This could be the Duchess of Cornwall's chicest look yet

When we all first started wearing masks, they were mostly of the white, surgical and decidedly outfit-ruining variety. But as the pandemic has worn on, our mask choices have become more colourful, more print-laden and much more fashionable.

The best example of how a well-chosen mask can elevate an already great outfit has come from slightly unsurprising quarters. Yesterday, the Duchess of Cornwall wore a leopard print number with a chic monochrome outfit (complete with cape) to meet with the volunteers of The Pepper Pot Centre – which supports African and Caribbean older people – in Ladbroke Grove. The combination of well-cut black and white with a splash of animal print is a look worth channeling this autumn.

The mask was sent to the senior royal by a member of the public, but Topshop has a similar leopard print style on sale for £6 – and in a year without much to dress up for, it is a great way of adding some fun to any ensemble.

Even without such an eye-catching mask, the Duchess would have looked particularly on trend. She has worn the pinafore dress by couturier Fiona Clare before, and yesterday paired it with a white silk balloon-sleeve blouse and a cape from the same brand, and finished the look with below-the-knee suede boots. The whole outfit wouldn't look out of place on the pages of a fashion magazine.

Added to the look was a diamond, ruby and sapphire horseshoe, which she pinned to her dress and which is an homage to one of King Edward VII's racehorses.

The combination of the monochrome, the cape and the leopard-print mask have caused something of a stir on social media – with fans of all ages pointing out that despite being in her seventies, Camilla can still give many of the younger Duchesses a run for their money.

"Our Royal Highness, amazing, fashionable, chic... you look great ! We in our 70s can show them can't we?" said one user on Twitter.

It is not the first time the Duchess has given us a masterclass on how to look good in an autumn like no other. Last week, she looked stylish when she visited Wiltshire Council to thank staff for their work during the Covid-19 outbreak, wearing a floral face mask with a smart navy blue jacket. A few days after that, she was pictured at the Ebony Horse Club in Brixton in an ankle length tartan coat and thick green scarf.

But if yesterday’s outfit taught us anything it is that style is ageless and that dressing well in a pandemic is more than possible if you use a bit of imagination.

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