Middleton for the Masses: The Kate Effect Fashion for Beauty

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Middleton for the Masses: The Kate Effect

Posted July 2nd, 2011 by Alana Strange No Comments »

Move over Alexa Chung! Give it up Kate Moss! There’s a new style icon in town…apparently? Like it or not, it appears Kate Middleton has a certain amount of fashion pulling power these days. From Royal events and Wimbledon to the supermarket shop, it seems she can’t put a (LK Bennett shoed) foot wrong in the sartorial stakes. You only have to look at the record sales in Reiss of late or the huge demand for that sequined Jenny Packham dress, just hours after she was photographed wearing it. But why all the fuss?

Fashion is a fickle thing and often or not ‘style icons’ appear from nowhere toting next season’s it bag or a must-have beau. Inspired by the world around us, it’s rare for us girls to be spotted wearing something that can’t be traced back to someone else’s bright idea. And there’s no doubting that if someone else is wearing it, we all want it. Cue mass buying of aviator jackets last Autumn Winter to this season’s bright colour trend. Wear orange, pink and day-glo green in one outfit I hear you say? Well, if it’s good enough for Cheryl Cole…

So, where exactly does our Kate fit in? She’s hardly a pioneer in fashion forward looks; favouring neutral tones, lady-like lengths and tailored jackets. There is no doubting, however, that she has hit a fashion high note with the public for her style choices. With Middleton fans hunting out copy-cat inspired pieces or the real deal with a price-tag to match. From her sapphire engagement ring (Debenhams £6, I’ll get my purse) to the cream Reiss Shola dress. The latter of which Kate wore to meet the Obama’s on their state visit last month. Within a matter of minutes the Reiss web site sold out of said dress and…ahem subsequently crashed for the entire afternoon. Whoops…

With that kind of reputation, high-street retailers and designers a-like must be yearning for Kate to step out in one of their frocks. Choosing to wear ‘off the rack’, that’s fashion lingo for buying in-store without a fitting, has made sure that pretty much everything she wears can be bought by the public. Whether this is a shrewd move by her advisors or simply Kate sticking to her fashion roots is yet to be confirmed. Before the royal nuptials, she was often spotted wearing high street brands such as Whistles, Reiss and Zara, so little has changed since she became a Duchess. Maybe her realistic style has caught the public’s attention? Without the Royal in-laws, Kate could pass for an ordinary 20-something. Her style isn’t revolutionary but it’s certainly causing a stir.

The Kate Effect is really quite incomparable to anything I’ve seen before in fashion. From sell-out dresses to copy-cat jewellery, it seems every woman wants a bit of Kate. As she continues to champion British designers and high street brands, Kate certainly has us all spending again. Whether you’re a fan or not of our demure Duchess it seems her style icon status is sticking firm. Just remember don’t look too surprised when you ask your friend where her new dress is from next. Chances are it’s inspired by a certain Miss. Middleton.

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