Adored by millions of Brits and people from every corner of Earth, Kate Middleton, the Princess of Wales, is one of the most famous members of the British monarchy.
From the moment she was welcomed into one of the most powerful families there are, Kate became people’s favorite. She happens to follow into the footsteps of late Princess Diana in terms of doing her best to be perceived as the princess of the people.
Over the years, the monarchy has changed. And although that change has been slight, we can witness some traditions being modernized and others being ditched completely, but one thing that hasn’t changed is the dress code the royals need to follow based on the royal duty they perform.
When it comes to breathtaking outfits, Kate Middleton is on the top of the list of best dressed women there are.
She doesn’t exclusively wear expensive clothes from world renowned designers, but more ‘affordable’ outfits by local designers. What’s most, she has been seen re-wearing certain pieces of clothing over the years which brought her the praise of many.
On the day she appeared in public for the first time as Princess of Wales, Kate wore a beautiful yellow dress from the British brand Karen Millen and according to fashion expert Miranda Holder, this was no coincidence.
“Princess Kate’s wardrobe is probably the most important royal wardrobe of the moment—her every outfit being scrutinized around the world the moment she steps out into the public eye,” she told Newsweek.
“The High Street element of her wardrobe, like every other, will have been planned and premeditated as the impact of every tiny style statement is understood by the palace to communicate to the world an important message.
“We have recently seen Kate re-wear and rework some old favorite designer pieces which also helps to keep the princess relevant and accessible, and wearing High Street is another way of doing this,” Holder added.
“This is a thoroughly modern monarchy and the princess and Prince William have expressed in many ways, with clothing being just one of them, that they are of the people and close to the people.”
Further, Holder said that now she’s a princess, Kate’s outfit would become more formal.
Of all the dresses Kate wore in recent years, one particularly caught the attention of the wide public. Namely, when she and William attended the London premiere of Top Gun: Maverick, starring Tom Cruise, Kate wore black floor-length Roland Mouret gown with a white off-the-shoulder neckline which cost around $600.
As per royal expert Daniela Elser, Kate spent staggering $337,000 on her wardrobe last year.
Kate’s fashion style, which influences trends, is dubbed the “Kate effect,” a term that describes the wide-reaching fascination with her outfits.
The “Kate effect” began in 2010 after she and Prince William announced their engagement. The then-duchess wore a sapphire blue dress from the brand Issa. As reported by Vanity Fair, within 24 hours, the dress had sold out online.
“Would any dress have had the same effect? No,” Bethan Holt, fashion news and features director at The Telegraph, wrote in her book, The Duchess of Cambridge: A Decade of Modern Royal Style. “There was something about the Issa. It made Kate look glamorous yet respectful; she wasn’t trying to seem more mature than she was, but nor did the dress depict her as a slave to fashion.”
As stated by the Express and Newsweek, the “Kate effect” might “be worth £ 1 billion to the UK fashion industry.”
“Diana was often telling a story with her clothes, and she had a big evolution of her own personal life. Whereas the queen, the whole point of her is to remain basically the same,” Holt told Vanity Fair. “The public mood now is much less towards wanting royals that are very distant in their palaces. People want to be able to relate, and I think the royals realize that clothing is a way that they can do it.”
“There’s no better way than saying, hey, you can buy the same Zara jeans I’m wearing right now for £30. She’s had a lot of those [relatable] experiences. She went on a gap year, and she was a girl about town just after university. We saw those pictures of her having a job, and I think lots of women can relate to those things. She’s talked about mum guilt as well, and about the box sets they watch and what takeaway they get.”
Bethan Holt, as well as other fashion experts, believe that Kate’s choice of outfits sends different messages to specific groups.
When Meghan and Harry were still residing in Britain and were attending royal events along the rest of the members of the Firm, Kate could be spotted wearing beige on several occasions. At the same time, late Queen Elizabeth and Meghan Markle wore outfits in the same color and according to royal experts this wasn’t a coincidence.
Royal expert Elizabeth Holmes believes it was a representation of togetherness despite the troublesome times the family was going through.
“To have them in the same shade, I took very much to be a sign of unity,” Holmes said. “And then of course, [The Queen] issued her statement of support to the Sussexes on January 13. Kate in brown on Monday morning was interesting, too, after she had been roped into the coverage.”
“Kate wore two pieces of brown: a khaki coat and a brown turtleneck—both of which were very visible in the shoulders-up shot of her driving the kids to school. It could be a coincidence but I think perhaps not!”
One time, while visiting medical colleges working in maternal healthcare alongside Princess Anne, Kate wore a cream dress with laces in the shape of pineapples.
As per The New York Times, “Pineapples have become a powerful symbol for women struggling with infertility. The fruit appears in the profile photos and Facebook feeds of women in online infertility communities.”
They continued, “They are most widely known as a symbol of hospitality and welcoming. But on social media, pineapples are inextricably tied to infertility. On Instagram, the hashtag #PineappleTribe aims to connect women going through IVF.”
The Royal Insta Blog also wrote about the princess’ choice of wearing a pineapple: “Displaying or wearing the pineapple can represent a non-verbal communication of an enormous life event in common or be an active out loud shout of support to raise awareness and funding for the issue of infertility,” it read, as quoted by Hello.
When she wears a particular color, it sometimes comes with a message. With her pink outfits, Kate tends to send the message that she’s fun.
“According to color psychology, which the royals do pay attention to, pink is fun, feminine, flirty and romantic,” fashion expert Samantha Harman said. “Kate wants the public to know that she’s fun and kind, and while some might already think that about her, the pink outfits are showing that she’s letting loose a little bit.”
It’s safe to say that Kate Middleton turned into a fashion icon over the years.
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