Kate Middleton may be one of the biggest fashion inspirations for fans everywhere with her enviable, keep-it-classy wardrobe, but the Duchess of Cambridge herself draws inspo from others — and from other eras, like the '80s. Yes, the decade that saw women start to take over the workplace, spawned yuppies and latch-key kids, and gave us pop stars like Madonna, and shows like Dynasty, Dallas, and Magnum P.I. — as well as inspiring present-day shows like Stranger Things.
That decade has found its way into Kate Middleton's style file, and we can't look away.
One of Kate's biggest '80s inspirations is a person: Princess Diana, the mother-in-law she never met. That's because as soon as Diana stepped into the spotlight as Prince Charles' fiancée, she became an influential fashion star, and her fashion icon status only grew. Traces of Diana's '80s style are all over Kate's wardrobe, but so are other '80s elements, which show up in everything from the cut of her dresses, to the length of her pants — and from the volume of her hair, to her early makeup choices. It's not all super successful (hey, every decade has fashion we'd rather not see again, but which show up anyway), but there are some seriously rad '80s references in Kate's style. We just have to know where to look — and we did. Here are 20 times that Kate looked back to '80s style and incorporated it into her already iconic wardrobe.
Sequins & Short Shorts
One of Kate's most famous pre-royal outfits is this cute one, which she donned for a 1980s-themed charity roller skating event she helped organized during a break-up with Prince William. It's soooo '80s, and we love it! Sequin halter top and short shorts with side stripes are perfect for a night featuring the throwback pastime. Bonus points for the hot pink socks!
Strong Shoulders
Kate wowed her millions of fans when she shot a video for London's Natural History Museum recently, rocking lightened hair, great makeup, and a jacket with noticeable shoulder pads. And just like that, Kate made what was by far the most instantly recognizable trend of the '80s a thing again.
Flower Bomb
Breezy but conservative dresses were all the rage in the '80s — particularly among women who were entering the workplace in record numbers. Kate wears them all the time, especially floral ones including this Prada beauty, with gorgeous colors and an entire field's worth of flowers. Kate wore it to the reopening of a Kensington Palace garden that had been replanted in honor of Princess Diana.
Like Mother-in-Law
When Kate Middleton and Prince William met up with British baking legend Mary Berry for a Christmas special in December 2019, Kate went full '80s with a dress that channeled Princess Diana with its big bow, full sleeves, and below-the-knee length. Diana wore this beyond-demure and traditional style so many times that people lost count.
Regal Ruffle
Yup. When we're talking Kate and '80s style, there's no way to avoid the fact that many of the pieces she's wearing feature a trend that Diana started. A perfect example are ruffle details on shirts and dresses, like this vintage Oscar de la Renta. From the moment Diana added ruffles to her iconic wedding dress, women everywhere started wearing the fairy tale detail.
'80s Romance
It wasn't just Diana who loved ruffles. The 1985 movie A Room With A View — which launched Helena Bonham Carter's career — was set in Edwardian times (the early 1900s). It featured the actress in the era's elegant dresses, featuring elaborate bodices and short jackets. Here, we see Kate rocking a modern, updated version, with skinny jeans, of course.
'80s Kid Vibes
Peanut butter and jelly sandwiches became the hot lunchbox item in the '80s, and stripes that recalled the treat — whether they were on tube socks, shirts, or sweaters — were suddenly everywhere. Kate Middleton seemed to double down on '80s kid look, though, with the white Keds-style sneakers and the slightly high-water pants.
Ready for the Disco
Kate may be working the beer tap in this video, but that fabulous, shimmery green Missoni dress is not exactly made for hiding behind the bar. It is made for an '80s discotheque (that's right, we spelled it the très sophisticated French way), where the men wore tight pants and all the ladies wore their shiniest frocks.
Working 9 to 5
Forget skinny jeans, tight sweaters, or exposed elbows. Women saying sayonara to staying at home and getting jobs like never before in the '80s meant business — and that meant loose slacks and feminine, buttoned-up blouses. The look did lend a certain class to working at the office. There were definitely no casual Fridays back in the day.
Full Head of Hair!
If we were living the '80s, Kate would definitely be a Breck girl — a model for the decade's iconic shampoo that promised full, shiny hair. Her signature chestnut locks always look great, but in this picture, they're sporting that soft-touch, wavy, full, and ultra-feminine look that was so popular during the early '80s.
Power Suit
A cream suit with a peplum, a wide belt, and shoulder pads? This outfit would have been a dream one for an '80s executive who had to play that game back in the day. Y'all know the game that called for women in leadership positions to exert power, but make it soft for fragile male egos. Whatever it takes!
Power Suit, Part II
Kate wore this dark teal peplum suit to her first outing with Queen Elizabeth and Prince Philip just a few months after her joining the royal family, and we can see why. It's powerful and serious without being heavy — very much another soft power suit, with the top part's jacket-like overlay, and the wide belt.
Full Makeup
One of the hallmarks of Kate's early royal style was a full face of makeup — heavy eyeliner, heavy blush, bright lip color — all of which also happened to be a hallmark of '80s makeup. It was not subtle, and considering how pretty the duchess is, it wasn't even necessary. Good thing she toned it down with great results!
Disco Daze
This look has Studio 54 written all over it. The legendary '80s New York club had a dress code, and if women weren't wearing shiny upscale dresses with cleavage, like this one, they weren't coming in. Poor Kate looks so out of place taking this glam cheetah print dress to a sit down event where everyone else looks like they just got off work. Someone take this lady dancing!
Neon Pink
Neon colors were all the rage in the '80s — whether pink, yellow, green, or even blue. Kate has never worn something blindingly bright, but this hot fuchsia coat sure does come close. She was probably taking a page out of the Queen's style by wearing a color that would make her easy to spot from a distance, but she ended up referencing the neon-tastic '80s as well.
Culottes
These super cute wide-legged linen pants, which Kate wore to the Chelsea Flower Show in 2019, are a nice upgrade to the versions that people used to wear in the '80s — which were made out of polyester and hit just below the knee in a particularly unflattering way. Also? The new name is an upgrade on the old one: culottes. (Yikes!)
Dressed for 'Dynasty'
The ladies on the show Dynasty wore sooooo much fabric. Seriously, look at old pictures of the show and it's the first thing we notice — yards and yards of fabric on the female characters. Kate's creamy concoction of a skirt suit would have fit right in, with its soft pleats, peplum, and abundance of luxurious fabric. She looks like a lady who lunches.
Homecoming Queen
This gown, which Kate wore to a state dinner at Buckingham Palace, may be custom Alexander McQueen, but it is also divisive. People seem to either love it or hate it. Whatever the stance, though, it is undeniable that designer Sarah Burton of McQueen was referencing the '80s, from the taffeta silk, to the extensive ruching.
Feathered Like Farrah
Kate has tried bangs a couple of times after getting married, with varying results. When she's growing them out, she generally sweeps them off to the side — and sometimes, brushes them back and sets them with hairspray. That basically recreates a look that actress Farrah Fawcett popularized in the early '80s: feathered hair. (Kate has never gone full feathers, thank goodness.) The side feathering in this pic is a cute, not-over-the-top version.
Breezy
Kate wore this to a polo match in Santa Barbara, during a 2012 visit to California, but it looks like something a female guest star would have worn on Magnum P.I. — the quintessentially '80s detective show — thanks to the prominent shoulder details and the pretty Asian-inspired florals.
