Striking Off on a Different Path: Walking the Line Between Kate and Pippa

Over the last few months, after following Kate's style since mid-2011, I have come to realise something. Achieving Kate's "look" is not going to be as possible to do as it once was.

Before, when Kate was just dating Prince William, and even when they became engaged, her look was pretty easy to emulate. For instance, there would be pictures of her out in the streets of London in jeans, jackets, skirts and tops that could be copied, almost exactly or by finding something similar. Also, they were universally flattering looks - classic looks - and for the most part her clothing came from High Street shops that we all shopped in ourselves. This made being a "copy Kate" a snap, and it was easy to relate to her style.

However, once Kate became a duchess, the balance shifted. It was a slow shift that I didn't really notice at first, but it was quite evident as she became more comfortable with her new role, especially in 2012. Suddenly we were seeing her wear more outfits and gowns that a) where was I ever going to wear them? and b) how could I afford them if I wanted them and had a place to wear them? I think that the first question though is the the clincher. I am not a duchess and nor will I ever be. And as time marched on, and Kate donned more and more hats and outfits not really relevant to the normal everyday person, what was I to do? How was I to emulate someones look when it didn't fit my lifestyle?

This is when I started to seriously think, and just the other day the lightning bolt hit, and Pippa Middleton flashed before my eyes.

Pippa Middleton strikes a great balance between Kate and the "normal" person! Pippa herself is a "normal" person (although some may not agree). She may be sister to a duchess, and a royal one at that, but I almost feel like we might be in the same boat - looking on at a person that we aren't and will never be. I'm not saying that Pippa, or even I, envy Kate for being a duchess, but she is operating now in a circle and reality that hardly anyone is a party to. Where Kate goes and what she wears is not really relevant to Pippa or to me in most circumstances.

So now I am the one doing the shifting, and I will now be looking to both Kate and Pippa for my style inspiration. Kate will always be fun to watch, because I love her classic style and the fact that she is royal, and a lot of what she wears seems to belong to another time, and it does belong to another world; where one wears coat dresses and hats all of the time without batting an eye and that's just how it's done. But I could still copy some of her looks for weddings and other special occassions. Everyone needs to look nice for those, and some of Kate's choices could be very well emulated.

Pippa on the other hand is my "normal" option. Yes she does wear her fair share of designer brands, fancy outfits and she is sister to a duchess, but maybe now people will, like me, start turning to her for looks that we can copy more easily - and she's a tad more relatable too. Also, she and Kate seem to have similar style, although Pippa at times seems to experiment with less classic choices at times - like the printed dress she wore to Wimbledon with Kate. But, for the most part, I like what she wears and I like that she seems to carry the torch for Kate's old self - because even now I'll sometimes see Kate out shopping and wearing looks that I just wouldn't wear to the shops quite frankly (I'm thinking of her Mulberry skirt back in the winter).

Also, it's kind of nice having shifted to Pippa. I don't feel the need to curl my hair at the ends any more (not that I did it often and it wasn't that flattering a look on me either, and it took time and I don't think I did it quite right). As well I have struck a balance between what they both do makeup wise and what works for me (I promise I'm not a total freakazoid person here, trying to become them or something, I just really liked and like their looks).   :) And finally, Pippa and I are the same height apparently, 5' 8". This also helps me feel like the looks she wears will look similar on me. With Kate, who is 5' 10", I always felt like looks on her were falling flat on me, because was so much taller and carried them off differently.

So there it is. There's my little (or fairly big) revelation. I'm striking off on a different path now, and I some feel relief. Now I don't have to feel like I'm failing somehow, by not managing to copy Kate's look(s). They don't work for me anymore, but I can look to past-Kate looks, to Pippa now, and to myself for what works and what doesn't, for my new and ultimate style inspiration.