Duchess Sophie styles favourite leather dress with sultry yet cosy knee high boots for the perfect edgy winter outfit
The Duchess of Edinburgh just brought back her go-to leather dress and her floral blouse and boots were the perfect accompaniments
Duchess Sophie re-styled her favourite leather dress with sultry yet cosy knee high boots to create the perfect edgy winter outfit.
No matter what you have in your winter capsule wardrobe, plunging temperatures call for layering - and introducing different textures into a cosy look is a fabulous way to make your outfits that bit more interesting and chic. The Royal Family are big fans of this approach and Duchess Sophie’s leather dress is a prime example of how one statement piece can be styled in so many different ways to achieve a warm and elegant look. She’s previously worn her leather dress over knitwear but on 18th November the Duchess of Edinburgh brought back her Loewe leather dress with a pair of tan suede knee high boots and a floral blouse.
Duchess Sophie had a busy day of engagements which included visiting the Feel Good Inside and Out Project at Cranford College and the Fight For Sight Laboratory at University College in her role as Global Ambassador for the International Agency for the Prevention of Blindness. Stepping out into the chilly weather, her leather dress was perfect, with its midi length and crew neckline.
Recreate Duchess Sophie's Outfit
Exact Match
Featuring a warm-toned floral pattern, this blouse is a gorgeous piece for wearing underneath a leather dress, as well as with jeans or tailored trousers. It is made from a blend of cotton and silk and the print is hand-painted.
Shop More Tan Knee High Boots
This is a boot design that Dune bring back year after year and we can see why. They're made from luxurious suede and have a block heel and an almond-shaped toe that gives a smooth finish. Wear under a chic midi dress or with leggings or skinny jeans tucked in.
It was sleeveless which makes it perfect for layering a jumper, T-shirt or blouse seamlessly underneath and it had a timeless A-line shape. Aside from a matching leather waist belt which featured a subtle Loewe logo, Duchess Sophie’s leather dress was unadorned and plain. This helped to balance out the edginess of the leather and made it more versatile.
In the past the Duchess of Edinburgh has worn this dress with a burgundy crew neck jumper for a visit to the Brainwave charity and with a black long sleeved top when she met the St George’s Society of New York. On this occasion, she instead opted for a £175 ME+EM blouse that is made from a breathable silk and cotton blend and has a hand-painted floral print.
The tones are gorgeous for this time of year, with a chocolate brown base colour and pops of orange, pale pink and white with the flowers. Duchess Sophie’s blouse was made even more beautiful thanks to its billowing sleeves with smocked cuffs and the frilled standing collar.
This collar rose to just above the neckline of her leather dress and the contrast between the feminine, floaty blouse and the more structured dress was incredibly eye-catching. Even if you’re not sure about adding a leather dress to your own wardrobe, a leather skirt or leather trousers can also be styled with a more billowing, patterned shirt or top to achieve a similar feel.
Sign up for the woman&home newsletter
Sign up to our free daily email for the latest royal and entertainment news, interesting opinion, expert advice on styling and beauty trends, and no-nonsense guides to the health and wellness questions you want answered.
If you approach your leather or faux leather clothing pieces like you would any black skirt, pair of trousers or dress then they become so easy to wear, as the neutral colour works with so many other hues. The senior royal proved this when she wore tan knee high boots to finish off her look instead of wearing black boots to match her dress.
Like Duchess Sophie’s leather dress we’ve seen these sultry yet cosy boots from Gianvito Rossi before when she wore them to the Together at Christmas carol concert in 2023. They are made from tan-toned suede and have a block heel, slouchy shape and pointed toe. Adding in another, lighter shade brightened up her outfit and gave it a more daytime feel.
To dress an outfit like this up for the evening, the Duchess of Edinburgh could have worn the dress either on its own or with a silky or satin top to up the glamour factor. For her day visiting the Feel Good Inside and Out Project and the Fight For Sight Laboratory, her outfit was sophisticated yet warm. During her engagements throughout the day, the royal took part in crafting activities, helped with some cooking and got involved in the laboratory.
Emma is a Royal Editor with eight years experience working in publishing. Her specialist areas include the British Royal Family, ranging from protocol to outfits. Alongside putting her royal knowledge to good use, Emma knows all there is to know about the latest TV shows on the BBC, ITV and more. When she’s not writing about the next unmissable show to add to your to-watch list or delving into royal protocol, Emma enjoys cooking, long walks and watching yet more crime dramas!
-
Is Cold Call based on a true story and where was it filmed?
Sally Lindsay stars in psychological thriller Cold Call, that originally aired on Channel 5. Now the series has been added to Netflix, viewers have lots of questions about the show.
By Lucy Wigley Published
-
Thought you couldn't wear leopard print at Christmas? Shania Twain's cosy sweatshirt and jeans combination proved me wrong
A cosy Christmas sweatshirt with a touch of leopard print and a trusty pair of skinny jeans? Shania is doing casual Christmas dressing right.
By Ella Taylor Published
-
Carole Middleton's forest green jumper and checked trousers prove comfort and festive elegance go hand-in-hand
Carole Middleton reminded us all that December outfits don’t have to be sparkly to be festive when she wore this combination in 2019
By Emma Shacklock Published
-
Queen Letizia makes a plain black jumper dress the most elegant outfit for winter days out - all you need is some knee high boots and a waist belt
Queen Letizia knows how to look put-together whilst still being cosy and the secret to her style is her love for pared-back designs
By Emma Shacklock Published
-
Zara Tindall's raspberry red coat and cherry knee-high boots made the chicest winter uniform
And her tortoise shell shades and designer bag topped it off
By Caitlin Elliott Published
-
Pippa Middleton’s traditional checked coat and brown knee high boots was a Christmas Day outfit we can all recreate this festive season
Pippa Middleton's Christmas Day outfit from 2016 was the perfect blend of cosy and sophisticated - and it will never go out of style
By Emma Shacklock Published
-
Duchess Sophie was a vision of elegance in slinky black dress styled with fluffy jacket and glittery clutch bag
The Duchess of Edinburgh proved that the simplest outfits can sometimes be the best when she wore a slinky black dress in 2016
By Emma Shacklock Published
-
Queen Mary's berry-red earrings refreshed a favourite dress – and snakeskin heels added an on-trend twist we love
The royal's mastery of colour and texture is a trick we're taking into festive season.
By Ella Taylor Published
-
Duchess Sophie wows in velvet midi dress and sparkling handbag for the Royals’ Remembrance Day Festival
Duchess Sophie looked stunning in a beautiful midi dress from her favourite designer brand Suzannah London
By Charlie Elizabeth Culverhouse Published
-
Princess Anne wrapped up warm and chic in burnt orange coat, fluffy hat and mid calf boots for day at the races
The Princess Royal wore a stunning orange coat with easy-to-style accessories to Cheltenham Festival in 2015 - and she looked so cosy
By Emma Shacklock Published