KATE Middleton looked the very picture of elegance as she stepped out in London tonight. As a patron of London's Victoria & Albert Museum, the Duchess of Cambridge wore a gorgeous tweed midi dress by Canadian designer Erdem while opening the new photography centre. 8 Kate Middleton opted for Canadian designer Erdem for the opening of the V&A's new photography centre Credit: PA:Press Association The stunning plaid dress from Erdem's SS18 collection costs £1,295 and boasts ornate jewel detail running down the front and shoulder. While the designer dress features a surprising cut-out detail in the middle, Kate opted to cover the feature with a silk maroon belt for a more demure evening look. In signature Kate style, the Duchess wore her hair in loose waves and flashed a pair of £290 statement amber earrings also designed by Erdem. Finishing off her flawless evening look, Kate opted for a pair of custom-made velvet maroon stiletto heels from Jimmy Choo - which Meghan Markle also has in her impressive collection of designer footwear. 8 The Duchess styled her gorgeous plaid dress with Erdem earrings and a silk maroon belt to cover the designer gown's cut-out detail Credit: PA:Press Association 8 The Duchess completed her sophisticated look with a simple black clutch and statement amber earrings costing £290 Credit: PA:Press Association Famous for their stunning floral designs and elegant cuts, Kate has often turned to Canadian designer Erdem over the years. Most recently, the Duchess wore their silk floral print Stephanie gown worth £1,9450 while she was pregnant with Prince Louis. 8 Tonight's opening was Kate's third public appearance since she returned from maternity leave Credit: PA:Press Association 8 The Duchess of Cambridge is a patron of the Victoria & Albert museum and opened their new photography centre Credit: PA:Press Association 8 The Duchess of Cambridge is an art enthusiast who even has a History of Art degree from the University of St Andrews Credit: PA:Press Association Tonight's appearance at the V&A is the third time Kate has appeared in public after her maternity leave, following her tour of the Global Ministerial Health Summit in London yesterday. Putting her History of Art degree to good use, the Duchess of Cambridge visited the V&A to celebrate the launch of their new photography centre - which opens to the public on 12 October. The Duchess was treated to a sneak peek of the new museum grounds and was given a private tour of the centre by V&A director Tristram Hunt. 8 The Duchess' designer dress was from Erdem's SS18 collection and cost £1,295 Credit: PA:Press Association 8 Kate expertly disguised the midriff-baring design with a maroon silk belt Credit: Getty - Contributor As a keen photographer herself (Kate has famously taken the official royal portraits of her three children over the years), this new V&A photography wing features over 80,000 images. Tonight's event was the Duchess of Cambridge's first official visit to the V&A since she became patron to the museum back in March. MOST READ IN FABULOUS ROYAL RAGE Meg dramatically FIRED Archie's nanny after mystery 'incident' in the night HAZ ENOUGH Harry 'will be a BROKEN man when breaking Queen's heart finally hits home' MYSTIC MEG May 27: Believe in yourself and people around you will take note Comment MERCY MUROKI Fake tan is not racist. But Meghan Markle, skin bleaching is Exclusive BELLE'S HELL I self-harmed at 13 after being called an ‘ugly s**g’, says Belle Hassan BUMBLE BLUNDER Singleton left mortified after dating app match sends her fat-shaming reply In even more Kate Middleton news, Pippa Middleton is also expected to give birth in £7.5-a-night Lindo Wing hospital - just like sister Kate. And Kate Middleton was actually loaded before she married Prince William... and here's her HUGE net worth. Plus this is the one thing Kate Middleton always keeps in her car... and it makes us love her even more.<doc-sep>Kate Middleton stepped out for her third official appearance since her maternity leave, and hot damn, she's got a new wardrobe. Just as we suspected, Kate's made it a point to up her style game. After debuting a trendy lavender bag one day prior, Kate worked this plaid Erdem dress with an asymmetrical neckline, pulled off the shoulder on one side and adorned with floral brooches on the other, which did indeed draw attention to her stunning chandelier earrings ($1,220), also by Erdem. A strategic fashion move, no? As Duchess Kate visited the Victoria & Albert Museum, where she opened the new Photography Centre, she modeled her midi from all angles. There was a lot to see, after all — from the distressed tweed finish to the design's gemstone and pearl buttons, and of course, the cranberry sash, perfectly matching Kate's velvet pumps. If the whole look doesn't just make you utter "Ooh la la!" consider this: Kate might have taken a tip from Meghan Markle when it comes to this ensemble. Meghan's memorable Theory blazer, which she wore on a visit to Cardiff Castle with Prince Harry, came in a similar colorway and was alike in cut, modestly drawing attention upward. Whether or not Kate did, in fact, admire how successfully Meghan pulled off this silhouette, we are so drawn to her sophisticated new number, we're shopping for one just like it after the jump.