Kate Middleton has been a major fashion influencer in last 10 years that she has been a senior member of the royal family and it makes one wonder, what are the things that she has done right to earn the appreciation of so many people all around the world?
Kate has sympathy and admiration of millions of people of all generations and backgrounds and that’s due to her style being very relatable and down to earth and classic at the same time. She has won the hearts of the younger generation with her casual looks from mass market such as Zara, Reiss, Massimo Duti, as well as glamorous looks, such as Vampire’s Wife dress, and Hollywood style red carpet looks. The duchess is largely popular among older generations too, which is due to her classic and elegant looks, like signature coat dresses from Alexander McQueen, A silhouette dresses and pleated skirts.
One of the biggest advantages of the style of Kate is consistency. The monarchy is representing stability and tradition for so many people, and she manages to translate those values through her looks.
How the change in the way monarchy is perceived reflects through fashion choices of the Duchess
The wardrobe of Kate doesn’t only limit to fashion trends and traditions of the monarchy. Her wardrobe choice has always been carefully curated to give the right messages to the public. The concept of monarchy has been rapidly changing in last decades, it has become more value for money and less luxury. The members of the royal family are more and more expected to show the output of their work and the return of the taxpayer’s money and unjustified luxury is causing the members of the royal family to lose popularity and become a target of large-scale criticism. The dynamic of the changes in the image of the monarchy has been very clearly reflected in the Wardrobe of the Duchess.
Recycling and Mass Market
Kate has been known for repeatedly recycling her outfits and having a considerable part of her wardrobe from mass market from her first years in royal family. This wasn’t as mainstream 10 years ago and she was in a way of trendsetter for generally more economical approach to royal wardrobe. She wanted to present herself as down to earth and relatable person – a People’s Princess and also a devoted royal family member.
Her style has very likely also been influenced by her background and personal character. According to royal experts she has a quite laid-back personality and is very patient, confident and positive. Adding to very stable family roots that she has, it creates a very balanced and calm character.
The Duchess has embraced her duties from day one, and is obviously very much focused on appropriateness of the outfits and positive image that they represent over glamour and luxury that they could potentially have. Kate doesn’t dress like a celebrity, oppositely, for most of her official engagements she dresses as for a job that she is taking very seriously.
Her approach to her image has probably also been influenced by the sad events around Princess Diana. Diana became an international celebrity and fashion icon as soon as she stepped into her first engagements and got overwhelmed with the attention that she received from the press all around the world. It likely had the biggest impact on her mental health. Even though Kate has been extremely popular from her first engagements as well, she has a general tendency to dress down, and she doesn’t create an entourage around her appearances. Despite trying to lay low, the Duchess has achieved an opposite effect in a way, as she is so relatable in her outfit choices that they get sold out within hours of her appearances and has created a famous “Kate Effect” which we will talk about in next articles.
The mindful approach to her wardrobe expenses and recycling habit is also in line with the environmental causes that she and Prince William support.
Here is a link to nice little documentary about Kate
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