Duchess Kate's 'whirlwind of fashion successes' earns her a spot on Vanity Fair best dressed list

Duchess Kate has received the ultimate stamp of approval in the style world by landing a spot on the 72nd Vanity Fair best dressed list. The Duchess of Cambridge is one of the most famous faces on the international list. She joins First ladies Michelle Obama and Carla Bruni on the prestigious list which also features Princess Charlene of Monaco and British actress Carey Mulligan. 
The magazine chose Kate due to her 'whirlwind of fashion successes'. From her stunning wedding gown to the magnificent array of style she displayed during her tour of Canada. Kate is one of the few women in the public eye who feel as comfortable wearing Zara as McQueen. She recycles pieces that she may have had for years and updates them with different accessories. Such as her brocade coat at Zara Philips wedding, She transformed the look with her eye catching Gina Foster hat. I think this is only the beginning for the Duchess we shall see her on many best dressed lists in the coming years. I'm still hoping she may grace the cover of Vogue someday! :)


The Best Dressed list for Women is as follows:


CARLA BRUNI-SARKOZY, First Lady of France
H.H. SHEIKHA MOZA BINT NASSER OF QATAR, wife of H.H. the Emir of Qatar
H.R.H. THE DUCHESS OF CAMBRIDGE, wife of the future King of England
ANDREA DELLAL, mother of four
CAREY MULLIGAN, actress
CHRISTINE LAGARDE, managing director, International Monetary Fund
TILDA SWINTON, film-maker and actress
LIZZIE TISCH, entrepreneur
H.S.H. PRINCESS CHARLENE OF MONACO, Wife of Albert II, Prince of Monaco
JANE LAUDER WARSH, president of Origins and Ojon

Get Kate's 'pretty in purple' look

I normally leave fashion posts for the style page but I thought all my female readers might be interested in emulating Duchess Kate's 'pretty in purple' look. Absolutely anyone can wear this look, It represents casual chic perfectly. Kate is a natural beauty and I often think in her case less is more. I believe the purple sweater is the Ralph Lauren slim fit cable cashmere. It is described as 

'Wearable luxury you can treasure for years'

Almost identical to the above sweater is the Ralph Lauren buchanan cable knit sweater.  It is currently available for just under $100 It is described as

'A classic crewneck sweater is elegantly rendered in cozy, lightweight cable knit cotton and finished with signature embroidery for an iconic look'

It is available in a number of colours. The colour above is 'Wexford Purple'. Similar sweaters can be purchased on the high street or by designers. 

 This is  also a Ralph Lauren from the Black Label range. (Yes Ralph Lauren make great sweaters :)) The neckline is lower than the one above but they otherwise they are extremely similar. This cable knit cashmere sweater is available to buy HERE

For a more affordable alternative, I've chosen this dark purple Austin Reed cable knit jumper. It is available in all sizes HERE

On Kate's trip to Tesco she wore the beautiful Aquascutum Club Check Scarf she previously wore whilst canoeing in Canada, It is currently on sale. The scarf, made in Italy would be ideal for Winter.

Kate completed her shopping look with Croc Patent Leather Pirouette flats by London Sole

They are available for £165 and described as 

'A classic french ballet flat with fabric lining, leather insoles and strong elastomere outersoles'

To complete the look simply scrape your hair back and team with your favourite skinny jeans! Let me know if any of you emulate the look. Any photos? I shall add them to the blog!

On another note I am delighted we are seeing so much of Kate recently, After their return from Canada St James's stated we wouldn't see the Royal couple much this year. I can hardly imagine seeing Camilla shopping at Tesco which is why William and Kate are a breath of fresh air. Looking forward to seeing what she wears next!

The Down To Earth Duchess shops in Tesco and enjoys a romantic stroll with William!

After an exciting weekend in Scotland celebrating the wedding of Zara Philips and Mike Tindall, William and Kate were eager to get back to normal. The couple decided to enjoy a leisurely, romantic stroll in a park close to the grounds of Holyroodhouse where the wedding reception was held. Walking hand in hand the carefree couple looked happy and in love. (Which we all love to see :)) Duchess Kate looked beautiful as always with her hair swept back into a high ponytail. She wore dark skinny jeans, a purple sweater and jeans. 
William and Kate then returned to their permanent residence in Anglesey, Wales where Kate was photographed shopping in her local Tesco in Holyhead. Can you imagine shopping in your local Tesco and running into royalty? Not something one would expect! Kate spent around half an hour picking up essentials such as Kellogg's cereal and plastic bags. Again Kate wore the same purple sweater, this time teamed with a black and white checkered scarf by Aquascutum, blue skinny jeans and black flat shoes. I think Kate pulls off casual chic excellently, She looks effortlessly stylish in these photos. Despite being the Duchess of Cambridge it is clear she is eager to maintain a normal life. With William returning to work as a RAF pilot, Kate is enjoying the role of housewife until royal duties call again!