Princess Catherine’s Emilia Wickstead dress shows Kate effect in full force

Catherine’s solid fashion footing at the garden party follows reports that she was stepping out of the style spotlight in February, when a palace source told The Times: “There is an absolute feeling that it [the public-facing work] is not about what the princess is wearing.”

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“She wants the focus to be on the really important issues, the people and the causes she is spotlighting,” the palace source said.

Since then, the princess, who is returning to official duties following cancer treatment, has adopted a more subdued style, recycling classic outfits.

Deactivating the Kate Effect, the term used to describe sales spikes driven by Catherine’s wardrobe choices, will take time. Presenting the Queen Elizabeth II Award for Design to Patrick McDowell on May 12, Catherine wore a £490 ($2065) pale olive green blazer from Victoria Beckham, which has sold out. The matching flared trousers with patch pockets have almost sold out.

At the ceremony, launched by Queen Elizabeth in 2018, Catherine also met with other designers, including Conner Ives, the creator of the cult “Protect the Dolls” T-shirt worn by Pedro Pascal and Troye Sivan supporting Trans-rights.