Kate Middleton wore a black and white dress for the King's birthday

First of all, we must begin this article by expressing our sincere hope that the treatment of Kate Middleton, Princess of Wales, is progressing well and appears positive. We didn't anticipate she would be present for the King's birthday celebrations, but in an Instagram post on the @princeandprincessofwales the day before, she said: “I'm looking forward to attending the King's Birthday Parade this weekend with my family and hope to take part in a few public engagements over the summer, but also knowing that I’m not out of the woods yet,” informing the world that she would be returning after several months out of the public eye. The truth is, as trivial as it may seem to document what she wears on this occasion, she has hundreds of thousands of fashion fans around the world who have missed the regularity with which we usually enjoy her outfits. She made a place for herself in the fashion landscape as a model of elegance and poise, and over the weekend she looked as classic and elegant as ever.

For the King's Trooping the Color Parade in central London, Middleton arrived with her husband, William, Prince of Wales, and her children, Prince Louis, Princess Charlotte and Prince George. In a demure monochrome Jenny Packham dress with an asymmetrical bow at the neck, a Philip Treacy hat and floral pearl earrings, the Middleton epitomized sophistication. She simultaneously tapped into one of the season's hottest trends: black and white dresses. It's a simple but effective formula that we've seen pop up across a wide range of price ranges and brands, not only on midis and minis, but also via skirts, tops, and even swimwear . It references a minimalist and glamorous throwback to the 1980s, which perfectly fits the fashion vibe for this year's adult style.

Eschewing the nude pumps that complement many outfits from her archive, the princess opted for a pair of matching white heels with a contrasting black Mulberry clutch in a high-fashion power move that takes this look into more directional territory.

Shop the white and black trend: