Kate Middleton: Ten ways Kate has changed our lives
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By Chrissie Russell
Friday Jan 6 2012
From nude shoes to Dukan diets, lately there's one woman who's been responsible for influencing the way millions of women shop, eat and dress.
Ahead of her 30th birthday on Monday, we take a look at Kate Middleton and the 10 ways Middletonmania has changed our lives.
Thanks to the Princess we are ...
1 ... no longer bowing to trends
Dolce and Gabbana and Vivienne Westwood might reckon Kate's not fashion forward enough but does she care? Not one bit. Whether she's lambasted for donning boxy jackets, limp cardigans or frumpy tweeds, the Duchess of Cambridge ploughs on regardless and in doing so, has made being uncool, cool.
Her attitude earned her the praise of image savvy Madonna, reported as saying: "She's developed a style and stuck to it whether people were interested or not. I admire her individuality."
2 ... hunting out a pair of nude shoes
Thanks to Princess Kate fleshtone footwear has become ubiquitous. At the summer wedding of Zara Phillips and Mike Tindall virtually every female guest, from Coronation Street's Katherine Kelly to presenter Kirsty Gallacher, arrived in neutral coloured heels.
3 ... demanding coloured gems
Thanks to William slipping his mum's €88,899 18-carat sapphire and diamond ring onto Kate's finger, we've suddenly realised that white diamonds aren't the only way to go.
Replicas of the dazzling gem, such as Debenhams' bargain €9 Vincenza copy, sold out, while other brides-to-be have started urging other halves to splash out on pricey coloured jewels.
According to the International Coloured Gemstone Association, the value of rubies, sapphires and emeralds has risen due to a surge in demand with gem traders attributing at least part of this to Ms Middleton's bling.
4 ... eating up The Dukan Diet
Ok, so several million French people had already declared themselves firm fans of the four-stage, high-protein, low-carb diet plan, but the English-speaking world wasn't on board until Kate's mum said she was on it.
Following Carole Middleton's admission, the Dukan Diet book experienced a 100pc spike in sales prompting its author, Dr Pierre Dukan to pay tribute to the marketing appeal of brand Middleton.
Asked about what the secret was behind his diet's success outside France, he replied simply: "It works and Carole Middleton."
5 ... yearning for long, luscious locks
We've had The Rachel and The POB but 2011 ushered in the era of The Kate. Thanks to the Princess's thick, shiny tresses, salon owners say female customers are falling over themselves to get a Middleton mane.
The big blow dry is the natural backlash to years of poker straight hair but Kate's cut also appeals because it's actually relatively low maintenance. According to hair stylist Richard Ward, responsible for creating Kate's long layered look, once the layers have been honed, the work is done.
6 ... lapping up lace
Strapless and satin are out and going demure in long sleeved lace is in when it comes to hitting the right Royal note on the big day.
7 ... dressing appropriately While Rihanna donned micro-minis and Miley Cyrus battled Selina Gomez in the plunging neckline stakes, Kate Middleton showed you don't need to flash flesh to look good.
From the just-above-the-knee hem lengths to kitten heels, Kate has opened our eyes to the comfortable wonders of conservative dressing.
8 ... pulling on a pair of tights
Not since American GIs came bearing stockings has hosiery been so much in vogue. In the weeks following the Royal wedding Debenhams saw sales of flesh-coloured tights rise by 65pc while overall sales have been up a quarter on 2010.
9 ... embracing frugal fashion
Forget WAGish designer IT bags and eye-wateringly expensive footwear, Kate has ushered in the era of the High Street buy. Moderately priced brands such as Issa, Reiss, Whistles, Zara and LK Bennett have all seen their profiles boosted thanks to the Duchess of Cambridge's patronage.
Dresses like the post-wedding €70 Zara dress, Reiss's Shola frock for meeting the Obamas and the engagement dress, also by Reiss, all sold out in minutes.
10 ... plumping for shapely rears
Putting her little sister in a figure- hugging Alexander McQueen bridesmaid dress changed the shape of things to come.
According to US cosmetic surgeons the 'Pippa Middleton butt lift' is now the bottom most coveted by plastic surgery clients.
- Chrissie Russell
Irish Independent
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