Kate Middleton Wore an Erdem Off-the-Shoulder Dress to the Victoria and Albert Museum

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On Wednesday, Kate Middleton visited the Victoria and Albert Museum in London to open a new photography center. To mark her first visit as a royal patron of the museum, Kate wore an Erdem tweed dress (that's now sold out) and pearl earrings from the fashion house. The ensemble featured short sleeves and an off-the-shoulder fit. A burgundy sash ran across her waist and the dress also had floral embellishments on the asymmetrical neckline. The Duchess of Cambridge accessorized with a black Jimmy Choo clutch and velvet pumps. It's been a while since we've seen Kate rock an off-the-shoulder look, but perhaps she took some notes from Meghan Markle—who isn't shy about showing off her shoulders.

This was Kate's third public engagement since returning from maternity leave earlier this month. Unlike yesterday's lavender-colored number by Emilia Wickstead, Kate chose a dress with tweed details that added a touch of something special to her look. This look might also be completely new too, though Erdem is one of Kate's go-to designer labels. While this dress is by no means her Alexander McQueen coat dress—what I assume is her favorite piece ever—it does look like something she can pull out for any occasion.

The Duchess Of Cambridge Opens The V&amp;A Photography Centre

Kate's Erdem choice was definitely different than Meghan Markle's black velvet Givenchy dress, which she wore to the Royal Academy's Oceania Exhibit last month. The tweed gave Kate's dress a timeless but polished vibe while Meghan's outfit was a little more sleek and modern.

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Don't expect Kate to repeat her museum look though at Princess Eugenie's wedding this Friday. The Duchess of Cambridge will likely wearing an outfit that's a little more formal, like another designer dress with a matching coat and fascinator.

Marina Liao is the former fashion news editor at Marie Claire, where she covered celebrity style (from Meghan Markle to Katie Holmes), fashion trends, and shopping advice, plus conducted original interviews with industry insiders. She's now the Senior Commerce Editor at House Beautiful, where she owns coverage on deals and sales across home decor and accessories, in-depth product reviews on furniture and appliances, as well as news around new product launches since 2023. With help from leading designers and tastemakers, Marina spotlights quality products while tracking current design trends, a skill she’s mastered over six years in fashion media. Marina holds a bachelor’s degree in journalism from Stony Brook University, beginning her career in narrative-driven commerce coverage as an editorial assistant at PopSugar.

Kate Middleton Wore an Off-the-Shoulder Tweed Dress by Erdem to the Victoria and Albert Museum

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