The Princess of Wales is no stranger to the red carpet, so you would assume that her ability to shock and awe us with her ensembles would lessen over time. That, however, was proven not to be the case this evening as Kate Middleton attended the 76th British Academy Film Awards in what might just be her most daring outfit yet.
Opera-length might have been one of the most prevalent trends on the spring/summer 2023 runways, but in terms of copying-and-pasting them into our everyday outfits, chances to do so are generally quite limited. However, I was pleased to see that Middleton made the most of the opportunity to do so at this year’s BAFTAs, the first she and her husband, Prince William, have attended since 2020, tackling the trend in a way we didn’t expect.
Directly contrasting her ethereal white one-shoulder chiffon gown, which I suspect is an Alexander McQueen creation she has worn previously but has brought up to date with a cascading drape, the Princess of Wales styled her could-be-bridal attire with long black opera gloves. Of course, we’ve seen her wearing such gloves at formal state banquets in the past, but the clash between the white and black feels incredibly striking and fashion-forward, even for someone like Kate who knows how to assemble an outfit.
If that wasn’t enough, Middleton finished her ensemble with a pair of oversize floral drop earrings, confirming that drama was certainly the goal of this evening’s ensemble. Though I half expected them to come from a high-end label, knowing that Middleton loves a Zara find just like the rest of us, I should have known these were none other than the £18 shoulder-skimmers that I had considered snapping up for my own London Fashion Week outfits.
Scroll on to shop the Zara earrings Kate Middleton wore to the BAFTAs 2023.
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