Tag Archives: Kate’s fashion style

The Duchess and Her Capsule Wardrobe

Capsule wardrobes…everyone’s been talking about them.  They are the foundation of any Classic Woman’s Wardrobe, and Kate, the Duchess of Cambridge is no exception.  Much has been made of the amount of money spent on her clothes.  However, it must be a rather precarious position to be in, expected to wear the latest couture by British designers and, yet, live within the clothing budget of any 30ish middle-class woman.  Yikes!  I’m glad I’m not under that looking glass.  Let’s give credit where credit is due … Kate has done a wonderful job of mixing High Street with Couture, of showing that one outfit can be accessorized differently for different occasions, and that even a future Queen can have a good grasp of how capsule wardrobe works.

One last look at Kate’s Olympic Wardrobe, which could be reclassified as her

Red, White, and Blue Casual Capsule

(note:  all individual items are listed after the pictures of the complete looks)

LOOK ONE

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Kate wearing her blue suede Stuart Weitzman Corkwoon wedges, Smythe One Button Blazer, J Brand 811 Mid Rise Skinny Jeans, navy suede Muse clutch from Russell & Bromley  and a sleeveless top in a classic Breton stripe. Her jewelry includes a pair of pearl stud earrings.

LOOK TWO

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Simply adding a scarf to the previous outfit gives it an updated look.

LOOK THREE

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With Prince Harry, Kate is again seen wearing the Smythe one Button Blazer, Skinny Jeans and Corkswoon Wedges, but adds a white Team GB Polo to the ensemble.

LOOK THREE

MINUS THE BLAZER

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At the Synchronized Swimming Event, Kate wears her Stuart Weitzman Corkswoon wedges and Smythe One Button Blazer with her skinny jeans, Team GB polo and …

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… a pair of pearl stud earrings.

LOOK THREE
WITH TEAM GB JACKET

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Kate wearing her skinny jeans, the Team GB jacket and red Adidas Supernova Glide sneakers.

LOOK FOUR

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Wearing her Team GB fleece top with her skinny jeans, she exits the stands.

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By pulling her hair back, Kate’s pearl drop earrings can be seen.

LOOK FIVE

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Kate wearing Zara’s red Blazer with Gathered Shoulders, blue skinny jeans, and the Corkswoon Wedges.

LOOK SIX

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Kate decides to go predominately “white” by wearing a white sleevelss Team GB pullover with a white tennis skirt, Hobbs Neston Belt, the Corkswoon wedges and the bracelet, Tiffany’s Diamonds by the Yard.

LOOK SEVEN

Photo by Anthony Harris on Twitter

Photo by George Murpy on Twitter

In these two pictures of the same event, Kate is wearing a blue Team GB polo, skinny jeans, Addidas Supernova Glide Sneakers and Diamonds by the Yard Bracelet while carrying her Le Pliage Bag.


LOOK EIGHT

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Mirrorpix / Splash News

Here she is wearing a blue Stella McCartney dress and the Smythe blazer with her navy suede Muse clutch from Russell & Bromley and her Givenchy sunglasses. Kate also repeated her Stuart Weitzman Corkswoon shoes.

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Kate previously wore the McCartney dress with a necklace to The National Portrait Gallery’s “Road to 2012: Aiming High” exhibition .

Kate wore the Whistles Bella Body-Conscious Dress in Multipetal Print and carried her Anya Hindmarch Maud Clutch to the closing ceremonies for the London Olympics.

The Specifics

The Shoes

The Stuart Weitzman Corkswoon Wedges

Kate owns the Wedges in “Nice Blue Suede”.  Unfortunately, they are sold out.  However, the Stuart Weitzman Corkswoon Wedges in White, Adobe Aniline, Antique Denim are still currently available.  They can also be found at Amazon in White and Black  as well as at  Neiman Marcus.

Adidas Supernova Glide 4 Running Trainers

Kitbag currently carries the Adidas Supernova Glide 4 Running Trainers in red. Eastbay carries them in four colors other than red and  Shoes.com carries the shoe in two color combinations.

The Jackets

Smythe One Button Blazer

 Smythe has renamed the blazer “The Duchess” in honor of Kate.  It is available at Saks, and Shopbop.

