Kate Middleton Joins Fashion's Inner Circle With $2,700 Gucci Dress

The Duchess of Cambridge ditched the skirt suits for her latest work outing. On Thursday morning, the royal wore a monochrome tweed dress with red trim to London’s V&A museum.

The black-and-white dress featured a red trim and a number of pearlescent gold buttons — and retails for $2,700. While the exact piece isn’t available in the United States, the United Kingdom has it for a sweet £1,790. The royal paired the figure-hugging design with sturdy black heels and a vibrant red clutch.

This is one of the first times the Duchess has worn anything by the Italian fashion house. Aside from accessories, she normally sticks to her trusted British brands including Alexander McQueen and Jenny Packham.

Wearing her hair in a semi-casual half up-do, Kate prepared to take a tour of the museum’s new Exhibition Road Quarter space. Designed by British architect Amanda Levete, the new entrance aims to reconnect the V&A with neighboring museums. The Exhibition Road Quarter is the V&A’s biggest architectural project in the last century.

Kate is an apt choice for the opening as she is one of the few royals to have a distinct interest in the arts. She studied History of Art at the University of St Andrew’s and is currently a patron of the National Portrait Gallery.

The Duchess is set to unveil a commemorative plaque to mark the opening and will also attend a reception to meet the people involved.

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