Since she burst onto the scene eight years ago, her fashion choices have been closely watched and scrutinized. But nothing could have prepared all of us fashion insiders for the highly anticipated gown that she wore for her trip down the aisle to marry her prince. Since the much talked about Alexander McQueen gown, Kate Middleton’s style has been carefully followed and her choices have reflected her elegant yet simple style. She knows how to dress to accentuate her assets and has the ability to accessorize every outfit perfectly.
With every fashion magazine calling Kate the “one to watch” how do we, her loyal subjects, channel Kate Middleton’s style?
- Reuse and Recycle. Throughout Kate’s trip to the United States and Canada we saw her repurpose some of the items she wore throughout her trip: the now famous navy Smythe jacket, her solid nude pumps, and her favourite J Brand dark denim jeans. And let’s not forget about the accessories; that diamond maple leaf broach was seen on several of her knee length dresses and blazers.
From Kate we learn that elegance can be achieved through simplicity and to think outside the box. Do not be afraid of mixing things up. Try wearing your favourite blazer back to a mixed floral print dress, or add an interesting brooch to a chunky necklace for an extra punch. - Don’t be afraid of colour. Although the Duchess is a big fan of neutrals such as navy, white, taupe and beige you don’t see her shying away from colour. Luscious reds, cobalt blues, shades of purples and greens are mixed with interesting and unique details like lace, textured fabrics and over the top fascinators, proving that having a wardrobe filled with neutrals is a great jumping off point to add colour and interesting textures.
- Accessories make the outfit. So many times we forget about the simple things and we walk out the door leaving behind the items that can finish off our outfit. By watching Kate Middleton’s style we see that every outfit needs a little something. For Kate this could be the perfect solid rounded toe pump, a simple yet elegant clutch purse, a sophisticated drop earring, or pendant. The Duchess never overdoes it, which is a lesson for all of us. So look for a simple brooch, a fabulous drop earring, or the perfect neutral clutch purse and mix them into your wardrobe.
- It does not have to be expensive. If you take one lesson from Kate Middleton’s style it should be that you do not need to spend a lot of money on clothing in order for your outfit to look expensive. Mixing more expensive items with less expensive items gives the illusion that you broke the bank without actually having to do it. The Duchess has been known to mix in items from Topshop, Diesel and Reiss to name a few, but it is how she mixes the pieces that makes the outfit look expensive. Do not be afraid of purchasing some trendier inexpensive pieces and popping them back to your neutral wardrobe staples to achieve your “Kate-like” style.