Kate Middleton Channeled Princess Diana In A Royal Blue Suit

Britain’s Catherine, Duchess of Cambridge, wears a protective face covering to combat the spread of the coronavirus, during a visit to a violence reduction unit, helping to reduce violence and knife crime across Scotland, in Prestonpans, near Edinburgh on May 24, 2021, during the Duke’s week-long visit to Scotland. (Photo by Andy Buchanan / POOL / AFP) (Photo by ANDY BUCHANAN/POOL/AFP via Getty Images)

Princess Diana’s style throughout the ‘80s and ‘90s will always be in fashion — and Kate Middleton knows it. On Monday, the Duchess of Cambridge wore a royal blue suit that bore a striking resemblance to one worn by her late mother-in-law 30 years prior. 

During a trip to Edinburgh, Scotland, with Prince William, Middleton donned a blue, double-breasted Zara blazer with gold buttons and a matching pleated skirt from the U.K.-based brand Hope. While Diana’s version, which she wore on a trip in 1992, was also made up of a double-breasted suit jacket decorated with gold buttons and a pleated skirt, it was more in line with the style at the time and slightly oversized, rather than fitted. That, and Middleton chose a brown, suede clutch purse and matching pumps, whereas Diana stuck with the royal blue color palette, straight down to her accessories. 

This is hardly the first time Middleton has seemingly recreated a look from Diana’s wardrobe archives. Middleton’s velvet, strapless gown at the 2011 Sun Military Awards mirrored the one worn by Diana at London’s Goldsmith’s Hall in 1981. Meanwhile, in 2018, Middleton wore a blue polka dot Prada dress with a white collar for Prince Charles’ 70th birthday portrait that was the modern-day equivalent of Diana’s from 1985. A year later, in 2019, the Duchess was photographed dropping Princess Charlotte off on her first day of school, while wearing a pink, floral dress that closely resembled one Diana wore to take Prince Harry to school in 1992. 

And if you, like Middleton, want to get the Diana look, the Duchess’ blue Hope skirt is still available. If the past is any indication, though, it won’t be for long. 

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What Does The Perfect Party Dress Look Like?

UNITED STATES – MAY 03: Paris Hilton, New York Socialite Paris Hilton Celebrated Her New Movie And Her 21st Birthday With Dinner At Drones Then Party At The Stork Rooms In Wallow St, Where She Managed To Dance The Night Away Even After Tripping Over Her 6 Inch Heels, She Then Consoled Herself By Changing In Another Dress This One Was More Comfortable. (Photo by Dave Benett/Getty Images)

After a year away from parties and celebrations, our return to social events is imminent, which means that it’s time to start thinking about what we’re going to wear this summer. Welcome to party dress season. 

Shoppers have already begun to move away from loungewear and toward a more festive wardrobe. In the last two months, fashion search engine ShopStyle has seen a 12% and 24% spike in search for “party dresses” and “evening dresses,” respectively. “We’re all tired of our joggers and sweats,” Kristen Gall, the president of Rakuten Rewards, a platform that gives you cash back when you shop, tells Refinery29. “We’re going to see fashion shift from comfy-casual to less practical attire like mini-dresses, sky-high heels, and sparkles.”

But, following a year of Friday nights spent on the sofa, wrapped up in a layer of jersey, what makes for a top-notch going-out look?

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According to Mirror Palais designer Marcelo Gaia — whose Fairy Dress is TikTok’s unofficial party dress of the season — the perfect style is one the wearer feels comfortable in: “Something that is loose on the hips so that you can move effortlessly, sit comfortably, and dance the night away.” In other words, no bandage dresses. Doyeon Yoni Yu, the founder of C’est D, agrees: “A great party dress should be comfortable enough to actually enjoy the party,” she says. According to her, that means soft, stretchy, and breathable fabrics that allow for movement and hopping from one party to the next. Think: ribbed, jersey dresses with short hemlines, or silky slip mini dresses.

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“Whenever I get dressed for a party, I always think about two things: (1) Can I match this outfit with sneakers post-party? and (2) do I feel comfortable enough in this outfit to fully focus on my surroundings?” says Yu. With that in mind, the designer created the Jewel Ruched Dress, a rhinestone strap mini featuring a pink-and-orange tie-dye print.

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Though Francesca Capper and Natasha Somerville, the founders of party-forward brand Poster Girl, agree that comfort is a major factor in the making of a party dress, their definition of comfort has little to do with how soft or stretchy a frock’s fabric is. According to the design duo, whose dresses have adorned the likes of Dua Lipa, Kylie Jenner, and Selena Gomez, the look should make the wearer feel comfortable in their own skin. “It really is down to the wearer to embody the party mood with their own vivacious energy,” Capper tells Refinery29. “Ultimately, the must-have detail is the wearer’s confidence,” Somerville adds. 

That said, they still recognize that there are certain silhouettes and fabrics that scream “good time!” “A shorter hemline is the most party-appropriate,” says Capper. She and Somerville also like unusual cut-outs, a top trend for 2021, as well as embellished styles with crystal adornments, tassel edging, and variations in texture.

Don’t have a Paris Hilton-esque chainmail dress in your closet? Ahead, find a few dance-ready dresses that will make you look like the life of the party.

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Cut-Outs Were The Biggest Red Carpet Trend At The Billboard Music Awards

On Sunday night, the 2021 Billboard Music Awards brought together Doja Cat, Alicia Keys, P!NK, the Jonas Brothers, and more for a night of music. While walking the red carpet, attendees were anything but subtle.

Machine Gun Kelly showed up sans undershirt in a Balmain suit with his tongue painted black, while H.E.R. wore head-to-toe sequins. But the real sartorial highlight of the evening were the cut-out looks. And no, we’re not talking about a cold shoulder or keyhole slit — these were some of the sexiest cut-outs we’ve seen in a while.

While accompanying twin flame Machine Gun Kelly — who went on to win a BBMA for Top Rock Artist — Megan Fox wore a barely-there black dress from Mugler’s spring ‘21 ready-to-wear collection. The form-fitting silhouette featured a series of curvy cut-outs on the front and back, as well as a sheer, midi-length skirt. Stylist Maeve Reilly added Jimmy Choo platform heels and Shay Jewelry to complete the can’t-miss look. 

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Following suit was SZA whose fall ‘21 Monôt dress, too, featured all-over cut-outs. The dress included a waist-length slit up one side and several oblong cut-outs across the front. Later in the night, when she took the stage to perform “Kiss Me More” with Doja Cat, SZA changed into a two-piece Mugler corset look. Doja, who walked the red carpet in a black-and-white Balmain co-ord, also changed for the performance. Her on-stage look? A long-sleeved, cut-out set, also by Balmain. 

Capping off the trend, Karol G, who won a BBMA for Top Female Latin Artist, wore a sparkling Celia Kritharioti naked dress, featuring a large, diamond-shaped cut-out that showed off her midriff. 

This red carpet arrived just under a month after the Academy Awards, where A-listers like Zendaya, Carey Mulligan, Andra Day, and Vanessa Kirby all took to the red carpet wearing peek-a-boo looks. We’re sensing a red carpet trend brewing. Now, all we have to do is wait for the 2021 Emmys to find out just how serious it really is. 

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