Princess Kate continues to gradually return to royal duties and is putting her best fashion foot forward when she does. The Princess of Wales spent months away from the spotlight last year while she underwent chemotherapy, following a shock cancer diagnosis. But now she is easing back into work since it was announced that she completed treatment and is in remission.
In recent months, we have seen her step out in head-turning ensembles, and they have all featured the same key detail—a shoulder pad. The 43-year-old royal is elevating her look to convey that she is stronger than ever. She has swapped pastel colours and flowing skirts for a more refined and tailored look that entwines modern feminine touches.
Ciara Russell is a stylist who has worked with some of the UK’s leading brands and celebrities and she believes the shoulder pads are her “secret weapon” as they make a huge statement. She told the Daily Express: “Kate is using shoulder pads shows us that she feels empowered and confident, embracing a bold, structured look that makes a statement.”
“She’s always balanced tradition with modern style, and choosing shoulder pads reflects her willingness to evolve and stay on trend while still looking timeless,” she continued.
Meanwhile, Ciara added that it’s “a reminder that fashion can be both powerful and elegant”. She also shared that Kate knows how to use it to convey “strength and poise.”
The Princess of Wale is renowned for her ability to balance tradition with current trends, and Ciara claimed that she is “embracing shoulder pads shows she’s keeping up with what’s in style while still looking elegant and sophisticated.
“She’s always had a way of making trendy pieces look effortless and polished, which is why people pay attention to her fashion choices,” she continued.
Shoulder pads are set to become one of the biggest trends this year, which Kate no doubt played a role in.
Ciara told us: “Shoulder pads create a strong, structured silhouette that adds shape and definition to an outfit. They make your shoulders look broader, which can give the illusion of a slimmer waist and a more balanced figure.
“They also add a touch of confidence and power, making outfits look more polished and put together whether it’s a blazer, dress, or even a top. Plus, they give off a bit of that vintage, 80s-inspired vibe while still looking modern when styled right.”
And do not worry, just because summer is around the corner you can still recreate Kate’s aesthetic as Ciara said you will see them popping up in new collections and on fashion icons everywhere.
“From blazers to dresses, they’re bringing back that strong, confident look but in a more modern way. People are loving how they add some shape and attitude to an outfit,” claimed Ciara.
The fashion expert also highlighted that Kate has carefully curated her outfits and chose to wear coats and blazers which incorporate structured shoulders in most of her recent looks over the past six months dating all the way back to Remembrance Sunday.
She shared that while Kate was standing at the Cenotaph she “wore a black Catherine Walker coat dress with 1980s-inspired elements, including a velvet pussy bow and padded shoulders. These fashion choices have led to discussions and observations about her adoption of shoulder pads, reflecting a broader trend of revisiting vintage styles in contemporary fashion.”
She also noted that during a visit to the Royal Marsden Hospital in London, at the start of the year Kate stepped out in a maroon tartan coat with a double-breasted finish, and it was hard not to miss the “accentuated shoulders” that created a defining feature.
