When the Princess of Wales wears jeans, they’re usually skinny. When she wears dresses, they’re midi, and when she wears trousers, they’re usually wide-leg. Such was the case when Kate Middleton joined her husband the Prince of Wales for an outing in, well, Wales. The pair visited St Thomas Church in Swansea, which has been has been redeveloped to provide support to vulnerable people. For the occasion late last year, Middleton opted for a wool-blend coat—the Spencer coat, no less—from one of her go-to high-street brands, LK Bennett, which she styled with a light-weave black jumper and fashion’s current favourite trouser: puddle pants.
Puddle pants (and jeans) are basically loose and so long that they pool around the ankles. So in this case, save yourself a trip to the tailor and keep the ultra-long length intact—just don’t step out on a rainy day. That is, unless you follow Kate’s lead by styling them with a pair of high heels. Right now, we’re seeing a resurge of patent, pointed-toe heels, the sort reminiscent of celebrity outfits from the ’90s. Now, Kate Middleton has tapped into the trend with a pair of her own. Be it at Prada or & Other Stories, patent pointed-toe shoes are back, and if they’re good enough for a princess, they’re certainly good enough for us.
This isn’t the first time that Middleton has styled puddle pants like a pro. A few months ago, she and Prince William visited volunteers at the Ukrainian Cultural Centre in London, during which Middleton showed her support for Ukraine by wearing a blue-and-yellow pin on a blue sweater. She also wore block-heel pumps and a pair of, yes, puddle pants trousers from Jigsaw, a Brit brand the Princess herself used to work for.
It should come as no surprise that plenty of brands are getting in on the trend, and there are options at every price point. Scroll to shop some of our favourites, and get your pointed-toe, high heels ready.
Next up, how to style leather trousers like a fashion editor.
This story was originally published on Who What Wear U.S. and has since been updated.
