The RepliKate Effect: Dressing Like a Duchess

By now, you have probably heard about the legion of women who try to repliKate—pun intended—the style of the Duchess of Cambridge (formerly Kate Middleton).

I’m usually not one to directly copy looks. Rather, I’m drawn to bright, unique and bold items I don’t think others would try. That said, I firmly believe it’s healthy to have style crushes—women whose fashion choices inspire your artistic side. I have three… and apparently a thing for royals?!

• The Duchess of Cambridge

• Queen Letizia of Spain

• Queen Rania Al Abdullah of Jordan

Print Sheath Dress (Just $23.99!) |  Similar Heels 

A good style crush can give you that little nudge you need to try something new. It will inspire you to adapt a look to fit your own aesthetic, or perhaps broaden your horizons by introducing you to new designers. Although these three women are all royal, their tastes are quite different. The Duchess of Cambridge is classic and conservative; Letizia is edgy, quick to embrace new trends; and Queen Rania is perhaps the most adventurous of all, exploring interesting silhouettes and shapes while proving modesty can be sexy. In addition, I love reading about their inspiring charity work.

They have access to every designer in the world. So, it’s fascinating to see what they choose and what influences those decisions.

Given their public roles, there’s a lot more at play than simply “liking” a garment. Because of my time in television, I can relate to a few of those fashion considerations. Their looks have to fit the occasion and event. Whether it’s a business meeting, state dinner or charity fundraiser, they must be camera-ready, polished and appropriate at all times. Nothing too short, low-cut or revealing.

Print Sheath Dress (Just $23.99!) |  Similar Heels 

Have you heard of sartorial diplomacy, basically diplomatic dressing? High-profile women like the Duchess of Cambridge frequently use fashion to pay tribute to the places and countries they visit. This dress is a great example of that. It’s a spot-on copy of the Naeem Khan frock she wore on her tour of India. The duchess elected to wear a design from the American-Indian designer for her historic photo in front of the Taj Mahal.

It caught my eye the first time I saw it. I thought it would be perfect for anchoring and work events. The pattern is interesting, but not too busy.

If you have a big budget the original Naeem Khan is incredible with its hand embroidery and silk lining. The near $4,000 price tag is way out of my reach, but at $23.99 this dress is a great alternative.

I thought it looked familiar when I purchased it, but had no idea it was a “repliKate” of the Taj Mahal dress until I stumbled upon a photo from Kate’s India tour. No wonder I liked the dress so much!

There are also a few long sleeved options available in similar patterns. Want more work-wear? Here’s another Kate-inspired look I wear frequently.

Fun fact: My foray into blogging, actually began by reading What Kate Wore. It was the first blog I have ever read and I keep going back. The site does an incredible job of chronicling Catherine’s fashion choices while also giving background about the important causes she supports. Queen Letizia Style is another fun website to explore.

Who is your style crush? I’d love to hear about it in the comments below.

—–Lindsay

“RepliKate” the Look

——Fit Guide——

As this is an Amazon dress, the fit can be a bit tricky. The fabric is nice with a bit of stretch to it. Keep in mind, it is unlined. If you want this to be work appropriate, I’d recommend sizing up. For reference, I’m usually a 2 or 0 in dresses/skirts and purchased the small. Petite gals, great news! You won’t have to hem this. I’m just under 5′ and think the length works just fine. If you’re over 5’6″ you may find it a bit short.