How Kate got her fashion groove back
Like a fashion butterfly shedding its sensible style skin, Catherine, Duchess of Cambridge, has tossed out the nude tones and emerged in a blaze of colour and playful style.
Confidential
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Just when you thought Catherine, Duchess of Cambridge’s entire wardrobe consisted of Alexander McQueen coat dresses, she has flung off her uniform, and like a fashion butterfly shedding its sensible style skin, tossed out the nude tones and emerged in a blaze of colour and playful style.
In other words, the Duchess has got her groove back.
So what has happened to transform Kate’s previously safe style? It appears to be a combination of getting older, increasing confidence, more time as her kids grow up, the influence of a new stylist and the arrival of sister-in-law Meghan, Duchess of Sussex.
While the palace was keen to emphasise Catherine’s stylist Natasha Archer, who recently returned to work from maternity leave, is responsible for her recent fashion choices, insiders say it’s obvious that acting dresser Virginia Chadwyck-Healey, ex-Vogue, has had an influence.
In the past few months she has mixed it up with international designers and more daring (for her) looks. She has introduced new, more expensive and cutting-edge labels. At the same time, many of her most successful recent outfits are not new — just the way she is styling them has changed, such as her baby pink Stella McCartney dress, matched with red Gianvito Rossi heels and Juliette Botterill headband to Archie’s christening on July 6.
“Kate’s ensemble at Archie’s christening was quite daring. The clashing red accessories with her pink dress, and the very fashion-forward, chunky headband — a trend which was recently championed on the Prada runways — is not something we would have seen the Duchess attempt five years ago,” says fashion writer Elle Halliwell.
“Lately we have seen her not only experimenting with new silhouettes such as flared cropped trousers and on-trend balloon-sleeve blouses, but also wearing popular designers such as Gucci, Elie Saab and Stella McCartney,” she says.
“I think she has revamped her image as she finds more time for herself now her kids are getting older.
“And it’s clear that her sister-in-law’s arrival has influenced her new style because Meghan’s wardrobe choices are generally much more fashion-forward than Kate’s. But with her new look Kate is definitely giving Meghan a run for her sartorial money.”
Here are six of her best recent looks:
BLUE BLOOD
Wimbledon final, July 14
Catherine attended the dramatic Wimbledon Men’s Final last month in a pretty baby blue retro frock by one of her favourite designers Emilia Wickstead, teamed with high street shoes from Aldo and a vintage clutch bag. She looked like a woman who is simply smashing her signature style out of the court.
PRETTY IN PINK
Archie’s christening, July 6
Catherine wore a Stella McCartney blush pink dress confidently paired with red Gianvito Rossi heels and a Juliette Botterill headband. She literally shone out of the formal photograph. Insiders spotted the dress and shoes are not new, but the way she styled them certainly is.
MY FAIR LADY
Royal Ascot, June 18
The Duchess did an Eliza Doolittle at Royal Ascot in an on-trend ice-blue Elie Saab top and skirt, Philip Treacy hat and Gianvito Rossi shoes. The A-list’s favourite red-carpet label is new for Catherine and she looked immaculate as well as on-trend.
LIKE A PRINCESS
State banquet with US President Donald Trump, June 3
If one is to dine with the Americans, one needs to show how it is done. Catherine looked less duchess and more princess in a stunning white tiered Alexander McQueen gown, paired with the Lover’s Knot Tiara and the Queen Mother’s sapphire and diamond fringe earrings.
PEASANT STYLE
Chelsea Flower Show, May 20
For the unveiling of her back to nature garden at Chelsea Flower Show, Kate went all peasant girl — albeit around $3000 of peasant dress by Erdem — and boho plaits in her hair. She teamed the floral frock, which was also worn by Katherine, Duchess of Kent to Prince Harry and Meghan, Duchess of Sussex’s wedding last year, with Castaner Carina espadrilles.
AHOY THERE
Greenwich, London, May 7
Early in May Catherine appeared in Greenwich, Southeast London, to launch The King’s Cup regatta. She was suitably nautically-attired in a Breton top and L.K. Bennett wide-legged trousers, with block-heeled Emmy London pumps and a red Emmy clutch.
Originally published as How Kate got her fashion groove back
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