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IMAGES: Queen of Style: Kate's first year
Prince William and Kate Middleton celebrated their first wedding anniversary yesterday. We take a look at how the Duchess of Cambridge's fashion sense has evolved over the past year, ever since she stepped into royal shoes!
It's been 12 months since the they tied the knot on April 29, 2011, but the hoopla surrounding them continues to build.
Although the royal couple decided to celebrate their first anniversary in a rather low-key manner which didn't involve any public appearances, hardly a week goes by without capturing them on camera; particularly Kate, who has won hearts the world over ever since she married her Prince Charming.
And more than her gracious demeanour and lovely smile, it's the erstwhile Miss Middleton's fashion statements that attract all the attention -- whatever she wears today is tomorrow's rage!
Nominated to several best-dressed lists over the years (even before she was married), she's particularly endeared herself to female fans by stepping out in affordable, high-street designs and even mixing them with high-end couture despite her royal status.
Stores sell out any design Kate is seen in within hours and her style picks are constantly under intense scrutiny, with a usually favourable outcome -- like the lilac gown seen here, an Alexander McQueen creation that she wore to the BAFTA Brits To Watch event in Los Angeles, California, last June. She completed the look with a Jimmy Choo clutch, Vamp platform sandals and earrings borrowed from the Queen.
In the following pages, we bring you the Duchess of Cambridge's celebrated wardrobe in pictures from her first year as royalty -- take a look!
Affordable elegance
For their first official engagement as a royal couple, Wills and Kate received the Obamas at Buckingham Palace in May last year and it was the first sign of Kate-mania following their wedding.
The beautiful brunette gave haute couture a miss in favour of a bandage-style beige dress by UK high street retailer Reiss that cost 175 pounds. Not only did she show up first ladies Michelle Obama and Samantha Cameron (both fashionistas in their own right who were decked up in ensembles costing thousands), but her choice of outfit caused the retailer's website to crash.
Reiss shops across the UK began selling out and an employee from one of their stores told the Daily Mail that 20 copies of the dress were sold online within two minutes of her photographs being published.
Working the red carpet
That isn't to say of course, that the Duchess doesn't dress up to the nines when the occasion demands it.
Here she is seen at the ARK 10th Anniversary Gala Dinner on June 9, 2011 in London wearing a stunning Swarovski-embellished Jenny Packham gown in pale pink. The cost of the design by this high-end couturier was an eye-watering $5,015!
Military chic
Later that month, the prince and his new wife headed off to the Victoria Barracks in Windsor, to present service medals to members of the Irish Guards.
As befitted a military event, Kate wore an Alexander McQueen coat dress embellished with gold buttons and epaulettes. A hair fascinator, high-heeled pumps and a gold brooch in the shape of a shamrock (the emblem of the Irish Guards) set off the outfit.
Lace looker
The royal couple then hopped across the pond in July for their first official tour together, visiting Canada and the US.
Kate generated as much of a buzz in the press abroad, with each outfit she stepped out in described and commented upon in detail.
Here she is seen wearing a blue lace-trimmed Erdem day dress and L K Bennett shoes as she attends a morning service onboard the HMCS Montreal in Champlain Harbour, Quebec.
Casual cool
Of course, an official tour doesn't mean you have to step out all decked up all the time!
The Duchess showed off her casual side while on her Canadian tour too, donning J Brand skinny jeans that cost only $170 and showed off her pins to perfection. A fitted grey shirt and flats added just the right touch.
Cowgirl class
Kate even got into the spirit of things as she attended the Calgary Stampede (one of Canada's biggest annual rodeos), donning bootcut denims by Goldsign (285 pounds), a white Temperley London blouse and traditional 10-gallon hat for the festivities.
Winter wardrobe
In November 2011, the prince and duchess headed off to Copenhagen in Denmark for a royal visit to the UNICEF Emergency Supply Centre.
Here Kate rocked a retro-inspired L. K. Bennett coat and belt with black suede knee-high boots.
Mix and match
It mustn't have been quite as nippy in London last December, however; a charity music concert by Gary Barlow saw Kate put her fabulous legs on display once more in black stockings and a rather mini (at least by her standards!) number.
Not surprisingly, it was from Spanish high-street brand Zara and cost only 69.99 pounds, although her fashionable Ralph Lauren jacket must have cost considerably more!
Black velvet
She was even more bold and that much more beautiful at The Sun Military Awards later that month, when she shone in a strapless black velvet gown with a frill trim at the bustline and a fishtail skirt.
Again, the designer of choice was Sarah Burton of Alexander McQueen, who also created the Duchess' wedding dress. And for those who want to know, it cost 4,000 pounds!
Sober style
A week later, Kate embraced a more sober style as she visited a homeless shelter along with her husband.
Her Ralph Lauren olive-green jersey dress cost 350 pounds (it sold out online within hours, as usual) and she teamed it with a thick belt that accentuated her tiny waist and a sexy pair of knee-length suede boots.
Racy in lace
It was time to stun again, though, at a movie premiere this January when she opted for a floor-sweeping lace dress from Temperley London -- custom couture, costing thousands, no doubt!
Grecian glimpse
It's worth noting that while her daywear is fairly uniform in terms of taste, Kate is a chameleon on the red carpet.
Another noteworthy look she executed was in this Grecian gown at a dinner hosted in aid of the National Memorial Arboretum Appeal in London last November. Silvery and draped over one shoulder, the Jenny Packham design added softness to her athletic frame and is believed to have cost upward of $2,000.
Coat couture
On a visit to a luxury department store along with her mother-in-law and grandmother-in-law last month, Kate was quite befittingly the demure royal, looking striking in a coat from Italian giant M by Missoni and teal suede pumps costing 375 pounds from Rupert Sanderson.
Sporty fun
A few days later, she let her hair down once more playing hockey with the GB hockey teams at the Olympic Park in London.
Wearing a pair of skinny jeans from Zara (note the on-trend coral colour!), an official GB jacket and Adidas trainers, she got in some action at the arena.
Like a princess
And here are Wills and his ladylove pictured last week at another movie premiere in the UK.
As the prince gallantly shielded her from the rain, Kate dazzled in a grey Matthew Williamson peplum dress with green, yellow and gold stone embellishments both on the sleeves and the neckline.
With this latest photograph, Kate's first year as a royal and fashion icon comes to a close. Let's wait and watch for what comes next!