We look at the little tricks of the royals, who convince us again and again that evening dresses are not disposable things.
We are already used to the fact that repeating outfits over and over again for Kate Middleton is already a new fashion mantra. But it’s one thing to wear casual outfits (especially conservative overcoat dresses, which account for dozens in the Cambridge wardrobe), and quite another — evening dresses, which, as a rule, are bought at one time not only by representatives of the highest aristocracy, but often by everyone else. And what to do with this armful of outfits then? Their fate, as a rule, is predetermined: dresses strewn with sequins, sequins, with a decor of lace and iridescent silk, remain lying on the far shelves and fill our closet. However, the royals, contrary to popular belief, think differently: evening dresses are not just possible, but also need to be worn several times.
It is useful for everyone to revive their wardrobe, especially in the context of the trend towards responsible consumption and care for the environment. We spied on the thrifty princesses and queens and found out with what tricks they manage to make a stunning impression every time in the same evening dresses.
Princess Diana in Catherine Walker
January 1985
December 1985
The Catherine Walker brand was one of the most beloved for Princess Diana. In a floor-length velvet wine dress with a large accent bow, the royal appeared twice: at the premiere of the film “Back to the Future” in January 1985, and then during a gala performance at the London City Ballet in December of the same year.
Princess Diana in Catherine Walker
1986
1990
The princess also pulled off a second stylish repetition with the Catherine Walker brand: the designer created a luxurious azure dress studded with sequins in 1983. The princess appeared in the image quite often, experimenting with jewelry: during a visit to Austria in 1986, and later – at charity balls in 1989 and 1990.
The Duchess of Cambridge in Jenny Packham
February 2014
December 2014
Jenny Packham is one of Kate’s favorite designers. The monarch has worn this dress a total of three times: twice in London and at a dinner in December 2014 at the Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York. And for good reason: agree, it looks great with a cascading diamond necklace, and without any accent jewelry.
The Duchess of Cambridge in Jenny Packham
2015
2016
The images for the most solemn events can also be repeated — the Duchess of Cambridge sets an example again. Kate stunned for the first time with a red dress by Jenny Packham during her first state banquet in October 2015, when she complemented it with a tiara “Lotus Flower”. The Duchess also opted for this outfit in December 2016 for the annual diplomatic reception at Buckingham Palace, and this time she chose the tiara of Princess Diana and a diamond bracelet (Why the Duchess of Cambridge loves the tiara “Knots of Love” so much).
Crown Princess Mary
2005
2007
The sea-green dress is a record holder in the wardrobe of the Danish Crown Princess Mary. She has worn it at least five times, and it is quite possible that we will see it again. We first noticed the Danish royal in this outfit in 2005 during a reception at the royal palace. Later in the same dress, she posed for her portrait at the National Gallery of Canberra in Australia. In addition, we saw a similar image in 2007 — during a state banquet in honor of the President of Brazil.
Duchess of Cambridge at Temperley London
2013
2012
It is impossible not to repeat the stunning appearance in a black lace dress from Temperley London: first, the Duchess of Cambridge appeared in it on the eve of her 30th birthday at the Natural History Museum, complementing the black outfit with a contrasting scarlet clutch, and a year later, in November 2012, she flashed at a charity dinner in London.
Crown Princess Victoria in Elie Saab
2015
2012
The impressive floor-length dress, studded with sequins, simply could not lie idle for a long time, and Crown Princess Victoria gladly gave him a second life. For the first time, the monarch appeared in an outfit from Elie Saab at the Nobel Prize ceremony in 2012. And three years later, in 2015, the Crown Princess decided to try on an outfit during a state visit to India. Both times Victoria looked extremely impressive.
Crown Princess Mary
2008
2012
Another long-lived wardrobe of Crown Princess Mary is a black floor-length dress with a contrasting iridescent bodice. We have already seen it four times: in 2005, 2006, 2008 and 2012. The Crown Princess decides to change her styling: in 2008, for example, during a visit to the European Film Awards, she pulls her hair back, and in 2012, during the celebration of the 40th anniversary of the Queen of Denmark on the throne, she wears a tiara.
The Duchess of Cambridge in Diane von Furstenberg
November 2014
November 2017
The Duchess of Cambridge, being in position, wore a black lace dress by Diane von Furstenberg for the second time at the gala dinner of Anna Freud in 2017 in the conservatory of Kensington Palace. The royal completed her elegant ensemble with a styling with curls. The image was complemented by a Prada clutch, a pair of Queen Elizabeth earrings, a diamond cuff bracelet and a brooch in the form of a poppy (Why do members of the royal family wear a red poppy on their chest).
Queen Letizia
2010
2011
Kate Middleton is certainly not the only world-famous royal fashionista who often lacks new evening dresses. The Spanish princess Letizia, for example, appeared twice in an ensemble of a lush silk skirt and a blazer. Then the Princess of Asturias wore a suit with a black top at the reception of foreign ambassadors in January 2010, and exactly a year later – at the ceremony of celebrating the New Year in Pasqua. She changed her appearance, rather, with the help of styling, although the time difference can only be determined by the appearance of Philip VI.
The Duchess of Cambridge in Jenny Packham
2016
2011
On June 22, 2016, Kate appeared for the second time in a sequined Jenny Packham dress at a dinner at the East Anglia Children’s Hospice. For the first time, the Duchess wore an iridescent dress in 2011 at the ARK gala dinner dedicated to the 10th anniversary of the organization. The Prada clutch and the LK Bennett shoes were the same as the first time. Kate updated the look with the help of a pair of chandelier earrings borrowed from the Queen, and pulled her hair back.
Crown Princess Mary
2004
2005
The color of a dusty rose is one of the most advantageous shades for Crown Princess Mary. She knows this very well, so she decides to repeat the lingerie-style dress in which she first appeared during a photo shoot in 2004. She chose the same outfit for the second time in 2005 during an official reception at the Governor’s house in Tasmania during a two-week visit to Australia. The Crown Princess did not stop there and decided to walk the dress for the third time, for an official gala dinner in Stockholm in 2006.
The Duchess of Cambridge in Roland Mouret
2012
2013
The Roland Mouret dress in the Duchess’s wardrobe still remains one of the most iconic — and not at all because of the bold neckline. Catherine chose a milky-white outfit for the premiere of the film about Nelson Mandela, and complemented the image with quite budget jewelry – a necklace from Zara worth 1.5 thousand rubles, which, of course, extremely surprised the audience. The Duchess had already appeared in the same dress a year before, but then decided to do without jewelry. And, we dare to note, this is how the outfit looks more interesting and fresher.
The Duchess of Cambridge in Jenny Packham
2018
2012
Sometimes going out in an old dress is not only an opportunity to demonstrate your economy or make a good impression for the second time, but also a way to show your excellent shape. Such a thing for the Duchess was a blue dress with a lace insert on the back from Jenny Packham. She first wore it in May 2012 – a year after her wedding to Prince William. For the second time, the Duchess chose the same dress for the Tusk Conservation Awards in November 2018 — after three pregnancies and childbirth. The audience is delighted: it is really extremely difficult to distinguish photos from 2012 and the latest ones.
Queen Letizia in Felipe Varela
2011
2019
One of the most impressive outfits in the wardrobe of the Spanish queen is a lavender dress with a full skirt and floral embroidery from Felipe Varela, in which Letizia first appeared in 2011 at the dinner before the wedding of Prince William and Kate Middleton. And, of course, any monarch wants to wear such a luxurious dress all the time. Queen Letizia could not stand it in February 2019, when during a reception at the royal palace she decided to repeat the image, adding a Floral tiara to it.