Kate Middleton's cosy Fair Isle jumper blends trending chocolate tones and traditional styling - it's perfect for layering
The Princess of Wales has added a new knit to her collection for autumn/winter 2026 and the neutral shade makes it so easy to style
After wondering when we'd finally get some autumn weather, the UK's temperatures have plummeted and although I could do without the rain, I'm loving reaching for knitwear. The royals are clearly thinking the same and the Princess of Wales debuted a new Fair Isle jumper in a special video on 16th October, made by one of her favourite British clothing brands, ME+EM.
Kate announced a new project for the Royal Foundation Centre for Early Childhood, supported by founding partner, The Duchy of Cornwall. The future Queen has commissioned the Foundation Centre to take forward new work which examines how nature can help support the development of babies and young children.
Unsurprisingly, the Princess spoke about this project whilst outside in nature herself and the jumper kept her cosy. It was a deep chocolate brown tone with hints of steel blue, camel and white in the traditional Fair Isle pattern.
Shop Kate's Outfit
The Princess of Wales's pecan-brown Fair Isle jumper is still available in a few sizes at ME+EM and it's worth moving fast if you want to add this piece to your own knitwear collection. It's crafted from a soft alpaca-wool blend that has enhanced stretch and it has a relaxed fit and ribbed trims.
This is an update on the classic Barbour Defence waxed jacket that Kate owns and is made from a heavier-weight waxed cotton. There's a warm lining which makes it perfect for colder days and it features epaulettes and four utility pockets which close with press studs. The lining is the signature Barbour tartan.
The Princess of Wales has owned these gorgeous hoop earrings for several years now and she has the 18ct gold vermeil design with the pink rhodochrosite gemstones. They come in various other colourways as well and you can remove the charms to wear these as subtle gold hoops instead.
Shop More Fair Isle Jumpers
Affordable and so neutral that you can pair it easily with so many other pieces, this M&S Fair Isle jumper is a winter staple. The chocolate brown base colour is very on trend for the season and it's got a crew neckline and ribbed trims. The fabric has a touch of wool for warmth.
Currently on sale, this roll neck jumper is a fabulous layering piece for the colder days to come. It's a slightly more contemporary take on classic Fair Isle styling, with a repeating motif inspired by traditional designs. The colour palette is neutral and you can wear this over dresses as well as with jeans or skirts.
The Princess's exact jumper is now out of stock but ME+EM make the same style in a soft grey colourway instead. This is also selling fast and it's crafted from a cosy alpaca-wool blend and has a ribbed crew neckline and cuffs. The rolled trim at the hem is another chic detail.
Brown is autumn's must-have colour and various shades are trending right now, from espresso to latte. Kate's outfits have been incorporating these hues for months and her ME+EM knit was mainly dark brown, which made it incredibly versatile.
When you're styling traditional patterns like Fair Isle and Argyle, it can be a bit daunting if there's a lot of different colours to balance. Picking a design which has a neutral base makes things easier and looks more understated. The Princess of Wales has a few different Fair Isle knits and they all have a cream, white or brown base.
This particular piece from ME+EM had a delicate, small pattern which accentuated the low-key feel. It's sadly almost out of stock now, though the brand still makes an alpaca-wool blend Fair Isle sweater in charcoal grey with pops of brown.
There are also so many other options out there right now and because brown is having a moment, a lot of designs feature this colour. In Cornwall we saw Kate wearing her jumper over the top of a monochrome polka dot shirt with the piecrust collar poking out at the top.
This gave her ensemble a preppy, polished edge and she loves layering her knitwear like this. If it's not for you, then you can still add extra warmth by wearing a long-sleeved T-shirt or a vest underneath.
The Princess of Wales added her Barbour Defence jacket over the top and the khaki-brown shade complemented the chocolate sweater perfectly. Earthy tones work beautifully together and Kate finished off her outfit with the same navy Johnstons of Elgin x Le Kilt skirt she wore in Scotland in January (also with a Fair Isle-inspired item).
It tied in with the blue in the Fair Isle pattern and the Princess would've wanted to look polished and smart-casual for this big announcement. However, a traditional Fair Isle knit looks stunning with a simple pair of blue or black jeans and ankle boots as a more relaxed outfit.
Something about the traditional, heritage feel of the pattern screams autumn/winter and although it can be tempting to go for brighter shades these can end up looking festive. Neutral knits are great throughout the colder months as well as for Christmas and I wouldn't be surprised to see Kate wear this ME+EM one a lot more this season.
