The Princess of Wales, Kate Middleton, has cemented her status as a global style icon, famously blending luxury designer pieces with accessible high street finds. This savvy approach to fashion creates a powerful 'Kate effect', where items she wears frequently sell out within hours. For those looking to emulate her polished yet relatable wardrobe, the key lies in her favourite affordable brands.
The Royal Formula: Designer Meets High Street
Walking in the footsteps of the late Princess Diana, Kate Middleton's fashion choices are meticulously documented and widely influential. Her signature style formula is no secret: she expertly pairs investment pieces from labels like Erdem, Stella McCartney, and Emilia Wickstead with more wallet-friendly options. This could be a Zara dress under a bespoke coat or an H&M top with Alexander McQueen trousers.
The commercial impact is undeniable. The DeMellier mid-range bag she carried on Christmas Day 2025 is now sold out with pre-orders stretching to May. Similarly, the Rixo Izzy dress she wore in Barbados disappeared from shelves in mere hours. This phenomenon highlights her unique power to drive trends and sales across the fashion spectrum.
Kate's Go-To High Street & Mid-Market Brands
Several brands have become synonymous with the Princess's off-duty and smart-casual looks. For sharp tailoring, Reiss is a perennial favourite; she famously wore a Nanette dress from the brand for her official engagement portrait in 2010 and repeatedly wears a neutral double-breasted blazer.
For sustainable footwear, she regularly chooses Veja's Esplar leather sneakers, often in white with a metallic trim. British stalwarts also feature heavily: she has a long-standing relationship with Barbour, rewearing a wax jacket since 2012, and frequently turns to Boden for colourful separates and cosy knitwear.
Other regulars in her rotation include:
- Rixo: For occasion wear, like the instantly sold-out pink marble zebra dress worn in the Bahamas.
- With Nothing Underneath: For crisp shirts and elegant knitwear, like the light brown Jura cardigan worn in Northern Ireland.
- Ghost London: For floral dresses, reworn from Pakistan in 2019 to her 10th anniversary in 2021.
- Kiltane: For affordable cashmere, including a burgundy roll neck jumper.
Accessible Jewellery and Accessories
Kate Middleton's jewellery box also reveals a mix of fine and high street pieces. While she owns Cartier, she often accessorises with styles from Missoma, Monica Vinader, and Orelia. She has been spotted multiple times in Accessorize's filigree drop earrings, proving her style is attainable.
For bags, alongside DeMellier, she is a fan of Edinburgh-based Strathberry, owning at least four from the label. Even her sunglasses are accessible; at the Wimbledon 2025 final, she wore a classic cat-eye pair from Ralph Lauren costing under £100.
Perhaps the most surprising high street coup was a £30 pair of trainers from M&S, which she wore to the London Stadium in 2020, causing an immediate sell-out. This underscores the core message of her style: elegance and influence need not come with an exorbitant price tag. By championing these brands, the Princess of Wales offers a masterclass in building a versatile, sophisticated, and surprisingly affordable wardrobe.
