Outdated Trends Kate Middleton Has Been Caught Wearing

Catherine, Princess of Wales, is a style icon through and through. Even in the early days of her relationship with Prince William, she was obviously invested in fashion trends and staying current, but it was around their engagement that her style really took off. Since then, Middleton has undergone a serious fashion transformation, with fans and fashion experts alike praising her polished style. It's not just her clothing that catches the eye; her hair is a key part of her look, and even her long locks have undergone a transformation. It's obvious that Catherine holds considerable influence when it comes to her clothing and hair, enough that her swaying power has gotten a name of its own. The "Kate effect" can sell out a garment, or boost a brand's sales considerably when people see the princess in one of their pieces. 

But, like any of us, Catherine doesn't hit it out of the park every single time. Once in a while, the princess sports something that's a miss. Her winter looks have featured some stellar hits, but there have also been a few misses. She's also had a few fashion mishaps, and has since tweaked and altered her style in order to avoid those minor errors. Despite all this, Catherine still occasionally wears trends that are dated. Maybe it's a case of feeling more comfortable in familiar, if somewhat passé trends, or maybe it's an honest mistake, but a few of these looks are outdated for the princess of taste. 

The coat dress is frequently an awkward garment. It's impossible to tell if the person is wearing anything underneath, and its status as a hybrid garment — it's thin enough to wear indoors, but thick enough to wear outside too — makes it awkward. While Catherine often can pull off the coat dress, the knee-length version seems a bit outdated and stuffy. 

The princess has been known to rock espadrilles pretty frequently at casual events. Her favorite brand is the Castañer espadrille, which retails for around $150. While our girl occasionally needs a shoe that's more casual, it's unclear whether or not espadrilles are in style. They were a big hit in the late '90s and 2000s, but post 2010, it seems like there are much trendier wedge shoe options. Espadrilles are also famously tricky, and the ankle-wrapping laces often look bulky and shorten the legs. Thankfully, Middleton often opts for a pair with thin, neutral laces, so at least this concern is mitigated, but the shoes don't exactly serve trendy vibes. 

The rest of the world understands that skinny jeans are out; they were huge in the late 2000s, and now, that frenzy has definitively passed. Apparently, the memo never made it to Buckingham Palace, because street style photos of Catherine, Princess of Wales, prove she has not accepted this. And you know what? Good for her. The princess rocks skinny jeans to more casual events, or while out with her kids, and since she's all-smiles in the tight pants. Maybe the "Kate effect" will prove so powerful that Catherine will single-handedly bring them back in style. 

In May 2023, Prince William, Catherine, Princess of Wales, and their children volunteered at the Big Help Out, an organization that aims to bring communities together. While we love the charitable endeavors, Catherine's outfit for the event was a big miss. She wore forest green cargo skinnies from G-Star Raw with brown Blundstone Chelsea Boots. While her pants and shoes were fitting for the outdoor occasion, she wore a pale blue chambray frill collar blouse from Really Wild Clothing. Unfortunately, the blouse and skinny pants combo felt out of place and outdated. 

During the final night of a 2022 tour of the Caribbean, Catherine arrived at the Lynden Pindling International Airport wearing a yellow dress by Alessandra Rich dress that featured puff-sleeves, an embellished belt, and a button-down front. While the dress was one of the most daring things that royal watchers have seen Catherine wear, the consensus was divided. Some found the 1980s-inspired dress to be dated and old fashioned, while others liked the reimagined peplum look. "I'm not loving this. A bit too retro 80's for me," a fan wrote on X, formerly known as Twitter. "It's dowdy," another person added. 

In July 2020, Prince William and Catherine, Princess of Wales visited the Queen Elizabeth Hospital in King's Lynn as lockdown restrictions lifted from the COVID-19 pandemic. For the occasion, Catherine wore a blue Shalini floral-print silk midi dress by Beulah London. While she always looks beautiful no matter what she's wearing, the dress came off as dated and stuffy. The collar and sleeves, buttoned up to their limit, were more accentuated because of the white cuffs, so it looked even more prim and proper. Part of the issue with the look was that Catherine wore her hair up, and her loose curls can soften up a conservative look. So at this event, things just looked out of style.