Even Kate Middleton's casual wardrobe is classy. The Duchess of Cambridge stepped out for an engagement in Essex today, sporting a chic all-black ensemble—turtleneck, skinny jeans, and ankle boots included—paired with a sharp gray plaid blazer by Smythe.
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The professorial ensemble might've been reminiscent of her sister-in-law Meghan Markle's wardrobe, as the Duchess of Sussex has frequented blazers and suits in her nascent royal career, especially during her current royal tour with Prince Harry in the Pacific. However, Kate's jacket drew even stronger parallels to her late mother-in-law Princess Diana's style.
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Back in 1984, Princess Di paid a visit to Dr. Barnado's Charity in London wearing a similar jacket. Her version, however, was a knee-length double breasted coat. Nevertheless, the piece was similar to Kate's featuring a black collar and large black buttons.
The late princess wore the gray coat more than once, and took up what was dubbed "teddy boy" style with it. Twice, she layered the piece over a white collared shirt and a sort of tie—either a bowtie or a black ribbon. Diana was a fan of the suited look, often mixing in tuxedoes with her dress- and gown-heavy royal wardrobe.
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This is hardly the first time Kate has twinned with Princess Di. The Duchess of Cambridge's style has oft been compared to her late mother-in-law's since she stepped into the royal spotlight. In April, after giving birth to Prince Louis, she stepped out onto the hospital steps in a red dress, much like Diana did after welcoming Prince Harry.
51 Times Kate Middleton Channeled Princess Diana's Style
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And in April, Kate sported a key-lime green dress that drew comparisons to a shimmery skirt suit Diana wore decades prior.
Erica Gonzales is the Senior Culture Editor at ELLE.com, where she oversees coverage on TV, movies, music, books, and more. She was previously an editor at HarpersBAZAAR.com. There is a 75 percent chance she's listening to Lorde right now.
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