Image courtesy of Barron’s Educational Series.
The UK is currently on baby watch, counting down till the arrival of a new prince or princess. In case you haven’t heard, the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge (William and Kate) are expecting their first child in July and just in time for the celebrations is a new book by Caroline Jones, Kate’s Style: Smart, Chic Fashion from a Royal Role Model (Barron’s Educational Series, 2013).
Ms. Jones, editor and lifestyle journalist, has studied Kate’s impeccable style from her college years right up to the baby-bump moment. With over 40 photos, she shows readers how Kate puts herself together and why what she does works every time. Closeup shots of accessories and fashion details as well as sidebars loaded with information, such as designer names and how to do it yourself, make this book invaluable for anyone who would like to emulate Kate’s style. Beyond that, it’s an excellent documentation of modern royal fashion.
In her introduction Ms. Jones says: Selecting outfit after stunning outfit for such a variety of engagements on such a public stage is an enormously tricky task, but one that Kate pulls of with aplomb and without the assistance of so much as a personal stylist. If she can do all this on her own, then there’s hope for the rest of us!
Indeed it would be a pleasure to see more fashionables donning Kate’s demure look. She approaches her style with an eye for simplicity, which usually starts with a classic dress made of interesting fabric like lace or in an eye-catching color. Her shoe of choice is almost always the pump paired with nude hose, although she’s also known to wear high heel boots with tights. Accessories might include a jaunty hat, drop earrings in pearls or a sparkle gemstone and a clutch handbag. She tends toward two color schemes matching the shoes, hat, and handbag, which might seem a bit old-school but according to Ms. Jones “… does allow the whole look to be sleek, managed, and minimal.”
Following the lead of the late Diana Princess of Wales, Kate will often add an extra touch reflecting a particular occasion or the country she’s visiting. For example she sported a cowboy hat while in Canada attending a rodeo. On a visit to her former preparatory school Kate wore a Black Watch tartan coat – a smart reference to the school’s black and green plaid uniform.
Kate’s Style is a helpful guide not just for those who admire the duchess but also for anyone who would like to improve their personal style. Afterall, you can’t go wrong with Kate as your guide.
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