The Princess of Wales loves wearing bright colours, especially in the summer, but one of my favourite seasonal outfits she's worn is actually monochrome. July is when the Royal Charity Polo Cup is usually played and Kate's black and white dress from the event in 2022 proved how keeping your style simple can be very striking.
This piece was by one of her go-to British clothing brands, Emilia Wickstead, and it was sleeveless and midi-length. The black piping accentuated the subtle fit-and-flare silhouette in such a flattering way and although you can't get this exact dress anymore, I couldn't believe my luck when I came across a similar style at ME+EM.
Recreate Kate's Polo Outfit
As soon as I saw this ME+EM dress it reminded me of the Princess of Wales's polo look and it's a fabulous monochrome option to have in your collection. It's made from a linen-viscose blend that's designed to minimise creasing. It also comes in electric blue and in brown and white.
It's selling out fast but this Reiss dress is still available in some sizes and it's a lovely piece for holidays as well as for wearing in the sunshine at home. It has a V-neckline and a crossover detail at the back, as well as functional side pockets. The material has a touch of linen in it too.
If you're on the look out for an affordable, more casual monochrome dress to put your own spin on Kate's style, this could be it. You can get the sleeveless ribbed frock in cream with black trim and black with cream trim. The whipstick running along the neckline draws the eye and adds some nice detail.
Perfect for anyone who prefers longer sleeves even in summer, this dress has a V-neckline and a twisted detail at the front of the bodice. The stripes give the illusion of piping but in a subtler way. Pair with black and white accessories or go bold and choose a red bag for a pop of colour.
These slingbacks have a ballet pump design with a trim that connects the gold-toned double D logo at the front. They're designed with an elasticated strap at the back and the round cap toe is a neat touch.
These M&S sunglasses have a classic rectangular shape and are lightweight and comfortable to wear. The lenses are category 2, providing good UV protection on sunny days, and the brown tortoishell colourway is a lovely alternative to black sunglasses.
Made from leather, these affordable black slingbacks are part of Next's Forever Comfort range and they have a neat toe cap. The slingback strap is elasticated for comfort and they'd look great with a monochrome dress like Kate's.
The Princess loves them for classic staples and this year they're selling a monochrome midi dress that is perfect if you want to recreate her polo style. Better yet, it's just gone into the ME+EM sale and is currently 30% off, down to £175 from £250.
The dress is made from a linen and viscose blend material which is designed to minimise creasing. This is a bonus in my book, as who really wants to be ironing in this weather? Linen is also great to wear in the heat as the natural fibres are so breathable.
The black tipping on the ME+EM frock has a slightly different shape compared to Kate's 2022 dress but this detailing still highlights your frame. It's sleeveless but not strappy or overly revealing and the high round neckline adds an elegant feel.
Because it's monochrome like the Princess's Emilia Wickstead dress, you can accessorise it so easily. To make it more casual, pair it with white trainers, sandals or ballet flats and for an elevated evening look you can go for heels or wedges instead.
Keeping to a minimal colour palette makes an ensemble extra cohesive and polished, though I think a pop of red would look fabulous with this dress. Kate took a different approach and styled hers with beige and black slingback flats from Camilla Elphick.
No matter the heel height, slingbacks are the future Queen's favourite summer shoe style and she's worn these ones a lot for different appearances. The black toe cap coordinated with the piping on the bodice and skirt whilst the beige tone brought some contrast.
Kate completed her outfit with her Sézane resin hoops and a pair of tortoiseshell brown sunglasses. She recently wore the same earrings with a black and white gingham Temperley London frock at this year's charity polo cup and mixing in warm-toned browns with monochrome hues can soften things beautifully.
Each of these dresses have only been seen publicly once, but the charity polo cup isn't an official engagement for the Princess of Wales. This means the event is a good opportunity for her to enjoy wearing more everyday pieces and I'd imagine Kate has reached for both of these a lot in her day-to-day life when it's hot.
