Kate Middleton's Best And Worst Winter Looks Have Heads Turning

Kate Middleton is known around the world for her impeccable style. She's a constant fixture on the pages of fashion magazines the world over, and pretty much anything and everything she wears sells out instantly as soon as she's photographed in it. And that's just as true when it comes to her winter style as it does her looks during other seasons. As Daena Borrowman, jewellerybox's marketing manager, explained to Express, "The Princess of Wales' Christmas day church service outfit has been a much anticipated annual festive highlight by fashion editors and royal fans alike." 

There's no doubting she's rocked some absolutely stunning outfits to beat the chill year after year, providing us with the ultimate look book for cold weather. But, well, as much as we hate to say it, not all of the Princess of Wales' more covered up looks have been quite so stylish. And, when the world is watching, no matter if you're at your fashion best or worst, there's been a whole lot to be said about Middleton's winter style.

It's rare for Kate Middleton to have a fashion misstep, it's true, but we have to say, this blue velvet dress she wore to a reception in Sweden in January 2018 just wasn't one of her memorable moments. Velvet clothing is notorious for adding bulk to the body and, although Middleton can certainly pull it off, it gave her look an unusually matronly quality rather than a chic one. That, coupled with trumpet sleeves and thick trim of velvet around the bottom made the dress reminiscent of a table cloth. The random triangular sliver of blue velvet on her chest also seemed out of place.

To make matters worse, she paired the already drab look with closed toe black heels which had an ankle strap that cut off her long legs instead and made them look short. The royal was pregnant at the time though, so we can certainly let her off for this rare misstep.

Kate Middleton is known for her kind heart and her dedication to various important causes, but she caused quite a stir in 2016 when she wore what appeared to be fur-lined gloves on a ski trip. According to E! News, the gloves were by Restelli Guanti and may have been lined with possum fur. Of course, that didn't impress PETA, and the non-profit slammed the then-Duchess of Cambridge's fashion choices in a statement. "If the gloves are indeed made of real fur, we'll be contacting Kate, who we imagine is unaware that possums killed for their fur are often caught in bone-crushing steel-jaw traps," Mimi Bekhechi, the director of PETA U.K., said. "Since so many humane, warm and fashionable fabrics are readily available, there's no need to wear fur ­ possum or otherwise." Yeah, not a great look from the royal.

We must admit, we wanted to love this look. The design is elegant and perfect for a royal. We also love the way it drapes over her stomach, which was perfect for Kate Middleton as she was pregnant at the time. But this gown she wore in early February 2018 during a trip to Oslo just isn't one of her best winter looks. And it's mainly because of the color. The nude shade really washes Middleton out, while the sheer fabric over her arms just buries this stunning royal. Seeing as Middleton has cooler undertones, she tends to suit stronger, more vibrant shades, such as jewel tones. And this pale shade unfortunately didn't work compared to some of her best looks.

One of the hardest things to do when it comes to winter fashion is accessorize. But Kate Middleton made that look easy in 2020 during a royal appearance in Cardiff, Wales. The popular royal wore a long red duster with a checked red scarf to keep her warm in the winter cold, and taught us all a lesson about how a single addition can make the difference. "Scarves can often make an outfit look unkempt or mismatched, something to be whipped off the moment we get inside, however, the Princess of Wales shows us that scarves can be stylish," head stylist at SilkFred, Megan Watkins, told Hello! "Kate always matches her scarf to her outerwear," she pointed out.

Kate Middleton proved that sometimes all you need is a good statement outerwear to do the talking when she stepped out in Bradford, UK, in 2020 wearing a deep, forest green long coat. One of the reasons the look worked so well was because she stuck to her tried-and-true silhouette. "Kate loves her outerwear, but if you look closely, there's a trend among her choices — tailoring," Megan Watkins explained to Hello! "Opting for a structured coat with padded shoulders that is long-line and oversized provides warmth whilst giving you shape is a key look of the Princess'."

We just adore Kate Middleton in a fitting royal blue, and her 2023 Christmas Day outfit proved exactly why. The color was perfect for her complexion and highlighted her glowing skin, which was necessary on a cold, winter day. Middleton was smart with accessory choices, pairing with pieces that let the coat shine. The long dark blue suede boots were both stylish and practical, while her matching, dark turtleneck made for the ideal base layer. Then there's the matching clutch bag and fascinator, which gave the sophisticated look an extra edge.

Walking through the city streets in the winter, you're likely to see a sea of dark grey, brown, and navy. 

This is one reason why we adore the way Kate Middleton brought a pop of color into a neutral brown duster look she wore during a trip to Boston in December 2022. The flash of orange was an unexpected choice for the royal (which may be why this is one of her best looks) but still works under the chocolate brown coat. The color really saved what could have been a pretty drab and somewhat boring outfit.

Along with her penchant for Catherine Walker dresses, Middleton loves a good court shoe, even in the chilly weather. And she does even better when she combines the two into a monochrome look, like the ensemble she wore to a 2021 Christmas carol service. Complete with red velvet pumps and a giant red bow on her collar, the princess looked beyond stunning, and totally appropriate for the festive occasion. Plus, there's no doubting red is totally her color (but then again, what shade isn't?). No wonder Daena Borrowman gushed to Express that the royal "dazzled in yet another monochromatic ensemble" after the photos from the event went public.

We know Middleton is a fan of recycling a look, and that has served her quite well in the winter coat department. For Christmas 2016, Middleton was spotted with her family wearing her famous chestnut brown Hobbs Celeste coat, a piece of outerwear that she's been sporting since 2012.

However, this time, she decided to dress it up in a way that had the fashion experts totally losing it, by going totally bare-legged. But what really made the look standout was her accessory choices. "She repeated her chestnut brown Hobbs Celeste coat with a jaw-dropping red fur scarf, proving that the addition of the right scarf can elevate a basic coat from drab to utterly sensational," Daena Borrowman told Express of the look.

One Kate Middleton's biggest fashion wins has to be in December 2022 when she attended the Earthshot Prize awards in Boston wearing a stunning vibrant green dress. The floor-length off the shoulder dress certainly grabbed attention, while the long sleeves no doubt kept the Princess of Wales warm in the chillier weather. And fans clearly loved it. One person even commented on Twitter/X, "Princess Catherine The Princess of Wales just looks incredible and iconic here when she attended the Earthshot Prize Event."