It was the dress seen ‘round the world. Kate Middleton’s long-sleeved, custom-made lace gown by Sarah Burton for Alexander McQueen shone from TVs on both sides of the Atlantic, and it will always be known as the symbol of a princess in the making. Its classic elegance and stunning design cemented Kate as an international fashion icon. But for those of us without an entire country’s tax money and the entire fashion industry at our disposal, a royal wardrobe isn’t exactly in the cards. So how can a collegiette™ imitate Kate’s fresh, timeless-meets-fun style without breaking the bank—or without looking like a stuffy royal? We have the scoop on how to match the princess’s personal style for less.
Around Buckingham Palace
Even royals don’t need to dress up all the time! When Kate’s not attending state dinners and traveling the world with Wills, she still maintains her put-together style. While you may spend your casual days chowing down at your local bagel place and not sampling tea at Buckingham Palace, you can still look as chic as Kate does. Here, at the Game Fair at Blenheim Palace in 2004, she pairs a simple tweed pencil skirt and striped oxford shirt with a large braided belt and leather riding boots for an equestrian-inspired look. The trench coat over her shoulder and sunglasses on her head make the look just as applicable for an intramural soccer game as for a royal polo match.
For Kate, this preppy outfit may be perfectly suited to a photoshoot in the palace gardens, but for us it’s perfect for class! This Gap pencil skirt, cotton instead of tweed for summer, has the same classic cut as Kate’s but for a lot less, and the more relaxed button-down gives the look a more laid-back touch. Add a faded leather belt, like this one from H & M, to imitate her equestrian style, and a pair of oversized Jackie O-style sunglasses, like these from American Eagle, to add polish. Trade in Kate’s leather riding boots for flat leather sandals in the spring, like this pair from Zara. Throw a trench coat like this French Connection style over your shoulder and you have the perfect summer outfit!
Royal Function
Kate wore this bright blue cocktail dress, sharp black blazer, and elegant feathered hat to the wedding of event rider Harry Meade and Rosemarie Bradford, last fall. Her outfit may be a little unrealistic for us collegiettes™ (unless you’re really daring enough to try and pull off a crazy headpiece!) but luckily we don’t have any royal functions to attend anytime soon. Instead, you can translate her combination of a bright, flirty dress and a sharp, neutral jacket to your summer internships, a nice dinner with family or friends, or to your cousin’s summer wedding!
A bright, floaty dress is the perfect backdrop to any summer look, whether for work or for play. Don’t be afraid to play with pleats, ruffles and one-shoulder looks for night—you don’t have to be as demure as Princess Kate all the time! Try a white blazer for your summer internship, like this one from H & M, and open-weave neutral pumps, like this pair from Aldo, to keep Kate’s traditional style while adding a little bit of boho. If you want to try for Kate’s elegant hat, go for a sun hat instead—this simple shape from Madewell makes the outfit perfect for a ladylike window-shopping trip through London’s fashionable boutiques. If you’re taking the look to a summer wedding or party, try a fun yet tailored bag like this structured python style from Topshop—its fun print and ‘50s-inspired shape is just Kate’s style!
Prince William’s Polo Match
Kate doesn’t always wear cocktail dresses wherever she goes—she can rock jeans just like any other girl, but she does it with a polished royal flair! Here, she wears clean-cut dark skinnies with a feminine top and leather jacket to a charity polo match her prince played in. Lucky for us, her polo ensemble is perfect for any collegiette’s™ wardrobe—you can bring it seamlessly from class to dinner on a Friday night to shopping on Saturday.
To keep your look polished, try a dark, clean-cut-cut pair of skinny jeans like this Acne pair. A sleeveless ruffled blouse, like this Armani Exchange top, works perfectly with a classic-yet-edgy leather jacket like Kate’s—try a simple bomber style like this one from Topshop. Pair your jeans with simple ballet flats like these from H & M and a simple white shoulder bag like this timeless style from Nine West, and you can rock Kate’s weekend style anywhere you go.
