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Woman & Home
Woman & Home
Lifestyle
Charlie Elizabeth Culverhouse

Carole Middleton's sultry red midi dress with sleek sweeping updo will never go out of style

Pippa Middleton, James Middleton, Carole Middleton and Michael Middleton sighting on October 25, 2012 in London, England.

Getting dressed up for a family night out in London, Carole Middleton's sultry red midi dress from 2012 is still stuck in our minds - and we love her timeless hairstyle.

Getting all dolled up for a night on the town can be both the most satisfying and most stress-inducing part of the week. Sitting in front of the mirror, you cross your fingers as you try out all the makeup tips picked up from professional MUAs and hope they come out as they should. You slick back your hair, utilising all the best products to prevent frizz and flyaways and then it comes to choosing an outfit. 

Well, you can avoid all the stress of picking out the perfect outfit combination as Carole Middleton has you covered with inspiration. 

Her sultry red midi dress that she wore during a family night out back in 2012 is the perfect outfit inspiration whether you're headed for cocktails with friends, stepping out for a glam event, or just fancy making a splash in the pub! 

(Image credit: Getty Images)

We love the flattering, figure-hugging silhouette of her straight pencil dress, with the knee-length hemline making it the perfect sultry yet timeless look - it's clear to see who Kate Middleton is learning her style secrets from! 

The simple neckline, paired with 3/4 length sleeves, is effortlessly elegant and Carole's choice to highlight the well-tailored shoulders with an updo hairstyle ties the outfit together perfectly. 

Accessorising with a simple, dainty chain and stud earrings stops the look from being too over the top and lets the dress do all the talking, as does the choice of simple black heels. 

(Image credit: Getty Images)

Shop Red Dresses We Love

(Image credit: Getty Images)

Recreating Carole's updo may look like a tricky undertaking, but with some insight from the experts, it can be made incredibly simple. 

According to experts, sometimes they key can be as easy as keeping the look simple but effective. "Don’t overcomplicate it," Kiki Koh, Creative Director at John Frieda, told us.

"To look chic, it needs to look effortless. Even if you went to a salon, it needs to look like you could have done it yourself."

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