Kate Middleton Gave Houndstooth a Stylish Upgrade During a Visit to Harvard University—See Pics

On the third day of Kate Middleton and Prince William’s Boston tourthe Princess of Wales gave to me…a new obsession with houndstooth.

On December 2, the Princess of Wales stepped away from her husband—and their coordinated outfits—to make a solo visit to Harvard University. Meeting with leading experts at the school’s prestigious Center on the Developing Child, Middleton wore a blue and black Emilia Wickstead dress that, while simple, was anything but boring. The houndstooth check, which spread to the collar and built-in belt details, gave the dress’s basic silhouette a bold upgrade.

Middleton wore her hair down and kept jewelry to a minimum, opting for subtle gold hoops by Liv Thurlwell, her sapphire engagement ringand a tiny blue purse with gold hardware. She finished off the look with a pair of suede black pumps by Gianvito Rossi.

“Advances in science are at the heart of The Center on the Developing Child at Harvard,” a spokesperson for the princess shared in an Instagram post. “Great to see how international collaboration with The Centre for Early Childhood is facilitating the sharing of best practice on the early years across the Atlantic.”

In a November op-ed published in The Telegraph, Kate Middleton wrote about her passion for research into early childhood development. “If we are going to create a healthier and happier society for future generations, we must start by understanding and acknowledging the unique importance of the first five years of life,” she wrote. “If we are going to tackle the sorts of complex challenges we face today, like homelessness, violence and addiction, which are so often underpinned by poverty and poor mental health, we have to fully appreciate those most preventative years and do everything we can to nurture our children and those who care for them.”

In conclusion, Middleton said, “That is why I am determined to continue to shine a light on this issue and to do everything I can to secure much greater focus on those first crucial few years for the youngest members of our society—they are, after all, our future.”