ISLAMABAD: The Duke and Duchess of Cambridge’s royal tour comes to a close today and with it the close eye on Kate Middleton’s wardrobe of choice in Pakistan which paid homage to the late Princess Diana and was infused with garments custom made and produced by Pakistani brands.
Arab News spoke with the popular site What Kate Wore’s founder and editor in chief Susan E. Kelley about the documentation of Middleton’s looks, particularly when abroad, and why it is a vital part of history.
“If looking only at the surface of the site, it captures a moment in time from a style perspective: what the Duchess is wearing and why,” said Kelley, “It helps us shine a spotlight on her charitable endeavors and causes and at times even helps raise money for some charities. We learn about the impact of certain trends, discover new designers and discuss cultural norms, i.e., should women in certain professions be expected to dress more conservatively?”
Kelley spoke about how her website and others that focus on what the Duchess wears, particularly on royal tours, see the choices by the young royal to be deliberate and where one can be exposed to new ideas.
“There is immense value in being exposed to new ideas and different cultures; fashion and the discussion surrounding it can build bridges,” said Kelley, noting that through tours like this we lean about “the significance of the Duchess wearing a specific color or the incorporation of a certain design element in a garment, and what influenced those style choices.”
Middleton has become a style icon since becoming a public figure after her marriage to Prince William. From their engagement to their wedding and every appearance after, Middleton’s wardrobe choices have been well documented, pieces she has worn have sold out in seconds and everything from her wedding dress to a choice of handbag have gotten the high-street fast fashion copy treatment.

When she landed in Islamabad, the Duchess wore a two piece set fashioned to look like a shalwar kameez by British design house Catherine Walker, the late designer of the eponymous label was a go-to choice by Lady Diana, and a number of her iconic looks while in Pakistan were designed by her. The color choice and ensemble paid ode to Diana who wore a similar color when visiting Shaukat Khanum Hospital in 1996.

While in Islamabad, Middleton wore bespoke pieces by designer Maheen Khan who told Arab News, “It is probably every designer’s dream to dress the Duchess of Cambridge, so yes it’s a dream come true.”
Khan’s designs were spotted by Middleton’s design team in O’Nitaa’s flagship store in Chelsea, London where a South Asian designers stock their wears. “My clothes were spotted there and I was contacted.” Though Khan said it was purely coincidental the blue three-piece shalwar kameez that Middleton wore was reminiscent of another Diana look from her visits in Pakistan.
While visiting the trails of Islamabad and touring around the city, Middleton paired sleek Maheen Khan trousers under a Catherina Walker tunic fashioned to look like a kameez with a touch of sherwani with a printed dupatta.

For a dinner hosted in honor of the royal duo at the National Monument, Middleton donned a stunning sequined deep green Jenny Packham grown complete with a slim dupatta. The green, the same hue which husband Prince William’s custom made sherwani by Pakistani designer Nauman Arfeen wore, was of course a fashionable nod to Pakistan’s green.

From Islamabad the Royal couple flew to Chitral where Middleton went for a more casual look, understandable given the terrain and opportunity to enjoy the North’s beautiful outdoors but like royals who have visited before them, the couple were adorned in jackets and hats native to the region.

In Lahore, Middleton wore an all white look by high-street fashion and textile brand Gul Ahmed while touring and playing cricket at the National Cricket Academy. The all whites could be a nod to Pakistan (green and white) but also to the all white worn by cricket players the world over during test cricket matches. The outfit was strikingly similar to one worn by the late Princess Diana which was especially designer for her by Pakistani designer Rizwan Beyg.

While visiting Badshahi Mosque in Lahore, Middleton wore a teal and gold worked shalwar kameez again by Pakistani designer Maheen Khan.