The making of a style queen: How Kate Middleton is single-handedly changing the face of fashion

By Maysa Rawi


Preppy princess: The Duchess of Cambridge wears a cable-knit cream dress on her visit to Prince Edward Island for day five of the Royal tour


In the world of eight-inch platform heels, mini skirts and oversized it-bags, one dainty Duchess is choosing more subtle ways to make her mark on fashion.

On the fifth day of the Royal tour, Kate wore an elegant cream and navy long-sleeve cable knit dress with pussy-bow neckline by Sarah Burton for Alexander McQueen for her visit to Prince Edward Island.

The 1920s-style preppy dress is a move from her usual style but will no doubt be a sell-out hit.

Vintage visit: The 1920's style dress featured tie detailing and pleated skirt with navy bordering


It has been well documented that Kate Middleton's marketing power - known as the Kate effect - ensures anything she is seen wearing is sold-out within hours.

But what continues to come a surprise is how Kate can turn the notably 'un-fashionable' into an instant hit.

The simple nude Vanessa dress by Joseph she wore on Sunday in Quebec City has unsurprisingly now sold out.

Baring arms: The Duchess of Cambridge wore a sleeveless Joseph dress yesterday

Fashion formula: Kate sticks to knee-length sheath dresses, court shoes and clutch bags


While some labeled her outfit choices over the weekend 'boring', Kate's samey style is what will ultimately ensure her iconic status.

Speaking about the grey Catherine Walker dress Kate wore on Saturday, associate fashion news editor at Canadian fashion magazine Flare Mosha Lundstrom Halbert said: 'I wanted to see her step it up in terms of the fashion quotient, and she didn't do that today.'

Although she has never been seen in a pair of highly coveted Christian Louboutin shoes, or sporting a weighty Hermes Birkin on her arm, Kate still has the ability to shift thousands of copies of a simple Zara dress.

Thrifty: Kate recycled an Issa dress she wore the night before her wedding, right


Wedged espadrilles, low-heeled court shoes and longer-hems, though once labeled as old-fashioned or 'mumsy', have become instant hits among young shoppers.

This would come as little surprise to industry experts who know an icon becomes so by playing against type - Audrey Hepburn after all attracted attention for wearing boyish Capri pants and ballet flats while counterparts like curvy Marilyn Monroe wore 'fashionable' nipped-in waists and cleavage-enhancing bras.

Ironically, it is Kate's conservative approach that has placed her so strongly on the radar.

High-end labels: The Duchess wore Issa, Erdem and Roland Mouret


Yet critics began to bemoan her obsession with the High Street and urged her to turn to higher-end labels.

And on the first day of her Royal tour, sporting a Roland Mouret dress and Manolo Blahnik heels (when we have come to expect Reiss and LK Bennett), Kate proved she was paying attention.

Now on her fifth day, she continues to opt for luxury designers including Issa and Katherine Walker and now McQueen - the label she chose for her wedding dress.

But not one give into ostentation either, she recycled the white Nano Reiss dress, the same design she wore for her formal engagement portrait last year and the bird-print Issa dress she wore on the night before her wedding.

She also paid tribute to the country she is visiting with a red maple tree hat and diamond brooch borrowed from the Queen and opted to twice wear Canadian-born designer Erdem.

It is hard to believe the savvy sartorial choices come from a woman who has always professed to have little interest in fashion.

The bags: The Duchess always accessories her outfits with a clutch

The shoes: Katherine favours low heels, either wedged espadrilles or court shoes


But bravely eschewing a professional stylist, the Duchess of Cambridge's carefully chosen wardrobe, consisting of over 30 outfits, is an indication that she isn't simply indiscriminately choosing pieces that appeal to her, but rather making a deliberate statement.

Tall and thin, Kate's slender figure would give most models a run for their money, and while most looks would suit her, she has chosen to stick to a simple but effective formula.

She rarely strays from a knee-length sheath dress, boxy jacket or blazer, court shoes and a clutch bag.

Sleeves are often short or three-quarter length but she does very occasionally bare her arms, like yesterday for instance in a nude 'Vanessa' dress by Joseph, also now sold-out.

Fine jewels: The Duchess has a different pair of earrings to match her outfits

Accessories queen: Kate matches her blue Erdem dress to her earrings, left, and wears a diamond brooch borrowed by the Queen, right, and a Lock & Co. red hat


Her trademark look is not new - Kate's capsule style has been the same since she started dating the Prince.

But as she has been increasingly thrust into the limelight, her style has continued to mature and develop.

Gone are the 'Sloaney' flat knee-high suede boots and frosty pink lipstick and she is paying more attention to her accessories with a healthy stock of Anya Hindmarch handbags.

Her taste is jewelery has also changed. Whereas it was always rather understated, Kate is now sporting sophisticated brooches, carefully selected earrings and of course, the stunning sapphire engagement ring.

The demure outfits - skirts never too short, heels never too high - are telling details.

Kate knows who she is and isn't easily swayed by passing trends.

Her wardrobe choices indicate qualities in her character: stability, loyalty and self-assurance.

As the tour is halfway underway, Kate will no doubt continue to impress industry movers and shakers and it surely won't be long before she is invited to cover Vogue - if she hasn't been already.

Whether the shy and understated Kate decides to accept the offer is another matter.

Either way, the best is yet to come - and refreshingly, there won't be mini skirt in sight.


source:dailymail