Old School Stylings: Kate Middleton at the Order of the Garter, 2008

Looking back one can see 2008 as the year that William really announced to the world his attentions in regards to Kate Middleton. The year after their 2007 split the couple were going strong and publicly declaring their on-again romance.

Not only was Catherine present when William received his RAF wings, but she also attended the Order of the Garter ceremony in 2008 at Windsor Castle during which Wills was inducted as a knight. Instead of flying solo, Kate arrived with Prince Harry and had a place among the senior royals including Camilla and Sophie, Duchess of Wessex.

For this highly important, highly visible official royal function Kate chose a slim and appropriate black skirt suit with subtle white polka dots. Miss. Middleton's chic accessories included a saucer-shaped hat bedecked with feathers, a black clutch, multi-strand pearl bracelet and what look to be her classic black Prada pumps.

During the ceremony Kate was spotted guffawing with Harry, who always seems to be able to make his future sister-in-law smile. We imagine that the ridiculous hat William was made to wear, floppy and replete with ostrich feathers, only hastened the jokes.

And this isn't the first time the polka dot suit made an appearance, either. Kate was papped sporting it at an event in Dublin in 2007 during her infamous break up with the Prince.

We're not loving these open-toed mumsy shoes.

But notice the hose. It appears that Kate's penchant

for nude tights did pre-date her royal title.

Old School Stylings: Kate Middleton Plays the Lady in Red at Wedding of Emilia D'Erlanger

When Kate Middleton and Prince William attended the 2010 wedding of pals David Jardine-Paterson and Emilia D'Erlanger, KMidd definitely wasn't looking to blend into the crowd.

Instead Miss. Catherine Middleton decided on a draped, bright red Issa dress (with a dramatic backview), a flower-and-net fascinator (we're not huge fans), gold jewelry, and dark accessories including a clutch and simple black patent pumps. Definitely the kind of look that will get you noticed.

Kate's earrings were the Temple of Heaven Gold Girandole Earrings by Cassandra Goad. No word on whether Emilia D'Erlanger, once touted as a possible future Mrs. for William, was at all ticked that the then-possible future Queen of England showed up at her wedding in bright, bright red with fascinator to match.

The pretty bride wore a rather simple off-the-shoulder dress, carried a bouquet of wildflowers and had a simply stunning tiara that was just bananas. We think it's mostly the aquamarines of the d'Erlanger family tiara that made us fall head over heels, but we also love how Emilia chose to wear it headband-style. And doesn't Emilia's engagement ring look oddly...familiar?

Old School Stylings: Kate Middleton in Blue Brocade Coat at Nicholas van Cutsem's Wedding

Kate Middleton looked regal in cornflower blue at the 2009 wedding of Nicholas van Cutsem to Alice Hadden-Paton. Kate paired the blue brocade Jane Troughton coat with a silvery dress, white and blue floral hat by Jane Corbett, and a pair of mystery navy suede court shoes.

The coat-over-frock really is Kate's favoured wedding look and one that makes sense. Not only can she preserve the mystery of the dress underneath, but she can also get two looks in one--more conservative for church and a flirty dress for dancing later.

Kate was also seen wearing what looks like the Asprey button necklace, a citrine cocktail ring and a patterned blue leather frame clutch.

Kate Middleton Wears Burberry Trench in Belfast

Photo Credit: Chris Jackson, Getty Images

Kate Middleton and Prince William made a surprise visit to Northern Ireland where they flipped pancakes as part of Shrove Tuesday celebrations. We give a big thumbs up to the royal fiancee's choice of a double-breasted, belted Burberry trench with ruffled hem.

Photo Credit: Peter Morrison, AP

Kate accessorized with her trademark silky blowout, and black clutch, pumps and hose. As for Kate's quite dramatic pre-nuptial weight loss? According to the BBC Prince William's future Mrs was reported to have laughed and said it was all part of the big wedding plans.

The stress of planning a wedding set to be seen by billions seems like a good excuse for dropping a few stone, we just hope Kate doesn't venture into scary skinny territory. Part of her appeal is that she's a very pretty everywoman. So c'mon Kate, eat a few cheeseburgers so we can stay friends.

