The royal is no stranger to recycling outfits (@kensingtonroyal/Instagram/The Independent)
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There is no denying that the Duchess of Cambridge provides style inspiration to many.
Her fashion choices continue to influence how people choose to dress and accessorise, with pieces from the high street, in particular, often selling out fast, in a phenomenon that has been coined the “Kate effect”.
In recent months, she’s been spotted in everything from a blue Boden cardigan to a surprisingly affordable necklace, and she’s nailed the art of dressing for video calls, something she’s proved once more following a recent virtual appearance with Prince William.
The Duke and Duchess of Cambridge, who are working to raise awareness of mental health issues in young people, spoke to a family who were helped by Shout 85258 – the UK’s first 24/7 text-messaging support service.
This free and confidential platform allows young people to have conversations about their mental health to help make sure no one feels alone.
During the call, the duchess wore a £200 polka-dot shirt from Equipment, something that she has been spotted in before.
This isn’t Kate’s first rodeo when it comes to recycling outfits. In fact, her sartorial history is jam-packed with repeats, including when she re-wore an old Reiss dress last year.
While on this occasion the Duchess’s choice isn’t from the high street and is likely to be beyond most people’s budgets, we can still help. Read on to find out where to buy Kate’s exact blouse and how you can recreate the look for less.
You can trust our independent round-ups. We may earn commission from some of the retailers, but we never allow this to influence selections. This revenue helps us to fund journalism across The Independent.
Equipment slim signature shirt in eclipse and white
French brand Equipment is known for its high-end shirts that are designed to last and the brand is clearly a firm favourite of Kate Middleton’s. The duchess was first seen wearing this example in 2019, when she styled it tucked into a pair of high-waisted black palazzo trousers. She recently opted for a similarly polished yet approachable look during the video call with the Duke of Cambridge.
The exact shirt worn by Kate is cut from lightweight washed silk and features two chest pockets, a button-down front and a spread collar. According to the brand, it has a loose fit and button cuffs. And as far as we can tell, the Duchess wore hers with a pair of black trousers. If you’re looking for an investment item for transitioning back to normal life after lockdown, then this is the one to do it with.
Angeleye Bev polka dot long sleeve blouse in black
A slightly more sheer option, this cheaper dupe of Kate’s shirt is super easy to pair with all manner of bottoms. For spring, opt for a black satin midi skirt (£22.40, Asos.com) and white trainers. But for cooler months in autumn and winter, it’ll work well when loosely tucked into leather trousers (£120, Oasis-stores.com) or straight-leg jeans (£27.99, Zara.com).
Despite not having the same button-down detailing as Kate Middleton’s, this Matalan shirt nails the statement polka-dot print perfectly. Available from sizes 8 to 20, if you love the design and cut of this one, we think you’ll also love this yellow number (£12.50, Matalan.co.uk), which is equally as affordable.
If you’re looking for a more formal way to tap into Kate Middleton’s polka-dot shirt trend, we’d recommend doing so with this M&S cotton number. With a button-down design and accentuated collar, this is the perfect way to nail the Duchess’s signature polished look while on your next video call. Currently, it’s in the sale reduced from £15 and in a full range of sizes – it’s a no-brainer.
With a satin-look finish, we are obsessed with this blouse. Featuring long sleeves with wide, buttoned cuffs, slits at the side and dropped shoulders, you simply cannot go wrong. Rather surprisingly, it’s still available in a range of sizes, from XS to XXL, and if you love it as much as we do, you’ll be glad to hear it also comes in leopard print and blue floral patterns – we’ll take all three, please. There’s also a pair of matching trousers (£19.99, Hm.com) available for each style – the perfect way transition from loungewear to normal clothes.
