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. 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.”