn’t the outfit that sent fans into a frenzy. Rather, it was the lack of her engagement ring. Kate is rarely seen without this precious item of jewelry, so when she appeared without it, naturally, lots of questions were asked. But it turns out the reason why was pretty simple. Kate was visiting a children’s hospital and left the sapphire at home to minimize the spread of germs.

When William and Kate spent some time in India back in 2016, fans were excited to see what she would wear. They no doubt expected extremely lavish, fancy gowns in deep, luxurious shades. Some critics felt she could have pushed the boat out a little more, with British writer Janet Street-Porter calling her “decidedly dreary” in an article for The Independent.

Kate was clearly prepared for Sweden’s chilly temperatures when she visited back in February 2018. But she probably wasn’t prepared for PETA to be hot on her tail once again. After seeing photographs from this event, the organization had its suspicions that the bobble on the duchess’ hat consisted of real animal fur. Kensington Palace publicly announced that the fur wasn’t real, but it made the headlines nonetheless.

It would seem Kate has a soft spot for off-the-shoulder gowns. She wore this gorgeous red dress to the Queen’s birthday celebration in Berlin back in July 2017. It was a little different from the formal attire she usually wears — a bit more floaty and relaxed. But it seemed to suit the occasion nicely. And the ankle-skimming skirt made up for the fact she was showing a little more skin up top!

This beautiful berry-colored number is what Kate wore to Eugenie’s wedding back in 2018. It was a fall wedding in England, so to be honest, Kate should probably have been a little more prepared for a gust of wind or two. Luckily, the Queen seemed more preoccupied with something on the floor, so Kate may have gotten away with minimal embarrassment!

Kate seems to be making more than one royal fashion faux pas in this photo. For one, her dress is rather short — definitely a few inches above knee length! And she’s wearing what was the Queen’s most hated footwear. Then again, maybe one thing the Queen despised more than wedges were pointy heel marks in her perfectly manicured lawn. Who knows?

Kate dug out another pair of wedges for an outing to a children’s hospice back in June 2020. At the event, Kate spent a lot of time on her feet, and she even did a bit of gardening! While the Queen probably wouldn’t have approved of her footwear, there’s no doubt the shoes allowed her to get stuck in while still looking a million dollars!

We’ve said it before, and we’ll say it again: the wind is out to get Kate! This time, she was on her tour of Australia back in 2014. And this wasn’t even the worst photo. German tabloids published one where her whole bottom was on display. It’s fair to say the Palace wasn’t at all pleased.

Kate’s brunette locks and this shade of green are a match made in heaven. But that wasn’t the reason the dress made headlines. Back then, the gown’s designer, Dolce & Gabbana, had released an offensive advert. They were in hot water at the time, so Kate’s choice to wear the brand was an interesting one that sparked controversy.

Kate in an Erdem gown seems to be an acquired taste. When photos emerged of the duchess in this blue velvet number on the Prince and Princesses' trip to Sweden, some fans once again compared the pattern to something you’d find on curtains. The gown was “a little reminiscent of home furnishings,” one person wrote on Twitter. “[Kate] needs a new stylist ASAP,” said another.

When Kate Middleton emerged onto the red carpet for the No Time to Die premiere on September 28, 2021, it was clear she meant business. The sheer sparkly material of this dress, combined with the deep, plunging neckline, made it one of her most daring looks yet. But how did the pricetag compare to some of Kate's other iconic fashion moments? Well, it's time to stop the guesswork because we’ve put together a list of her most expensive outfits.

Back in April 2020 Kate joined her family outside to applaud the United Kingdom’s National Health Service (NHS). She was wearing a Ghost blue floral gown which cost $163, according to the Daily Mail. The newspaper added that the garment swiftly went out of stock, as consumer demand rose by more than 120 percent.

Kate and Prince William used Zoom to get in touch with some charity workers in May 2020. But fans couldn’t help but take note of the beautiful top she was wearing throughout that conversation — a white cardigan out of Sandro. If you're wanting to bag the look, then be warned — it's got a pretty hefty price tag for a cardi. The U.K. retailer is selling them for almost $195.

A lot of eyes were on Kate when she made her first public outing in June 2020 after several months inside. She was snapped at a gardening store in the English county of Norfolk rocking a blue shirt and dark jeans. But it was the duchess’ Fjällräven gilet that garnered the most attention on that occasion. The item costs $220, according to the Daily Mail.

Kate opted to dress in a chic all-black outfit during her 2017 visit to a Jaguar Land Rover factory in Birmingham, England. And yet it was her boots that were the center of attention that day. The Stir by CafeMom had the shoes priced at $435, and they certainly helped round off her look.

Most people don’t usually dress up when they head to the train station. However, Kate is certainly an exception to that. Back in 2017 she followed William and Prince Harry to London’s Paddington Station for a charity function. The royal was decked out in an eye-catching pink dress from seamstress Orla Kiely, which the aforementioned website valued at $465.

Kate went for a more relaxed look to help mark her opening royal commitment in 2019. The duchess rocked a tweed Dubarry coat alongside a pair of dark pants while venturing around King Henry’s Walk Garden in London, England. Fans hoping to re-create the country-chic look would be looking at a $599 price tag, according to the Insider website.

