The young royals of today, to many, are seen as style icons of the decade. Dressed in anything from top couture gowns to H&M classics, Meghan Markle and Kate Middleton are figures followed by thousands. These two Duchesses have the power to influence a nation with garments selling out in just minutes after pictures of them being worn are published.
Kate Middleton, having not come from a wealthy upbringing, is more than used to wearing many a high street label, and adjusting to royal life meant she didn't want to throw this away. In fact one of her first official public appearances on the way to her honeymoon, Katherine was spotted wearing a very affordable Zara number, styled with a black blazer, the dress sold out in just a few days after pictures of Kate were aired.
Keen to set an example in the reuse and recycle resurgence Kate has since worn this same garment dressed up and down for events such as Prince Philip's 90th celebrations as well as an opening event in Nottingham and most recently a Fortnum and Mason event in London just last year. On each occasion this gorgeous Zara dress sold out in days.
LK Bennett, Hobbs, Marks & Spencers and Zara just to name a few have all profited hugely from the royal appearances, begging the question if royals could be categorised as influencers? With many following their every style move it seems very much that way. It's not just with the current younger royals either.
Looking back Princess Diana, a lady of elegance, charm and charity was often looked upon for her fashion statements, bucking trends and using her clothing to communicate messages of great importance. Eleri Lynn, the curator of Diana: Her Fashion Story states she's “a fashion icon whose style is so emulated and so loved, really... It is very surprising how little footage there exists of the Princess actually speaking. We all have a sense of what we think she was like, and yet so much of it comes from still photographs, and a large part of that [idea] is communicated through the different clothes that she wore.” Diana's look could be described as “very glamorous regal style” something she adapted and paid careful attention to when on overseas trips, often dressing in homage to their hosts destination.
One of the newest members of the royal family, Meghan Markle, has a clear resemblance to Princess Diana's style sense. Often seen in some exquisite tailoring as well as a shared love of the colour black, often popping up in both wardrobes. Meghan has since made quite a statement of her own, recently on tour dressing in a whole range from Banana Republic to Room 502, similarly to Diana often taking style inspiration from their host nation for each stage of their visit.
So... are the royals influencers? Well yes, in the sense of their impact on society and their power to make a garment sell out in minutes. But just as equally the royals' wardrobes are heavily influenced by dress code, formalities and culture. They dress according to those around them as well as keeping inline with a strict rule book of being a royal. So I guess that's for you to decide. Are the royal influencers? Over to you.
St.
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