Duchess of Cambridge Wears Jenny Packham, Alexander McQueen for First Outings Since Pregnancy Announcement

The Duchess of Cambridge made her first public appearance Tuesday since announcing she’s pregnant with her second child. The President of Singapore, Tony Tan Keng Yam, is in the U.K. on an official state visit and while Middleton has been suffering from severe morning sickness — also known as Hyperemesis gravidarum — she still rode to Buckingham Palace in a carriage procession for the event. Prince George’s mum wore a pale blue plaid coat dress by Alexander McQueen that was cropped above her waist showing off a barely-there baby bump. She is believed to be between and 12 and 14 weeks pregnant. Pulling double-duty, Middleton also attended the Wildlife Photographer of the Year 2014 awards ceremony at the Natural History Museum in London wearing a Jenny Packham aqua gown later that night. 

The Duchess of Cambridge has been a longtime fan of both Alexander McQueen and Jenny Packham. She chose designer Sarah Burton to create her wedding gown and has worn many custom, ready-to-wear, and off the runway looks from the fashion house. She has chosen delicate Jenny Packham couture dresses for many high-profile events, including on the royal family's recent tour of New Zealand and Australia as well as their visit to the U.S. in 2013. Middleton has a history of influencing women’s clothing choices around the world. Known as the “Middleton Effect,” in past cases just moments after she’s been pictured wearing a garment that’s available for sale, it sells out before most could even track down the item online. While she paired the tailored jacket with a matching fascinator from Jane Taylor, toppers such as those aren’t as popular and lust-worthy internationally as the couture the Duchess of Cambridge wears. 

On Monday, the royals confirmed that Middleton and her husband Prince William would be expecting baby No. 2 in April 2015. The 32-year-old Duchess hasn’t been seen out in public since September, taking refuge in the comforts of Kensington palace while she was “struggling terribly” with nausea. The Duchess’s outfits always on-point and her elegance and grace throughout her last pregnancy gave expecting parents-to-be around the world an endless supply of fashion tips for nearly every social outing (except sweatpant situations). Now, with just the fist glimpses of a baby bump, it appears that we’re back on Kate Watch — here’s to six more months of style stalking!