Being a princess and a future Queen it is is expected that Kate Middleton’s wardrobe consists of an astounding collection of clothes.
Kate doesn’t exclusively wear expensive clothes from world renowned designers, but also some 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, but no matter how true this is, one thing is certain, Kate will never ditch her affection with skinny jeans that fit her perfectly.
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.”
Some of Kate’s preferable designers are Alexander McQueen and Jenny Packham, as well as more affordable brands such as Zara and LK Bennett.
As per fashion expert Bethan Holt, the Princess’ everlasting style, which he describes as casual and formal, youthful yet serious, down-to-earth and glamorous, is a result of her effort to talk to designers, which led to a “circle of people” that she “really trusts.”
“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.”
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.”
In the video in which she had disclosed her cancer diagnosis, Kate wore a stripped sweater from Erdem which cost around $800, as per the Mirror.
“Really, in choosing this everyday look, the Princess was reminding the nation that she is not just ‘ours’ but also ‘theirs’, a private woman whose priorities must lie with her husband and children, parents and siblings, until her recovery is complete,” journalist Sarah Oliver wrote for the Daily Mail.
“On a park bench in jeans and barely there make-up, her long hair loose, she was underlining the fact that cancer is no respecter of her life of privilege. And she was asking us for the understanding she needs to fight it in privacy.”
Oliver concluded, “Sometimes, she is not a princess, but a school-run mum, a wife and a homemaker. That’s the message Kate was sending when she revealed her cancer diagnosis in a low-key Breton-striped sweater. It’s a personal favourite of the Princess of Wales who has reached for its jaunty nautical stripes on several earlier – and happier – occasions.”
One specific piece of clothing seems to be close to Kate’s heart, and that’s skinny jeans.
According to jeans maker Donna Ida, the Princess of Wales has “timeless, beautiful style” and knows that jeans can look amazing and still be trendy.
“She has great legs, and skinny jeans fit so well and accentuate her shape. It’s always great to celebrate amazing features,” Donna Ida told the Daily Mail.
“She is a woman who’s on the go and is so busy. The skinny jean, a quick and easy style to run around in, is perfect. Skinny jeans are comfortable and chic, and they look and feel great.”
No matter what trends are in throughout the seasons, Kate would probably never abandon skinny jeans.
Speaking to Newsweek, royal expert Christine Ross said Kate is loyal to the skinny jeans and that skinny jeans are there to stay.
“Kate’s affection for them may come down to practicality: they are, quite simply, the easiest thing to wear with wellies or garden boots,” Christine Ross said. “They can be extremely flattering and, for many, extremely comfortable. While the trend has shifted from skinny jeans to wider leg styles, we’ve seen skinny styles re-enter the recent fashion runways.”
Royal fashion expert and celebrity stylist Miranda Holder said, “Tastemakers have been telling us for the last few seasons that skinny jeans are very firmly out of fashion, with looser, more unstructured shapes taking precedence, and although this more voluminous trouser shape is definitely more contemporary, it’s definitely not for everyone, and Kate is a case in point.”
“There is an element of easy practicality about a green pair of skinnies; they hug you like leggings, and a good elastane ratio means they move with you, making running around after three boisterous children far easier.”
She concluded, “They are also brilliant for tucking into long boots in the winter months, and we know Kate is particularly fond of her knee-length Penelope Chilvers, and finally, they look great on Kate’s naturally willowy frame.”
Kate Middleton’s fashion choices are almost always top-notch, and she looks stunning no matter what she chooses to wear.
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