Carrie Johnson is forging her own path when it comes to political style statements (getting married in a rented gown is a big tick in terms of sustainability), but there is one style trick that she might have borrowed from another famous wardrobe. Arriving yesterday in Cornwall, Johnson chose to wear a lipstick red frock from LK Bennett. The elevated high street label has been a constant companion of Kate Middleton's, especially its trusty neutral pumps, and always delivers a dress that looks smart but not too smart (i.e. perfect for frolicking on a beach with the First Lady).
The silk-cotton dressin question is still available and - good news! - is on sale for £260. And although she arrived wearing pointed pumps that perfectly matched its primary red hue, Johnson kicked them off in preference for a pair of white flip-flops (stilettos + sand = a guaranteed gaffe).
This isn't the first time she's appeared to copy the country's most experienced dresser when it comes to sartorial diplomacy. They're both big fans of polka dots (as is Jill Biden, who wore a dotted dress from Brandon Maxwell), statement headbands and affordable brands such as Ghost.
In fact, over the past couple of years, there have been several uncanny similarities between Johnson's wardrobe and some of Kate Middleton's own looks...
SEE: All The Times Carrie Johnson Took Inspiration From Kate Middleton
1 of 10carrie symonds kate middleton red dress
While at the G7 summit, Carrie chose an LK Bennett dress, which is a high street label often chosen by the Duchess of Cambridge, More than that, the bright red hue is one which Kate wears on a regular basis. She chose it again in May of this year when she visited the National Portrait Gallery. She paired her scarlet Eponine dress coat with a tan skirt.
2 of 10Carrie Symonds and Kate Middleton
The third day of the Conservative Party Conference saw Carrie in this bright pink & Other Stories midi dress. Kate wore an Alexander McQueen dress in a similar colour to Princess Eugenie's royal wedding last year.
3 of 10Carrie Symonds and Kate Middleton
For the second day of the Conservative Party Conference, Carrie wore this £179 Whistles leopard print dress, which had us thinking of the flower-printed Michael Kors dress Kate wore for the second time on Princess Charlotte's first day of school a few weeks ago.
4 of 10Carrie Symonds and Kate Middleton
Carrie's £475 belted Isabelle Fox blue wool dress, which she wore to the Conservative Party Conference this weekend, mirrors the blue Alexander McQueen cape coat dress Kate wore (for the fourth time) to an event last week honouring Sir David Attenborough.
5 of 10Carrie Symonds and Kate Middleton
Carrie opted for this £225 eco-friendly Liberty dress to make her first solo speech at Birdfair last weekend, which looked very similar to the Ridley London frock Kate wore earlier this summer in June to a photography workshop with charity Action For Children. We think Carrie's choice of footwear was more appropriate for a British summer.
6 of 10Carrie Symonds and Kate Middleton
When Boris Johnson took office as Prime Minister at the end of July, Carrie looked on in this £120 Ghost midi dress, which quickly sold out prompting speculation that she was the new Kate Middleton. Fittingly, Kate also wore a pretty-in-pink midi dress this summer at the polo with her three children, sister-in-law Meghan Markle, and new nephew Archie.
7 of 10Carrie Symonds and Kate Middleton
Carrie was spotted around London on the day Boris Johnson launched his campaign in June in this £55 Karen Miller dress, which was pretty similar to the floral-printed Vanessa Seward dress Kate wore to The Mix Christmas Party in 2016. Proof that red isn't just for the festive season, then.
8 of 10Carrie Symonds and Kate Middleton
Carrie, like Kate, knows that a simple check-print dress can never do you wrong, as shown by this £159 Whistles dress in pictures posted on Twitter last week from a meeting with the Prime Minister and six hospices. Kate wore a similarly printed dress on a visit to Bacon's College back in 2012.
9 of 10Carrie Symonds and Kate Middleton
Back in 2017, Carrie wore a pair of navy trousers with a white blazer for a simple, polished look while visiting St James Catholic Primary School in Twickenham with Theresa May. Kate wore a very similar look only 2 months later during a trip to the 1851 Trust roadshow at Docklands Sailing and Watersports Centre. Maybe it's Kate copying Carrie, then?
10 of 10Carrie Symonds and Kate Middleton
A white collar popping out of a navy jumper is a simple look loved by both Carrie and Kate.