Kate Middleton Has Worn Polka Dots 11 Times in Recent Memory—Here’s How to Recreate Her Favorite Style

For the men's finals of this year's Wimbledon tourney, the Duchess of Cambridge donned a frock by one of her go-to designers: Alessandra Rich. The puff sleeves, peter pan collar and ruffles gave the dress a ’50s flair when paired with the two-tone slingback heels.

Earlier in the tournament, Kate opted for another Alessandra Rich polka-dot frock in cerulean blue that she'd previously worn to a Platinum Jubilee street party.

The most Princess Diana-approved of them all, her white-and-brown polka-dot Alessandra Rich dress with draped neck, shoulder buttons, belted waist and cuffed sleeves felt like a direct descendant of a style her late mother-in-law had donned for the Royal Ascot horse races three-and-a-half decades before in 1988.

While a memorial for the death of a loved one calls for more somber tones and styles, Middleton struck an upbeat tone, possibly channeling the more celebratory aspect of honoring Prince Philip's legacy at his official Service of Thanksgiving in March 2022. She opted for a black-and-white polka dress by...you guessed it, Alessandra Rich. (If only Princess Charlotte could've had a #twinning polka dot moment. Hey, a girl can dream.)

But not all dots are created equal. This larger polka print, on a dress by another of Middleton’s go-to designers, Emilia Wickstead, struck just the right note of playfulness and fun while the duchess sat down with three families involved in the BBC's Tiny Happy People project in July 2020.

Before you think dots are just for summer months, think again! Middleton spread Christmas cheer in a red-and-white polka-dot printed dress by Alessandra Rich as she and Prince William joined famed British TV host, writer and baker Mary Berry, for her televised Christmas special, A Berry Royal Christmas, in 2019.

Middleton’s visit to a to a D-Day memorial exhibition in Bletchley, England, stands out in royal watchers minds as the day she donned a navy Alessandra Rich polka-dot shirtdress with white pointed collar and high leg slit—a fashion hit. She also wore the dress in the royal family's portrait released for Prince Charles's 70th birthday.

If you cut off the top of that dress, you’ll get a navy polka-dot pleated maxi skirt, also by Alessandra Rich, worn with a simple white tee and navy blazer for Wimbledon.

While navy and blue seem to be the favorite polka-dot print color, a bright pink dress with black spots and a ruffle collar also has our hearts. This one, by Oscar de la Renta and very Diana-esque, was donned by the duchess at the Museum of Literature in Dublin, Ireland during their 2020 tour.

And it's not just for skirts and dresses. The duchess owns a few polka-dot printed tops, like this one by Equipment she wore to a mental health center in Dublin (and at least two other times besides that).

This navy one also feels familiar, as it's almost the exact same as the top of her Alessandra Rich dress from Bletchley Park—but this time, it’s by Tory Burch. Kate wore it for an engagement in Wolverhampton with Prince William.