The Princess of Wales always looks effortlessly elegant in her stylish couture dresses and billowy ballgowns. Yet, whether she’s in formal and fancy attire or casual and comfortable — Princess Kate follows rules for remaining flawless and forever fashionable. From the right bags to baubles — she’s an expert at keeping her regal wardrobe in perfect form.
Here are 10 Fashion Hacks Kate Middleton Uses to Look Flawless:
- Statement Bags
Rather than pile on loads of royal heirlooms and bejewel herself to the nines, Kate relies on simple statement bags to elevate her elegant ensembles. Small and structured bags offer no risk of looking anything but pulled together. The princess rarely makes a misstep when it comes to her coordinating clutches and always manages to find dazzling but not distracting handbags for royal events and tours.
2. Belts Always
The princess owns almost as many belts as she does nude pumps (well, almost). One of her favorite style tricks for looking polished and professional is adding a belt to her dresses, coats and midis. The waist defining accessory not only makes an outfit more intriguing but also flatters and cinches in all the right places.
3. Classic Accessories
While she does occasionally branch out and don long dangling drop earrings or colorful and clunky gems, the princess is perennially partial to pearls and hoops. Worn for years and years, Kate is fond of subtle, simple and small earrings. The royal loves her timeless pearl studs and gold hoops.
4. Colorful Clothing
Rather than stick to grays, blacks and navys, Kate is frequently snapped on the job in colorful and cheery clothing. Mirroring the Queen, who wore bright and bold shades to stand out in crowds of well-wishers, Kate isn’t afraid of embracing a loud hue. The benefit of rainbow dressing? The princess never looks washed out, dreary or downcast. Plus, colorful clothing is inspiring and signifies a sense of exuberance and excitement — after all, who wants to see a grumpy and glum royal on duty?
5. Leg Lengthening Heels
Never one to turn down a nude court shoe, the princess has been wearing tan, beige and nude high heels for years. The elongating footwear doesn’t disrupt the clean lines of her paler dresses and neutral daywear.
6. Less is More
When meeting with the Queen of England most people would want to look exceptionally dressy and pile on the glam with abandon — opting for glittery rhinestones, shiny satin or chunky jewelry — but not Princess Kate. For a wedding dress exhibition with the late monarch in July 2011, Kate wore a shockingly simple powder pink Joseph Scala dress wrap dress with not a hint of sparkle in sight. The royal has stuck with her ‘less is more’ approach throughout her career as an employee of the Crown.
7. Velvet Adds a Hint of Luxe
When Kate wants to make an outfit feel more fanciful or festive, she opts for a splash of velvet. From a velvet waistband to velvet hair bow to velvet pumps or a velvet headband — this touchable and cozy fabric is Kate’s personal favorite for making a fashion statement more ritzy and regal without going overboard.
8. Minimal Makeup
Through the years Kate has shunned any bold bronzer, heavy eyeliner and metallic eyeshadow. She’s played with plum lipstick and burgundy nail polish but very infrequently. Instead, the mom of three prefers a simple cosmetic regimen and a less fussy face. She regularly wears a barely berry lip, chestnut shadow and just a smidge of rosy rouge.
9. Maxi Coats are a Must
To look tall, long and lean, nothing beats a long maxi coat. Kate has embraced the longer coat trend in a big way and now owns many duster length styles from Alexander McQueen. Maxi coats impart full and modest coverage, create a sleek style statement and streamline the figure.
10. Pass on Print
While the princess does own a few print-happy garments and loves a good polka dot or floral dress for summer, she’s most frequently spotted in solid colors. Busy prints and patterns can be distracting and single hue garments look chic and sophisticated. Still, Kate will add a bit of interest to her outfits with belts, decorative buttons, lace or beading. She will also energize a basic dress style with draping details or one-shoulder ruffles. In addition, the princess sometimes wears dresses accented with bows, front pockets, puff sleeves or collars. Kate’s diehard dedication to solid colors allows her dresses to remain versatile enough for future use and frequent rewears.
