As Sophie, Duchess of Edinburgh, continued her visit to Zambia, she delivered major inspiration for our autumnal wardrobes. First, there was that excellent (and Kate-esque) green dress, then a rewear of some favourite Penelope Chilvers pieces, followed by another favourite print of the royal family – polka dots – paired with an on-trend handkerchief hem.
But our favourite ensemble from the trip has to be the unusual brown midi shirtdress Sophie wore to the Maramba Primary School in Livingstone. The royal met students and got stuck in with a game of netball to learn more about Sport in Action, a charity providing opportunities for recreation in the community. She did this wearing a printed midi dress by the brand Soler, a label the royal family is especially fond of.
Swipe along to photos four and 11 in the gallery below to see the outfit in its full glory:
You can also see it in the second clip of this video, as Sophie has a go at shooting some hoops:
We like this dress for many reasons. Its dotty fawn print layered over abstract splotches and leaves is a lovely alternative to more traditional patterns of polka dots or leopard. The cut – with a pulled in waist and a flowing A-line skirt – is super flattering. And the chocolatey brown colour is spot on for this season.
The specific dress is available to buy for £1,150, but rather than copying it exactly, we reckon you can take inspiration from specific details of the design. You might not fancy all that print at once (it's a bit of a statement, to be fair), so a more wearable option could be to steal Sophie's style in terms of a chocolate brown midi shirtdress. That's a staple that can be worn over and over again in the coming season.
Shades of brown are a big trend at the moment, so there are lots of options on the high street. We've picked some of our favourites ahead...
This All Saints style has a similarly flowy feel to the Duchess of Edinburgh's dress, with poppers along the sleeves and sides for a bit of edge. A shirt collar and long sleeves keeps things looking sharp. Oh, and it's currently on sale with 50% off.
Nobody's Child has a simpler shirtdress cut, with short sleeves that are ideal for the in-between weather we're having. While it's still warm, you could wear this one alone with sandals. As soon as the weather chills, layer it up under a chunky knit and your winter coat.
Nobody's Child Brown Short Sleeve Dillon Shirt Dress
Nobody's Child Brown Short Sleeve Dillon Shirt Dress
Then, Hobbs's take on the brown midi shirtdress gets some added interest with a dogtooth jacquard. The tie waist, long sleeves and pointed collar keep this dress timelessly elegant.
How to style your brown shirtdress? There are lots of options. Dressing in decadent dessert tones – think creams, browns and golden shades – feels super luxurious, but brown can also pair well with bolder colours, such as red or teal. With the right dress as your base, you can go wild with accessories. So take your pick and have fun.
