Kate Middleton brings royal elegance – and Zara earrings – to the BAFTA red carpet
Fashion
Published on February 20, 2023
Written by Oscar Holland, CNN
Catherine, Princess of Wales, gave a pared-back touch to regal elegance at Sunday night’s BAFTAs, pairing an upcycled Alexander McQueen dress with $28 earrings from fashion retailer Zara.
Arriving at the British film industry equivalent of the Oscars with husband Prince William, the Queen turned heads on the red carpet in a dress she previously wore to the 2019 awards shows. But she transformed the look with a changed shoulder design and a pair of opera gloves.
Kate completed the look with black opera gloves and floral earrings. Credit: Chris Jackson/AFP/Getty Images
Making their first appearance at the annual awards ceremony in three years, the pair were among the most anticipated arrivals at London’s Royal Festival Hall. The princess was one of several stars to opt for a black-and-white palette on an evening that included a tribute to William’s late grandmother, Queen Elizabeth II.
Her floor-length dress had been altered since the last time she wore it. 2019’s floral shoulder detailing has been replaced with an elegant drape of matching white fabric. She completed the outfit with black gloves and a pair of Zara earrings, which currently retail for $27.90 and are described by the brand as featuring flower-shaped charms and jewel appliqués.
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William, who has been President of the British Academy of Film and Television Arts since 2010, meanwhile, stuck to a classic black-tie dress code in a velvet tuxedo.
The princess is known for mixing high fashion with affordable accessories and reusing dresses from previous public appearances. At the 2020 BAFTAs, she opted for an embroidered gold and white dress — also by Alexander McQueen — which she first wore in 2012.
The dress featured floral shoulder detailing the last time Kate wore it to the BAFTAs in 2019. Credit: Karwai Tang/WireImage/Getty Images/File
Elsewhere on Sunday’s red carpet, it was a night of relatively low-key fashion. Jamie Lee Curtis stunned in a black and white ensemble while Julianne Moore paired a black draped bustier dress with a white feather jacket.
But there were also pops of color – from Florence Pugh’s stunning orange Nina Ricci dress, designed by Harris Reed, to Jodie Turner-Smith’s intricate purple Gucci dress.
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