Known for her love of the British High Street, nothing can keep the Duchess away from snapping up staples at style hotspots ,Hobbs, Whistles and Reiss.
British designer Alice Temperley recently stated that Kate has been ‘brilliant’ for the UK fashion industry and economy, and praised the Duchess’s active efforts to mix high fashion with high street as much as she could.
So, to make it easy for you K Middy aspirers next time you go on a shopping spree for pieces that resemble the Duchess’s personal style, here are a few points to take note of to make it a successful, bargain-tastic trip:
1. Opt for classic shapes
Kate’s lean frame and fabulous height mean she can carry off almost any look, but these vital stats aren’t representative of the female population aspiring to dress like her. Dresses cut to flatter the figure in neutral tones work best all round, and subtle cinching at the waist creates the perfect hourglass silhouette.
Steer clear of trend-centric pieces such as boxy shifts, sport-detailing dresses. Kate champions the peplum trend(no longer a passing trend, more of a staple), a classic look worth investing in, but stick to quality fabrics.
Kate’s style is uber-classy, and being a royal the onus is on her even more to dress modestly, so steer clear of unnecessarily deep necklines and short hemlines.
Style notes: Reiss Shola Dress (£175), worn to greet America’s First Couple at Buckingham Palace.
2. Block colours
Although she loves to occasionally dabble in prints and pretty textures (cue: arriving in Canada in an Erdem lace dress; Bird print Orla Kiely dress worn for a visit to an Oxford primary school), Kate has shown an affection for block colours.
The unofficial champion of mono-colour outfits, Kate’s approach to colour when dressing allows her wardrobe to be more versatile, meaning she can repeatedly style key outfits in different ways – key to her recycling habits!
If you’re a lover of print and texture, invest in something that isn’t too now, but rather verges on classic (scarf prints, small polka dot prints, jacquard loom, self prints).
Style notes: LK Bennett teal ‘Jude’ jacket (£325) and Davina dress (£225) worn to kick off the Diamond Jubilee tour in Leicester.
3.Choose sophisticated, outfit hopping accessories
Kate constantly relies on trusty accessories to pull together her entire look. Her love for black LK Bennett and Stuart Weitzman wedges is pretty clear, as they seem to be her go-to shoe for daily comfort. Other styles making the hot list are mid-heeled patent pumps and boots.
Classic carry-alls and pretty clutch bags in neutral shades; fuss free jewellery, including fine bracelets, small studs and pearl drop earrings, printed silk scarves and waist cinching belts are perfect for emulating Kate’s sophisticated approach to accessorising.
Its not about making a statement when accessorising, but more about making an understated piece look outstanding by keeping your look fuss-free, and investing in what we call ‘outfit hopping’ accessories.
Style notes: The Jaeger ‘Kate’ bag (£150) seen at Wimbledon 2012; LK Bennett Natalie clutch (£160), seen at the Buckingham Palace garden party.
4. Master the high-low mix
If Kate Middleton, a royal with the world hawking her every move, has no qualms about mixing high end with High Street, why should we? Remember, she was once like us, a mere commoner!
Mastering the high-low mix is the key to successful, cost effective dressing, and means you only have to invest in one or two well thought out high end pieces to team with your extensive, bargain-tastic high street wardrobe. It also keeps your look particularly interesting, and steers clear of the head-to-toe approach to dressing.
K Middy does this best, and is often photographed in a high street ensemble paired with a designer clutch. Set yourself a high end budget for key pieces you want to invest in, and then think about the wear you will get out of them when teamed with your High Street wares. Will the overall look work? Can the high end piece outfit hop?
Style notes: Whistles ‘Bella’ dress in multi petal print (£150), accessorised with an Anya Hindmarch ‘Maud’ clutch for the Olympics Closing Ceremony.
