The idea of matching couples’ styles doesn’t bring to mind the most flattering vision: Posh’n’Becks in matching purple at their wedding in 1999, or Britney Spears and Justin Timberlake wearing jeans at the American Music Awards in 2001.
In 2024, it’s something altogether more subtle, as evidenced by the photograph taken during the Prince and Princess of Wales’s visit to Southport this week.
The Princess wore a burgundy polka dot dress from Whistles that was thought to be several years old; his belt was used as a neck tie and he was wearing a chocolate brown Alexander McQueen coat. The prince coordinated with him by wearing a burgundy sweater and tie under his jacket.
It was the color of the moment, but it was also the kind of deliberate coordination that conveyed a unified image and made for a great photo, and when you’re the two most photographed people in the world, those things matter.
This is something we do unconsciously too; Anyone who has been in a long-term relationship will become familiar with the subtle influences of each other’s style over time. It starts with something small, like a borrowed baseball cap or the same shade of Converse sneakers, and over time it grows into a visible, shared aesthetic.
“We use clothes to express many things, and our connection with other people is one of them,” says fashion psychologist Shakaila Forbes-Bell. “So when we are around a group of people with particular interests, such as a band or a sports team, we use clothing. to express our similar tastes and as a way to connect and bond.
Forbes-Bell explains that the same goes for people in relationships: “In romantic relationships we often do this unconsciously, which is why sometimes people say you’re starting to look like your partner… We use our clothes and style as a way to express a shared identity and connect with a group.” It satisfies this inner desire to belong, going back to the evolutionary basis of survival based on togetherness, and how this can help advance our existence and our lineage.”
The Welshmen aren’t the only high-profile couple to display this behaviour; wardrobes are mirrored, intentionally and unintentionally, on red carpets and front rows everywhere.
Scroll through to see the celebrity couples who are drifting into matchmaking territory right now…
Daniel Craig and Rachel Weisz
The couple wore head-to-toe Loewe at the brand’s Paris Fashion Week show last month. Together, they made a compelling case for pairing bright, fuzzy knits with wide, skinny trousers. Her dressing – but make it high fashion.
Monica Bellucci and Tim Burton
The low-key couple has been together since 2022; They have plenty of time to combine their style with what we would describe as gothic-luxe. Very suitable for the brand Bug Juice Bug Juice promotional tour.
Alexa Chung and Tom Sturridge
Of course, Alexa Chung will find the most tasteful way to do her thing: She and rumored fiancé Tom Sturridge wore silk rose embellishments for the Vogue World event in Paris this summer. Her dress was by Viktor & Rolf, from the autumn/winter 2005 collection. Sturridge’s dove gray bodice aligns with Chung’s, serving as a clever alternative to a pocket square – 10/10.
Idris and Sabrina Elba
These two strike the perfect balance between coordination and looks that don’t mirror each other too much. Like the Prince and Princess of Wales, using a shared palette is the secret here.
King and Queen
The Welsh aren’t the only royals to wear a matching look for engagements; The King and Queen also did this occasionally; here they are both wearing a rich medium blue. Sometimes the whole family gets involved, as was the case this Easter, when the Queen, the Princess Crown and even the Duchess of York wore shades of green to present a united front.
Justin and Hailey Bieber
You’ll never see the Biebers in the same outfit twice, unless they’re wearing the same outfit at the same time. Here their white vests and leather jackets are combined so carefully that they appear to be wearing only one sleeve each. This is commitment.
Brooklyn and Nicola Peltz-Beckham
These two have turned going to celebrity parties into a career, so they’ve learned a thing or two about coordinating dressing without going as far as Brooklyn’s parents learned in the ’90s. Here, Nicola’s black tie outfit mirrors her husband’s in a playful yet stylish way.