She may not be the wildest, rowdiest, or the most controversial (by a long shot) member of the royal family, but one thing the Duchess of Cambridge never shies away from is a really good — really bold! — pattern.
Sure, Kate Middleton usually likes to play it safe with solid coat dresses and nude pumps, but make no mistake: She's not afraid to rock a pattern when the time is right. Think Kate Middleton likes to fade into the background? Think again.
We'll be honest — a lot of the patterns we've seen Kate sporting over the years are ones we wouldn't dare touch ourselves. But somehow, she always pulls it off and looks amazing doing it.
Even though she's certainly never been the most over-the-top dressed person in the room, Kate's clothes do make her stand out — in the best way possible. From bright summer dresses to controversial maternity wear (yes, really!), here are 20 times Kate Middleton opted for a super bold, super unforgettable pattern.
Flower Power
At the National Portrait Gallery Gala in 2019, Kate was blooming in a stunning floral-print Alexander McQueen dress. How gorgeous is this look?! It's definitely very different from what she'd normally wear to an event like this, but this dress is proof that shaking things up can definitely be a good thing.
Floral Fever
Another black dress with a floral print. Clearly, Kate sticks with something when she knows that it works — even when it means conquering a busy pattern. Some people might look like this dress was wearing them instead of the other way around, but this lady knows exactly how to work it.
Mod Mood
It's not often that Kate pulls bright red outfits out of her closet, but when she does, we're always reminded that she should do so more often. When she was pregnant with Prince Louis, she wore a '60s-inspired red and white houndstooth coat in Sweden, and we must say: She rocked it.
In Bloom
Again, when Kate was pregnant with Prince Louis, she opted for this floral dress while in Sweden. Unfortunately, though, the mustardy yellow dress didn't receive the best reviews. Still, we have to admire Kate for taking a risk, especially when it comes to maternity wear — after all, it's not like there are that many choices on the market for accommodating a growing bump.
Bright & Happy
It's not just dark patterns that Kate opts to wear, and this lighter colored dress is proof. In fact, she could go anywhere in this dress — an Easter service, a garden party, drinks on a terrace with friends. The options are endless! It's so happy and springy, just like Kate's personality.
Polka Dot Power
We've seen Kate rock polka dots on a much smaller scale plenty of times in the past, but with this dress, she really went for it. It takes a confident woman to wear a pattern this bold — to the front row of Wimbledon, no less, where all eyes were on her. We're feeling this dress, Kate. Big time.
Zesty Zigzag
Though chevron isn't quite as on trend as it once was, it was definitely still hanging in there when Kate wore this dress. And honestly, if anyone could revive the pattern, it would be her. Kate wore this black and gray zigzag coat to the Service of Hope at Westminster Abbey in 2017, following the Westminster terror attacks in London.
Très Chic
Here's another unforgettable floral look — so memorable that four years later, we're still thinking about it. In 2017, Kate wore this stunning black and number (which appears almost hand-painted) to the Institute of Contemporary Arts in London. So chic. If she ever wanted to rewear this one, we're here for it!
Rose-Colored Duchess
Kate has always been known for sweet florals like the pattern on this dress, so although this wasn't necessarily a surprising choice, it was still a solid one. While promoting World Mental Health Day in London in 2016, she wore the prettiest blush and rose-colored dress that had — what else? — flowers on it.
Party Princess
If there ever was a look we loved of Kate Middleton's, it's this — especially when we consider that it's so different from everything else in her closet (down to those ruby red heels). This dress is so fun and bold — it looks like she's ready for a party, not a day filled with royal obligations.
Just a Little Pattern
We've seen her do florals dozens of different ways, but this might just be one of our all-time favorites. The pattern Kate has on isn't too over-the-top, but white contrasting with the bright blue makes it just bold enough to really stand out. Despite its boldness, it fits perfectly with Kate's usual elegant style.
Mixing It Up
What is it about Wimbledon that makes Kate pull out all the stops, every single time? At the men's final in 2016, Kate wore a super striking dress with a very unusual pattern. The fact that the dress is ivory really made the pattern stand out, and we definitely approve!
Skirting the Issue
Not everything the Duchess of Cambridge wears needs to have a pattern. Sometimes a plain top and bold skirt is more than enough, such as the outfit she's wearing here as she strolls outdoors while in the middle of a royal engagement. An entire dress with this pattern would have been too bold, but the skirt is just right.
Brighten Up
When William and Kate visited the Taj Mahal in 2016, Kate was sure to bring the bold, creating one of her most memorable fashion looks while traveling. This shade of midnight blue has always been Kate's signature, so we're loving that she chose a dress with a pattern in this color.
Holy Pattern!
How's this hot number for serious pattern play? At first glance, we'd never imagine that this is something that Kate would choose to wear, given what the rest of her wardrobe looks like. But now that we see the duchess in it, it seems made for her. Kate, we are so into this dress. And William looks pretty good too!
Head-Turning Floral
Some of Kate's absolute brightest, boldest looks come in the forms of florals, and that includes this floor-length dress that we will probably never forget seeing her wear. At the 100 Women in Hedge Funds Gala Dinner in London in 2015, Kate turned heads in such a striking patterned gown.
What's So Funny?
What are Prince Harry and Kate Middleton laughing about here? It certainly isn't Kate's dress, that's for sure! Blue, black, and white are all standard colors in Kate's closet (and always have been), but combining them like this is definitely something she should do more often.
Bold & Bright
Kate rocked this red dress when she visited the London Bridge Jobcentre in September 2020, and it's just more proof that she should wear bright red more often. There was a lot going on with this pattern, of course, but unsurprisingly, she made it work.
When in Ireland
When William and Kate visited Ireland in the beginning of 2020, Kate's outfits were on point — we've never seen so much green on her in one trip. And of course, when she met the country's president and his wife, she pulled out this patterned dress. She looks right at home in the Emerald Isle.
Mad for Plaid
Just as Kate wore green in Ireland, of course she pulled out some of her best tartan looks during her 2021 trip to Scotland. This blue coat that she wore for a drive-in movie she hosted for health care workers is one of our favorites of hers. We especially love the unexpected color scheme.
