If it ain’t broke, don’t fix it. Or so they say. And the same applies to style formulas. The Princess of Wales has honed hers over the past few months, and her latest outfit is no exception.
Kate, 41, visited Foxcubs Nursery in Luton on Wednesday afternoon wearing one of the most treasured style combinations in her arsenal: coordinating knit trousers under a classic winter coat. She has been reaching for this formula again and again in recent public appearances, proving that once you figure out a style that suits you, you run with it.
Color combinations may change, but the basic formula remains: a knit, often turtleneck style, long-sleeved top, with a slightly flared midi-length A-line skirt, in the same color and knit.
The look – which is sometimes an all-over knit dress – is cinched in with a leather belt at the waist, floored with knee-high boots and topped off with a classic-shaped long coat.
Read more: The Princess of Wales’ Closet: A Celebration of Her Fashion Labels
The mother-of-three visited the top-rated childcare and early education center in Luton in her first solo appearance since the publication of Prince Harry’s memoir.
She wore Gabrielle Hearst’s vivid ribbed knit ensemble and her £349 Massimo Dutti camel cashmere coat, accessorizing with her Gianvito Rossi brown suede boots, Stuart Weitzman brown suede clutch and Kiki McDonough pear-shaped earrings citrine.
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Every element of Wednesday’s outfit came from Kate’s existing wardrobe, proving once again that once you find a style formula that works for you, you can wear it again and again to your heart’s content.
For her and Prince William’s first engagement of the year, Kate paired her Cefinn Eva Blouson black merino sleeved dress (£290) – which checked all the formula boxes with its ribbed knit fabric, midi length and mock neckline – with her green and navy check the Holland Cooper double-breasted coat in ‘Blackwatch’ (£749), for another example of why style works.
Read more: Kate and William appeared together in identical outfits for the first outing after the release of Harry’s book
But it’s not just recently, the Princess of Wales has had her style formula at her fingertips for months now.
In November, it came out in a tonal edition, complete with a beige knit dress, a belt around the waist and a matching camel coat; and even her Christmas outfit fits the formula with a £35 knit dress and bespoke coat.
Originally published