The Duchess of Edinburgh kicked off a trip to Kenya on 25 February, and looked endlessly stylish on day two of her trip as she stepped out to meet a group of accomplished women, including Faith Odhiambo, the president of the Law Society of Kenya.
Featuring in a photo posted by Faith to X (formerly Twitter), Duchess Sophie, 61, rocked a Max Mara wrap dress, as identified by Royal British Fashion on Instagram. The ‘Maremma’ style, which retails for £765, was made from lightweight poplin fabric and featured a tie around the waist to cinch the silhouette.
She wore the sharp collar unbuttoned for a more relaxed look and accessorised with a gorgeous pair of heels. The white ‘Holli 70 Slingbacks’ by the Jordanian-Romanian fashion designer, Amina Muaddi. The £439 heels featured a pointed toe to elongate the leg and are described by the designer as a “play on the party-shoe aesthetic” as they “can go ‘from nine to midnight”.
The shoes perfectly suited the setting as the meeting was over an evening meal but she needed to look professional. Faith Odhiambo explained of the dinner: “[It held to] discuss the status of peace and security in the country and region, and the role of the legal sector in addressing prevailing challenges that undermine peace. We deliberated on enhancing women’s leadership across peacebuilding, security, and defence, and shared reflections on how Kenya’s national commitments can continue to promote stability, protection, and dignity for all.”
Sophie’s look is stylist-approved
Sophie’s green and white ensemble struck a chord with Angela Kyte, a luxury stylist with a decade of experience in the fashion industry. She tells us: “The look works because it balances structure with softness. The cinched waist dress already creates a very classic, almost 1950s silhouette, but the green print stops it from feeling overly formal or matronly.”
© GettyShe adds of Sophie’s shoe choice: “By choosing white kitten heels instead of courts, she keeps the outfit fresh and approachable, they lighten the palette and add a modern lift without competing with the dress.”
How to style white heels like Duchess Sophie
White kitten heels are often avoided as the colour is deemed impractical. However, Angela reveals how we can make the most of shoes like Sophie’s…
- Use them to modernise classics by pairing with midi dresses, tailoring or pencil skirts to soften formality.
- Mind the hemline, as very long hems swallow the shoe.
- Keep proportions clean by avoiding bulky layers around the ankle so the delicate heel doesn’t look lost.
- Treat them as day-to-evening shoes – they are perfect for occasions where you want polish without looking overdressed.
- Echo the tone elsewhere – a belt, buttons or jewellery in a similar light shade ties the look together.
Sophie switches up her shoe game
The duchess opted for a decidedly more casual set of shoes earlier in the day when she headed out to meet Wajir Governor Ahmed Abdullahi Jiir, at the Governor’s Office in Wajir, north-east Kenya and take part in a traditional dance with women peacebuilders working with the UK’s Deris Wanaag (Good Neighbourliness) and REINVENT programmes.
© PA Images via Getty ImagesShe was all smiles in the ‘Deborah’ dress by Lexy London paired with Penelope Chilvers’ ‘Valenciana’ espadrilles that tied around the ankle like ballet slippers. The wedged heel felt more practical for a daytime engagement, but the closed-toe element added an appropriate level of formality.
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