Two appearances. One graphic print that keeps ricocheting across social feeds. Kate Middleton, now Catherine, Princess of Wales, cemented houndstooth – the classic pied-de-poule – as a royal style signal with a red Catherine Walker coat in Stockholm on 30 January 2018 and a green version in Dundee on 29 January 2019. Different colors, same message : heritage, clarity on camera, and a nod to place and occasion. Source : People, 30 January 2018 ; Town & Country, 29 January 2019.
Those looks did more than produce beautiful photos. They reintroduced a century-spanning motif into daily wardrobes while quietly referencing royal continuity. Catherine Walker’s house, closely linked to palace dressing, designed more than 1,000 outfits for Diana, Princess of Wales, a figure reported at the time of Catherine Walker’s death. Source : The Guardian, 24 September 2010.
Kate Middleton and the houndstooth comeback
Let’s start with the why. Houndstooth carries visual authority. The broken check reads cleanly from a distance, which is invaluable for engagements where crowds and cameras need instant recognition. On chilly tours, the pattern turns outerwear into the headline, no extra fuss.
There is deeper history in the weave. Archaeologists date a famed houndstooth-textile known as the Gerum Cloak to roughly 360 to 100 BCE, found in Sweden. That lineage makes the Stockholm choice feel deliberate without a single word being spoken. Source : The Swedish History Museum, collection notes on the Gerum Cloak.
In the present, the print solves a real-world style problem : being memorable without shouting. For a public figure balancing diplomacy, repetition and practicality, that is gold. For everyday dressing, same benefit. Strong pattern, simple silhouette, zero effort mood.
The key outfits : dates, colors, context
30 January 2018 – Stockholm : Catherine stepped out in a red-and-white houndstooth Catherine Walker coat during the Sweden and Norway tour. Crisp, slightly 60s, paired with a structured handbag and pumps. The color choice popped against winter streets and snow-lit skies. Source : People, 30 January 2018.
29 January 2019 – Dundee : A green-and-black houndstooth Catherine Walker coat for the opening of V&A Dundee with Prince William, Prince of Wales. The hue echoed Scottish tones without leaning into cliché tartan. Source : Town & Country, 29 January 2019.
The thread back to Diana, Princess of Wales, matters. Houndstooth was part of her playbook in the early 1990s, notably a red-and-white look in 1990 that’s widely archived. The print naturally carries a royal memory, then adapts to contemporary lines. Source : Vogue archive features on Diana’s outerwear.
How to wear houndstooth like Catherine, Princess of Wales
The observation is simple : Kate Middleton keeps the silhouette streamlined so the pattern can lead. That balance is easy to translate to workdays, dinners or a quick city walk.
- Choose one hero piece – coat, blazer or midi skirt – and keep the rest minimilist and tonal.
- Mind scale : smaller checks feel polished at the office, larger patterns read editorial for evenings.
- Lean into color stories : red or green for winter energy, black-and-white for year-round clarity.
- Structure helps : shoulder definition and nipped waists mirror the royal formula without looking stiff.
- Repeat wear without fear : houndstooth photographs differently under changing light, so outfits feel fresh.
Why the print works on camera – and in real life
Photography loves contrast. Houndstooth’s high-low pixels create crisp edges that survive everything from flash to fog. That explains why both 2018 Stockholm and 2019 Dundee images still circulate every season as inspiration references. The pattern does the heavy lifting while the cut keeps things current.
There is also the atelier effect. Catherine Walker’s long partnership with the royal wardrobe builds trust for travel-heavy schedules. The brand’s record – more than 1,000 designs for Diana, Princess of Wales – shows a precision with proportion and movement that translates to modern tailoring. Source : The Guardian, 24 September 2010.
If a closet needs one update to capture that clarity, start with a midweight houndstooth blazer or coat in a neutral scale. Wear it over knit dresses, denim, or suiting. Add clean pumps or ankle boots, a compact top-handle bag, and let the motif carry the look. No need to chase trends or logos. The print already tells the story – reliable, timeless, and surprisingly easy to repeat without anyone feeling they have seen the exact same outfit twice.