The Duchess of Edinburgh was a vision of elegance earlier this week as she stepped out for an under-the-radar outing at St James’ Palace.
The 61-year-old wife of Prince Edward hosted a reception for the International Agency for the Prevention of Blindness (IAPB) in her role as global ambassador of the alliance of 300 eye health organisations in over 100 countries. For the occasion, she opted to debut a new dress – and it suited her beautifully.
Duchess Sophie’s silky moment in chocolate brown
Duchess Sophie chose the ‘Josef’ dress by Gabriela Hearst, according to Royal British Fashion on Instagram, which retails for £2,360 and features a silky finish, a belted waistline, and a draped panel around the neck.
The dress also came with long sleeves, and the buckle adorning the belt tied in perfectly with her ‘Africa’ gold ring by Giulia Barela. As for her shoes, Sophie accessorised her midi dress with a pair of killer designer heels. She opted for the ‘Ixia 80 Pumps in Garnet Patent Leather’ by Jimmy Choo, which retail for £750 and feature a sculpted heel for a modern look.
She softened the dark brown and burgundy colour palette by wearing her sandy blonde hair in loose curls around her shoulders, and her subtle smoky eyeshadow rounded off the look perfectly.
Duchess Sophie’s Jimmy Choo boots
The reception at St James’ Palace came after the royal met representatives from Guide Dogs, as patron of the charity, during a visit to the Bloomfield Walkways Community Centre in Belfast on 3 March.
Ever the style chameleon, Sophie played with the same colour palette as the one chosen for her palace reception, but made a few adjustments to make it appropriate for the engagement.
The royal teamed Gabriela Hearst’s ‘Amy Midi Skirt’ with a frayed hem with the designer’s ‘Stephanie’ blazer. Her accessories elevated the combo to the next level as she chose the ‘Double Moneypenny in Burgundy and Gold’ by Sophie Habsburg and another footwear moment from Jimmy Choo – the ‘Cycas Ankle Boot 80 in Garnet’.
Duchess Sophie plays with fashion
The £1,025 boots featured the same fluted heel as the ‘Ixia’ heels – and they earned the stamp of approval from fashion stylist Leanne Jones.
© PA Images via Getty ImagesShe told us: “These ‘Cycas’ boots make a statement and, as many fashion commentators predicted last autumn, they’re fast becoming a signature Jimmy Choo icon. The timeless silhouette, the sharp elegance of the pointed toe and the avant-garde sculptural heel elevate them far beyond the standard ankle boot,” Leanne explains.
© PA Images via Getty Images“It’s also a welcome, slightly cheeky addition to Sophie’s typically understated style,” she added. “She has always approached her role with discretion and poise, favouring classic, safe choices over showmanship. But these subtle twists, and her investment in much-admired fashion houses, add a layer of personality that feels both surprising and impressive.”
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