Kate’s silk gown caused somewhat of a frenzy after the duchess wore it during a special online appearance on This Morning in May 2020. The yellow gown was from the Raey clothing company – prompting fans to rush onto its website. It was so popular, in fact, the Daily Mail reported that interest in the $624 outfit rose by nearly 200 percent during that time.

Kate joined several other famous faces to offer her support as Mental Health Awareness Week rolled around in May 2020. But it was the duchess’ fashion selection that would go on to hit the headlines once again. She wore a rose print gown in her video, and it led the garment to go out of stock at Beulah within a day, according to a U.K. newspaper. Interested in rocking the roses yourself? Well, the publication valued the dress at $693.

If you’ve ever tried styling out a blazer, then you’ll already know they aren’t always the easiest item of clothing to pull off. But Kate had no such problems in October 2018. She was papped in a Smyth jacket during a visit to the Basildon Sporting Village in Essex, England. Insider estimated that the gray garment cost the royal a cool $795.

Kate surely has a whole host of kicky jackets in her wardrobe at home, but she’s become well-known for recycling her outfits. And the duchess’ choice to wear her red military coat on several different occasions is a perfect example of one of her eco-conscious style decisions. Not one to let the environment outshine her signature style, though, the flattering jacket showcases gold buttons on the midriff and both sleeves. If the military look is your thing, The Stir pegged the item at $1,020.

Kate decided to wear a blue lace gown from Temperley London to mark World Mental Health Day in October 2017. And this beautiful outfit was estimated by the aforementioned publication to cost $1,095. But the event was significant for another reason, too; it coincided with the news that she and William were having a third child together. Sentimental and stylish — sheer perfection.

Kate kicked off the 2018 festive season with a bang after attending a Kensington Palace Christmas get-together in serious style. Using subtle pops of color as a nod to the season, the duchess rocked a red plaid skirt from designer Emilia Wickstead alongside a dark Brora top and black boots. According to Insider, that eye-catching skirt would have cost the royal $1,112.

Back in April 2017, Kate arrived at the new Global Academy education facility in Hayes, England. And what an entrance it was — she rocked up in an eye-popping red Armani suit. The sleek style made sure she stood out from the crowd and cemented her place as a style icon even further. And as per Elle magazine, that particular outfit was worth $1,198.

In 2019 Kate traveled to the Henry Fawcett Children’s Center wearing a stunning purple Gucci blouse. But people quickly realized that the duchess had thrown the rule book out of the window when it came to this particular look. And that's because she chose to wear the silky shirt back to front. Backwards or not, the shirt — which cost $1,300, according to The Richest — still looked great on her.

Wimbledon is one of the most important events of the entire tennis season. However, it could be argued that Kate stole the show at the 2017 tournament. She decided to wear a white outfit decked in floral patterns that year – standing out from the crowd. The Stir reported that the Catherine Walker design was priced at $1,338.

In the summer of 2017 Kate went to a royal engagement in Hamburg, Germany. She was snapped in yet another Emilia Wickstead design, but this one was a little more understated than the Wimbledon floral get-up. The duchess sported a wool dress with panel details in a perfect pastel hue. The look was valued by the AmoMama website at $1,400.

On the same trip to Germany, Kate also ventured through the town of Heidelberg and dropped in at the German Cancer Research Institute. Though she decided to wear a stunning yellow sundress from designer Jenny Packham on this occasion. Unfortunately for fans of the look, this one is personalized. The sunny showstopper was priced at $1,424, according to The Stir.

Kate dusted off an old item from her wardrobe to help celebrate International Nurses’ Day in May 2020. And it certainly gained plenty of attention from her fans. As usual, when the duchess dons a look that’s similar to high-street styles, people scrambled to find similar polka-dot garments wherever they could. Kate’s particular dress wasn’t the most affordable option out there, though. The Daily Mail estimated that the blue dress cost $1,638.

Even with a baby on board, Kate still managed to make this ensemble look effortless. The duchess was heavily pregnant with Prince George when the Queen’s yearly garden celebration rolled around in 2013. But that didn’t stop her from attending the prestigious event and rocking a beautiful yellow dress by Emilia Wickstead. The Richest website reported that the outfit set her back by $1,700.

In March 2019 Kate proved that she can still look incredibly glamorous whatever the weather. The duchess visited the English city of Blackpool on an especially miserable day that month, but her fashion sense lit up proceedings. She wore a Michael Kors peacock print dress and a green jacket, while carrying a bag from Manu Atelier. All together, Insider valued the full look at $2,065.

Kate seems to love her polka-dot designs, but this little number is slightly darker than other ones she has been seen in to date. The duchess decided to wear the outfit on a May 2019 trip to Bletchley Park in Milton Keynes, England. Overall, the Alessandra Rich design was priced at $2,300 by The Stir.

Kate sported an eye-popping plaid dress during a visit to the Victoria and Albert Museum in London back in October 2018. And she placed a dark-red belt around her midriff to round off the look. The outfit was designed by Erdem Moralioglu, and The Stir valued it at about $2,400.

