The Princess of Wales is admired worldwide for her elegant fashion sense, with many of her outfits selling out shortly after she wears them.
Over the years, Catherine has shown a preference for certain designers and shades, with one color in particular standing out: burgundy.
Fashion expert Karen Haller explained that this choice is far from accidental. She noted that burgundy reflects the Princess’s confidence, offering strength and sophistication without appearing flashy.
Burgundy in the Spotlight
Most recently, Catherine wore burgundy while welcoming Donald and Melania Trump during their UK state visit on September 17. For the occasion, she stepped out in a bespoke Emilia Wickstead coat, paired with a Jane Taylor veiled hat and Gianvito Rossi suede heels.
Reflecting on her choice, Haller told the Daily Mail: “This rich shade reflects the balance Catherine achieves in knowing when to take centre stage and when to step back. It carries an understated authority and natural poise, projecting confidence without being showy.”
The Psychology Behind the Color
In color psychology, burgundy and maroon are associated with strength, confidence, and courage. It is also a defining shade of the autumn season. Catherine has embraced this color often in recent years.
In 2024, she greeted the Emir of Qatar in an Alexander McQueen coat, a look also seen as a thoughtful nod to Qatar’s national colors. Between 2022 and 2024, she repeatedly wore her classic burgundy Roland Mouret suit on four occasions, including during the Boston trip and the Shaping Us Symposium. In 2023, she opted for a burgundy Karen Millen trench dress during a visit to Birmingham.
Balancing Fashion and Duty
The Princess is fully aware of the attention her wardrobe draws but remains careful not to let it overshadow her work. A Palace source told The Times: “There is an absolute feeling that it [the public-facing work] is not about what the Princess is wearing…
She wants the focus to be on the really important issues, the people, and the causes she is spotlighting. There will always be an appreciation of what the Princess is wearing from some of the public, and she gets that. But do we need to be officially always saying what she is wearing?”
The Kate Effect
Despite her efforts, Catherine’s fashion choices inevitably spark headlines. A close friend shared that the attention on her wardrobe has been “enormously frustrating and difficult” for her, particularly in the early years of royal life.
They explained, “What was enormously frustrating and difficult for her, especially in the early days, was that she was going out and doing the work she was interested in and was hugely important to her, and people just talked about what she was wearing.”
Still, this fascination with her style has earned the nickname “The Kate Effect,” as whatever she wears nearly always sells out within days.