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Kate Middleton with the pieces she includes most in her outfits© Getty Images

The 10 pieces that define Kate Middleton’s impeccable style


MAY 5, 2020 11:44 AM EDT

When it comes to her wardrobe,  Kate Middleton  has the garments that every woman needs, and her ability to style them has turned her into a fashion icon. Her style strategies show how to slightly modernize the classics with surprising details to make a big impact. The duchess uses silhouettes to maximize her figure and adopts to trends to match her personality without being too complicated.

In addition to her penchant for simple patterns, she also loves light, simple colors⁠—sky blue the most⁠—and clothes from fashion labels like Erdem, Emilia Wickstead, and Alexander McQueen, and affordable brands like Zara and Reiss. But beyond her overall fashion preferences, there are ten key pieces⁠—perfect to have in your closet—that really define her ladylike style.

Kate Middleton in a blue coat dress with cape© GettyImages

Coat dresses

Coat dresses have long been a centerpiece of the Duchess of Cambridge’s wardrobe. She’s experimented with them in various solid colors, from vibrant reds and fuchsias, to a wide range of blues— her favorites— and green. Her fondness for re-wearing clothing has been clearly demonstrated with these garments with a ladylike silhouette, although she always finds a way to give them a new appearance with simple fixes.

Kate Middleton's purple stiletto detail© GettyImages

Velvet stilettos

Often, Kate wears high heels and she has a preference for velvet. To be able to wear them for hours, she uses nude-colored nylons—as part of Buckingham’s royal protocol for official appearances—but only the kind with anti-slip strips on the bottom of the feet from John Lewis, as she confessed to The Sun.

Kate Middleton in a gray dress with a black clutch© GettyImages

C lutches

Kate doesn’t typically carry large or medium-sized handbags. She tends to favor clutches, for both day and night looks. She prefers them in navy blue, black or champagne, which she usually matches with her shoes. However, on occasion she’ll opt for one to bring out the best in her neutral-colored looks.

Kate Middleton wearing high-rise pants with a wide leg, matching navy blue striped sweater, red clutch, and suede stilettos© GettyImages

High-rise pants

This royal loves wearing high-rise pants that visually cinch the waist with boots that come just above the ankle to instantly elongate her silhouette. She typically wears a tailored-fit, however, she’ll occasionally opt for more modern designs like the culottes seen in many of her outfits .

Kate Middleton wearing white sneakers by Superga, wide-leg pants, and a blouse© GettyImages

White sneakers

When the dress code for the occasion is more relaxed, Kate prefers wearing comfortable and versatile outfits that give her full range of movement. One of the key pieces of these outfits are sneakers, which she prefers in a classic, white design with wide-leg pants. For these, she usually resorts to affordable brands like Superga or Marks & Spencer with green details on the sides.

RHS Hampton Court Palace Flower Show© GettyImages

Small prints

Prints made up of mini motifs are a part of her recurring styles. They can be small printed polka-dots or dotted mesh embroidery in geometric patterns or florals, which all go perfectly with her work looks. Pure inspiration for our day-to-day outfits.

Kate Middleton wearing a baby blue dotted mesh midi dress with a pussycat bow© GettyImages

Ultra-feminine dresses

As a member of the royal family, Kate often wears classic, ladylike dresses to galas and other formal events. For daytime looks, she loves simple patterns with a certain Victorian touch to them. She favors those with long sleeves, a tailored bodice and flowing midi skirts with small details like a bow at the neck.

Detail of Kate Middleton's espadrilles with ties around the ankles from Castaner© GettyImages

Espadrilles

For Kate, summer is all about espadrilles. Her favorite color? Sand. The brand? Castañer, made in Spain, which she loves to wear with fresh floral dresses that are long and flowing. With this artisanally-crafted footwear that she likes best with ties that go around her ankles (elongating her legs), she creates comfortable yet elegant outfits.

Kate Middleton with a shirt dress and black belt© GettyImages

Belts or garments that define her waist

The duchess often adds a belt or selects garments that have strategically-crafted hems that cinch her waist. This works incredibly well with her rectangular figure. If you have a similar shape to hers, this is a great way to make the most of your silhouette and make it look balanced.

Kate Middleton with small silver earrings© GettyImages

Classic jewelry

Kate has substituted tiaras for more modern pieces like headbands , which, due to their large size, are still very noticeable and gives her a big dose of elegance and glamour. But when it comes to accessories, she prefers them to be classic and delicate, small or sometimes medium-sized, but never too prominent. She goes by the “less is more” principle.