Rebecca Taylor on dressing the Duchess of Cambridge

The Duke and Duchess of Cambridge, with Prince George, as they board their jet departing Wellington. She is wearing a skirt suit by New Zealand-born designer Rebecca Taylor. Picture / Mark Mitchell

In a fitting final touch, the Duchess of Cambridge farewelled New Zealand wearing a suit by one of our international fashion success stories.

The navy tweed skirt suit with frayed trims and floral embellishment at the neck is by the designer Rebecca Taylor, born in Wellington and now based in New York.

The designer, who studied fashion design at Wellington Polytechnic (now Massey University), described seeing the Duchess wear her designs in her hometown as overwhelming.

"I am beyond flattered and excited that the Duchess has worn my suit in my hometown," Taylor told Viva.

"Seeing the image of her about to board the plane reminded me of the time my family and I awaited the arrival of Princess Diana at the same airport years ago. That moment is still really special to me, so now seeing Catherine wear one of my designs in Wellington brings it full circle for me and it's quite overwhelming."

The outfit was another example of the Duchess recycling her wardrobe on the tour, having first worn the suit publicly in 2012.

It also follows an earlier reference, of sorts, to New Zealand design, with Catherine wearing an emerald blue coat dress by New Zealand-born, London-based designer Emilia Wickstead earlier in the tour. The newly created bespoke piece was identical to the pink version she had worn in 2012; Wickstead was asked to create a new dress for the Royal Tour.

• Read Zoe Walker's take on the Duchess of Cambridge's full tour wardrobe here.

- VIVA