Pippa Middleton leaves the Goring Hotel, April 29th 2011
"Oh gawd. Not you too!" Was the instant tweet response to a casual ‘what do we think of Pippa’ line cast into the Twittersphere "I don’t understand the obsession with the Middletons’ wardrobes," my fashionista Twitter buddy continued, as vociferous opponents of Pippa Middleton overkill posted furiously on HB’s Facebook page. But these seemed, maybe surprisingly, to be in the minority.
Here at HB Towers, the camp is divided, and my instinctive reaction upon being asked to investigate Pippa’s wardrobe favourites was ‘lovely, fragrant, but a style icon? Really?!?!' Those in the ‘yes’ camp warmly tweeted back to Handbag Fashion that she always looks "feminine, sophisticated", "well-groomed and put-together" and – tellingly - "fit and healthy" (and this in spite of the tango’ed look at the Royal Wedding), and on those points I concur, but why do these really quite normal qualities, however well they are presented, make her such a talking point in style circles?
Certainly the Middleton effect has a major impact on sales, and if you like what you see on a Middleton then you’d better get in there quick. The Modalu ‘Bristol’ bag in ‘Shark’ grey sold out instantly after being spotted on Pippa’s arm the day after Kate and Wills got hitched, and is now forever known as the ‘Pippa’ bag.
Many of our readers favourably pointed out her predilection for affordable clothes, with tweeps commenting: "...love that she wears high street." And, set to investigate her wardrobe, it seems that this really is the secret of her success. While she stepped out in Alexander McQueen and Alice Temperley, and Aruna Seth shoes on her sister’s wedding day, Pippa does tend to favour high street, with more accessible designer labels for special occasions. Relaxed cocktail dresses from Issa and Ted Baker, and Tory Burch ballet pumps (as seen post-wedding at the Goring Hotel) are often on the sartorial menu.
But as our venerable readers so keenly noted, it's her purchases from our high street fashion favourites which we really love. The day after the wedding we saw Pippa greet the paparazzi in white jeans, pumps and a cobalt blue Zara blazer, a celebrity favourite (the fuchsia version has been spotted on Olivia Palermo), and she is also a fan of Whistles, French Connection, Reiss. And don’t forget to check out Melissa Odabash for tie-front white bikinis, as seen on those now infamous 2006 yacht shots. Pippa, it seems, is a demon at snapping up fab investment-feel pieces which are equally at home in Buckingham Palace as they might be in our quite (comparatively) average wardrobes.
So while we’re not advocating “slavishly” emulating Pippa’s style, as one of our readers put it, and we’re not likely to be wearing a pair of £15k Robinson Pelham earrings anytime soon, we could take note from her shopping method: invest in the best quality you can afford, dress appropriately for the occasion and love the high street!
What do you think of Pippa Middleton’s style? Inspiring or insipid? Or do you just not care? Post your comments below or come and play on Facebook and Twitter!
