The Kate Middleton effect is real. Stat. When the Princess of Wales steps out in a spectacularly constructed outfit – be it a floor-length Jenny Packham gown to a James Bond premier, a recycled Alexander McQueen dress to the BAFTAs or an Emilia Wickstead X Accessorize combo during a visit to the Royal Horticultural Society Garden in Surrey – we take note.
While there are countless reasons to adore Kate's impeccable taste in fashion, her mastery of the art of high-low dressing remains the most prominent. She has an innate ability to fuse the best of the British high street with luxury pieces from the catwalk, and today acts as the perfect example.
On 20 April 2023, alongside her husband Prince William, the royal stepped out in Birmingham to meet with future leaders in the arts and creative industries in a chic woven trench dress. Burgundy in colour and paired by Kate with pointed heels of the same shade, it features a silhouette-enhancing tie-waist, and well as crisp pleats and neat notched lapels. The best part? It comes in at under £200 from stalwart high-street store, Karen Millen.
Yep: Kate's transseasonal, work-appropriate midi is currently reduced to £183 on the Karen Millen website, and while the burgundy iteration is already sold out (no surprises there), there are still some sizes left in black and camel at the time of writing. Oh, and if you're lucky enough to be petite, you can shop the petite version in various sizes, too. You know what to do.
Of course, this is not the first time Kate Middleton has stepped out in Karen Millen. Cast your minds back to October 2022, when she visited the Royal Surrey County Hospital’s maternity unit to meet with staff and hear about the holistic support it provides for pregnant women and new mothers. In contrast to the rather grey skies, she wore a tailored, sunshine yellow midi dress by the high street stalwart (which is actually also in stock in various colours and sizes, by some kind of miracle).
Whichever style you choose, we predict a sell-out on all of the above. So don't spend too much time deliberating. Save when you shop with these Karen Millen discount codes. For more from Glamour UK Commerce Editor Sophie Cockett, follow her on Instagram @sophiecockettx.
