The Stunning Style Transformation Of Kitty Spencer

Is it just us, or has the British royal family been becoming increasingly fashionable? Case in point, Lady Kitty Spencer. If you're not familiar, Kitty is the daughter of Charles Spencer, the ninth Earl Spencer. But despite being a member of the British aristocracy, not to mention the niece of Princess Diana, Kitty has only come into the limelight in recent years. Much of her childhood was spent growing up in South Africa with only occasional visits back to the U.K. In fact, her attendance at the 2018 wedding of Prince Harry and Meghan Markle was so rare and unexpected that it drew wild attention from onlookers.

"I woke up the next day and looked at my phone and thought, 'Whoops, did I take someone else's by mistake?'" Kitty told Town & Country Magazine, explaining that her Instagram following had jumped from 37,000 to half a million overnight (via Woman & Home). This new level of fame, attracted both by her mysterious presence and her hand-painted Dolce & Gabbana gown, finally thrust Kitty center stage — plus helped her net modeling jobs with major labels like Alberta Ferretti and Ralph Lauren.

In the years since, Kitty has become a fixture in the public consciousness of Britons, royal enthusiasts, and fashionistas across the world. While she may have started as a relative unknown, Kitty has bloomed into a successful model, philanthropist, and icon befitting the Spencer family name. She's even taken on roles as a global ambassador for major fashion houses like Bulgari and Dolce & Gabbana. This is a pretty big leap, but from the uncomplicated wardrobe of her teens to her current passion for elegant styling, Kitty has undergone a stunning style transformation.

Lady Kitty Spencer's youth in South Africa was spent straddling luxury and the outdoors, attending a private day school but also enjoying plenty of nature hikes and camping trips. This may explain her early penchant for understated, nearly practical formalwear. In 2007, Lady Spencer put in a rare official appearance at the 10th Anniversary Memorial Service for her aunt, Princess Diana. And while she was only 17 years old, it was clear that Spencer already knew how to dress reliably for a royal engagement. Spencer attended the memorial in a navy-blue peasant dress that perfectly balanced her youthful energy with the formal requirements of the event. Kept modest with its midi length and square neckline, the dress felt appropriate, and Spencer wisely upped its formality with the addition of sheer black tights, pearl bracelets, and, of course, a fascinator. She is a royal cousin, after all.

Spencer kept up this fashion strategy for public appearances through 2013. For instance, she showed up to a 2012 wedding in a very similar look: Once again favoring fundamental silhouettes and solid colors, Spencer topped a white midi dress with a structured navy blazer and, again, a matching fascinator. This pared-down style was a safe choice as Spencer embarked on her fashion journey, though it wouldn't remain so basic for long.

Lady Kitty Spencer finally started exploring her individuality and fashion autonomy in her mid-20s, inviting edgier and more casual pieces into her rigidly royal closet. For example, at Tatler's Little Black Book launch party in November 2014, Spencer mixed up her usual look with the classically cool addition of a leather jacket, which looked effortless and natural over her black minidress and heels. She had also been papped wearing the leather coat over a white T-shirt and jeans while attending a theater show that March, showing that her taste was taking a slow turn away from the sometimes bland looks of her past. (Pro tip: If you want to mimic Spencer's casual, 2010s cool, we have a few key tips for buying a staple leather jacket that will never go out of style.)

Spencer let her darker side come out to play again in October 2015 while attending Veuve Clicquot's immersive "A Beautiful Darkness" Halloween event. Spencer dressed up in a black gown with sheer lace cutouts, evoking gothic romanticism and showing an uncharacteristic amount of skin. She also doubled down on glamorous, vampire-worthy makeup for the evening, with dramatic eyeliner and a dark-burgundy lip. This ensemble was nearly a 180-degree turn from her past fashions, and it seemed that Spencer was willing to start taking chances in the public eye.

As her sartorial repertoire evolved and expanded, Lady Kitty Spencer began prioritizing luxury in the individual pieces she wore. Some people make critical style mistakes when attempting quiet-luxury looks, but Spencer was ahead of the game. For instance, at Tatler's Little Black Book party in October 2016, she let the material of her outfit do all the talking. While the frock's silhouette was a simple sheathe, the look was elevated by its construction in tawny brown suede, and no additional labels or logos were required to recognize the quality of the piece.

Spencer took a similar tack for Claridge's 2017 Christmas Tree Party, though the materials couldn't be more different. This time, Spencer opted for a silky wrap dress in a luscious cranberry shade. She paired the tasteful midi dress with gold kitten heels and a matching clutch, and the outfit couldn't get any visually richer — from the sheen of silk to the glint of gold, Spencer looked absolutely priceless.

By her late 20s, Lady Kitty Spencer had played around with both haute-couture fashion and cool-girl style. Then, she started to combine the two looks, and things got really exciting, with Spencer clearly coming into her own as a trendsetter. At LOVE Magazine's 10th birthday party in September 2018, Spencer daringly paired a burgundy satin skirt with a poppy yellow-and-pink Dolce & Gabbana ringer tee. On paper, it shouldn't have worked, but in reality, Spencer looked like a quintessential it-girl, complete with a messy bun.

In February 2019, Spencer pushed more boundaries at Milan Fashion Week by topping an elegant, black lace dress with a military-style jacket in olive drab. As if its color combination wasn't intriguing enough, the jacket was accented with patches and leopard-print lining, which Spencer showed off by cuffing its long sleeves. Showcasing both elegance and playfulness, Spencer's fashion-forward styling was really taking on a life of its own.

Over the years, Lady Kitty Spencer has more than proven her willingness to experiment with fashion, but her recent wardrobe has often followed a common thread. Whether she's following the zeitgeist or has simply settled into her favorite aesthetic, today's Kitty Spencer is a paragon of chic silhouettes and pristine tailoring. For example, Spencer was classically fresh at Paris Fashion Week in January 2020. She wore a white, half-sleeve turtleneck with a beautifully structured khaki pantsuit, and the pleats on the trousers were nearly enough to make us weep at their exceptional fit — and definitely left us exploring updated ways to style our own tailored trousers.

Razor-sharp tailoring seems to be Spencer's superpower nowadays. At a black-tie dinner in October 2024, Spencer dazzled in a classic LBD that was also fitted to perfection, from the sleeveless bodice to its sleek, bodycon curves. Honestly, this version of Spencer's style feels like the natural culmination of all of her past selves, merging simplicity, edginess, and luxury. And while we don't know where Spencer's fashion journey may take her next, we're excited to find out.

Still hungry for more aristocratic transformations? Kitty Spencer's famous aunt, Princess Diana, had her own wardrobe makeover after leaving the royal family.