Blazer with Gathered Shoulders from Zara

The Pants
available at J Brand in Navy and many other colors.  Also can be found in Nude at shopbob.com at 30% off and at Saks Fifth Avenue in Coral and Tiger.
The Dresses
Although the dress is sold out, it is still available in a couple of other prints on the Whistles’ Website.
The Accessories
Next London Official Team GB Scarf
Givenchy SGV 761 Sunglasses
available at Saks Fifth Avenue in several colors
Hobbs Neston Belt
currently available only on eBay
The Jewelry
Shown in Platinum, however,it is also available in Sterling Silver.
The Itemized List of a Red, White, and Blue Capsule Wardrobe:
Solid Blue Dress
Blue Print Dress
A Pair of Blue Jeans (or Navy Trousers)
White Skirt  (or a Navy Pencil Skirt)
Blue and White Striped Pullover Sleeveless Top
Blue and White Polka Dot Top
White Polo Shirt (or a White Blouse)
Blue Polo Shirt (or a Blue Blouse)
Blue Blazer
 Red Blazer
Red, White and Blue Windbreaker (or a White Cardigan)
Long-Sleeved Blue Fleece (or a Blue Cardigan)
Blue Clutch
Black Tote
Black Clutch
Blue Wedges
Black Pumps
Red Athletic Shoes (optional)
Black Belt
White Belt
Print Scarf
Pearl Stud Earrings
Pearl Drop Earrings
Silver Bracelet
Although the Team GB clothing is no longer available, there are some nice alternatives for the same look from Ralph Lauren and Tommy Hilfiger.
For additional information on creating a classic capsule wardrobe, read the series “How to Build a Classic Wardrobe One Piece at a Time”

Kate Middleton, the Duchess of Cambridge: A Classic Woman in the Making

During the nine years that Kate Middleton has been in the public eye, she has gone from being known as “Waity Katie” to Catherine, the Duchess of Cambridge, and from dressing like the college co-ed she once was to becoming the style icon she was meant to be.  The refreshing thing about Kate’s fashion evolution is that during her transformation she has stayed true to herself.  She dares to wear off-the-rack High Street clothes one day and Couture the next and all the while seemingly never missing a beat.   She truly exemplifies how women in their twenties and thirties can develop a fashion sense that is both contemporary and classic without sacrificing their individual personalities.  As Anne Hathaway put it during an interview with USA Today, “I’m just very grateful to Kate Middleton for making looking appropriate really fun again”.

Kate has learned over the years the aesthetic value of clothes that are sleek and simple — they have a certain feeling of timelessness to them. Kate also realizes that the quality of a garment is not dependent upon the price. This has allowed her to skillfully maneuver between the two worlds of High Street and Couture in a way that no Royal has done before her.  The result is a  professional wardrobe for the working woman that is never dowdy or boring and always reflects a bit of  her own personality.

While visiting riot damaged Birmingham, Kate wore a wool-crepe skirt and a silk georgette blouse by Alexander McQueen. The entire ensemble with its military look and streamlined skirt exudes professionalism while the slit in the skirt adds personality.

On the day that she and Prince William announced their engagement, she wore an electric blue silk wrap dress by Issa.  Drawing subtle attention to her waistline, the dress with its fabulous drape, for which Issa is known, included a ruched neckline that kept the v-neckline from appearing too revealing.
For the official engagement picture, Kate wore a white dress by Reiss that featured a paneled waist band and side pockets with an overlay on the front skirt.  Interestingly, she bought the dress two years prior to wearing it for this photograph.

Recently, during the Queen’s Diamond Jubilee Tour, Kate wore a classic jade jacket and skirt by LKBennett. She gave the outfit a personality infusion by cinching the jacket at the already nipped waistline with a black belt.  The result:  a hint of the currently trendy peplum look.

Even when dressing casually in jeans, she achieved a sophisticated look on their Canadian Tour by pairing them with a ruffled white shirt, tucked in to accentuate her waist and curves, navy blazer and espadrilles.  Wearing the same pair of jeans again on their Tour, she topped it with a Burberry shirt and wore Sebago Bala loafers giving the ensemble a put-together, yet relaxed look.

In keeping with her professional image, Kate always wears tights, usually nude in color, with her dresses and suits and, more often than not, a pair of pumps. She also keeps her hemlines modest, but adds interest by wearing fabrics that drape and move with her as well as an occasional slit on the side to reveal a bit more leg.  When it comes to make-up, Kate favors a natural look.  She draws attention to her eyes by lining them and wearing a neutral gloss on her lips.
LESSONS LEARNED FROM KATE:
1.  Keep the lines simple.
2.  Keep the look unified from head to toe.
3.  Keep it modest, but not boring.
4.  Pay attention to the details: Tights and Pumps add an element of sophistication.
5.  Buy quality garments that can be mixed and matched with other pieces.
6.  Keep it natural:  Wear clothes that are a reflection of who you are.
For more Lessons Learned from Kate, read What a Classic Woman Wears to Sporting Events