Catherine, Princess of Wales is known for tapping into one of winter's boldest trends: red coats. Most recently, however, Catherine turned to her favourite and ye-old-faithful scarlet coat for her annual Together At Christmas carol service - radiating festive charm in a bespoke Sarah Burton for Alexander McQueen coat.
She's been spotted in this exact coat numerous times since its initial debut back in 2020, this time featuring a black velvet bow tie at the neckline - an unexpected nod to the late Princess Diana, who often donned the same shade of pillar box, with similar black ribbon. The coat's red hue paid both a homage to the season and the royal penchant for symbolic dressing, and was accessorised with pearl drop earrings and Ralph Lauren suede knee-high boots.
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Nobody's Childwww.nobodyschild.com
The power of a pop of red is one of the most defining trends, and it looks like it's not going anywhere. This crimson coat from Nobody's Child is just like the one we've spotted on the Princess of Wales, featuring similar style double breasted buttons, as well as an almost identical classic collar and long length (although it's sadly not bespoke like hers).
M&Swww.marksandspencer.com
M&S has brought out a perfect longline coat to take with you (pretty much anywhere) in the festive season. With a soft wool blend that promises to keep you warm all winter long, and single-breasted front, this high street iteration is certainly just as chic as the Princess'.
In 2022, Catherine looked particularly festive in a ruby red coat from LK Bennett. Who can blame her either - when the weather turns cold, a red coat is one of the best coats around.
www.lkbennett.com
The Princess was spotted wearing the exact coat on her 2022 trip to Anglesey. Appropriately named the Spencer Red Snaffle-Detail Coat, this red coat is made from a recycled wool blend crafted by sustainability and high-end fabric brand Manteco. Pair with long trousers and a muted blouse for the ultimate autumn and winter look.
Perhaps she had a closely trained eye on that year's autumnal catwalks that make for appropriate autumn coats - Bianca Saunders, Dior, Eudon Choi, Gabriela Hearst, Prada and Tommy Hilfiger all showed resplendent red as part of their collections - but what’s more likely is that they looked to the Princess of Wales.
Catherine, you see, has a well-documented soft spot for red outerwear, favouring stunningly bright dress coats that ensure she stands out during public outings. It also seems that she tends to opt for a tailored coat, and who can blame her as they are the perfect coat as we near towards the end of the year.
It might be a shade (or two) brighter than the fashion editor’s favourite - beige - but is certainly more smile-inducing, wouldn’t you say? Feeling inspired? Take a look at some of the best red coats available to buy below, from Reiss to Max Mara, to name a few. They're the perfect solution to all your autumn and winter coat woes.
Shop: The Best Red Coats
Karen Millenwww.karenmillen.com
This coat from Karen Millen also echoes similar attributes to that of the Princess' as it has cinched waist detailing, double breasted button detailing and a wide collar. Plus, it's made from Italian Manteco Wool which means it's super cosy.
River Islandwww.riverisland.com
Another great high street coat comes from River Island, which has a notched collar instead of an oversized one, as well as a belt around the middle. Style this coat with an unbuttoned cardigan and denim jeans.
Holland Cooperwww.hollandcooper.com
This classic red coat, in a trench style, has a fitted design and belted waist that's made to flatter and cinch. The most special part of this coat, however, is probably the large gold buttons which make such a statement.
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Phase Eight www.phase-eight.com
Cut from a wool-rich blend and designed with a slim-fitting silhouette, you can guarantee heads will turn if you're spotted wearing Phase Eight's Skye Wool Coat. The four black button detailing at the cuff adds another layer of sophistication to this coat.
How To Style A Red Coat
Choosing the right clothes to complement a daring red coat is particularly important as it makes or breaks your outfit. What you want is for your coat to take centre stage, and you can achieve this by wearing muted and neutral colours.
Pair your red coat with wide-legged tailored trousers and a plain white knitted jumper for a chic and casual autumn look. If you're heading to the office, dress down with some plain white trainers (Veja's are a good choice) or dress up with your favourite pair of pointed-toe kitten heels or boots.
Who Styles The Princess Of Wales?
We imagine that styling yourself for every occasion would get, well, tiring after so long. Catherine has a lot of events and appearances to style herself for, so it makes sense for her to have a trustworthy stylist who knows their stuff.
Enter Natasha Archer: the stylist in charge of the many looks worn by The Princess Of Wales, including those worn on royal tours and other similar events. She is one of the most photographed women in the world, she must dress her best at all times. It's no surprise the best designer coats are usually a feature during her daily errand runs.