Duchess Sophie's cut out bodycon dress and messy bun is a bold summer look that wowed us
The Duchess of Edinburgh wore a fabulous cut out dress for a special event in 2012 and the colour is what summer dreams are made of
Duchess Sophie's pink cut out bodycon dress and messy bun from 2012 need to make a summer comeback soon.
When it comes to royal style inspiration there are so many items we’ve seen the Duchess of Edinburgh wear that we’d love to add to our summer capsule wardrobe. From her whimsical floral dresses to her wedges, her outfits exude elegance and although she loves neutrals, she’s also not afraid to go vibrant with colour. This was certainly the case back in 2012 when Duchess Sophie’s cut out dress proved occasionwear looks can be bold and sophisticated all at once. She attended a special 'Celebration of the Arts' event at the Royal Academy of Arts that May wearing a bright raspberry pink dress with a very statement neckline.
Rising up into a halterneck, the Duchess of Edinburgh’s dress had three cut-out sections running across her décolletage. This transformed the section above into a collar-like piece that beautifully framed her neck and each of the cut-outs were slightly rounded, softening this statement pattern.
Shop Raspberry Pink Inspiration
RRP: £110 | Make a statement this spring/summer with this magnificent pink bodycon dress. Falling to an elegant midi length, the pared-back design makes this such a timeless piece to invest in. Pair with neutral accessories to make it shine or go for an all-pink look.
RRP: £65 | There's nothing quite like a pair of vibrant shoes to add a sense of fun to any summer occasion look and the fuchsia shade of these is stunning. These shoes are designed for wider feet and have a pretty tie up detail and a super sturdy block heel.
RRP: £49 | Also available in a much more neutral camel hue, this leather clutch is a great choice for summer events like garden parties or weddings. It has a slouchy style to it and magnetic clip fastenings to help keep your essentials safe inside the fully lined interior.
The dress had a fitted, bodycon style and fell to just above her knee, making this the perfect cocktail dress. If the design wasn’t unique and fabulous enough then the colour of Duchess Sophie’s cut out dress took this to the next level of occasionwear greatness. With subtle purple undertones, this was the perfect raspberry-magenta pink hue and was incredibly flattering.
Although pinks had a huge moment in 2023 and aren’t one of the biggest fashion colour trends for 2024, this is such a magnificent colour that we can’t help wanting to incorporate it into our summer wardrobe right now. Admittedly, it’s rather a bright hue so if you’re in love with Duchess Sophie’s cut out dress but aren’t quite ready to go all-out like she did, a pop of pink with your accessories or even your lipstick is a lovely touch.
When it came to her own accessories Duchess Sophie went for contrasting, darker tones that made the dress’s vibrancy shine even more. Her shoes of choice were deep purple satin heels and her black, textured clutch added a gothic edge to her ultra-feminine styling.
Shop Messy Bun Essentials
RRP: Was £9.99, Now £7.49 | If you want any updo, including a messy bun, to stay perfectly place then you might want to add some strong hairspray to your styling collection. This extra strength hairspray is also great for curls and can help to keep the sides of your hair smooth going into a bun too.
RRP: £19.45 | This dry texture spray is lightweight and non-greasy. It helps to add volume and bounce to your hair as well as delivering long-lasting hold and can be used to prep your hair and provide grip for updos. Whether you want it to enhance your messy bun or your loose hair, this is brilliant.
RRP: £3.99 |Even if you want your bun to look relaxed like Duchess Sophie's, bobby pins are always handy to help keep it secure. These come in a set of three different colours but you can also select just one tone depending on your own hair shade to ensure they're as unnoticeable as possible.
The senior royal swept her golden tresses up into a messy bun for this special celebration which also highlighted the cut out neckline. Over the years she’s loved so many short bob hairstyles, but in 2012 her hair was a similar length to how it is now. Her bun had plenty of texture with a fan-like shape to it that really made the most of the ends of her hair.
