The Princess of Wales' festive wardrobe
Catherine's standout dresses for party season
Hi everyone, it’s Leanne here. I’m new to the Royal Club so first I wanted to introduce myself…
I’ve worked as HELLO!’s Director of Lifestyle & Commerce for seven years and I'm a real shopaholic so I kind of have the perfect job – although my bank statement says otherwise. I oversee all the shopping content, cherry-picking the best products for our readers around the world.
My goal is both to entertain and inform, helping people emulate the fashionable looks of A-listers and royals but for a fraction of the cost.
This all means I know a thing or two about royal style (I hope!) – specifically the Princess of Wales’ fashion.
You can’t beat the buzz when Catherine steps out and you get the first glimpse of what she’s wearing – particularly if it happens to be paired with a tiara! There’s always a reason for the designer she’s picked or the colour palette she’s chosen.
Excitingly, over the years Catherine’s style has evolved, encompassing more daring and polished choices, including velvet evening gowns and embellished accessories, reflecting her growing confidence in her role.
In the lead up to Christmas we usually get a couple of showstopper moments, so now is an apt time to take a peek inside Catherine’s festive wardrobe.
I know she’ll be back in her lavish gowns when she’s feeling up to it but the beauty of her style is its timelessness, so it’s a joy to walk down memory lane with you all.
Knock ‘em Thread
The most memorable festive dress, for me, has to be her red sparkly Needle & Thread dress. What an absolute treat for the eyes!
The dress is still stocked on the website to this day and is super popular. I requested to try on the dress for you Royal Club readers. (PS. I will be returning the dress as it’s just a loan, but it was fabulous to try on a dress with a royal seal of approval).
The dress arrived so fast and it was packaged so beautifully. It’s a heavy dress but doesn’t feel overwhelming when you try it on. I ordered a UK size 14 (US 12) and I would say it’s true to size.
I usually wouldn’t want something so tight on the body but it’s a flattering cut, and I felt very regal as soon as I added heels – Manolo Blahnik’s – another favourite brand of Catherine’s. While she opted for red suede heels, I went for black.
I will say that Kate’s dress looked like a brighter red than the one I tried on. I assume that’s down to the camera flashes. But regardless, there’s no denying it’s an exquisite garment and one to consider if you have a formal gathering over the holidays.
Let’s look at some of the other formal dresses Catherine’s picked over the years to give us all party fashion inspiration.
Test of metal
The 42-year-old royal has worn The Vampire’s Wife (now sadly shuttered) on a few occasions – including its metallic fluted sleeve Falconetti dress. Founder Susie Cave said the dress was inspired by the early 20th-century Gibson Girl silhouette – reminiscent of the label’s retro aesthetic.
It turned into quite the hit and now affordable brands are trying to recreate it.
Silver service
I couldn’t believe my eyes when I saw Mint Velvet’s silver metallic dress on the website. I don’t love using the word ‘dupe’ but it certainly reminds me of the designer dress loved by royals (Beatrice has worn the same style as well!).
I also requested a sample of this dress to try on too. After all, I wanted to make my Royal Club debut an impressive one!
I chose this dress in a UK size 14 (US size 12) as well. It’s not my usual style but I immediately knew why this style of dress is a hit it’s more flattering than I thought it would be!
With a slight fit-and-flare cut, I expected it to be too tight on the stomach but adding a Spanx bodysuit underneath certainly helped matters.
I love the colour of this dress – the metallic sheen really gave it a point of interest and made matching the dress super easy.
I opted for a pair of Soru black onyx and clear crystal earrings – a jewellery brand Catherine is a fan of.
These earrings are absolutely stunning and comfortable to wear. I would recommend them as we embark on holiday party season: Catherine owns two pairs and they’re one of the more affordable earring brands in her vast collection.
In the pink
Showing her love of The Vampire’s Wife once more, the mum-of-three wore a floor-length magenta pink dress by the brand during a reception in Belize back in March 2022. The gown was made from a similar shimmering fabric but had shorter sleeves. It was called The Light Sleeper dress.
Going for gold
Talking of shimmering, who can forget the incredible gold caped sequin gown she wore to the No Time to Die premiere in 2021? This is the ultimate NYE dress if you ask me.
Lady in red
Catherine’s outfits often nod to the late Queen Elizabeth II, who was known for wearing bold colours to stand out in the crowds. Catherine has similarly embraced festive reds and greens while modernising the silhouette and adding her own unique sense of style.
She has styled the same festive red Catherine Walker coat dress (above) multiple times, which shows there’s a real shift towards sustainability.
Let’s be honest, though, when something is so beautiful, it would be a real shame to only wear it the once.
Perfect for the Princess
Here are some new season dresses I can really imagine Catherine investing in for the new season…
Top: Needle & Thread sequin one-shoulder dress, $1040 / £700, Rixo ‘Cerise’ midi dress, $376 / £276, Karen Millen pink structured dress, $139 / £80.
Bottom: Nordstrom green sequin dress, $448, Anthropologie strapless black dress, $218, Reformation ‘Elvie’ green velvet dress, $348 / £348.
Final thoughts
I do hope you have enjoyed this journey through Princess Catherine’s festive wardrobe. Which dress did you like the most? I think mine has to be the red sparkly Needle & Thread dress as Catherine looks phenomenal in it, though I should add the Princess of Wales is one of those fortunate types who look divine whatever they wear!
Do let me know if you agree with my choice in the comments, and also tell me if there any other royals you would like me to focus on in my next post!
Until next time, Royal Clubbers!
Leanne
Further reading
WATCH: Queen Camilla receives special award