<doc-sep>Last night, Kate Middleton made her third public appearance in her official role as Duchess of Cambridge, since returning from maternity leave, at London's iconic Victoria and Albert Museum. As the museum's patron, the 37-year-old was bestowed with the honour of opening the site's new photography centre as a result of her passion for art and taking pictures (remember those adorable snaps of Prince Louis?) For the occasion, Kate wore an Iman off-the-shoulder embellished bouclé-tweed midi dress by Erdem with a burgundy belt. Max Mumby/Indigo Getty Images The look might as well have been lifted from her sister-in-law Meghan Markle's wardrobe, given the similar shoulder detailing to the duchess of Sussex's peach-hued Carolina Herrera number at the Trooping The Colour earlier this year. Middleton teamed with look with a pair of Erdem hoop-drop earrings worth £290 and a pair of Jimmy Choo Romy heels in Bordeaux velvet which cost £650. BUY NOW Erdem Iman off-the-shoulder embellished bouclé-tweed midi dress, £1,395 BUY NOW Erdem Floral Hoop Drop Earring, £290 BUY NOW Romy 60 Bordeaux Velvet Pointy Toe Pumps, £650 Erdem has long been a favourite British designer for the royals, with Middleton choosing to wear the brand on several overseas tours last year, as well as Princess Eugenie, who wore a a floral dress with a pleated skirt by the fashion house in her engagement photos. However, it appears Kate's latest Erdem look took inspiration specifically from the Queen. Max Mumby/Indigo Getty Images PEOPLE reports that the SS18 collection that Kate’s dress came from was inspired by the Monarch's 1958 meeting with American jazz pianist Duke Ellington. 'Her father [King George VI] had been a huge fan of his music, and when they met, he was so enamoured with her that he wrote a piece of music called "The Queen’s Suite",' designer Erdem Moralioglu said following a London fashion week show last year, according to The Telegraph. Getty Images 'Thinking about The Cotton Club, and Harlem, and Dorothy Dandridge, Ella Fitzgerald and Billie Holiday,' he added. 'What if she went to New York, and what if Dorothy Dandridge ended up in Buckingham Palace?' Erdem reportedly found inspiration for his designs by researching the Queen's clothes at Windsor Caste, under the guidance of Caroline de Guitaut, the senior curator of decorative arts of the Royal Collection. Getty Images A quick look at the Erdem collection and you'll see an array of reimagined floral dresses, brocade coats, ribbons, and ruffles. During the evening, Middleton enjoyed a tour of the V&A's inaugural exhibition, 'Collecting Photography: From Daguerreotype To Digital' which is an exploration of photography from the 19th century to the present day, drawing from the centre's collection of over 800,000 photographs. JACK HILL Getty Images Kate met with several curators who worked on the project, and later unveiled a plaque to mark the centre's official opening. The new centre will have more than double the space in the museum dedicated to photography. In the morning, Kate was joined by her husband Prince William at the first Global Ministerial Mental Health Summit - which is an initiative to help improve mental health around the world. Max Mumby/Indigo Getty Images The mother-of-three wore a stunning lilac dress any Emilie Wickstead for the event, which she recycled from her royal tour of Berlin and Hamburg in 2017. 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Kate Middleton is officially back from maternity leave—and her latest outfit confirms it. The Duchess of Cambridge had her first big fashion moment today following the birth of her third child, Prince Louis. While attending the opening of the V&A Photography Centre at Victoria & Albert Museum, for which she’s a royal patron, Middleton was at fashion apex, wearing a tweed asymmetrical midi dress by Erdem. The Duchess Of Cambridge. October 10th, 2018. Photo courtesy of Getty Images. Max Mumby/Indigo Middleton paired the dress with a burgundy sash belt, chandelier earrings, a clutch, and a pair of black pumps. The outing was a big one for Middleton—not just because she’s slowly making her return back into the spotlight. The event also marked her first major one as part of her recently announced role at the V&A. The princess’s collaboration with the V&A was inspired by her love of photography, as the museum’s director Tristram Hunt shared when it was first announced back in March. “The Duchess’ personal interest in photography, textiles, and the visual arts, alongside her support for the role of art in supporting mental health and nurturing young people’s creative talent, fits naturally with the collections and civic purpose of the V&A,” Hunt said in a statement, as Harper’s Bazaar noted at the time. Earlier this month, Middleton made her official reappearance following her maternity leave when she was spotted digging up bugs at the Paddington Recreation Ground with young students. “All I found were tiny slugs!,” she memorably said. Middleton wore a much more low-key look for the occasion, appropriately. She sported a pair of riding boots with corduroy jeans, green jacket, green sweater and a polka dot blouse. Meanwhile, yesterday Middleton was seen out with Prince William to attend the Global Ministerial Mental Health Summit in London in a totally different look. She wore a lavender dress by Emilia Wickstead, whom her sister-in-law Meghan Markle is a fan of. The dress was a repeat, which she first wore back in 2017 on a royal tour in Germany.