Mixing classic French colors with a touch of '60s mod, Kate pulled yet another sophisticated look out of the bag. The unique-looking Gucci dress surely turned heads with its subtle black-and-white pattern during another visit to the Victoria and Albert Museum in June 2017. This particular dress was said to be priced at a cool $2,400.

In February 2019 William and Kate found themselves inside a pub in Belfast, Northern Ireland. While there, the duchess sported a sparkly green outfit and arguably became the most glamorous barmaid in history. Although the gown cost $2,480 on the Net-A-Porter website, it was reportedly out of stock in a flash when the pictures emerged.

Kate wore another beautiful outfit to commemorate a special moment during her trip to Germany in 2017. She and William celebrated the Queen’s 91st birthday in Berlin, with the former sporting a flowing red dress by Alexander McQueen. The Stir reported that this dazzling red number was worth roughly $3,000.

For Kate, being heavily pregnant doesn’t mean the fashion stakes can be lowered. The duchess managed to attend a big function in February 2018 whilst pregnant with Prince Louis at the time, and she looked just as chic as ever. The Commonwealth Fashion Exchange Reception was held at Buckingham Palace. And while there, the duchess sported a $3,000 floral lace gown from Erdem Moralioglu.

Royal Ascot is one of the highlights of the British sporting calendar, but Kate managed to steal the show in 2019. On that occasion, she elected to wear a light-blue gown by designer Elie Saab with a matching hat. The picture-perfect powder-blue dress was valued at $3,100, according to The Stir.

Looking glamorous in green, Kate opted for a suitable outfit to commemorate St. Patrick’s Day in 2019. The duchess rocked a dark-green jacket from Alexander McQueen alongside a Lock & Co. Hatters hat and a pair of black gloves. As per The Richest, the coat alone would have cost around $4,000.

Royal Ascot is a place to see and be seen, and Kate didn't disappoint. The duchess pulled off an incredible showing at the iconic horse racing event back in 2017. She sported a jaw-dropping lace garment – standing out from the crowd once more. And this beautiful number set the duchess back over $4,000, according to The Stir.

Back in June 2011 Kate decided to wear a skin-colored dress by Jenny Packham at an event in London. Then, some five years later she slipped it on again for a charity function in Norfolk. ET estimated that this gorgeous item cost in the region of $4,500.

Most years, the Queen pops by to view the various arrangements at the Chelsea Flower Show. And in 2019, she was accompanied by both William and Kate. The duchess wowed in a relaxed floral print gown by Erdem Moralioglu, which The Stir valued at about $4,800. Surely the florals were a calculated decision given the event? She really is a style icon.

In 2016 Kate traveled to Canada for a royal engagement and was seen in the same light-pink Catherine Walker jacket throughout the trip. After that, the Duchess pulled it out again in London some three years later – highlighting her love for the garment. The Richest reported that it was worth $4,950.

Kate rocked a $5,000 Alexander McQueen outfit in 2016 after touching down in Vancouver, Canada. And it’s believed that the royal was paying her own tribute to the Great White North due to the dress’ white and red colors. A nod or not, she pulled off yet another perfect look with the complimentary colors and pops of red.

Evening gowns demand a certain level of confidence to pull off. However, Kate certainly looked the part in March 2017. She turned up at a function in spectacular fashion alongside her husband William in Paris, France. The Jenny Packham dress had a sky-blue shade to it, while The Stir reported that the piece cost around $5,000.

Naturally, Kate owns a fair share of jackets and coats. But it could be argued that this outfit by Emilia Wickstead is one of her best. The royal sported the powder-blue garment and a pair of earrings on a trip to Luxembourg in May 2017. And it cost Kate $6,022, according to Elle magazine.

Sometimes it’s best to go for something simple when you are trying to find the right outfit. Kate certainly did that in March 2017 during her trip with William in Paris. The duchess slipped on an elegant black dress by Alexander McQueen and looked flawless in it. Elle valued the piece at roughly $6,211.

The British Academy of Film and Television Arts (BAFTAs) ceremony is one of the biggest nights of the film award season. And Kate stole the show once more at the 2017 event as she was decked out in a gorgeous black outfit from Alexander McQueen. The garment included an eye-popping pattern and was worth $10,605, according to The Richest.

Kate took on the maid of honor role for her sister Pippa’s wedding in 2017. The duchess decided to go back to Alexander McQueen for her gown – opting for a beautiful pink-colored effort in the end. The dress, earrings and headwear came in at $14,000, The Richest reported.

Kate rocked yet another stunning outfit over the course of her 2017 stay in Paris. She wore a tweed Chanel gown coupled with a belt and handbag by the same brand. The royal also picked out some ornaments from Cartier, too. This meant the whole outfit came to be valued at a whopping $17,277!

In April 2011 Kate and William tied the knot in a ceremony watched around the world. But of course, all eyes were on the bride’s wedding dress, which again came from Alexander McQueen. And the Sarah Burton design had an estimated value of $434,000, as reported by various sources.