Sign up for the woman&home newsletter
Sign up to our free daily email for the latest royal and entertainment news, interesting opinion, expert advice on styling and beauty trends, and no-nonsense guides to the health and wellness questions you want answered.
Duchess Sophie’s hair was also in her favourite side parting and award-winning Hairdresser and Co-Founder of The Hair Consult Edward James previously explained to woman&home why side-swept hair is so beautiful.
"The side-sweep is such a great universal style as it literally suits all hair lengths and is flattering on all hair textures," the expert said, before later revealing that it’s "flattering for a wide range of face shapes, also making it very wearable."
There was plenty of volume in the Duchess of Edinburgh’s messy bun and the sleekness of the sides of her side parting accentuated this. She still loves updos to this day, though sadly we haven’t seen her cut out dress make a triumphant return. But with summer on the horizon we can’t help hoping that Duchess Sophie might revisit this look - or at least this shade of pink - for one of the season’s upcoming events and occasions.
Emma is a Royal Editor with eight years experience working in publishing. Her specialist areas include the British Royal Family, ranging from protocol to outfits. Alongside putting her royal knowledge to good use, Emma knows all there is to know about the latest TV shows on the BBC, ITV and more. When she’s not writing about the next unmissable show to add to your to-watch list or delving into royal protocol, Emma enjoys cooking, long walks and watching yet more crime dramas!
-
Jennifer Aniston’s sultry waistcoat top and layered gold jewellery is the understated party look we're recreating this New Year
With a low cut neckline and figure-hugging fit, Jennifer Aniston's waistcoat top is the perfect sultry party wear for New Year celebrations
By Charlie Elizabeth Culverhouse Published
-
Can you make mulled wine in a slow cooker? Yes, I did, and it made my house smell like Christmas
Here's the perfect recipe for brewing this festive favourite in your slow cooker
By Jessica Dady Published
-
Duchess Sophie's shimmering State Banquet shoes epitomise everything we love about her style
The Duchess of Edinburgh wore glimmering gold shoes to a State Banquet and it showcased her love of blending fun and timeless pieces
By Emma Shacklock Published
-
Looking for a new pair of comfy white trainers? Duchess Sophie’s Puma trainers are the lowest price they’ve been for months
The Duchess of Edinburgh loves the Puma Carina L trainers and these versatile shoes are now under £30, making them much more affordable
By Emma Shacklock Published
-
Velvet isn't going anywhere and Duchess Sophie’s sultry yet elegant dress from 2004 is still so chic
The Duchess of Edinburgh wore a fitted velvet dress 20 years ago and it would still make the perfect winter look to this day
By Emma Shacklock Published
-
Duchess Sophie styles favourite leather dress with sultry yet cosy knee high boots for the perfect edgy winter outfit
The Duchess of Edinburgh just brought back her go-to leather dress and her floral blouse and boots were the perfect accompaniments
By Emma Shacklock Published
-
Duchess Sophie was a vision of elegance in slinky black dress styled with fluffy jacket and glittery clutch bag
The Duchess of Edinburgh proved that the simplest outfits can sometimes be the best when she wore a slinky black dress in 2016
By Emma Shacklock Published
-
Duchess Sophie’s creamy knee high boots are the versatile colour alternative to black that'll take your winter outfits to perfection
Duchess Sophie is a huge fan of knee high boots and her cream-toned pair are as stunning as they are versatile for winter outings
By Emma Shacklock Published
-
Duchess Sophie’s striding into winter in style - her gothic floral maxi skirt, fitted blazer and suede boots are our new favourite combination
The Duchess of Edinburgh's recent look brought together so many gorgeous pieces to create an elegant winter outfit we want to recreate
By Emma Shacklock Published
-
Is Duchess Sophie a Princess? The surprising royal title that she never uses
The Duchess of Edinburgh is one of the most high-profile royals and you might be wondering if she holds a Princess title or not
By Emma Shacklock Published