5 times Kate Middleton had outfits altered to fit her royal wardrobe

Celia FernandezAug 23, 2020, 17:21 IST

Kate Middleton has been altering her outfits for years.Sean Gallup/Getty Images

Many of the outfits the Duchess of Cambridge wears sell out quickly, but some may not realize that at times, her looks have been altered to fit specific needs.
Given that she's required to follow certain royal protocol, Middleton has had certain pieces of clothing changed to be more modest.
The royal is no stranger to customizing pieces from her go-to designers, including Emilia Wickstead and Alexander McQueen.

When it comes to outfit choices, Kate Middleton has plenty to pick from — and it turns out, she's actually a big fan of tailoring looks to fit her needs.

Given that the Duchess of Cambridge has to follow certain royal protocol it makes sense why she would have certain dresses altered to remove revealing necklines or add fabric to a dress that has sheer sleeves.

"Kate enjoys adjusting outfits to suit current trends. She will quite often add a bow, remove a keyhole, or change the length of skirts or sleeves to make them her own," Anthony McGrath, leading fashion journalist and senior lecturer at the Fashion Retail Academy, told Insider.

Here are some of the outfits Middleton has customized through the years.

The duchess wore an altered Saloni dress that originally featured sheer paneling and an open back.

Kate Middleton had the sheer design altered to include a nude panel of fabric. Moda Operandi/Warren Allott/WPA Pool/Getty Images

For a reception at Kensington Palace in 2016, Middleton wore a high-collared Mary Illusion Dot Dress by the Indian designer Saloni. The duchess had a nude panel of fabric added to the sheer bodice and the open back closed up for a more reserved look.

Middleton first wore this Alexander McQueen dress in 2017, and then stepped out in an altered version two years later.

On the left is the original Alexander McQueen dress Kate Middleton wore to the 2017 BAFTAs. Samir Hussein/Karwai Tang/Getty Images

The Duchess of Cambridge turned heads when she arrived at the 2017 BAFTAs in a tiered, off-the-shoulder Alexander McQueen gown. Two years later, Middleton attended the 2019 Portrait Gala wearing the same dress. However, she added cap sleeves to the gown to make it look brand-new.

Middleton made a subtle change to this Beulah London dress, and it worked like a charm.

Kate Middleton had the fluted sleeves removed from the Beulah London dress. Orchard Mile/Karwai Tang/Getty Images

For a visit to the Family Action Charity in January 2019, Middleton wore an olive-green Beulah London midi dress that originally featured fluted sleeves. She had the sleeves removed and added a belt, which elevated the look.

"It looks as though she's taken off all the frills and made it a lot more conservative and a lot more modest," Susie Hasler, a stylist based in the UK, told Insider. "I think we are seeing an evolution of her style from a duchess into Queen-in-waiting."

It looks as though she's taken off all the frills and made it a lot more conservative and a lot more modest, Susie Hasler, a stylist based in the UK, told Insider. I think we are seeing an evolution of her style from a duchess into Queen-in-waiting.

Middleton made a small but obvious alteration to this Emilia Wickstead design.

The Duchess of Cambridge reportedly had the sheer sleeves removed in favor of a solid tartan finish. Farfetch/Karwai Tang/Getty Images

While arriving for Christmas lunch at Buckingham Palace, the duchess was photographed wearing this tartan dress. She put her own twist on it by having the sheer sleeves removed in favor of a solid fabric to match the rest of the design.

"In this picture, she's out with her family for the day so she's chosen something very conservative," Hasler said. "She always seems to favor those high necklines, which really work for her."

In this picture, she's out with her family for the day so she's chosen something very conservative, Hasler said. She always seems to favor those high necklines, which really work for her.

The Duchess of Cambridge made a few subtle changes to this Alexander McQueen dress.

Kate Middleton had more fabric added to the sleeves of this Alexander McQueen dress so they would no longer be sheer. Mark Large/Samir Hussein/Getty Images

Middleton wore the original design in 2012 to an official dinner hosted by Malaysia's Head of State. The royal pulled it out of her closet again for the 2020 BAFTAs but had it changed to include a layer of fabric on the sleeves so that they would no longer be sheer.

"With this particular dress, it appears she adapted the sleeves to flatter her figure, adding a lining and shoulder pads to create a more structured look," McGrath said. "This means the dress frames her face better and enhances her posture."

With this particular dress, it appears she adapted the sleeves to flatter her figure, adding a lining and shoulder pads to create a more structured look, McGrath said. This means the dress frames her face better and enhances her posture.

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