I'm a silver jewellery with green loyalist but Kate Middleton's gold chain necklace and emerald midi is the perfect warm-toned pairing for autumn
A statement necklace can transform an outfit so easily and the Princess has thrown old school colour rules out the window
The Princess of Wales would've chosen her outfit for Prince George's first day at Eton very carefully - not only because this is a big moment, but because she wouldn't want to overshadow the excited teen. However, I still couldn't help admiring her style and was surprised to see her ditching delicate necklaces for something more statement.
Kate wore the Laura Lombardi Portrait chain in gold and the chunky design was a fun contrast against her very sleek and formal dress. The frock was by Emilia Wickstead, one of her go-to British clothing brands, and it was a deep emerald green.
Traditionally silver jewellery is thought to work better with cool-toned colours and I generally stick to silver and green together. The Princess's duo was more of a contrast and proved that not only does gold and emerald look great together, but that we shouldn't worry about these "rules".
Shop Chain Necklaces
This stunning Sézane Agathe necklace is made from gold-plated recycled brass and is sure to make a statement with even the simplest outfits. Throw on with a plain jumper and jeans for a touch of glamour or wear with your date night looks to elevate things even more.
If you love the look of Kate's chain necklace but prefer your jewellery on the daintier side, then this is a gorgeous option. It's affordable and delicate, with alternating oval and elongated links. The waterproof coating helps ensure it keeps it's gold-toned shine.
Available in gold and silver tones, this necklace is a piece that'll quickly transform an everyday outfit into something more eye-catching. It fastens securely with a claw clasp and the design means you can adjust the length to suit your preference. Against polo neck jumpers this would really stand out.
Shop Emerald Green
The flared sleeves of this jumper give it a contemporary edge and it's made from pure merino wool for a cosy and breathable finish. It's perfect for adding a pop of colour to trousers and jeans whilst still being very wearable. It features a crew neckline and is a great layering piece.
Shirts like this are such a handy staple for autumn as they can be worn on their own, or with knitted vests or jumpers over the top. The Isla design from Boden has a funnel neckline, gentle gathered details and covered buttons. It comes in several other seasonal tones too.
The silhouette of this Ghost dress feels very Princess of Wales-esque, with the fit-and-flare shape and belted waist. It's got buttons running down the front and is bias-cut to give it fluid movement. Style with knee-high boots and a suede jacket for an autumnal ensemble.
The gold necklace was made up of delicate circle links and it immediately drew the eye, whilst the squared neckline of the dress framed the future Queen's jewellery perfectly. It's surprising how much of a difference a slightly bolder necklace can make.
As we head into colder weather and start wearing more knitwear with jeans and skirts, having a hint of sparkle adds some extra dimension and glamour. Dainty chains might tend to get a bit lost in layered looks so something chunkier like Kate's Portrait necklace is a clever choice.
The warm undertone of the gold brought warmth to the Princess of Wales's overall outfit in a way that cool-toned silver just wouldn't. It actually felt slightly more daytime appropriate too, as a bright silver statement necklace would catch the light even more.
Emerald and forest green are generally considered cool colours and the gold chain was a soft contrast against them. Because she already had one warm-toned element, Kate could also easily incorporate more of these shades with her other accessories.
Her shoes for George's first day at Eton were dark brown suede court heels. She has plenty of green heels in her collection that would've coordinated, though not going for a strict colour match made her overall ensemble a little less formal.
It also meant that the necklace wasn't the only warm shade in the look and since chocolate is a big autumn/winter fashion colour trend for 2026, I suspect many of us will be reaching for brown boots very soon. The Princess of Wales has shown that mixing different undertones together like she did on 8th September can be so beautiful - and not as tricky as we thought.
I've even been swayed to not stick so rigidly to silver with green and I think the key to mixing cool and warm colours in a Kate-esque way is to pick one as the focus and add in a few elements of the other. Gold jewellery is such an easy way to bring in warm hues and a lot of handbags have gold hardware to tie in.
