Why Kate Middleton’s Upcycled Style Tweaks Deliver a 'Great Message' (Exclusive)

Kate Middleton's is upcycling her closet with poignant choices

Kate Middleton is becoming increasingly savvy when it comes to reimagining her signature style.

While the royal is well-known for re-wearing pieces (her beloved brown tassel boots from Penelope Chilvers have been in her rotation for over 20 years!), her style team is getting creative when it comes to upcycling her more formal — and often costly — outfits.

“We’ve seen Kate upcycle more lately and I think it’s a great message to be sending, especially so soon after William’s Earthshot tour,” Bethan Holt, Fashion Director at the Daily Telegraph, tells PEOPLE after Kate perfected the chic tweak when she stepped out on Nov. 10 for Remembrance Sunday.

At first glance, the sharp, military-inspired black coatdress—complete with a velvet bow at the collar and velvet-covered buttons — looked like a fresh addition to her wardrobe. But it was actually a Catherine Walker & Co. piece she had worn for the same occasion four years earlier, proving that timeless elegance is always in style.

“I think she recognizes she has lots of beautiful pieces already in her wardrobe, which, with a few small tweaks, can look entirely new,” explains Holt, who has written extensively about Kate’s love of recycling in her book, The Duchess of Cambridge: A Decade of Modern Royal Style.

In fact, this marks the third time Kate has reimagined this outfit. Initially worn with tasseled epaulets on the shoulders in 2020 for her balcony appearance at the Cenotaph, she had the tassels removed for a second outing in September 2022, when she wore the same piece to greet Commonwealth troops at the Army Training Centre Pirbright in the days leading up to Queen Elizabeth’s funeral.

This isn't the first time Kate has expertly reworked a look. Earlier this year, she wowed at Trooping the Colour in a monochrome ensemble — upcycled from an outfit she had previously worn to meet the crowds ahead of the 2023 coronation.

In 2019, Kate gave a black and floral Alexander McQueen gown a fresh twist by adding capped sleeves to the off-the-shoulder design she had first worn to the 2017 BAFTAs. She then debuted the revamped look at the Portrait Gala.

"Hopefully, they integrate this into all their style decisions," Holt says.

On Nov. 9 at the Festival of Remembrance, Kate made her first public appearance with the royal family since announcing the end of her chemotherapy treatment. She wore a black dress that bore a striking resemblance to the Alexander McQueen gown she had worn to the late Queen's funeral in 2022. However, it remains unclear whether the original dress had been altered — though given the historic nature of the occasion, this seems unlikely — or if it was simply a similar piece from her wardrobe.

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Either way, the sentiment was unmistakable in both her outfit and jewelry choices over the poignant weekend. On Saturday, Kate wore earrings that once belonged to Princess Diana, and on Remembrance Sunday, she honored the late Queen with her choice of jewelry — making it clear that her tribute extended beyond just her reimagined wardrobe.

“I think Kate was showing remembrance on a wider level with her looks — not just those who lost their lives [in service], but there were nods to Queen Elizabeth and Diana, which gave her looks a very personal feel,” adds Holt.