Sophie's Royal Ascot Look Sparks Fresh Debate — and It's the Second Time This Week
Duchess Sophie, who is usually dressed in vibrant colors, shocked fans when she wore two consecutive dark outfits to Royal Ascot this week.
When Royal Ascot opened the gates for Day 3 ― arguably the most important day of the week ― the weather was predictably overcast. But it certainly was not so bad that one would mourn about it. So, when Duchess Sophie, easily one of the biggest fashion icons in the Royal Family, arrived at the racecourse wearing a dark outfit for the second consecutive day, fans were naturally perplexed. While many lauded the bold outfit choice, others couldn’t quite understand the decision.
In the UK, an all-black outfit is generally reserved for mourning. Even black-tie events look a lot different than they might stateside, for this very reason. On Day 2 of Royal Ascot, Sophie had worn a black Suzannah London dress with a giant bow and an elaborate hat. Fashion critics were quick to call it a fashion faux pas. Wearing black to Royal Ascot hardly seems like a safe choice. However, that seemingly didn’t deter the Duchess of Edinburgh, as she wore a dark navy blue Suzannah London dress for Ladies' Day, Royal Ascot’s most high-fashion day. She paired the look with a wide hat and her wedding necklace.
The decision to wear two consecutive dark outfits at such a colorful event as Royal Ascot confused many fans, with one social media user wondering, “Is there any particular reason Sophie’s wearing a dark colour outfit today after donning a similar colour yesterday?? Is she in mourning or something ?” while another said, “I’m surprised she’s gone dark colours 2 days in a row. I much prefer this look though.” Not every royal fan was in support of the choice, as one noted, "Sorry, not a fan of the dark colour choices this week," and another added, "Not for me I do like the hat though."
Sophie’s choice of wearing a dark outfit was especially striking since she arrived at Royal Ascot in a carriage, sitting next to Princess Anne, who interestingly had opted for warmer hues. The Princess Royal wore a floral peach dress with a lighter colored hat for Day 3. However, this is not the first time that Sophie has gone dark for Royal Ascot. She had previously worn darker hues at the racing event. For instance, in 2006, she wore an off-the-shoulder black dress, in 2013, she opted for a black skirt coat, and in 2014, she went for a high-neck black dress. It seems that the Duchess has found her way back to the darker end of her closet this year.
Regardless, Sophie’s style has always inclined towards vibrant shades and floral prints. At Garter Day on Monday, she had donned a beautiful Suzannah London floral dress with a baby-pink hat at St. George’s Chapel. It will be interesting to see what outfits she pulls out in the final two days of Royal Ascot.
In April, the Duchess had debuted an equestrian-themed dress during the late Queen Elizabeth’s 100th birth anniversary celebrations. It was a sartorial tribute to the late monarch’s love for horses. While Sophie certainly looked beautiful in the dress, it would also make for a perfect outfit choice for Royal Ascot. However, the question is whether she will wear it this week.
