Kate Middleton Rewore a Jacket We Spotted on Her 18 Years Ago — and We Want to Add It to Our Spring Lineup Now

Welcome to The Blueprint, where we break down the celebrity looks we want to wear right now and build them back up, piece by piece.

Do you ever love something so much that it stays in your closet regardless of fashion trends? For me, it’s my Lululemon belt bag — I’ll never grow tired of it. For Kate Middleton, it’s this cropped tweed jacket that she first broke out nearly 18 years ago.

While surprising a group of students at Pontypridd in South Wales, the Princess of Wales layered the recycled Ralph Lauren jacket over a plaid midi skirt with airy pleats. She styled the look with slouchy heeled boots and an oversized tote bag that kept her hands free for some rare PDA with Prince William.

A cropped jacket is so smart for spring, as the shorter silhouette is lighter than an oversized option. And for those looking for an alternative to pants, a midi skirt is a practical yet stylish spring swap  as it skims the shins and allows you to show off your shoes. Hand-holding accessibility aside, an oversized tote bag can fit all of your things for commuting and upcoming travel.

Recreate Middleton’s look with these budget-friendly swaps from Amazon, Nordstrom, and more starting at $30.

Kate Middleton’s Outfit Blueprint

• Pleated midi skirts: Scarlett Darkness Plaid Skirt, $30 with coupon (orig. $32); amazon.com
• Ranna Gill Aria Pleated Midi Skirt, $158; anthropologie.com
• J.Crew Gwyneth Pleated Slip Skirt, $81 with code SHOPSALE (orig. $128); jcrew.com
• Banana Republic Crinkle Satin Pleated Midi Skirt, $88 at checkout (orig. $150); jcrew.com
• Cropped jackets: Zwurew Tweed Cropped Jacket, $46; amazon.com
• Mango Tweed Jacket, $100 (orig. $160); mango.com
• Vince Camuto Tweed Crop Jacket, $169; nordstrom.com
• Tote bags: Hoxis Oversize Tote Bag, $29 (orig. $36); amazon.com
• Mango Faux Leather Pebble Shopper Bag, $50; nordstrom.com
• Longchamp Large Le Pliage Tote Bag, $155; nordstrom.com 

Scarlett Darkness Plaid Skirt, $30 with coupon

Give plaid a try this spring with this midi skirt that reminds us of the one Middleton was spotted wearing. It’s designed with flattering pleats that give it some volume, and the added inner lining makes it opaque. The elastic waistband stretches to move with you, and the skirt comes with two functional side pockets. 

Zwurew Tweed Cropped Jacket

The princess’s 18-year-old jacket may not be available, but you can get a pretty similar style at Amazon for just $46. The jacket comes in a cropped style that you can wear with high-waisted jeans, skirts, or shorts. Plus, the tweed fabric is lightweight and elegant to instantly dress up your outfit. Snag it in seven seasonal hues like brown, pink, green, and white. 

Longchamp Large Le Pliage Tote Bag

Middleton isn’t the only fan of oversized tote bags — we recently spotted Jennifer Garner carrying the practical style, too. You can buy an oversized tote from Longchamp, another classic style that the princess has carried for years. 

In addition to the roomy size that fits light clothes, laptops, water bottles, and more, the bag has long handles that fit nicely around the shoulder to keep your hands free. The magnetic snap enclosure protects your items as well. 

If you’re looking to add a few timeless staples to your closet, Kate Middleton has you covered with her latest look. Keep scrolling to shop more pleated midi skirts, cropped jackets, and oversized tote bags inspired by the princess below. 

Ranna Gill Aria Pleated Midi Skirt

J.Crew Gwyneth Pleated Slip Skirt, $81 with code SHOPSALE

Banana Republic Crinkle Satin Pleated Midi Skirt, $88 at checkout

Mango Tweed Jacket

Vince Camuto Tweed Crop Jacket

Hoxis Oversize Tote Bag

Mango Faux Leather Pebble Shopper Bag