She’s a royal style icon, known for choosing British brands and turning them into household names overnight. But the ‘Kate effect’ reaches further afield than her home country, with the Duchess’s keen sartorial sense also bringing selected international brands into the global spotlight.
Erdem: Canada
Kate wore this eye-catching yet demure dress for her and William’s arrival in Canada on the first day of their North America tour, in 2011.
Her decision to embark on her first official tour as the Duchess of Cambridge without the services of a stylist or dresser was initially seen as risky. But the charming royal proved her sartorial savvy as soon as she touched down, cleverly uniting nations with a style statenent on her first day in Ottawa: this design by Canadian-born, British-based Erdem Moralioglu.
Saloni Lodha: India
Kate was on home soil but just days away from jetting off to India and Bhutan when she thoughtfully wore this sheer blue polka dot gown by India-born British designer Saloni to a reception for expatriates from her soon-to-be host countries.
The design expresses Kate’s ability to try a new look while staying true to her own contemporary elegance. She knows the key elements of her style so well that she can experiment with confidence.
Luisa Spagnoli: Italy
The queen of recycling wore this red peplum jacket and pencil skirt suit for the second time while Down Under in Christchurch, New Zealand.
She purchased the bold scarlet suit from Hollie de Keyser, a boutique in London’s Knightsbridge.
Tory Burch: USA
This floral mesh gown embroidered with green, orange, brown and white beading saw the Duchess dial up the colour while embracing local tradition for a private dinner with Bhutan’s King and Queen at Lingkana Palace, Bhutan, this spring.
Tory told Hello! online she was “a big fan” of Kate’s and “thrilled” she’d chosen to wear her dress, adding, “She looked beautiful”.
Anita Dongre: India
This multicolour print georgette tunic dress was deemed perfect for Kate’s first day in India, when she tried a bat at the country’s number one sport, cricket.
Mumbai designer Anita told hello! she “had no idea” Kate would wear her design. “I was absolutely thrilled and pleasantly surprised to see her in it. I’ve always admired her elegance, impeccable style and poise. She has always been my dream muse”.
Diane von Furstenberg: USA
For a star-studded cocktail reception at the British consul’s home on her first night in LA, Kate slipped into an emerald green silk “Maja” dress by one of America’s most popular designers, Diane von Furstenberg.
DVF’s demure and feminine cuts and colours are clearly perfect for royal duties – Kate has several of the New York-based designer’s classic silk jersey wrap dresses in her wardrobe. One sold out in just eight minutes after she showcased it.
Malene Birger: Denmark
The cream linen-weave ‘Bullet’ number Kate chose for her visit to the capital of the Northwest territories, Yellowknife, Canada, in 2011, was classic Kate, featuring a simple neckline, three-quarter-length sleeves and a neat waist, thanks to a contrast band in olive green.
While the choice of Copenhagen’s queen of fashion wasn’t a nod to Canada, the dress was certainly a sartorial success on this North America tour – Birger is a favourite of Michelle Obama as well as Samantha Cameron.
Prabal Gurung: Singapore
Fashionistas called Kate’s sensational purple-and-white floral printed dress “daring” and “fabulous” when she debuted it on the Southeast Asia Diamond Jubilee tour in 2012.
The Duchess’s key choice of a New York-based fashion designer born in Singapore gives us a glimpse into the thought and preparation that goes into her tour wardrobes. Royal fans were so thrilled with the touching detail, that when the dress went on sale days later, it sold out within the hour.
Zimmermann: Australia
For a date with the local surf club on Sydney’s Manly Beach during her 2014 tour of Australia, Kate opted for a cream lace dress by Australian fashion label Zimmermann.
Fashionistas looking to recreate the Duchess’s look had to curb their impatience, as the rush to buy the frock crashed the label’s website.
Roskanda Ilincic: Serbia
One of Kate’s favourite designers, Serbian-born Central Saint Martins’ alumnus Roksanda Ilincic was chosen for her much-anticipated arrival in LA in 2011.
Having now become a staple item in Kate’s closet, this go-anywhere dress has been recycled twice since its debut, once at a reception of the Royal Academy of Arts in 2012, and again for a luncheon at London’s Anna Freud Centre in May this year.
Rebecca Taylor: New Zealand
Thrifty fashionista Kate stayed true to her principles by wearing her tried-and-tested tweed skirt suit by New Zealand-born Rebecca Taylor for her last day on the island, while on tour in 2014.
The Duchess accessorised the outfit with a pair of beautiful blue sapphire and diamond drop earrings, a perfect match for her engagement ring, which was formerly owned by the late Princess Diana.
Anna Sui: USA
This was Kate’s assured choice for her recent visit to the Bihu Festival Celebration in India’s Kaziranga National Park.
It was the first time the Duchess had worn Anna Sui, renowned for her bohemian, often psychedelic prints. The green-and-blue printed dress with a crinkled bodice and pleated skirt was perfect for keeping the Duchess cool and covered in the heat while showing her playful side for the celebrations.
