Britain’s Duchess Kate is due to give birth to her second child next month. With the arrival of the royal baby, along with all the joy, will come one slight disappointment for royal watchers: no more chances to see Kate’s stylish maternity looks.
Kate Middleton's Life in Photos Alice Leading Name for Royal Baby, UK Betting Company Says Duchess Kate Middleton Brings Real-Life Royalty to 'Downton Abbey' SetThe Duchess, 33, has been spotted in designers ranging from Jenny Packham to Alexander McQueen to Mulberry, Seraphine and Tory Burch over the past nine months. In between those high-end designs have been a few more budget-friendly pieces, like a $51 polka dot dress that is still sold out online today, nearly 10 days after Kate wore it to an event.
All the attention on Kate’s maternity looks begs a question: What can non-royal moms-to-be learn from the duchess’s style?
Rosie Pope, founder of Rosie Pope Maternity and Rosie Pope Baby, parenting expert and mother of four, reveals five takeaways for everyday women from Kate's maternity style.
Fear Not, Prints.
Duchess Kate was spotted in everything from the famous sold-out polka dot dress by ASOS to dresses featuring floral, nautical and even animal-print patterns. “When you are pregnant, it’s a myth that you can’t wear bold prints,” Pope said. “If you get the right one it can distract from your growing bump and this is exactly what the duchess often needs to do so that the attention is on the cause at hand.”
Wear ‘The Princess Kate’ Neckline.
Pope’s fashion line has coined a term - "The Princess Kate" - for the style Kate often chooses in dresses: a high neckline with more of a scoop in the back. “If you bend down your ‘jubilees’ won’t be showing but it’s not so conservative that you feel stuffy,” Pope said. “I think every woman needs a dress like that.”
You Need a Coat, but Not a Maternity Coat.
While making her way through a winter pregnancy, Duchess Kate has relied on coats to pull her looks together, something Pope says all pregnant women can do. “Throwing a blazer or a nice coat over your outfit instantly makes you feel put together and chic,” she said. “While pregnant, you want to pick something that is tailored in the shoulders and arms, then with a slight, A-line silhouette that compensates for your growing belly. Coats don't necessarily need to be maternity.”
Try a Tunic.
Along with the cream coat Kate wore to the set of “Downton Abbey” earlier this month, Pope’s other favorite maternity look is the navy tunic the duchess sported while visiting a London school in January. “It looked great on her,” Pope said. “I wore tunic dresses a lot while I was pregnant because they were comfortable and flattering. They are a good way for women to show off certain aspects of their body.”
Do You.
Kate has already been through a public pregnancy with her son, Prince George, so this time around she knows even more what looks flatter her most, says Pope. “Kate is rather conservative and her style reflects that but this is what works for her, it makes her comfortable,” she said. “She is spot-on for her body, her comfort level and the elegance of a royal.”