The Duchess of Edinburgh has been out enjoying the sunshine this week and, during a trip to a farm in Hitchin on Friday (4 July), she introduced us to the shoe of the summer: the ballerina-style espadrille wedge.
Sophie's stylish footwear are the Valenciana Canvas Espadrille by Penelope Chilvers, a go-to brand of the the royal and a pair she has worn before. Sophie chose the ivory colourway, with woven banding around the wedge, and an earthy-toned ribbon which fastens at the ankle in a ballet-shoe bow. The ribbons can be interchanged for different colours to mix and match with various looks and, while Sophie chose ivory, the shoe itself is also available in black.
Wedges are a brilliant choice for summer as they offer elevation without the discomfort an imbalance of a narrow heel - and means they won't sink in the grass, as proven by Sophie. And, if you want to snap up a pair for yourself, they're currently on offer online, reduced from £99 to £72:
Sophie leaned on a favourite designer for her pinstriped shirt dress, wearing the Priscilla 25 Striped Summer Shirt Dress White and Blue by Susannah London. The dress is also available in pink, but the price is a little steeper than the wedges, at £690.
The Duchess has turned to Susannah London multiple times already this summer, most notably for Royal Ascot. On the first day of the races, Sophie wore a dual layer dress featuring a strapless white midi-length layer beneath a long-sleeve sheer overlay. It was studded with delicate applique daisies and was actually a repeat wear from the same event the year before.
The following day, Sophie opted for another dress by the designer, this time going bold in a punchy pink silk dress with a photographic floral print. While at Ascot, The Duchess celebrated her 26th wedding anniversary with Prince Edward. On this day, she chose a white Suzannah London tea dress (nodding to the matrimonial occasion) which was flecked with forest green accents.
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