A White T-Shirt + Blazer Is Quickly Becoming Kate Middleton’s Go-To Summer Style Formula

Plus, her Mulberry bag is now on sale.

kate middleton wimbledon mulberry smythe

by Laura Antonia Jordan |
Updated on

The humble white T-shirt is always a wardrobe hero. Unassuming, versatile, classic it demands nothing from its wearer (apart from, be careful around red wine perhaps). And now it’s got the royal seal of approval, quickly becoming a go-to in Kate Middleton’s summer 2021 wardrobe.

kate middleton mulberry wimbledon
Kate Middleton at Wimbledon ©Getty

Making a surprise appearance at Wimbledon today, the Duchess of Cambridge wore a crisp white tee with a pleated, polka dot midi skirt (by Alessandra Rich, the designer behind her favourite polka dot dress), Jimmy Choo’s pointed Romy pumps (£525, and available in a range of colours) and a top-handle Mulberry Amberley bag (now on sale for £472, be quick).

Kate’s preferred way to wear right now is with a blazer. For her trip to Centre Court, she teamed it with a gold-buttoned, navy blue jacket by Smythe, the Canadian brand that’s also a hit with Meghan Markle. Watching England’s historic victory against Germany at Wembley earlier this week, the white tee and blazer combo was out again. This time she wore the T-shirt with a double blazer by Zara in punchy, patriotic red (also a brilliant way to ensure not all eyes were on Jack Grealish’s excellent curtains).

kate middleton natural history museum
Kate Middleton at the Natural History Museum ©Getty

Last month, when visiting the Natural History Museum, she wore another spotless cotton tee, this time with a tailored, blush pink Chloé number over the top and her beloved Veja trainers. She also proved that, despite what Gen Z would like you to believe, skinny jeans are notover (hers are by & Other Stories).

So why is this becoming Kate’s favourite new power couple? Always a queen of high/low dressing, who’s able to mix up high-end designers with thrifty high-street finds, she’s now continuing that memo into her look – the precision and polish of tailoring plus the throw-it-on ease of a T-shirt. After a testing year for the royal family, Kate’s subtle style tweak serves to enhance her accessibility without diminishing her status as a working royal.

One question remains however: Kate, as a mum of three, how exactly do you keep all these white T-shirts white?

Gallery

SEE: All Of Kate Middleton's Recycled Outfits

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Kate Middleton Recycled Outfits

For today's visit to Manchester Arena's The Glade Of Light Memorial, Kate wore one her smartest coat dresses from Michael Kors.

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Kate Middleton Recycled Outfits

She first wore the coat dress in 2015, during a visit to Hampton Court (pictured here), and again in 2017.

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Kate Middleton re-cycling her Alexander McQueen Coat

Kate re-visited an Alexander McQueen coat for the 2021 Remembrance Sunday tribute - she previously wore the coat to the same service back in 2018.

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Kate Middleton re-cycling a green blazer from Smythe

For a call on Zoom, Kate recycled a single-breasted blazer from Smythe, last-spotted on the royal visit to Cyprus in December 2018.

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Kate Middleton Recycled Outfits

Kate's Alexander McQueen blazer is the perfect piece for waist-up dressing.

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Kate Middleton Recycled Outfits

One of Kate's top tricks for rewearing an item already in your wardrobe is to subtly change its look. This time, she re-wore a green Catherine Walker coat but added a black fur trim to alter its appearance.

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Kate Middleton Recycled Outfits

Kate wore this red Alexander McQueen coat previously this year on a visit to St Bartholomew's Hospital in London, and she has also worn her tartan Emilia Wickstead skirt before in December 2018.

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Kate Middleton Recycled Outfits

Kate's navy blue Hobbs coat has had two appearances on the Royal Train Tour, and one in February of this year on a visit to Swansea.

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Kate Middleton Recycled Outfits

Departing on the royal train at Euston station, Kate re-wore her green Alexander McQueen coat – seen earlier this year on a visit to Bradford – and her £15 Maple Leaf tartan scarf from York Scarves, which she also wore while in Canada in 2016.

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Kate Middleton Recycled Outfits

As Kate and Will arrived in Edinburgh, Kate was seen wearing a blue Catherine Walker coat that she has worn before during the royal tour of Scandinavia in 2018.

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Kate Middleton Recycled Outfits

Kate loves this pink M&S trouser suit so much, she wore it three times in 2020! She first wore the suit in March while visiting healthcare workers in Croydon, and then wore the trousers again in September while speaking with other parents in Battersea Park, London about the ways the pandemic had impacted them. The outfit had its third appearance during a video on the 5 Big Questions on the Under Fives campaign.

