Sophie, Countess of Wessex attends day 1 of the Royal Windsor Horse Show in Home Park, Windsor Castle on July 1, 2021 in Windsor, England.

Duchess Sophie surprises in leather Victoria Beckham-inspired look - wow

The Duchess of Edinburgh stepped out in London rocking an edgy designer leather jacket

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Senior Lifestyle & Fashion Writer
May 18, 2023

The Duchess of Edinburgh (formerly Countess of Wessex and Forfar) nailed the art of elevated dressing this week when she attended a glamorous event in London for the Chartered Management Institute Women's Annual Conference. 

The wife of Prince Edward, 58, looked fabulous in a fit-and-flare striped dress from Victoria Beckham's eponymous fashion label. Duchess Sophie layered her candy cane print dress with a runway-worthy Prada jacket - 

WATCH: Inside Duchess Sophie's style file

Sophie's vintage Prada jacket featured a collarless cut, structured shoulders elevated with leather epaulettes and a svelte tailored fit that highlighted her feminine silhouette.

In photographs shared on Twitter, the Duchess looked radiant wearing her signature blonde hair in a sleek straightened style, complementing her surprisingly vampy leather look.

Taking to Instagram to comment on the royal's biker-chic aesthetic, fans hailed the Duchess of Edinburgh's edgy unrivalled style. 

© Getty

Duchess Sophie formerly wore her stylish leather jacket back in 2017

"I'd love to see the dress on her! This outfit looks super youthful yet classic, especially paired with a leather jacket," penned one fan, as another wrote: "I love this look on Sophie. The collarless leather jacket is very flattering. I also think the dress flare at the bottom would give the outfit a great silhouette. The stripes are great."

© Getty

The Duchess looked effortlessly chic when she formerly wore the jacket in 2017

"This is a fabulous look. The jacket can be worn in so many ways. And the dress is very striking!" chimed in a third fan. 

© Getty

The Duchess of Edinburgh previously wore her timesless designer outerwear at the Royal Windsor Horse Show

It's not the first time we've seen the Duchess channelling a biker babe look. 

Sophie's Prada number has been in her wardrobe for a number of years, with the royal having worn it back in 2017 to visit the British Women's Hockey team in Marlow, Buckinghamshire and again at the Royal Windsor Horse Show. 

© Getty

The Duchess of Edinburgh goes hell for leather

If we had a timeless Prada lambskin jacket in our archive, we'd recycle it too!

Perfect for layering over spring dresses, elevating an evening look, or even for levelling up your winter wardrobe, there's no style weapon more versatile than a royal-approved leather. Shop our edit of favourites below. 

Royal-approved leather jackets

  • AllSaints Leather Jacket

    AllSaints Dalby Slim Fit Leather Biker Jacket

    Sizes available: UK 2-16

    Colours available: Black

    Shipping: Free Standard Delivery

    Returns: Free within 28 days

    AllSaints is synonymous with leather jackets and the biker styles are iconic for good reason. Perfectly crafted in soft leather, if you only have one, make it the Dalby. Fully lined, it features the brand's signature metal trims and two zipped pockets.

  • Reiss Leather Jacket

    Reiss Tallis Leather Biker Jacket

    Sizes available: UK 4-18

    Colours available: Black

    Shipping: £5.95 Next Day Delivery

    Returns: £1.95 within 28 days

    Crafted from premium leather, the Tallis jacket from Reiss has a classic racer design with chic quilting and cool asymmetric zip detail.

  • Mango Leather Jacket

    Mango Leather Biker Jacket

    Sizes available: XXS-4XL

    Colours available: Black

    Shipping: £3.95 Standard Delivery or free for orders over £30

    Returns: Free within 30 days

    Leather jackets don't come much more affordable than this one from Mango. Made from 100% Nappa leather, it has a slim fit design and comes in an inclusive range of sizes, from XXS to 4XL.

  • & Other Stories Leather Jacket

    & Other Stories Topstitched Leather Jacket

    Sizes available: XS-L

    Colours available: Black

    Shipping: £4 Standard Delivery or free for orders over £80

    Returns: Free within 30 days

    For a unique take on the leather biker jacket, & Other Stories has this boxy zip-up style with an all over faded finish. It features a stand-up collar, padded shoulders and duo chest zip-pockets.

  • COS Leather Jacket

    COS Oversized Cropped Leather Jacket

    Sizes available: XXS-L

    Colours available: Black

    Shipping: £4 Standard Delivery or free for orders over £100

    Returns: Free within 28 days

    With its cropped cut, this COS jacket is perfect for your spring wardrobe refresh. It features a cool exaggerated collar, angled pockets, a wide belt and shiny silver-tone hardware.

  • Karen Millen Leather Jacket

    Karen Millen Signature Leather Jacket

    Sizes available: UK 6-16

    Colours available: Black, Blush, Dark Tan, Black/White

    Shipping: £4.99 Standard Delivery or free with Karen Millen Premier

    Returns: £2 within 28 days or free with Karen Millen Premier

    Cropped at the waist with a lightly tailored silhouette, Karen Millen's signature leather jacket is feminine and so flattering. It comes with silver-tone zips.

  • M&S Leather Biker Jacket

    M&S Leather Jacket

    Sizes available: UK 6-24

    Colours available: Black

    Shipping: £3.99 Standard Delivery or free for orders over £60

    Returns: Free within 35 days

    Marks & Spencer's classic leather biker jacket features quilting on the inside, an asymmetric zip fastening and multiple pockets.

  • Anine Bing Leather Jacket

    Anine Bing Benjamin Leather Jacket

    Sizes available: XS-M

    Colours available: Black 

    Shipping: £5.95 Standard Delivery or free for orders over £100

    Returns: Free within 14 days

    From the relaxed fit to the removable waistbelt and leather that gets more supple with each wear, Anine Bing's Benjamin biker jacket is at the very top of my wish lists.

  • Arket Leather Jacket

    Arket Racer Leather Jacket

    Sizes available: EUR 34-44

    Colours available: Black

    Shipping: £5 Standard Delivery or free for orders over £125 

    Returns: Free within 30 days

    Arket's racer-inspired leather biker jacket has a boxy cut, with a stand collar and zip details at the sleeves. I love it styled with wide-leg jeans.

  • Zara Leather Jacket

    Zara Soft Leather Jacket

    Sizes available: XS-L

    Colours available: Black

    Shipping: £3.95 Standard Delivery or free for orders over £50

    Returns: £1.95 within 30 days

    If you're looking for something a little more unique, head to Zara. Made from the softest leather, this jacket features subtle vintage-inspired details such as raglan sleeves and a shirt collar with wide lapels. 

The Duchess of Edinburgh in Cornwall

Sophie's engagement at the Chartered Management Institute Women's Annual Conference at IET London was swiftly followed by a trip to Cornwall, where the mother-of-two sampled a series of alcoholic tipples at Colwith Farm Distillery near Crewell Moorin. 

Duchess Sophie looked immaculate in a double-breasted blazer from Altuzarra, slipping into the boldest chequered trousers we've ever seen on a royal. Sophie was armed with a stunning cream 'Crescent Shoulder Bag' from Strathberry, epitomising spring with her playful, pastel ensemble.

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