Future queen's fashion journey
January 16, 2011, Sunday
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KATE Middleton is set to be Britain's next princess. Will she become a new royal style icon too?
It's anyone's guess what fashion journey Prince William's fiancee will take, or how her style will evolve over the coming years. Right now, Middleton is in a position similar to that of the young Lady Di, who was far from a fashion plate at the start of her marriage to Prince Charles.
At least for now, Middleton, with her long, wavy, chocolate-brown hair and sapphire eyes, is an unapologetic classic dresser. A commoner, she eschews big designer labels in favor of jeans and cowboy boots and decidedly ladylike clothes from labels including Issa, BCBG Max Azria, Collette Dinnigan and Diane von Furstenberg. Her high street picks include Jigsaw, Whistles and Kew - all labels that offer safe, watered-down versions of seasonal trends.
There is clearly no daring here, with zero attempt to call attention to herself, which should suit Middleton just fine in her new life as a Royal Air Force wife, initially living in rural north Wales, where her future husband will be based, and socializing with the other couples on the base. It's the life the duo is used to, since they met in the wilds of Scotland at the University of St Andrews.
"She doesn't really make too many mistakes or go out of her way to be edgy," said Bruce Oldfield, who made clothes for Princess Diana and who continues to dress generations of society ladies and their daughters.
"Her style is young, modern, quite classic," he said, quickly adding that the role of a newly married young royal isn't to be a trendsetter.
"Remember that Diana took on that mantle rather reluctantly. The role of style icon was thrust upon her - she was not on a mission to become one."
But with her willowy figure and tall good looks, designers say Middleton could clearly pull off some bolder silhouettes.
"If I was going to dress her, I'd put her in more sharply tailored clothing. Her clothes are all a bit soft," said Giles Deacon. "And I'd put her in some nice rich jewel tones? she could carry those colors off as well. She tends to wear lots of pale colors."
Julien Macdonald said Middleton should try to dress her age. "She's a young girl, and we need to see that come out more. British fashion is on the cutting edge, and there are so many great designers here. She should be reflecting British style for the world to see," said Macdonald, adding he's a big fan.
"She's just what the country needs in the current climate."
One designer who declined to comment much on Middleton is the woman who could potentially make her wedding dress - Brazilian-born, London-based Daniella Helayel, founder and designer of the Issa collection.
"We're very happy with the news of the engagement, and we're happy she's chosen to wear Issa until now," Helayel said. "She's a lovely girl."
In November, the Mail on Sunday newspaper reported that Middleton had spent a lot of time at the Issa studio in Chelsea, having a closetful of dresses and jackets made for what could possibly be upcoming engagement celebrations.
Burberry's Christopher Bailey might be another candidate for the dress - or indeed any future ones. The designer declined to comment. Burberry, a royal warrant holder, has been supplying Princes William and Harry with clothing since they were kids and also dresses Prince Charles.
For now, at least, Middleton is likely to stick to the Brits - although that doesn't mean foreign designers won't flock to dress her eventually. Middleton earned high marks from Marchesa's Georgina Chapman.
"Kate is sort of the ultimate English rose. She's very beautiful, very English, classic and sophisticated," Chapman said. "She has a very royal attitude already in terms of the way she puts herself together and carries herself in public. She is the future queen, so she will be a style icon, and as a young member of the royal family she will be influential," she said.
"What's appealing to everyone is she looks so nice and normal," Lela Rose said. "We are so used to all this Hollywood hysteria that her normalcy is in itself refreshing."
It's anyone's guess what fashion journey Prince William's fiancee will take, or how her style will evolve over the coming years. Right now, Middleton is in a position similar to that of the young Lady Di, who was far from a fashion plate at the start of her marriage to Prince Charles.
At least for now, Middleton, with her long, wavy, chocolate-brown hair and sapphire eyes, is an unapologetic classic dresser. A commoner, she eschews big designer labels in favor of jeans and cowboy boots and decidedly ladylike clothes from labels including Issa, BCBG Max Azria, Collette Dinnigan and Diane von Furstenberg. Her high street picks include Jigsaw, Whistles and Kew - all labels that offer safe, watered-down versions of seasonal trends.
There is clearly no daring here, with zero attempt to call attention to herself, which should suit Middleton just fine in her new life as a Royal Air Force wife, initially living in rural north Wales, where her future husband will be based, and socializing with the other couples on the base. It's the life the duo is used to, since they met in the wilds of Scotland at the University of St Andrews.
"She doesn't really make too many mistakes or go out of her way to be edgy," said Bruce Oldfield, who made clothes for Princess Diana and who continues to dress generations of society ladies and their daughters.
"Her style is young, modern, quite classic," he said, quickly adding that the role of a newly married young royal isn't to be a trendsetter.
"Remember that Diana took on that mantle rather reluctantly. The role of style icon was thrust upon her - she was not on a mission to become one."
But with her willowy figure and tall good looks, designers say Middleton could clearly pull off some bolder silhouettes.
"If I was going to dress her, I'd put her in more sharply tailored clothing. Her clothes are all a bit soft," said Giles Deacon. "And I'd put her in some nice rich jewel tones? she could carry those colors off as well. She tends to wear lots of pale colors."
Julien Macdonald said Middleton should try to dress her age. "She's a young girl, and we need to see that come out more. British fashion is on the cutting edge, and there are so many great designers here. She should be reflecting British style for the world to see," said Macdonald, adding he's a big fan.
"She's just what the country needs in the current climate."
One designer who declined to comment much on Middleton is the woman who could potentially make her wedding dress - Brazilian-born, London-based Daniella Helayel, founder and designer of the Issa collection.
"We're very happy with the news of the engagement, and we're happy she's chosen to wear Issa until now," Helayel said. "She's a lovely girl."
In November, the Mail on Sunday newspaper reported that Middleton had spent a lot of time at the Issa studio in Chelsea, having a closetful of dresses and jackets made for what could possibly be upcoming engagement celebrations.
Burberry's Christopher Bailey might be another candidate for the dress - or indeed any future ones. The designer declined to comment. Burberry, a royal warrant holder, has been supplying Princes William and Harry with clothing since they were kids and also dresses Prince Charles.
For now, at least, Middleton is likely to stick to the Brits - although that doesn't mean foreign designers won't flock to dress her eventually. Middleton earned high marks from Marchesa's Georgina Chapman.
"Kate is sort of the ultimate English rose. She's very beautiful, very English, classic and sophisticated," Chapman said. "She has a very royal attitude already in terms of the way she puts herself together and carries herself in public. She is the future queen, so she will be a style icon, and as a young member of the royal family she will be influential," she said.
"What's appealing to everyone is she looks so nice and normal," Lela Rose said. "We are so used to all this Hollywood hysteria that her normalcy is in itself refreshing."
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