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Kate Middleton Recycled Outfits

Always a champion of the high street, Kate is very fond of her white Zara blazer. She's worn it several times; once in 2016 on the royal tour of Canada and again in 2017 at the Docklands Sailing and Watersports Centre.

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Kate Middleton Recycled Outfits

Remember when Kate worn Gucci's beautiful purple pussy-bow blouse last March and everyone was convinced she was wearing it backwards? Well, she's done it again, this time wearing the blouse for a video call on her 5 Big Questions on the Under Fives campaign.

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Kate Middleton Recycled Outfits

Kate re-wore both her stunning royal blue Reiss dress, first seen on the Duchess in 2012, and her favourite Daniella Draper necklace featuring her children's initials in an Instagram video.

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Kate Middleton Recycled Outfits

Kate has worn her beloved Nubuck Waistcoat from Really Wild several times over the years, from an outing in 2012 to September 2020 when she wore it again to visit a Scouts group in London. It also made an appearance during the royal tour of Pakistan in 2019.

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Kate Middleton Recycled Outfits

For the 2020 BAFTAs, Kate wore a beautiful white and gold gown that she had previously worn on a royal tour of Malaysia.

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Kate Middleton Recycled Outfits

This fit-and-flare Orla Kiely dress was worn by the Duchess in February 2012 and again in November 2013.

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Kate Middleton Recycled Outfits

Teal is Kate's colour, as she has proven with this Emilia Wickstead teal coat dress in April 2014, December 2014 and November 2018.

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Kate Middleton Recycled Outfits

Kate worn this buttercup yellow eyelet dress while on the Diamond Jubilee Tour with William in 2012 and again while touring Australia in 2014 with Will and little baby George.

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Kate Middleton Recycled Outfits

This deep purple coat, worn in November 2012 and on Christmas 2011, is rumoured to have been designed by Kate herself.

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Kate Middleton Recycled Outfits

For a dinner at the Thirty Club in May 2012 and a film premiere in December 2013, Kate wore this beautiful Roland Mouret ivory dress.

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Kate Middleton Recycled Outfits

Polka dot princess! Kate has worn this dress several times during her pregnancies, including April and May 2013 while pregnant with Prince George.

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Kate Middleton Recycled Outfits

Kate looks great in red and she takes full advantage of it. She's worn this Alexander McQueen dress while celebrating the Diamond Jubilee in 2012 and at the Anna Freud Family Christmas Party in 2015.

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Kate Middleton Recycled Outfits

Kate wore this Alexander McQueen set for Easter in 2019, but she first wore it for Easter in 2014.

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Kate Middleton Recycled Outfits

Kate is a pro at maternity dressing and wore this light blue Seraphine coat during all three of her pregnancies.

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Kate Middleton Recycled Outfits

Kate's love of red jackets goes way back — she wore this Armani jacket for the first time in 2006 (!) and again in 2013.

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Kate Middleton Recycled Outfits

Kate wore this red-checkered Eponine London set in March 2016 and again in March 2017.

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Kate Middleton Recycled Outfits

This Paule Ka wine-coloured skirt suit has been worn by Kate many times over the years, and she looks great every single time.

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Kate Middleton Recycled Outfits

Kate dons a bit of festive green every year on St Patrick's Day and this Emilia Wickstead coat is particular favourite, worn in March 2012.

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Kate Middleton Recycled Outfits

Kate wore this Jenny Packham gown in June 2011 and June 2016.

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Kate Middleton Recycled Outfits

What did we tell you about the Duchess and red coats? Kate has worn this red Spagnoli suit several times, including February 2011, April 2015 and February 2017.

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Kate Middleton Recycled Outfits

Kate has worn this Rebecca Taylor tweed skirt suit three times, twice with the flower-detailing and once with a traditional collar.

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Kate Middleton Recycled Outfits

Pretty in pink! The Duchess has reworn this bright pink coat through all three of her pregnancies.

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Kate Middleton Recycled Outfits

Kate has worn this Tory Burch dress twice, once in April 2014 and again in October 2015.

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Kate Middleton Recycled Outfits

Kate loves a bit of tweed, and this jacket has been her fail-safe option on a few occasions, including March and June of 2012.

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Kate Middleton Recycled Outfits

Ahoy! Kate donned this sailor-inspired Alexander McQueen dress in Canada in 2011 and at Wimbledon in 2012.

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Kate Middleton Recycled Outfits

Kate stepped out in this off-the-shoulder dress by Barbara Casasola in July 2016 and then again in June 2019.

