Duchess Sophie was an original 'mob wife' in leopard-print silk

The Duchess of Edinburgh proved her fashion-forward mindset even before she wed Prince Edward in June 1999.

Before she tamed her riskier style, Edward's then-fiancée stepped out in a leopard-print co-ord for the ballet performance Dracula at the Sadler's Wells Theatre in London. Just months before her royal wedding, the PR executive embraced the Mob Wife aesthetic, which had a fashion revival in 2024.

Sophie wore a fitted pencil skirt that fell to her knees, paired with a matching jacket in a brown and cream animal print with a silky reflective sheen cast by the flash of the cameras. Accessorising with black heels and a cami top, she appeared relaxed and confident, smiling for photos with her dark blonde bob styled in a big bouncy blow-dry – another trademark of the viral trend. 

Cast your mind back to the '90s when The Sopranos character Carmela Soprano was the unsung hero of a mafia-run family business, proving her quiet power as a glamorous matriarch. 

Aside from the storyline, the show highlighted the playful and eccentric fashion, from heavy gold jewellery to statement fur coats, leather items and bold maximalist animal print.

"The mob wife aesthetic is the extra glam version of the old money style we all saw everywhere. With the mob wife aesthetic, you’re not afraid to wear bold colours and patterns but always keeping in line with the Bouji and classy vibe. Not afraid of sheer luxury. Think Michelle Pfeiffer in Scarface," film director and style maven Phoebe Torrance previously told HELLO! Fashion.

Sophie similarly showed off her pre-royal fashion rebellion in a sequinned grey floor-length gown with a leg split weeks before her wedding. She made a glittering appearance at the Guildhall in London For The Duke of Edinburgh Awards World Fellowship Ball, proving she had no plans to shy away from the spotlight.

Since then, the Duchess has slowly transformed her style, choosing more "traditional" outfits without falling into the trap of looking "dated." 

"Sophie always looks very well dressed for the occasion," said personal stylist Susie Hasler of Styled by Susie. "We always see her wearing shades that perfectly suit her skin tone, whether that's acid-bright corals or ice-cream hues - lots of soft yellows, soft blues, powder blues."

The royal's use of print and accessories is her sartorial strength. "The rest of her outfit will be a minimal-fuss style. We often see Sophie in floral dresses - both midi and maxi - and these types of prints can be difficult to wear as, get them wrong, and they can appear dated or overly traditional.

"However, the Duchess wears them in a really contemporary way, the cut is usually very modern," she explained.