BE A COPY KATE

KATIE WRIGHT and EMMA JOHNSON on why you should take your style cues from the Duchess of Cambridge

THE Duchess of Cambridge hasn’t made a whole lot of public appearances this summer (due to the pandemic, of course) but looking back at the fashion choices she has stepped out in, one thing is clear: she’s going through a shirt dress phase.

We’ve seen the 38-year-old in no less than five different button-down dresses recently, and she looked gorgeous every time.

For a trip to Norfolk as part of the celebrations for the NHS’ birthday she opted for a demure dress by Beulah in NHS blue.

We had seen her wearing the same dress in a red colourway for a Zoom call as part of Mental Health Awareness Week in May, later that month she met children as part of a BBC project wearing a black and white polka dot style from British designer Emilia Wickstead, as well as a navy printed dress with a white collar from Beulah London.

More recently, Kate donned a vintage-style plain white shirt dress by Suzannah while visiting a volunteering project in Sheffield, and she rounded off her summer dress masterclass with another Emilia Wickstead design, pale blue with pink floral print, on a trip to Wales.

We have seen her in that particular dress before, only

Rowan crossbody bag £195, Russell & Bromley this time she accessorised it with that 2020 must-have, a pretty face covering. Kate’s was a £15 reusable cotton one from London childrenswear designer Amaia. Naturally it sold out in no time once she was photographed in it.

Now we may be heading towards the end of summer, but the great thing about shirt dresses is they can be styled to suit virtually any weather.

Take a leaf out of Kate’s book and wear one now with espadrille wedges, court shoes or heeled sandals (a bit of height works well with the midi length), then switch it up for autumn with ankle boots.

When it turns chillier still, layer your shirt dress over a fine-knit roll neck top and team with knee-high boots. A crossbody bag completes the look.

To get the most out of this transitional fashion favourite, it’s best to opt for monochrome or darker colours, and prints you can pair with suede boots and

autumnal-hued layers.

Wearing a polka dot dress by designer Emilia Wickstead The Duchess of Cambridge during a visit to Queen Elizabeth Hospital in King’s Lynn

Martina court shoes, were £62, now £40, office. co.uk Birdie print burnout pleated shirt dress blue, £99, Monsoon Long shirt dress, £44, Cotton Traders Kate’s reusable mask sold out after she was pictured in it

Linen fit and flare dress £129, The White Company 3-ply floral filtered face mask, £45, aeibe.com Castaner Carina 90 white espadrilles, £80, Harvey Nichols Tyra fit and flare dress, £129, Hobbs

The Duchess of Cambridge in a plain white shirt dress by Suzannah

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