It is five years since Kate Middleton became the Duchess of Cambridge in a lavish spring wedding at Westminster Abbey. In that time, she has become not only an ambassador for Britain and a mother of two, but also a style icon.
The navy blue Issa dress she wore when she and William announced their engagement sold out within hours, "starting the trend of many Kate-fuelled runs on pieces", says Glamour – the so-called "Kate effect".
The Week
Escape your echo chamber. Get the facts behind the news, plus analysis from multiple perspectives.
Sign up for The Week's Free Newsletters
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
Harper's Bazaar notes that when the Duchess wore a red and white gingham skirt suit by British label Eponine in March, the brand's website crashed as a result of legions of her fans logging on to find the outfit.
The key may lie in the perceived accessibility of the Duchess's style, which frequently includes off-the-rack items from high street chains such as Whistles and Reiss.
Whether appearing at a formal state dinner or spending time with her family, her outfits continue to create a stir among fashion aficionados.
-
‘These wouldn’t be playgrounds for billionaires’Instant Opinion Opinion, comment and editorials of the day
-
The 5 best nuclear war movies of all time‘A House of Dynamite’ reanimates a dormant cinematic genre for our new age of atomic insecurity
-
Should the US resume nuclear testing?Talking Points Trump vows to restart testing, but China might benefit most
-
The rise of English sparkling wineThe Week Recommends As UK-based brands give champagne a run for its money, here’s everything you need to know about choosing the right bottle
-
Four royal holiday hotspotsThe Week Recommends Follow in the footsteps of royalty and experience the charm of some of their most popular getaways
-
Sex, drugs and a royal ruckus: the US play with a future gay Prince GeorgeTalking Point The controversial off-Broadway show is a hit with audiences in New York
-
Dianaworld: the 'cultural phenomenon' behind the People's PrincessThe Week Recommends 'Very fine' book examines the cultural groups who once admired her, and the legacy she left behind
-
The Edwardians: Age of Elegance – no end of sumptuous objects at the King's GalleryThe Week Recommends The splendour of Edward VII and Queen Alexandra is on display at Buckingham Palace
-
Horse around across the globe with these liberating horse-centric activitiesThe Week Recommends These graceful animals make any experience better
-
Meghan Markle's new Netflix show and the media backlashTalking Point With Love, Megan offers fresh insights into her 'mind-bogglingly exclusive lifestyle' in California
-
Her Lotus Year: Paul French's new biography sets lurid rumours straightThe Week Recommends Wallis Simpson's year in China is less scandalous, but 'more interesting' than previously thought
