Sophia Michaels
Celebrities often set fashion trends, and the British royal family is no exception. The influence of royal women, especially Catherine, Princess of Wales, on fashion is significant. This has given rise to the “Kate Effect,” which describes how fashion pieces become instantly popular after Kate wears them, often selling out quickly.
Despite being a fashion icon, Kate has made outfits choices over the years that some have considered inappropriate. Here’s a look back at some of these questionable fashion moments.
A Sheer Dress at a 2002 Charity Event
Back in 2002, Kate wore a revealing black lace skirt as a dress during a charity fashion show at St. Andrews University. At the time, she was a student there, and the outfit featured only a strapless brassiere and underwear underneath. Notably, Prince William was present in the audience. The dress quickly became famous, selling for over $100,000 at auction years later, coinciding with Kate’s royal wedding.
Years later, this moment resurfaced when actor Meg Bellamy portrayed Kate in “The Crown,” bringing new attention to the fashion show incident, which was not deemed inappropriate for the occasion.
Casual Wear in the 2000s
In the early 2000s, during her relationship with Prince William, Kate’s fashion choices were decidedly casual and ignored royal expectations. In one instance, she was spotted in a white camisole and low-waisted jeans, an outfit that would be fit for a young woman in her twenties but stood out for someone on the cusp of royalty.
Her style included plunging necklines and low-rise pants, clearly not adhering to typical royal standards, but this seemed to have little effect on her relationship with William.
A Shocking Outfit at a 2008 Charity Event
At a charity roller skating event in 2008, Kate’s choice of attire—a sequined halter top, hotpants, and roller skates—created quite a stir. While the event aimed to raise funds for children’s health, her outfit quickly stole the spotlight. Buckingham Palace courtiers reportedly found the outfit “unladylike,” and Queen Elizabeth II perceived her as somewhat of a show-off, drawing attention for the wrong reasons.
Despite its cringe-factor, the moment highlighted the contrast between Kate’s fashion sense and royal norms, especially given her established public relationship with Prince William.
2011 Wedding Dress Controversy
While Kate Middleton’s wedding gown is generally admired, it was involved in a legal dispute. In 2016, designer Christine Kendall from Hertfordshire filed a lawsuit against Alexander McQueen, alleging that Sarah Burton, the label’s creative director, had appropriated aspects of her designs for Kate’s dress. Kendall claimed she had shared her sketches with the Duchess and the palace before the royal wedding in 2011, and even received a reply assuring her of being kept in the loop.
A representative from McQueen responded to the lawsuit, asserting that Burton had never seen Kendall’s work nor was aware of her until Kendall reached out 13 months after the wedding, labeling the claim as absurd.
Despite the lawsuit, Kate continued to favor the luxury brand, turning heads in Alexander McQueen at Meghan Markle and Prince Harry’s wedding in 2018.
