A celebrity stylist who gets “daily messages” from celebrities worldwide for outfit advice has revealed the secret behind Princess Kate’s clothing colour palette and why certain colours enhance and brighten the royal’s features whereas others colours are “too harsh” for her skin tone. The global personal stylist, Francesca Cairns, 33, told Express.co.uk: “I love Kate’s style, and she is one of the most requested celebrities that I get asked to analyse. I definitely believe she is a style icon and many look up to her for inspiration.”
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The stylist from Maidenhead helps people “step into their power” by using colour and style. She explains every individual fits into four main seasonal categories: spring, summer, autumn and winter with each having three subcategories.
Ms Cairns said: “I know people really struggle to put Kate into a season because she does look amazing all the time. However, she is a summer. Kate looks better with colours that have a blue undertone rather than a yellow undertone. Anything from her true summer palette really makes her features glow.”
She added: “She really has worn some amazing outfits over the years, but one that really stands out for me is when she wore her French navy-blue dress by Jenny Packman in 2018 when arriving at the Imperial War Memorial.”
The stylist explains that if a person fits into a winter season, they can wear more intense bold colours in high contrast, such as black and white. Whereas people who fit into the summer seasons look better in a softer blend of colours. Adhering to the seasonal palette, the stylist of over ten years, “absolutely loves” Princess Kate in colours such as “berry and burgundy”.
Princess Kate has favoured a striking wardrobe in recent weeks, embracing an all-pink, Alexander McQueen ensemble for a visit to a museum in London. A trouser suit paired with the same shade of shirt was teamed up with pearl details and earrings. The Princess of Wales also wore a bubblegum pink dress to the Chelsea Flower Show – an outfit which sparked a shopping frenzy, with the dress selling out almost instantly. Certain shades of pink are known to suit those with a summer palette such as Kate’s.
The iconic royal isn’t always picture-perfect with her outfit choices. Ms Cairns believes black is “too harsh” for the Princess of Wales, despite the Royal often wearing the colour to evening events or award ceremonies.
The celebrity stylist, Ms Cairns also warns peach and coral colours are “slightly too warm” for the Princess and “go against” her undertone. Ms Cairns added: “These colours can be very overpowering and wash her complexion out.”
The stylist believes by enhancing Princess Kate’s colour season, she could “really make her features pop” even further. She added: “I would love to see her rocking her colours a lot more as sometimes she does go off palette”.
Ms Cairns added: “I also love Kate’s classic style and she is a style icon for me. She has definitely had a style evolution over the years and it is understandable as her position has changed over the years and rebranding yourself is a real thing.”
As well as being inundated by celebrity requests, Ms Cairns client base is “the ordinary person” who wants to boost their self-confidence. Alongside her expertise, she uses a series of colour swatches to help clients determine what works for them.
She said: “I work with people from all different ethnic backgrounds and ages. It is the most amazing feeling when you see someone with no confidence go from disliking the way they look to feeling really empowered like they could take on the world.”
