Kate Middleton has relaxed into a ‘mumsy’ look of dressing down her designer frocks

The Duchess of Cambridge is known for causing sell-out trends across Britain, but despite following both designer and high street fashion, she notably steers away from following the more edgy styling shown on the models. 

While the likes of Zara and D&G juxtapose their feminine frocks with tough biker boots and flirty sandals, the conservative mother-of-three prefers to pair her pieces with comfortable wedges and high necklines.

Naturally Kate has to strike the right balance and needs to look appropriate for her royal engagements, but it seems the Duchess goes to great lengths to play it safe, rejecting chic strappy sandals, quirky accessories and trend-led handbags in favour of her failsafe espadrilles, court shoes and clutches.  

And former Creative Director of Mulberry Scott Henshall told FEMAIL that Kate could look at following the designers’ styling more closely, to ‘shake things up’ and keep her look more current and less ‘mumsy’.

The Duchess of Cambridge is known for causing sell-out trends across Britain, but avoids following more edgy styling shown on the models. Seen, left, in a £1,565 Emilia Wickstead dress paired with wedges and demure sleeves, right, the model sports flared sleeves and strappy sandals

Elsewhere, Kate’s nod to Dolce & Gabbana when she wore an emerald green dress by the designer to attend Wimbledon in July 2019 won applaud from fashion critics, but again she decided against wearing the more funky leopard-print sandals recommended, opting for nude court shoes

Scott explained: ‘While she is a mother and her style has inevitably evolved, the styling can make her look older than her 38 years.

‘Kate could do with taking notes from the way the designers are styling their looks and following their outfit combinations more closely to keep her look more current and on-trend, and will steer her away from the “mumsy” vibe. 

‘Even Camilla is more playful with colours and patterns, with her outfits being tailored to suit her figure.

‘Camilla’s hemlines are generally just below the knee, rather than down to her ankles, something Kate has been sporting more regularly, which is a far cry from her early days as a monarch. 

‘The reason Kate mastered the fashion stakes for so long was because she was modern and unafraid to shake things up a bit.’

In January, Kate’s £16 Zara houndstooth dress went viral during a visit to Bradford, but rather than teaming it with the chunky knee-high boots the edgy retailer had styled their look with, the royal opted for demure black court shoes

Kate was seen visiting visits Bletchley Park, Buckinghamshire, last May wearing an Alessandra Rich dress – but instead of opting for the vibrant yellow sandals the model is wearing, she opted to coordinate her blue court shoes

This off-the-shoulder Erdem tweed gown, worn by Kate to the V&A in October 2018, is considered one of the Duchess’ edgier looks (left). However, the original catwalk styling reveals the gown features a daring cutout and was styled with ankle socks and green velvet platform wedges 

The Duchess was pictured wearing a £1,565 Emilia Wickstead dress as she helped the BBC launch its new digital platform for parents last week.

But instead of teaming it with strappy sandals as per the model, Kate wore her trademark wedges and even appeared to have customised the flared sleeves to more tame straight cuffs.

And in January, Kate’s £16 Zara houndstooth dress went viral during a visit to Bradford, but  rather than teaming it with the chunky  knee-high boots the edgy retailer had styled their look with, the royal opted for demure black court shoes. 

Elsewhere, Kate’s nod to Dolce & Gabbana when she wore an emerald green dress by the designer to attend Wimbledon in July 2019 won applaud from fashion critics, but again she decided against wearing the more funky leopard-print sandals recommended, opting for nude court shoes. 

Meanwhile, Kate impressed with her choice of blue geometric Beulah dress during a visit to Queen Elizabeth Hospital in King’s Lynn at the beginning of the month, but wore the neckline primly buttoned up,  foregoing the sandals for navy court shoes. 

Kate impressed with her choice of blue geometric Beulah dress during a visit to Queen Elizabeth Hospital in King’s Lynn at the beginning of the month, left, but wore the neckline primly buttoned up, foregoing the sandals (seen right) for navy court shoes