Favorite Brands – Footwear

Emmy London: Founded by Emmy Scarterfield, the company specializes in bespoke bridal shoes but also offers less formal styles.  During a 2021 Scotland tour, the Duchess carried the Natasha Clutch in saddle brown and wore the matching Josie pump. 

Below you see the Duchess wearing the brand’s Rebecca style in the Cinder grey suede color in July 2017.

The Duchess has also worn the Rebecca in ‘Makeup’, a pink hue, as well as in Riviera Blue. 

Kate also wears the Valerie heels in both carbon grey and chocolate brown (she also carries the Natasha clutch in matching colors).

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Gianvito Rossi: Brought up in the business by his father, noted shoe designer Sergio Rossi, Gianvito Rossi launched his label in 2006. One of the Duchess’s more frequently worn styles is the Piper 85 Suede Pump ($695), described as having “a severe pointed toe and 85mm block heel.”  The shoe is available at My Theresa and also at Net-a-Porter.

Kate wears the Gianvito 105 (heel height in mm, about 4.1″) and/or the Gianvito 100; a signature style for the designer. The Duchess has worn the design in bordeaux (maroon/burgundy), black suede, claret (red) suede, praline (a pale blush pink) suede. Net-a-Porter stocks the shoe in a broad range of colors. Multi-store retailer My Theresa offers the shoe in a range of colors. Kate added the Gianvito 85 to her collection in the summer of 2017.

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Jimmy Choo: Kate has worn a significant number of Jimmy Choo designs over the years. Recently we saw the Romy 100 at the 2020 BAFTA Awards, shown below left; on the right, you see the brand’s Mimi 100 style in the ‘anthracite’ colorway ($875), worn during the 2020 Pakistan tour. 

The Romy is a signature style for the brand. Kate has worn it in several colors and finishes: below left you see the Romy 100 Black Velvet Pumps ($895); in the center, the Romy 85 ($595) in black patent and a 3.3″ heel; on the right the Romy 100  Bordeaux Velvet Pumps($895).  

Kate wore the glittering Vamp Sandal on many occasions early in her role as the Duchess of Cambridge; it was first noted at the BAFTA Gala during the 2011 Tour. Kate also wore the Jimmy Choo Dart Sandal during the 2012 Jubilee Tour (center). She was also fond of the Cosmic Platform pump.

Russell and Bromley: This has long been a Kate favorite, and one of the brands she wears the most.  The Duchess is fond of many Aquatalia styles made exclusively for Russell and Bromley, like the Fallon Dry, seen below left; on the right, the Fab Dry, seen most recently in Scotland. 

Styles by Stuart Weitzman for Russell and Bromley are some of Kate’s most worn items; below you see the Half ‘n Half Stretch Rider Boot in both black suede and brown suede.

Below you see Kate on one of the many occasions she wore her  Aquatalia Hi and Dry boot, aka the ‘Rhumba.’ On the right, you see the Duchess in her Aquatalia Ruby Dry booties.

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Rupert Sanderson: This British label was launched in 2001 by the eponymous designer, who worked with Sergio Rossi and Bruno Magli before starting his own line.  Kate wears the brand’s Malory (£475, about $620 at Feb 2020 exchange rates), a classic point-toe pump with a 4″ stiletto heel. The Duchess has worn it in blue suede and nude leather. Kate has worn other styles by the designer: the Malone in grey suede, shown here at Order of the Garter events in June of 2011; on the right, the Calice, seen during the April 2016 India Tour.  

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LK Bennett: Another London-based company, LK Bennett specializes in elegant, upscale merchandise, including footwear. Kate’s fondness for their products goes back to at least 2006; she frequently wears the brand’s apparel and carries LK Bennett handbags. Below you see the Duchess in two frequently-worn shoe styles from 2016 and 2017: on the left/top, she is wearing the Fern pumps in ‘trench’ (a nude leather); on the bottom/right, the Florete, also in trench. (The styles are very similar; the Fern has a 4″ heel, while the Floret’s heel is 3″.)

Kate has worn many other styles. A shoe frequently worn throughout 2011 and 2012 was LK Bennett’s Sledge in light taupe; it has also been worn by Princess Beatrice and Kate’s mother, Carole Middleton.

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Prada: This remains one of Kate’s go-to brands; she has many Prada styles in her shoe wardrobe. The Duchess wore a pair of velvet Prada pumps for Priness Eugenie’s October 2018 wedding. 

Below left, the ‘Pointy Toe’ style in navy suede, worn to the March 2016 opening of an EACH resale shop. On the right, the Duchess wears the Prada Scalloped Wavy Strap sandal in a color called Quartz to a party at the British Ambassador’s home in Berlin.

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Aquatalia: Headquartered in Montreal, Aquatalia products are made in Italy, but Kate frequently purchases them at Russell and Bromley. The company’s Facebook page is here. The Duchess frequently wears the “Rhumba” style (known in the UK as the ‘Hi & Dry’ boot); below you see her in the Rhumba for an appearance at St. Andrews. Below right, for Kate’s first formal outing with Prince William in 2011, she wore the “Rouge” booties, also known as the ‘Ruby Dry’ at Russell and Bromley.

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Stuart Weitzman: The Duchess has shown a fondness for this brand. One of Kate’s most-worn styles has been the Corkswoon wedge espadrille in ‘nice blue suede,’ shown below left. Below right, the ‘Minx’ cork-heeled wedge, also frequently worn, first noted in May of 2012.

Many of the Weitzman styles Kate wears are available in the UK through Russell and Bromley, which is where the Duchess acquired the Weitzman ‘Zipkin’ and ‘Half & Half Stretch Rider’ boots.

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Tod’s:  The Italian leather goods company is one the Duchess has favored for some time; she carries the company’s handbags and also wears Tod’s shoes.  Below left, the Block Heel Suede Pump ($545); on the right, the Tod’s Fringed Leather Pumps, a 2015 style.

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French Sole: All of the Middleton women are fond of French Sole (known as London Sole in the US), the brand is known for its elegant ballet flats. The company’s shoes are made at its own factory in Spain; it has four shops in London, just opened in Asia and plans continued expansion. The French Sole Facebook page is here; its Twitter feed is here. The London Sole Facebook page is here, and Twitter feed here. Below we see Kate in May of 2011 wearing the India (also called the Henrietta) style.

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Le Chameau: This French brand’s boots have long been favorites of the country set, they are exceptionally well made, and a solid competitor to the Hunter brand. The primary Le Chameau Facebook page is here; Kate wears the brand’s Vierzonord style.

Kate is seen in the Le Chameau Vierzonord (or Vierzon Nord).

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Penelope Chilvers: This London-based company specializes in footwear made in Spain of all-natural materials, Ms. Chilvers is credited with introducing the Spanish style riding boot to the UK.  The company’s Facebook page is here. Of course, the style everyone is interested in is the company’s Long Tassel Boot, shown below; it is a style the Duchess has continued to wear through 2017.