Kate Middleton Breaks From Business Fashion and It's Working

The Princess of Wales debuted a chic new autumnal look for a visit to a British college on Wednesday, moving away from the pantsuits and tailored jacket looks that have become her new working uniform.

Kate made a solo visit to Nottingham Trent University in England on October 11 as part of a three-day series of mental health focused engagements with Prince William.

The princess arrived at the campus debuting a new outfit, consisting of a coordinating cream knit mid-length skirt and long sleeved blouse with contrasting buttons.

The pieces were designed by one of Kate's more recent mid-range fashion favorites, French brand Sézane.

The princess has worn a number of items from the brand's jewelry collections in recent months, notably their statement earrings for events such as Christmas Day at Sandringham and Royal Ascot.

Kate accessorized her look with a pair of her trusted suede nude high-heeled pumps and mini handled bag from the English luxury leather goods brand, Tusting.

The look is a move away from the formal pantsuit ensembles which Kate has been seen wearing on a more frequent basis to official events. Prior to her visit to the college campus, Kate had worn pants to her ten previous public appearances.

The change in undertone to Kate's wardrobe comes as her aesthetic has been gradually transforming since her elevation to the title of Princess of Wales by King Charles III in September 2022.

In a speech given the day after his accession, Charles set out William and Kate's public roles, telling the nation: "With Catherine beside him, our new Prince and Princess of Wales will, I know, continue to inspire and lead our national conversations, helping to bring the marginal to the center ground where vital help can be given."

From this, royal fashion expert and celebrity stylist Miranda Holder previously told Newsweek that Kate began to subtly shift away from the lighter fashion looks she had been known to choose, instead opting for a bolder, more streamlined aesthetic.

"Kate's look has definitely taken a more serious, business-like mood since she became the Princess of Wales, which reflects the gravitas of her new position within the royal family as she gets nearer to the throne," Holder said.

"The fun, feminine, flirty Kate who we all fell in love with in her polka-dot tea dresses seems to have been replaced by a new, more heavyweight incarnation."

The softer chic look worn for Wednesday's engagement draws a line between these two styles.

The royal visited the Nottingham Trent University to learn how the staff and institution were supporting student's mental health, and included Kate taking part in a wellbeing session to speak with the students themselves.

The princess is currently in the middle of three-days of mental health orientated engagements, which began on October 10 with a visit to Birmingham alongside Prince William.

The couple took part in a youth led forum discussing mental health in the age of social media and Kate made a rare keynote speech, paying tribute to the work being done to end the stigma associated with mental health.

"As a generation, you value and talk more about your mental health than any before you—something we truly admire and applaud," she said.

"It is important, however, to remind ourselves of the big picture as we meet here today. What are we trying to improve by focusing our efforts on mental health? Ultimately, we are working to build a happier, healthier world. We want to shape fairer, safer, kinder, more equal societies—societies that seek the common good and a better future together."

James Crawford-Smith is Newsweek's royal reporter, based in London. You can find him on X (formerly Twitter) at @jrcrawfordsmith and read his stories on Newsweek's The Royals Facebook page.

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