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The Duchess of Cambridge stepped out in one of this summer’s must-have prints as she joined Prince William and son Prince George at the Wimbledon Men’s Singles Final on Sunday.
Kate, 40, donned a £1,335 polka dot midi dress from go-to label Alessandra Rich for the occasion, just days after wearing another polka dot dress by the designer for her first outing at SW19.
Polka dots have become a firm favourite of the Duchess of Cambridge in recent months and are a way to add a playful touch to elegant silhouettes.
She wore classic dotty dresses to Royal Ascot and the Duke of Edinburgh’s memorial service in March, both by Alessandra Rich.
The print, which was loved by Princess Diana, is enjoying a ‘resurgence’, according to British Vogue, and is a sophisticated choice for the summer months.
Celebrity stylist Rachel Gold agrees. ‘Polka dots have been worn since the 50’s when they became a huge craze relating to the polka dance. Women wore them to be on trend, classic and great fun,’ she told FEMAIL.
Spot on! The Duchess of Cambridge wore a £1,335 polka dot midi dress from go-to label Alessandra Rich for the Wimbledon Men’s Singles Final on Sunday
Tried and tested: The Duchess of Cambridge wore a £1,515 blue Alessandra Rich dress to cheer on Cameron Norrie at Wimbledon last week (left) and a £1,970 white frock by the designer to Royal Ascot (right)
Classic silhouette: The Duchess of Cambridge cut a refined figure in a £1,495 Alessandra Rich gown as she arrived at Prince Philip’s memorial service in March
‘Often seen in 50s wiggle dresses and a total hit when worn by Marilyn Monroe in the Seven Year Itch also worn by Joan Crawford and Sophia Loren.
‘Who ever saw Pretty Woman will remember Julia Robert’s at the polo wearing a super polka dot dress matched with short white gloves.’
For royals, polka dots provide a way to inject a touch of personality into an otherwise classic ensemble.
‘The Queen plus Lady Dianna have been seen wearing polka dots on occasions,’ Rachel continued. ‘I am sure The Duchess of Cambridge, like all of us enjoys wearing them because they are a total classic yet still fun like her.’
She added: ‘The polka dot is so versatile. It is super on trend and can be dressed up or dressed down. Any one of any age can wear polka dots and this could be the hidden secret that keeps it so on trend and loved.’
Yesterday the Duchess of Cambridge wore her 1950s inspired polka dot Alessandra Rich dress with a pair of shoes by the designer.
She wore the same heels when she stepped out in a £1,515 frock by the designer to Wimbledon last week.
Looking ace! Sticking to what she knows, the Duchess of Cambridge wore a £795 Alessandra Rich skirt, £675 Mulberry handbag and white heels at Wimbledon in 2021
Fashion bullseye! The Duchess of Cambridge wore a £380 Tory Burch blouse on a visit to Wolverhampton in May 2021, proving that polka dots work just as well in a blouse
Springtime chic: The Duchess of Cambridge re-wore a favourite blouse by Equipment for a video call with Prince William in March 2021
Last month, a £1,970 Alessandra Rich midi was the order of the day as Kate joined Prince William at Royal Ascot.
The dress was a similar shape to the £1,495 navy and white number the royal wore to Prince Philip’s memorial service in March.
The Duchess of Cambridge’s love affair with polka dots dates back years: she chose a breezy, pale blue printed dress to introduce Prince George to the world in July 2013 in a look that was imitated by new mothers across the country.
She has also worn polka dots on a number of occasions to Wimbledon. In 2017, Kate kept things classic in a white and black Dolce & Gabbana creation with a square neckline, and in 2021 opted for a more casual take on polka dots, pairing an Alessandra Rich skirt with a simple white t-shirt.
Classic combo: The Duchess of Cambridge put on a stylish display in a £1,500 Emilia Wickstead frock as she marked the national launch of Tiny Happy People, a BBC Education initiative providing a range of free digital resources, in July 2020
Branching out: While the Duchess favours classic black or navy polka dots, she demonstrated a more adventurous side in a vintage pink Oscar de la Renta dress in Dublin in March 2020 (left) and in a £1,250 printed midi Suzannah dress on the same royal tour (right)
Smart and simple: The Duchess of Cambridge in another polka dot blouse on the royal tour to Ireland in March 2020
The Duchess of Cambridge has made upmarket designer Alessandra Rich her go-to for high profile engagements.
Kate first wore the brand in November 2018 and has stepped out in the brand more than 10 times since.
Alessandra Rich, the woman behind the label, is an Italian-born designer based in London who says she is inspired by the ‘polite rebels’ of history, like Princess Diana.
It is perhaps then of little surprise that Kate often wins comparisons to the stylish princess when she steps out in one of Rich’s frocks, including the yellow peplum creation she wore on the final day of the royal tour on Sunday.
Polka dot perfection! Kate looked stunning in a £1,750 Alessandra Rich dress at Bletchley Park in May 2019
Feeling green: Kate Middleton stepped out in a £325 silk cream and green polka dot dress from LK Bennett for an outing to Evelina Children’s Hospital in London in December 2018
Firm favourite: The same frock was first seen in photos taken to mark Prince Charles’ 70th birthday in November 2018
‘I’m drawn to history’s polite rebels, such as Princess Diana, and I want to embody that spirit in the Alessandra Rich woman,’ Rich once said.
Describing her designs as ‘modern with a twist’, she added that her ideas often stem from French women in the movies she most admires – such as Catherine Deneuve in Belle de Jour.
The Duchess of Cambridge first wore a £1,750 Alessandra Rich navy polka dot dress for a family photoshoot for Prince Charles’ 70th birthday in November 2018.
She re-wore the same dress six months later on a visit to Bletchley Park.
Wimbledon whites! The Duchess of Cambridge put a twist on an all-white outfit in this Dolce & Gabbana frock at Wimbledon in 2017
High profile: The Duchess of Cambridge even chose a polka dot dress for her journey home from the Lindo Wing, in London, following the birth of Prince George in July 2013
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