The Duchess of Cambridge relies on a uniform of tonal jumpers with matching jackets and dark trousers to pull together a ‘polished’ look with ease, stylists have revealed.
Kate, 39, wore a matching £299 pink coat and £75 roll neck jumper, both from Hobbs, tailored trousers and suede pumps for the outing to Nower Hill High School in Harrow on Wednesday.
The outfit is an example of the formulaic approach to dressing the Duchess has taken in recent months. She has donned a colourful jumper with a tonal coat and darker trousers at four recent engagements.
Speaking to FEMAIL, stylists explained this ‘scientific’ use of colour creates outfits that are polished yet easy to mix and match or pull together on-the-go, making them ideal for a busy mother-of-three.
The Duchess of Cambridge relies on a uniform of tonal jumpers with matching jackets and dark trousers to pull together a ‘polished’ look with ease, stylists have revealed. Kate, 39, wore a matching £299 pink coat and £75 roll neck jumper, both from Hobbs, tailored trousers and suede pumps for the outing to Nower Hill High School in Harrow on Wednesday, pictured
In March, Kate visited a school in east London today to promote a mental health programme for children. The mother-of-three cut a stylish figure as she paired a bright pink jumper with a £389 blush coat from Max and Co (left). Right, for an Earthshot Prize event in October, Kate dusted off an emerald Erdem coat, pairing the statement piece with a fitted lime green jumper
Stylist Hannah Eichler told FEMAIL colouring coding could be ‘quite scientific’, adding: ‘Kate is a huge fan of monochromatic styling, often creating coat and knitwear combos in tonal hues to ensure she always looks polished.
‘Buying clothes in colour families is an easy way to create a hard working wardrobe – your pieces will always go together and be easy to mix and match.’
She continued: ‘Whether you’re a prep the night before or throw outfits together at the last minute, colour coding has become the way to look instantly pulled together.
‘This certainly isn’t a new styling trick in the royal family – the queen has long favoured wearing families of colour, often matching her coat with her hat and bag.
‘The trick to colour coding is actually quite scientific – it’s all about looking at spectrums of colour, choosing linear shades which sit together in the same family.
‘With a busy diary like Kate’s it’s also a space saver for travelling, as she can pack a monochromatic selection of clothes which work together seamlessly.
‘The trick is to look for clothes which are a variation of the same hue – for example teaming a magenta pink with a baby pink, or bottle green with emerald.’
Meanwhile stylist Rochelle White revealed dressing in this ‘uniform’ kept things ‘simple but effective’ for Kate, saying: ‘This formula is the easiest way to polish and pull together a look. Dressing like this can come across as confident and brings elegance, refined effortless sleekness.
In September, Kate wore a cream Reiss ‘Larsson’ double-breasted twill blazer worth £285 and a white ‘Binky’ blouse by Jane costing £440, for a visit to RAF Brize Norton
‘I feel that Kate knows that and wants to be fashionable sophisticated while out and about.
‘By keeping a focus on harmonising colours, tonal dressing uses texture to bring interest and depth to outfits.’
She continued: ‘I feel that for this Autumn/Winter season Kate has chosen to wear simple but effective clothing.
‘Her looks over the past few outings and engagements have been quite uniform, but she has switched it up with colours and accessories.
‘I think she is aware that the media focus on her outfits and to keep the attention on what she is doing/attending she likes to keep it simple.
In May Kate looked elegant in a £380 Tory Burch polka dot blouse, a tonal navy coat and wide-leg trousers as she joined William in Wolverhampton at three community organisations helping children and young people with their mental health
‘Keeping to the simple black trouser, it can be dressed up and tailored to each event.’
The royal’s first outing in her new dress code occurred earlier this year, when she visited a school in London.
In March, Kate visited a school in east London today to promote a mental health programme for children.
The mother-of-three cut a stylish figure as she paired a bright pink jumper with a £389 blush coat from Max and Co.
She finished her outfit with £130 high-waisted Jigsaw trousers, which she first wore during a visit to the Henry Fawcett Childrens Centre in Lambeth in 2019.
She went on to replicate the look in May when she visited to Wolverhampton with the Duke.
Berry nice! The most recent example was this pink-on-pink look from an outing in London on Wednesday
On that occasion, Kate looked elegant in a £380 Tory Burch polka dot blouse, a tonal navy coat and wide-leg trousers as she joined William at three community organisations helping children and young people with their mental health.
In September, she showed the uniform was here to stay by stepping out in a similar outfit as she returned to royal duty after the summer.
The 39-year-old mother-of-three wore a cream Reiss ‘Larsson’ double-breasted twill blazer worth £285 and a white ‘Binky’ blouse by Jane costing £440, which she accompanied with a £295 Tusting ‘Holly’ mini bag.
And she donned a similar outfit when she joined Prince William at Kew Gardens for an educational event tied to his Earthshot Prize initiative.
The royal dusted off an emerald Erdem coat last worn in 2016 for the outing, pairing the statement piece with a short-sleeve fitted lime green jumper and wide-leg black trousers.