How to replicate Kate Middleton's trouser suit style with similar ranges from Next, River Island, and more

Discover how to get Kate Middleton's trouser suit style on the high street

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Without question, Kate Middleton wins the crown for the most stylish royal, if not the most stylish woman in the world. Like her late mother-in-law, Princess Diana, Catherine has an innate fashion sense and looks incredible whether she is casually dressed down in jeans or wearing a black tie gown.

It would appear that the trouser suit is fast becoming one of Catherine, Princess of Wales' favourite go to looks on her current trip to the States. No sooner was she pictured arriving in an Alexander McQueen navy suit, then the next she is photographed in a striking plum suit by Roland Mouret.

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The trouser suit, thanks to the Princess of Wales, her sister-in-law, Meghan, the Duchess of Sussex, is definitely back in fashion in 2022. Although there are more casual trouser suits available nowadays, the look is definitely a strong and powerful fashion statement.

When it comes to the history of the trouser suit, one has to cast one’s mind back to the 1930s. It was during this period that women in elite circles started to wear trouser suits. However, it was not until the 1960s that the term ‘pant suit’ in the States and trouser suit in the UK, was coined. According to Vogue India, “women had to wait until the 1960s for the trouser suit to gain broader public support.”

According to the Musee Yves Saint Laurent Paris, it was in Autumn/Winter 1966 that Yves Saint Laurent introduced the tuxedo. “Saint Laurent’s tuxedo, however, was not an exact copy of the men’s tuxedo. He used the same codes but adapted it to the female body.”

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Although initially the tuxedo was snubbed by his more haute couture clients, it became incredibly popular with his younger clientele. Saint Laurent included a tuxedo in each of his collections until 2002.

During the 1970s, trouser suits continued to grow in popularity and without question, became a symbol of power in the 1980s. It was most definitely about volume and padded shoulders when it came to this decade.

However, It was in the 1990s that the trouser suit trend started to decline. The idea of more ‘low maintenance’ fashion became more popular. And then of course the rise of the grunge period.

Like all fashion trends, the trouser suit has come full circle and is now firmly back in fashion for 2022.

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If you like the idea of stealing the Princess of Wales’s trouser suit style, look no further than these options

This structured work blazer and trousers could work for a business event or even an elegant Christmas party. This structured work blazer and trousers could work for a business event or even an elegant Christmas party.
This structured work blazer and trousers could work for a business event or even an elegant Christmas party.

River Island's Red Mid Rise Flared Trousers, £38,Red Cape Blazer, £80