Kate Middleton is wading into a new territory: fashion design.
The Princess of Wales showed off a coat of her own making during a recent trip to Scotland, quietly debuting the outerwear on Tuesday.
According to The Telegraph, Middleton worked with Johnstons of Elgin and tailor Chris Kerr to perfect the exact tartan pattern that was then crafted into her long, double-breasted coat.
Though a custom-designed plaid might be an honor reserved for Kate Middleton herself, Kerr’s website offers the ability to create your own made-to-measure suit for a little bit of bespoke appeal. The experience will set you back anywhere between $2,300 and $4,700, according to the brand.
While visiting the National Curling Academy on Tuesday, the royal wore a navy Zara turtleneck with a Johnstons of Elgin x Le Kilt skirt ($1,695). She added a pair of Gianvito Rossi black suede boots and the blue plaid double-breasted coat on top.
When she removed her coat inside, learning how to curl alongside her husband Prince William, she revealed an additional Bamford fair isle sweater vest layer underneath.
Middleton often uses her clothing and jewelry to show support for the places she’s visiting, and as such, her choice to wear a bespoke Johnstons of Elgin coat champions not only British materials, but also British tailoring.
Plus, her Tuesday trip included a stop at Radical Weavers, a Stirling-based studio and charity that promotes tartan weaving, further emphasizing her newfound interest in fashion.
The shift towards textiles comes nearly a year after a report that the princess wanted the public to focus less on what she’s wearing and more on her work.
However, Kensington Palace later clarified that the quote didn’t come from Middleton, but rather a representative.
There’s been more drama in the fashion department; Middleton recently stopped working with longtime stylist Natasha Archer, who has yet to be replaced — and may not, if the royal is going to continue taking her wardrobe in her own hands.
In fact, the palace confirmed that it was she alone who decided to wear the Queen Victoria’s Oriental Circlet Tiara — the largest she’s ever worn and making history as the first princess rather than queen or queen consort to do so — to the German state banquet last month.
Later this year, she’ll issue her own royal warrants for the first time. We’re betting textile makers will be top of mind.
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