The styling tips Kate Middleton relies on

Catherine, Duchess of Cambridge arrives to host NHS Charities Together and NHS staff at a unique drive-in cinema to watch a special screening of Disney’s Cruella at the Palace of Holyroodhouse on day six of their week-long visit to Scotland on May 26, 2021 in Edinburgh, Scotland

(Image credit: Photo by Pool/Samir Hussein/WireImage via Getty)

last updated 4 November 2022

Kate Middleton's style is the stuff of dreams, not only can she perfect the perfect blow-dry and beauty look, but her wardrobe is always super smart, yet stylish.

Surely looking so effortlessly polished must be exhausting. But instead of complicated styling, it’s simplicity that’s key to The Duchess of Cambridge's signature look.

For most royal occasions, you can almost predict what Kate will be wearing—a gorgeous dress, simple heels and an understated clutch. Finished off of course, with her signature Kate Middleton bouncy hair and statement earrings. By relying on these wardrobe staples, you too can add a little royal flourish to your outfit…

How do I dress like Kate Middleton?

These are the royal-approved styling tips Kate Middleton relies on...

Skater shape

The fit-and-flare shape is a classic Kate comes back to time and time again. Fluting out at the waist, it helps accentuate the curves of her slim frame, as well as drawing attention to her waist.

While Kate tends to favour thick, substantial fabrics for her royal engagements, there’s no reason you can’t switch those for lightweight cloths like cotton and satin.

Putting a modern twist on traditional tailoring, Kate’s pinky-purple skirt suit from Oscar de la Renta has plenty of personality. By teaming it with dark tights and black accessories, the bold color takes centre stage.

But if your budget won't stretch to designer brands treat yourself to a pop of color with this alternative skater dress from Next. It cinches in at the waist for a flattering fit.

Femine florals

From big blooms to ditsy patterns, there’s no denying the Duchess of Cambridge has a fondness for floral dresses. A ready-made outfit in one swoop, all she needs are neutral or co-ordinating accessories to finish off the look.

While Kate’s evening outfits tend to be custom made, the Duchess does tend to wear more affordable, high-street pieces for her daytime engagements.

Kate’s shirt dress is a great way to make a typically formal style feel more relaxed. The belted waist and cuffed sleeves stop the print from overwhelming her frame too.

Get her look with this Emilia Wickstead dress, which has strapped sleeves and a 1950s silhouette.

Country casual

We love the rare occasions Catherine gets to dress down, giving us a sneaky peek into the sort of thing she might wear on her day off.

A country girl at heart, there’s always a big smile on the Duchess of Cambridge’s face when she trades her dress and courts combo for a gilet and wellies.

Lucky for us, this look is nice and easy to copy. Start off with a pair of form-fitting leggings or jeans in classic black or brown, and a crisp cotton shirt in white or blue. After that the choice of gilet or jacket, wellies or trainers is all yours.

If you’re in the market for a new pair of wellies, you can’t go wrong with Hunter. Their Original Tall Wellington Boots are fully waterproof, comfortably lined and come with a 2-year warranty.

Kate has been spotted wearing her classic Barber jacket on numerous occasions, get the look with one of the brand's lightweight waxed jackets, perfect for all seasons.

Easy-to-walk in wedges

For long days on your feet, you just can’t beat the comfort of wedges. Something Kate knows all about. A wardrobe staple for the Duchess of Cambridge year after year, a wedge espadrille is her go-to shoe as soon as the weather warms up.

Pick a pair in a neutral shade like taupe, nude or tan to guarantee yourself plenty of wear. And if you need a little extra ankle support, LK Bennet’s Sarah Wedge Espadrille’s feature super-soft lace-up straps.

Standout jewels

As a member of the royal family, the Duchess of Cambridge has access to some pretty impressive heirloom jewels—especially if her sapphire engagement ring is anything to go by.

Peek beneath the bouncy blow-dry and Catherine is normally wearing a statement pair of earrings. While she tends to keep the colors simple, with neutral stones set into gold or silver, she does experiment with different shapes and cuts.

Copy the floral style of her statement studs with a pair of your very own from Swarovski at John Lewis. They’re chic and sparkly all at once.

Midi length dresses

Reducing the risk of a wardrobe malfunction, Catherine tends to favour ladylike midis to shorter styles. In fact, it’s rumoured she even has weights sewn into the hemlines of her dresses to keep them perfectly in place.

Finishing as the name suggests, in the middle of your calf, midi dresses draw attention to the smallest part of your leg. Not forgetting they help show off your shoes too.

Dresses by Alessandra Rich, the designer behind the patterned green dress Kate wore during her 2020 tour of Ireland, start at around £1000 ($1372), placing them way out of our budget. Luckily, this Whistles’ Animal Wrap Dress is now £99 ($136).

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Jess Beech is an experienced fashion and beauty editor, with more than eight years experience in the publishing industry. She has written for woman&home, GoodtoKnow, Now, Woman, Woman’s Weekly, Woman’s Own and Chat, and is a former Deputy Fashion & Beauty Editor at Future PLC. A beauty obsessive, Jess has tried everything from cryotherapy to chemical peels (minus the Samantha in Sex and The City-worthy redness) and interviewed experts including Jo Malone and Trinny Woodall.

The styling tips Kate Middleton relies on for her signature polished look