The Duchess of Cambridge knows the power of a Pretty Woman moment, and so did Diana
You didn’t need to be a royal historian to get the reference. When the Duchess of Cambridge arrived at Royal Ascot on Friday, wearing a black and white polka dot dress and a broad-brimmed hat, the homage to Diana was crystal clear.
This is Ascot – an event where nearly every guest pulls out all the stops – but Kate’s arrival was a bona fide Fashion Moment. It’s safe to say there hasn’t been this much excitement over a polka dot dress since the Zara spotted dress epidemic of 2019, when it seemed as though half the women of Britain were wearing the same black and white design.
Kate’s dress was by one of her go-to designers, London-based Alessandra Rich. Featuring a high neck with a scarf detail, long, cuffed sleeves, a belted waist, a slightly sheer skirt and midi-length hem, it bore a close resemblance to the Victor Edelstein dress worn by the late Princess of Wales to Ascot 34 years prior.
Like Diana in 1988, the Duchess’s look was completed by a broad, almost boater-like hat. Perhaps the addition of two-tone shoes, as Diana wore, would have been a little over the top. Kate does own a pair - also by Rich - which she was pictured in earlier this week to attend a memorial service marking the fifth anniversary of the Grenfell fire.
“There might be 34 years between Diana and Kate’s outfits, but both look polished, elegant and are perfectly judged for the occasion,” says Bethan Holt, Telegraph Fashion Director and author of The Duchess of Cambridge: A Decade of Modern Royal Style. “Polka dots make a refreshing change from florals for royal women, who have worn the print for decades. They’re classic with a wink of wit.”
Sartorial wit is very Diana, just like her infamous ‘black sheep’ knit and the ‘I’m a luxury’ sweatshirt. That’s part of the appeal. Even Kate, who plays by the rules when it comes to dress codes, is giving us a cheeky nod with her Ascot outfit. It says: I’m appropriate, but I’m having fun with it too.
The fact that Diana’s 1988 outfit still looks modern is also testament to her enduring influence on the way we dress today. It had a significant impact back then too: just look at Julia Roberts’ outfit for the polo in the 1990 film Pretty Woman. It's can't be a coincidence that the moment when her transformation to society sophisticate is complete is when she wears a polka dot midi dress and a broad-brimmed hat.
There are practical reasons for this particular look’s timelessness too, though. It’s a classic monochrome palette, and the high neck, sleeves and midi hem are modest enough for royal engagements. The polka dot motif keeps it interesting, while the fitted silhouette prevents it from slipping into frumpy territory.
Polka dots also function as a kind of sartorial concealer, as a busy print on a draped fabric makes it near impossible to see lumps and bumps that you may rather go undetected.
Perhaps it’s time for another spotted dress revival after all…
