Showdown: Kardashians v The Windsors
Move over Kim, make way Kendall, the Kardashian-Jenners might be reality show royalty but they are about to lose their crowns to a family that wears the real thing — the Windsors. Here’s how the two clans compare...
Royals
Don't miss out on the headlines from Royals. Followed categories will be added to My News.
Move over Kim, make way Kendall, the Kardashian-Jenners might be reality show royalty but they are about to lose their crowns to a family that wears the real thing — the Windsors.
When Prince Harry married Meghan Markle she brought a little Hollywood sparkle into the Royal Family. And it seems the world can’t get enough of the Rich Kids of Kensington Palace. Here’s how the two clans compare:
DESIGNER OUTFITS
Both families perform a fashion parade every time they step out of the house and both have access to the world’s finest designers.
Meghan, Duchess of Sussex, has worn labels including Givenchy, Dior, Ralph Lauren and Burberry and Catherine, Duchess of Cambridge, sports brands including Alexander McQueen, Gucci and Chanel. Both women always look impeccably put together, even when they’re dressed-down, like Catherine in a Zara dress or Meghan in J. Crew.
And while the Kardashians might wear next season’s styles straight off the catwalk, they’re more interested in outrageous items that will get Instagram likes than sensible style choices.
Think Kim in the lime green latex dress she wore to rapper 2 Chainz’s wedding last weekend, which was so tight Kanye West had to carry her out of the car, and the neon pink Chanel jumpsuit in Miami a few days before.
Or consider Kylie’s custom-made La Bourjoisie crystal-covered jumpsuit at her Barbie-themed 21st birthday party this month, which would have caused a surge in Swarovski profits.
VERDICT: A WIN FOR THE WINDSORS
FAMILY DRAMAS
Where do we start?
Both families feature father figures who are news stories in themselves — Caitlyn Jenner has had a public feud with her family and Thomas Markle has gone from recluse to human headline.
And both sides are chock-full of heartbreak, from Khloe discovering her boyfriend Tristan Thompson was allegedly cheating on her days before she gave birth to their daughter True (it’s OK, she’s forgiven him — for now), to Kourtney’s split with Scott Disick, father of her three children. Disick, who still appears on Keeping Up With the Kardashians, is now dating Sofia Richie, but would reportedly like to reconcile with his ex. Still following?
It’s not dissimilar to the shenanigans of the Royal Family who have their own Disick in the form of Sarah, Duchess of York.
She exited her marriage to Prince Andrew in the most public way possible, with a
toe-sucking scandal and yet remains part of the show by living in the same house as her ex-husband. There’s tipped to be drama when she and her old father-in-law Prince Philip inevitably meet in the queue for the buffet at Princess Eugenie’s wedding in October. Philip, it’s said, can’t stand Fergie.
Meanwhile, a new glam cast member arrived in the form of divorcee Meghan, who was married to Trevor Engelson before Harry, but the Queen could hardly mind given
three of her own children divorced, and Prince Charles married his mistress, Camilla Parker Bowles.
VERDICT: A TIE. THE TANGLED MESS OF INTRIGUE IN BOTH CAMPS IS TOO CLOSE TO CALL
INFLUENCE
The Kardashian-Jenners virtually invented the social media influencer as early pioneers of Instagram marketing. With 116 million followers, Kim has built a $476 million fortune and won the inaugural Influencer gong at the Council of Fashion Designers of America Awards in June. But it’s sister Kylie who has the most influence, worth an estimated $1.2 billion thanks to Kylie Cosmetics which is marketed primarily on social media. She also has 113 million followers on Instagram.
Neither will be concerned that experts suggest mega-influencers like Kim have had their day and brands are increasingly turning to micro-influencers, who have smaller targeted audiences. And they won’t care that a new report by marketing firm Spotted put Kim as the riskiest celebrity to invest in and sister Kendall as a name that could negatively impact a brand. It didn’t put off Calvin Klein who shot the sisters in their pants for its new campaign #Ourfamily.
There’s nothing negative about members of the Royal Family wearing a label’s clothes, however, other than the brand might not be able to meet the increased demand.
Both the “Meghan effect” and “Kate effect” are enormous. When Meghan and Catherine are photographed wearing an item it’s guaranteed to see a surge in sales; Catherine’s Jenny Packham dress and Meghan’s Ralph Lauren top and trousers they recently wore to Wimbledon sold out immediately.
Economists tipped Meghan alone could pump $262 million into the British economy this year with fans copying her sartorial style.
VERDICT: THE KARDASHIANS MIGHT BE THE INFLUENCER QUEENS BUT THEY WILL NEVER HAVE THE ROYALS’ KLASS