Kate Middleton, wardrobe recycler. Here's all the times the Duchess wore the same dress twice

Kate Middleton

(Image credit: Tim Rooke/REX/Shutterstock)

published 15 April 2016

We say ‘recycled’ with our eyebrows raised like that, because every time the Duchess of Cambridge wears a favourite outfit for a second or third time, the media makes a huge deal about how ‘thrifty’ she’s being.

We say ‘recycled’ with our eyebrows raised like that, because every time the Duchess of Cambridge wears a favourite outfit for a second or third time, the media makes a huge deal about how ‘thrifty’ she’s being.

But really, we all wear the same clothes on repeat, do we not? The only reason it’s any more remarkable when Kate does it is because she’s in the public eye and has been seen by millions wearing it. It’s a bit like that weird rule some people have where they’ll only wear an outfit again if it hasn’t been seen on Facebook, isn’t it?

Still, we do think it’s interesting to note exactly which outfits Kate has loved so much, and what it is about them that has made her break ‘the rules.’ We couldn’t even begin to count how many times she’s worn those L.K. Bennett nude courts, though, that would just be impossible…

Emilia Wickstead Latest outing: On her royal tour of India and Bhutan, Kate wore this sunny Emilia Wickstead coat dress as she landed in Bhutan. The £1200 design was made bespoke for Kate back in 2012 – so why wouldn’t she want to wear it again?!

Design debut: At the Order of the Thistle ceremony in Edinburgh in 2012, Kate debuted the dress for the first time. That time she accessorised differently – with chocolate suede shoes by British designer Emmy Scarterfield and a £99 straw hat by milliner Whiteley.

Luisa Spagnoli Latest outing: On Kate and William’s New Zealand tour in April 2014, the Duchess wore this striking suit with a nipped waist by Luisa Spagnoli. Nice, isn't it?

Design debut: So nice, in fact, that this was her second outing in the look. In February 2011, the newly engaged Kate Middleton first wore this red skirt suit on a visit to the University of St. Andrews.

Jenny Packham Latest outing: With her hair tied up and those emerald earrings on show, Kate lets her accessories do some of the talking at this gala for the Metropolitan Museum of Art in December 2014.

Design debut: It was a wise move, as just a few months earlier, Kate accessorised the same Jenny Packham dress with completely different statement jewels for a fundraiser at the National Portrait Gallery.

Tory Burch Latest outing: Kate loves designer Tory Burch's statement prints, regularly choosing dresses from the designer's collection over the years. Here she is in an op-art shift by the label on a visit to Harrow College in October 2015.

Design debut: But we knew we'd spotted that monochrome print before. Here's Kate working it in Wellington, New Zealand, on her 2014 royal tour.

Jane Troughton Latest outing: Kate's old favourite cream occasion coat, by British designer Jane Troughton, was most recently spotted on the Duchess at the London Paralympic Games Opening Ceremony, in 2012.

Design debut: Talk about a wardrobe throwback. The first time Kate wore this coat was to Laura Parker Bowles' wedding back in May 2006.

But also: She worked it on a third big occasion in 2011 - the wedding of Zara Phillips and Mike Tindall. We're betting this one is in her 'save for Princess Charlotte' pile, now.

Alexander McQueen Latest outing: We love this military-inspired Alexander McQueen day dress, worn by the Duchess on a visit to Bletchley Park, Milton Keynes, in 2014.

Design debut: It's clearly a go-to in Kate's wardrobe, as she'd worn it before in Birmingham in 2011.

Temperley London Latest outing: Kate's statement black lace ballgown was a hit when she wore it to a screening at the Natural History Museum in 2013.

Design debut: But then of course she knew it would be. She'd worn it before at the University of St Andrews fundraiser in November 2012.

Emilia Wickstead Latest outing: Kate’s pretty dress by London designer Emilia Wickstead made for a perfect spring look in May 2012, as she attended a garden party at Buckingham Palace.