For years, royal fashion has been a hot topic and Kate Middleton’s outfits have made the most headlines across the globe. Her wardrobe choices have captivated royal watchers and fashion enthusiasts alike. From her Alexander McQueen wedding dress to her high-street Zara picks, her style has been a key talking point.
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Last year, when she made her long-awaited public return her ‘special’ outfit gathered a lot of attention. It has also been reported that she buys her clothes in several colours. However, in a significant change, Kensington Palace announced that it would no longer provide official details about the designers or brands she wears.
Why has Kate Middleton stopped giving details of her outfit?
A Kensington Palace source told The Sunday Times that it will no longer reveal the details of Kate’s outfits. According to sources, Kate has made the decision as she wants the public’s focus to be on her philanthropic work rather than what she wears. Speaking to the publication, a source said:
There is an absolute feeling that it [the public work] is not about what the princess is wearing. She wants the focus to be on the really important issues, the people and the causes she is spotlighting.
As she slowly returned to public duties, she stated that her health issues have given her ‘a new perspective on everything’ and she now appreciates ‘simple yet important things in life.’ The source added:
There will always be an appreciation of what the princess is wearing from some of the public and she gets that. But do we need to be officially always saying what she is wearing? No. The style is there but it’s about the substance.
This comes after her visit to Tŷ Hafan Children’s Hospice on Thursday, 30 January made more headlines about her £89 Zara dress than the cause itself, reports The Standard.
Speaking to Sky Newsformer editor-in-chief of British Vogue, Alexandra Shulman explained that the decision is not surprising given her recent experience. Describing the move as a ‘reassessment of her priorities’ she stated:
You have to look at this in the context of the experience she's been through. It's about re-examining your life. When people have gone through what she's gone through, they should be entitled to be seen how they want to be seen... with a serious mission - not where the focus is on her clothes.
In 2022, a friend of hers told the Times that gets ‘frustrated’ at times with people’s interest in her fashion. She said:
When she goes to the Bond premiere or is at Trooping the Colour, of course, she puts on the ‘uniform’ of the role. But what was enormously frustrating and difficult for her, especially in the early days, was she was going out and doing the work she was interested in and was hugely important to her, and people just talked about what she was wearing.
Moreover, the move coincides with Kate’s ongoing commitment to her public work. With initiatives like her Shaping Us campaign focusing on early childhood development and mental health, her platform is evolving beyond fashion.
However, this decision does come at a big cost.
Understanding the Kate effect
Kate’s fashion has been admired so much that she became an influencer even before the term existed. As such, the move comes as a severe blow to many brands and designers as they will be deprived of the ‘Kate effect.’
The Princess’ influence has been so profound that it has been termed the ‘Kate effect.’ Ever since she became a public figure, her clothing choices have led to immediate sell-outs, with high demand for both luxury and high-street brands she wears, reports The Guardian. Royal expert Hilary Fordwich recently told Fox News that her impact is estimated to contribute around £4 billion ($5 billion) to the British fashion industry, adding:
Her wardrobe choices result in an immediate sales surge.
The Princess has been known to champion British designers, including Sarah Burton of Alexander McQueen, Jenny Packham, and Emilia Wickstead. She has also been a strong advocate for sustainable fashion, frequently recycling outfits for public engagements. Interestingly, this move to downplay her fashion choices comes at a time when Kate is set to grant royal warrants, which could significantly boost sales for brands she favours.
Despite Kate’s decision, there are chances that the designers that Princess will wear will still alert the media but it won’t appear in royal communications. Additionally, fashion bloggers and social media pages dedicated to her style, such as @katemiddletonstyled or @royalbritishfashion, will continue to analyse her outfits.
Expert believes fashion will always be 'part of her appeal'
Kate’s decision to stop releasing fashion details has sparked a lot of reactions. Some believe it’s a step towards prioritising substance over style. Others, however, argue that fashion is an intrinsic part of her appeal.
Bethan Holt, fashion director at The Telegraph and author of The Duchess of Cambridge: A Decade of Modern Royal Style, emphasised that her style will always be a ‘key aspect’ of her public image. Holt said:
It was obvious from the beginning of her relationship with William that her style choices would be closely scrutinised and there was almost no way that she couldn’t play into that. It was reported that she was keen not to become an instant style icon in the way that Princess Diana had.
Despite her efforts to wear ‘every woman’ brands like Zara to ‘downplay’ the attention, she became more ‘endearing’ to lots of women. Based on this, Holt shared:
Kate might now be trying to deflect conversation about her style but the reality is that it will always be a huge part of her appeal. It will remain so even if the palace doesn’t release details about her wardrobe.
Read more:
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Sources used:
Cosmopolitan: Palace Source Says Kate Middleton Wants People to Stop Talking About Her Clothes
The Standard: What the Princess of Wales' surprise fashion decision really means
Sky News: Princess of Wales wants public to focus on her work - not her outfits
The Guardian: The ‘Kate effect’: how the Princess of Wales became the royals’ not-so-secret weapon
The Telegraph: The Princess of Wales refuses to be a fashion influencer. That won’t stop royal fans loving her style
