The Duchess of Edinburgh steers towards floaty silhouettes and soft fabrics today, building a reputation for her elegant style.

But before marrying into the royal family, Sophie (nee Rhys-Jones) was more experimental with her wardrobe, as evidenced by her waist-hugging satin ballgown in 1994.

Arriving at the Ball in Cowes, the Isle of Wight with her then-boyfriend Prince Edward, Sophie channelled Barbie in a floor-length gown with a sweetheart neckline, spaghetti straps and a basque waist.

The fitted bodice was covered with black embroidery, while the pastel pink material gathered at the hips and fell into a voluminous princess skirt.

The now-Duchess’ appearance took place the same year that the 1994 Butterfly Princess Barbie hit the shelves, with her fairy-like gown featuring the same soft pink colour and patterned bodice. Perhaps she was inspired by the iconic doll!

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Completing her evening attire, Sophie draped a sheer black shawl over her shoulders and accessorised with black heels. Her dark blonde pixie cut was styled in a side parting and swept into a bouncy straight style.

Duchess Sophie’s fashion transformation

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After marrying Prince Edward in 1999, the former PR expert slowly transitioned her wardrobe from mini pencil skirts to sharp, tailored suits. 

Though she focused on more modest hemlines and necklines over the years, one thing that remained was her love of bright colours and loud prints. 

“From pretty, feminine dresses to sharp blazers and trousers, Sophie always looks very well dressed for the occasion,” personal stylist Susie Hasler of Styled by Susie told HELLO!. 

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“We always see her wearing shades that perfectly suit her skin tone, whether that’s acid-bright corals, or ice-cream hues – lots of soft yellows, soft blues, powder blues.” 

Noting that colour-clashing outfits can be hard to execute, Susie praised Sophie’s effortless style.

“The rest of her outfit will be a minimal-fuss style. We often see Sophie in floral dresses – both midi and maxi – and these types of prints can be difficult to wear as, get them wrong, and they can appear dated or overly traditional,” she explains. 

“However, the Duchess wears them in a really contemporary way, the cut is usually very modern.”