Nope, we can’t believe how much time has passed since we were put out of our wedding dress anticipation misery and wiped away a tear as Kate Middleton entered Westminster Abbey an Alexander McQueen-clad bride either.
But while her wedding look was undoubtedly one of her most memorable yet, what we love most about Kate’s sartorial prowess is how she’s truly mastered the art of high-low dressing, fusing the best of the British high street with high-end designs fresh from the catwalk.
Case in point? The £1,635 Emilia Wickstead dress she paired with the £1.50 filigree short drop earrings from Accessorize and pair of Monsoon “Fleur” espadrille wedges for her visit to the Royal Horticultural Society Garden in Surrey last year.
In fact – in news that may not surprise you – Kate was officially crowned the nation’s number one royal fashion icon, recent research conducted by the Fashion Retail Academy revealed.
She even somehow sidestepped the loungewear trap we all fell into over the last couple of years, serving up some major style inspo in lockdown (case in point: the Calla Rose Red Floral Shirt Dress, from British brand Beulah London, that she wore on Zoom).
As Lee Lucas, principal and CEO of the Fashion Retail Academy (one of the UK’s leading fashion schools) pointed out: “Ever since newspapers became widely available in the UK, the royal family has influenced people’s style, and nowadays with the internet and social media at their disposal, it’s even easier for people to mimic their outfit choices.”
“In addition to well-known designers, Kate has been seen wearing high street names such as Zara, Topshop and Marks & Spencer, which immediately makes her more relatable to the British public and her fashion choices more accessible.”
“By embracing the fashion world and Princess Diana’s often daring style, Kate has learned how to balance trends with tradition, and it’s nice to see that she is keeping tradition alive.”
So if you’re as obsessed with the Duchess of Cambridge’s style (or her hair for that matter) as we are, scroll down for the ultimate royal style inspiration and some of her most memorable dresses that we’ve been lusting over ever since…