Duchess Sophie's corduroy midi skirt has topped denim in my to-wear list for chilly autumn days
She wore it for a visit to Capability Scotland's Riccarton Hub and corduroy is easier to dress up or down than other skirt styles
There are so many fun autumn/winter fashion trends emerging already but if you love staples that are more classic then look no further than Duchess Sophie for transitional style inspiration. She visited Capability Scotland's Riccarton Hub on 14th August to mark their 80th anniversary, wearing a gorgeous corduroy skirt that's given me plenty of autumn outfit ideas.
The Duchess of Edinburgh kept things a little more summery in Edinburgh and paired her Soler skirt with a blue silk blouse and neutral wedges, both from Penelope Chilvers. She'd previously worn the same skirt with knee-high cowboy boots, showing how versatile corduroy can be.
Shop Duchess Sophie's Outfit
The Duchess of Edinburgh owns several Penelope Chilvers wedge designs and she apparently wore the Dali style in Scotland. These have an ankle strap to keep your feet secure and a velvet ribbon adornment on the toe. The soles are jute and the putty shade is so easy to pair with other colours.
This beautiful skirt comes in a variety of different colours, including some gorgeous neutrals like this soft oatmeal hue. It's gently flared and is fully lined, with a concealed zip at the back. The corduroy is cotton-rich and has some stretch to it for comfort.
Duchess Sophie's gorgeous silk blouse is selling out fast but it's still available in a few sizes. It has a reversible neckline so you can wear the statement bow at the front or at the back depending on the occasion. It drapes beautifully and you can tuck it into everything from jeans to trousers.
Shop More Cord Skirts
Part of Roman's petite section, this patch pocket skirt is made from soft corduroy fabric and falls to just below knee length. The structured waistband adds definition and there's also a neat seam detail running down the centre. Style with everything from T-shirts to blouses and knitwear.
Currently on sale, this chestnut brown cord skirt has a timeless A-line silhouette. The pockets are practical and don't add bulk, whilst the material has a great mix of softness and structure. It's also available in navy blue and the Duchess of Edinburgh has shown how well blue and brown go together.
If you love Duchess Sophie's corduroy skirt but love deeper tones for autumn then this chocolate brown design is a great alternative. It comes in regular and petite versions and is midi, which works perfectly with knee-high boots in colder weather. Until then, pair with trainers or wedges in similar neutral shades.
The ribbed finish of the material adds a sense of cosiness to an outfit, but cord isn't too heavyweight to wear when it's mild. The softness of Sophie's skirt contrasted against her smooth, silk top and brought some textural interest.
As we move more into autumn/winter mixing up textures it's a key tip to ensure your outfits have definition and feel a bit more polished. Duchess Sophie's skirt was a light tan colour which emphasised the corduroy detailing and is very versatile.
Warm neutrals like tan, olive and brown are so autumnal and I think they're easier to incorporate into a range of looks than black skirts because they don't look as stark against light colours.
The Duchess's skirt was clearly comfortable for a busy day but it felt more elevated than a denim one would've been too. Denim skirts are a great alternative to jeans, however they can still be a bit too casual for certain occasions thanks to the mottled colour washes.
In contrast, corduroy styles are more minimal and can be dressed up or down easily. Duchess Sophie's choice of an A-line, midi design is about as timeless as it gets and would work with a variety of different top and shoe options.
In autumn I'd go for a jumper and sleek knee-high boots with an item like this to create an elegant, elongated silhouette. Her ensemble was perfect for a late summer and struck a good smart-casual balance for her time celebrating 80 years of Capability Scotland, which delivers support, care and education for disabled children and adults across the country.
The Duchess of Edinburgh spent the afternoon with people supported by the organisation, as well as staff, volunteers and guests.
She heard all about the experiences and achievements from across Capability Scotland, cut an anniversary cake and officially opened a new YouthZone Play Park. This was a solo engagement for the King's sister-in-law, though she's expected to reunite privately with a lot of the wider Royal Family during their annual summer break this month.
I wouldn't be surprised if staples like this cord skirt, blue blouse and wedges get re-worn a lot during her holiday. The Duchess often sticks to tried and tested pairings and if it gets cooler at Balmoral, she could even style the skirt with the same Penelope Chilvers western boots she wore to the Royal Windsor Horse Show in May.