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Kate Middleton Recycled Outfits

The Duchess wore this flower-printed L.K. Bennett dress at the Brisbane Airforce Base in April 2014 and while visiting Luton in August 2016.

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Kate Middleton Recycled Outfits

This black lace Temperley London gown has been wore by Kate in January and November 2012 and again in December 2013.

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Kate Middleton Recycled Outfits

Kate wore this grey Orla Kiely dress to The Prince's Trust at Dulwich Picture gallery in 2012 and to a meeting in Islington in October 2015.

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Kate Middleton Recycled Outfits

Kate first wore this lilac Roksanda dress in LA in July 2011, and then wore it again in July 2012.

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Kate Middleton Recycled Outfits

Third time's the charm! Kate has worn this gold embellished Jane Troughton coat three times in 2006, 2011 and 2012.

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Kate Middleton Recycled Outfits

Kate has worn this kelly green zip-up coat several times in 2014 and 2016.

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Kate Middleton Recycled Outfits

Kate wore this Hobbs dress in July 2012 and April 2014.

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Kate Middleton Recycled Outfits

Kate Middleton wore this emerald green L.K. Bennett peplum suit in March 2012 and December 2015.

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Kate Middleton Recycled Outfits

Kate loves this blue Alexander McQueen coat and has worn it publicly several times.

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Kate Middleton Recycled Outfits

Proving that all you need to update an outfit is a new accessory, Kate wore this Alexander McQueen dress to the Queen's Diamond Jubilee in June 2012 and then again to a garden party in June 2014, but without the belt.

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Kate Middleton Recycled Outfits

Kate is queen (pun intended) at re-wearing red carpet dresses, like this one she's worn three times.

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Kate Middleton Recycled Outfits

Kate loves red coats, and this L.K. Bennett coat has been her choice of numerous occasions.

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Kate Middleton Recycled Outfits

This eyelet dress has been worn by Kate twice: once while on tour in Australia in 2014 and then again at Wimbledon that same year.

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Kate Middleton Recycled Outfits

Kate wore this Alexander McQueen dress to Prince George's christening in October 2013 and then again to a garden party in May 2016.

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Kate Middleton Recycled Outfits

Emilia Wickstead is one of Kate's favourite designers and the Duchess wore this dress by her in July 2012 and April 2016.

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Kate Middleton Recycled Outfits

Kate wore this off-white Alexander McQueen ensemble for Princess Charlotte's christening in 2015, again a few months later for Trooping of the Colour and again once more for Prince Harry and Meghan Markle's wedding.

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Kate Middleton Recycled Outfits

Green is her colour — Kate wore this Catherine Walker coat in April 2014 and again in May 2016.

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Kate Middleton Recycled Outfits

The Duchess wore this chic pink peplum dress by Alexander McQueen in April 2014 and then again in May 2016.

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Kate Middleton Recycled Outfits

Kate has worn this Diane von Furstenberg lace black gown both in November 2014 and November 2107.

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Kate Middleton Recycled Outfits

Kate wore this olive Reiss coat with a belt in January 2014, and then went belt-less in November 2015.

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Kate Middleton Recycled Outfits

Kate has wore this blue Stella McCartney dress four times, including July 2012, April and July 2014, and July 2016.

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Kate Middleton Recycled Outfits

Not one to be afraid of bright colours, Kate wore this yellow Roksanda dress in April 2014 in Sydney and again in June 2016 at Wimbledon.

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Kate Middleton Recycled Outfits

Kate wore this grey dress with turquoise detailing in April 2012 and then again in November 2015.

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Kate Middleton Recycled Outfits

Kate first wore this icy Christopher Kane dress to a Buckingham Palace reception in 2012 and then wore it again in 2014.

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Kate Middleton Recycled Outfits

Kate loved the pink Alexander McQueen dress that she wore to Trooping the Colour in 2017 so much that she had it made in a darker shade of pink for Princess Eugenie's wedding in 2018.

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Kate Middleton Recycled Outfits

This deep blue Eponine London dress coat has been worn by Kate twice, once in January 2017 and again in November 2018.

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Kate Middleton Recycled Outfits

Kate loves a bit of tartan — she wore this Alexander McQueen dress coat in November 2012 at St Andrews, on Christmas Day in 2013, and most recently in January 2019 to open the V&A Dundee.

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Kate Middleton Recycled Outfits

The Duchess wore this off-white Catherine Walker coat for the first time while on a royal tour of Canada with her family in October 2016 and then wore it again for Easter in 2017.

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