Old School Stylings: Kate Middleton at the Astor-Van Custem Wedding

A fresh-faced Kate Middleton appeared at the 2005 wedding of Hugh Van Cutsem and Rose Astor in Oxfordshire, England wearing a trim blazer and pretty lace pencil skirt.

Kate accessorized with a cross necklace, kicky black fascinator, and black kitten heels and clutch.

Old School Stylings: Country Kate at Blenheim Palace

In a very early photo, Kate Middleton shows off her brand of country chic when posing in front of Blenheim Palace. A smiling Kate sported tweed and Penelope Chilvers knee-high boots for an extra bit of sass.

Old School Stylings: Kate Middleton Wears Blue Issa at Harry Meade's Wedding

Okay, so this one isn't really old school, but it definitely is pre-engagement. Well, pre-engagement announcement anyway, as reports suggest that by this point Prince William had already popped the question.

At Harry Meade's wedding in October 2010, William and Kate made an appearance walking in together--something they rarely did before--suggesting that their relationship was being kicked up a notch.

We l-o-v-e Kate's electric blue Issa dress, mostly for the cobalt blue colour, and we think KMidd really pulled off that understated sophisticated chic she does so well. We're liking the addition of the simple black blazer, clutch and pumps too. The wide brimmed Philip Somerville hat is also pretty fab. What we're not feeling? The pinky ring. Sorry, Kate.

The Dress that Caught a Prince

Since the royal engagement there have been many stories swirling about those early days at St. Andrew's when William first met Kate. One story goes that Kate Middleton first piqued Wills' interest when modelling a see-through number during a charity fashion show.

That dress--originally designed by student Charlotte Todd to be a skirt--has now gone up on the auction block, one of the very first memorabilia items in what has now become a very royal romance.

And while we can't say we agree with the style of this get-up in any way, we can see how a man might view it a leeetle bit differently. Non?

Old School Stylings: Kate Middleton at Laura Parker-Bowles' Wedding

Kate Middleton wore a pretty gold brocade coat (by Day Birger et Mikkelsen from their Resort 2006 collection) to the wedding of Laura Parker-Bowles, daughter of Camilla, to Harry Lopes, the nephew of the late Lord Roborough and grandson of the late Lord Astor of Hever. Kate's accessories included a feathered fascinator and what looks like a suede clutch.

Update: Coolspotters has located a photo of the coat from a

now-ended eBay auction.

You can also see a hint of the lace dress (we're thinking that Kate's

gold lace dress is perhaps by Collette Dinnigan).

Update: Collette Dinnigan has confirmed the lace dress as her's.

Above, a photo of the happy couple.

Old School Stylings: Kate Middleton at Peter Phillips' Wedding

via dailymail.co.uk

In the run up to the royal wedding we thought we'd take a look back at some of Kate Middleton's iconic looks through the years, in no particular order, really. Let us know if there are any great Kate outfits we miss! The first we'll touch on is the ensemble that Ms. Middleton sported at the wedding of Peter Phillips, first cousin of Prince William and the son of Princess Anne, to Canadian Autumn Kelly. The couple came under intense fire after they sold their wedding photos to Hello!, but what can you do.

Photos out of the pages of Hello!

We did think it was a bit weird that Wills skipped his cousin's nuptials in favour of attending a wedding with his ex-girlfriend, but, whatevs. I guess royals really are that much different than the rest of us. Kate looked fresh, chic and pretty in a fabulous pink satin double-breasted jacket worn over a black Issa dress that featured some slightly risque (for a future princess) sheer panelling. There's a better view of the dress itself in the third photo above. Kate accessorized with a black hat (we could have done without the funerary netting), pink satin shoes and a pink satin box clutch by Prada.

This is also the wedding where Princess Beatrice appeared in a multi-coloured McQueen dress that she topped off with a turquoise clutch and a butterfly fascinator.

The groom's sister, Zara Phillips, sported a strapless green Vera Wang gown just like the other attendants. Wang? Really? We could have sworn we have a few of these typical bridesmaids dresses in our closets. In that damn wedding green shade (you know the one...pretty but almost a non-colour). And what was with all the girls and those awful tan lines?

Peter Phillips and Autumn Kelly exiting St. George's Chapel.

The bride wore a pretty tiara loaned to her by the Princess Royal.

Otherwise we're kinda underwhelmed.