It's official: the Duchess of Cambridge is a global fashion icon. The stylish royal has been named as one of the best dressed people in the world by Vanity Fair.
Kate appears on the list as one of the 'International Best Dressed Women' of 2011. The new wife of Windsor joins France's first lady Carla Bruni, Carey Mulligan and Tilda Swinton on the list, which is not ranked in any order. Also making the cut are Monaco's new Princess Charlene , IMF boss Christine Lagarde, Sheika Mozah, the Emir of Qatar's glamorous wife, and Andrea Dellal – the mother of Alex Dellal, who is Charlotte Casiraghi 's boyfriend.
Kate has appeared on the list before – back in 2008 – but this is the first time she has featured since joining the royal family.
The magazine commended 29-year-old Kate on her "ladylike youthfulness" and her "whirlwind of fashion successes" in the past 12 months.
Vanity Fair contributing editor Amy Fine Collins praised the royal for staying true to her own style, adding: "We like the fact that she can be both thrifty or extravagant". Hellomagazine.com readers could have predicted this accolade. You loved the outfits Kate showed off in Canada and the US, and our vote to decide the winner had you clicking in your thousands.
And the favourite was her purple Issa jersey dress, which garnered 21 per cent of the vote. The vibrant number – which retails at about £419 – is both youthful and feminine. Chosen personally by Kate – she doesn't employ a stylist – the dress is by her go-to label for important events – like her engagement announcement press conference. Coming in a close second was something a little more extravagant – the pale lilac Alexander McQueen gown Kate wore to the BAFTAs during her visit to Los Angeles.
The Duchess paired her flowing dress with a Jimmy Choo Ubai clutch in Champagne Glitter and matching open-toe Vamp platform sandals. That look would have cost thousands to put together, but readers were also taken with an outfit that shows her frugal nature. Third placed, with 9.4 per cent of the vote, was a recycled look – her white Reiss Nanette dress.
She had previously worn the £159 dress for her official engagement pictures taken by Mario Testino. But for Canada Day she matched it with a red Sylvia Fletcher hat and the Queen's diamond maple leaf brooch.
The monarch's brooch definitely caught readers' eyes. Two of the top three looks were accessorised with the precious pin.
