Kate Middleton's cropped trousers and peplum knit are a comfy combination that'll take you from summer heatwaves to autumn sunshine
The Princess of Wales nailed transitional styling with this outfit in 2019 and it's perfect if you're tired of dresses right now
Even during the heatwave I've been keeping one eye on new-in autumn pieces and whilst we're not quite done with our summer wardrobe yet, the temperatures have finally started to drop. After weeks of dresses and comfortable sandals it's refreshing to be able to wear a bigger variety of pieces and the Princess of Wales's cropped trousers and short-sleeved knit are a great transitional combination.
She wore them when she hosted the inaugural Kings Cup regatta in August 2019 and the trousers were flowy and high-waisted, with contrasting buttons on the front. They fell to just above the ankle and the relaxed silhouette was breezy for a sunny day.
The last thing you want to wear in the heat - in summer or autumn - is tightly fitted, restrictive trousers.
Shop Kate's Look
Affordable and easy to throw on, this knitted top has ribbed detailing and a crew neckline. It comes in a few other colours, though this gorgeous scarlet tone is bright for summer and would work for early autumn too. The peplum flares out slightly without being too structured.
You can get these trousers in regular and petite fits and multiple lengths, as well as in brown if you find that easier to style than navy. They're crafted from a breezy linen blend material and have gold-toned buttons on the front for a touch of detail.
Worn by the Princess back in 2019 and plenty of times since then, these Superga Cotu Classics are great for so many occasions. They've got a streamlined plimsoll-esque shape and are made with canvas uppers and rubber soles.
Knitted from soft cotton yarn, this Albaray top would look stunning as part of an all-navy outfit, or with pops of bright colour. It buttons up the front and the peplum hem is ribbed for a touch more detail. It's currently on sale, making it very affordable.
The Boden Chiswick trousers are gently tapered and fall to a cropped length like the Princess of Wales's. This showcases your footwear beautifully and the breathable 100% linen material is ideal for summer. There are belt loops so you can easily accessorise them too.
When she's not wearing her Supergas, Kate is a big fan of her Veja trainers and hers have rose-gold detailing, but the gold on these is just as pretty. They're discounted right now and have a low-top design, with cotton laces. The uppers are made from leather.
Going for something more lightweight is going to keep you cooler and cropped designs showcase your footwear beautifully. Although this length is more popular in spring/summer, you can also repurpose them in the colder months by styling them with ankle boots.
High-rise ankle boots and cropped trousers offer a contemporary look, though the Princess wore her LK Bennett ones with her favourite white trainers from Superga instead. The deep navy tone of the trousers was a softer alternative to black tailoring.
Navy has a reputation for being tricky to style and you could always go for a similar shape in another soft shade like camel or chocolate brown. However, I think this shade is more versatile than you think and can be worn with neutrals, as well as with red or orange for a pop of colour.
Kate's short-sleeved peplum knit from Sandro combined orange, red, white and navy and was a lovely contrast. The peplum itself was small and it draped elegantly over the waistband of her trousers.
These kinds of styles are massively on trend for 2026 and woman&home's Digital Fashion Ecommerce Editor Caroline Parr has some top tips for how to wear them.
"A peplum top works wonders for anyone wanting to create some shape in their silhouette. They're also brilliant if your tummy is an area you worry about," she says. "Styling them is much easier than you think, too - stick to simple straight-leg jeans or trousers to allow the peplum to make the statement."
This is exactly what the Princess of Wales did for The King's Cup and although her top was quite bold, Caroline explains that "choosing one colour for the whole look will make it flow". She adds, "I'm a fan of colour blocking. Go minimalist, too, here, as prints can feel a little too much."
Stripes are a relatively minimal print, though a plain navy peplum knit would be pared-back and chic with trousers like Kate's. If you've got high-waisted trousers, go for a slightly more cropped top and it'll sit nicely over them without covering you in swathes of fabric.
The future Queen loves peplums more generally and has a big collection of peplum dresses, though starting with a top is a little less daunting if you're not used to wearing this frilled style.
