Prince William’s tour wardrobe – and the brand that’s become his secret style weapon
When his wife looks so glamorous, not to mention eye-catching, it’s easy to overlook Prince William. The Duchess of Cambridge has gone ‘all out’ in her wardrobe choices during this royal tour of the Caribbean this week, in magenta Vampire’s Wife sequins and sunny Roksanda. So it’s understandable that William, by comparison, is a quieter presence. That doesn’t mean he’s not holding his own, however; quietly and assuredly, the Duke of Cambridge has grown into his wardrobe and found a style groove that seems to work for him, focused on classic linen shirting and lean, straight-leg chinos that fit his tall frame well. And what’s noteworthy is that a great deal of his casual wardrobe is by one brand: Italian fabric specialist, Luca Faloni.
“It’s a huge honour to see Prince William wearing our linen shirts again during his current overseas tour,” says Faloni, who founded the Turin-based label in 2014. “He’s the perfect champion of the understated timeless style that we advocate. We certainly have a lot of customers asking for the ‘Prince William shirt’,” says the designer, whose relationship with the royal household began two years ago. It’s little wonder that the Duke of Cambridge has become so taken with Faloni’s clothing - it’s exceptionally well made, classic and elevates everyday casualwear, thanks to the use of fabrics such as brushed cotton and linen. While it doesn’t bill itself as a ‘resort’ brand, there’s an ease and lightness to its aesthetic that’s fitting for warmer, off-duty situations. The prince has worn the label a number of times, including a cashmere sweater for 2021’s official Christmas card.
It’s also a sign that William - who’s never shown the level of interest that his father famously has in clothes - is having some agency over what he wears. Like many men his age - he turns 40 next year - the prince has now found a formula that works for him and is sticking to it; see his fondness for a certain cut of suit, as well as his appreciation of plush velvet evening wear. He might not have the panache of his grandfather (that’s no criticism of William, there are few who do) or the insight and sartorial education of his father, but William’s slowly evolved a look that’s his, even if it is more low key and under-the-radar.
It’s also an approach to dressing in sunnier climes that many men would do well to take on board. Men tend to find themselves curiously adrift in dressing for warm weather sojourns. Their workaday lives are governed by a tried-and-tested style formula, which is why on holiday, even men in their forties and fifties can find themselves in the kind of T-shirts that should be left to their teenage son (Billabong? Really?) practical walking sandals, and cargo shorts more suited to belly crawling through a Tough Mudder obstacle course than a sunny, smart weekend lunch.
Prince William’s choices hit a certain sartorial sweet spot because they’re still in keeping with the kind of smartness and uprightness he’s used to, but they’re warm weather appropriate. He’s not in tropical print camp collar shirts, for example: the ones he’s opted for are classic and appropriate, just a tad lighter and less formal. Likewise his chinos. The one slight adjustment we’d recommend? Upping his footwear game somewhat. The prince has been a fan of Clark’s desert boots for years, but they can tend to look rather dusty and tired. A handsome pair of lightweight deck shoes, or loafers in caramel suede, would tread a line between looking together on official duties and relaxed enough for the heat.
William isn’t someone who wants to project the kind of bold image that his wife does, which is entirely appropriate for our king-in-waiting, but he’s quietly evolved into a style presence all of his own.
