Prince William, the 'influencer' prince: he sets the velvet jacket trend (which sells out like hotcakes)

The Duke and Duchess of Cambridge are among the most beloved and elegant royals, but this time it's Prince William who's setting the trend: the green velvet jacket he wore to the 2025 Earthshot Prize has skyrocketed searches on online platforms. That's why the look had all the makings of a trend.

During royal appearances, especially those of the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge, the most photographed is always Kate Middleton: every one of her looks is a trend, whether it's a pantsuit or a coat dress, and the Duchess's fans scour the web for the exact model, driving sales skyrocket. This time, however, the roles have reversed, and it's Prince William who's setting the trend: remember the green velvet jacket he wore to the 2025 Earthshot Prize? A week later, velvet blazers are the most searched for online, and the "dandy" look is a must-have for men's fashion for Fall/Winter 2025-26.

Prince William's "Recycled" Velvet Jacket

We're used to seeing Prince William in uniform or a classic black tuxedo. For a London event, however, he decided to make an exception with a truly contemporary dandy look: a green velvet jacket paired with a black turtleneck. The look had all the makings of a trend: emerald green is one of the must-have colors for winter 2026, and the turtleneck is a timeless classic. An elegant and sustainable outfit: the event in question was dedicated to protecting the planet, and the Cambridges decided to reuse previously worn clothes rather than buy new ones. Kate Middleton chose a pleated dress from ten years ago, while the prince wore a Reiss jacket that he had already worn in  to a gala dinner.

Prince William launches the velvet suit trend

Velvet is the king of winter trends and returns to the runway every year. The trend is also popular with younger people: the hashtag #velvetsuit is trending on TikTok, and searches for velvet jackets and suits are skyrocketing on online shopping platforms. According to Lyst, searches increased by 52% in just one day, and a whopping 426% a week later. Although the prince's jacket is now sold out, brands have also offered similar models in low-cost versions for men and women: so even the cold can be faced with class.