Royal Watch News

Duchess Catherine: Style Queen

Feb 10, 2012, 13:01 GMT

Duchess Catherine

Britain's Duchess Catherine's power to promote and sell brands has led her to top a list of fashion buzzwords.

The 30-year-old royal's penchant for high street style - including wearing pieces from the likes of British stores Reiss, Topshop and Zara - has meant the phrase 'The Duchess Effect' has landed top of the Global Language Monitor's list of the most powerful words in the world of fashion.

Bekka Payack, fashion director for Global Language Monitor, said: 'The Duchess Effect appears to extend much further than the economic impact of Kate's fashion choices; this year the fashion landscape seems to be a brighter, more accessible place with the styles more colorful, feminine and graceful than we've observed in many years.'

This is the second year in a row that the Duchess of Cambridge has topped the list, as last year her maiden name Kate Middleton ranked in first place in the Fashion Buzzword chart in 2011.

Meanwhile, Catherine's younger sister Pippa Middleton - who caused a stir at last year's royal wedding with her curve-enhancing Sarah Burton for Alexander McQueen bridesmaids' dress - also featured on this year's list, with 'Pippa's Bum' ranking in fifth place.

Duchess Catherine has been credited with giving high street store Reiss - whose dresses she has worn to a number of high-profile events - a 'cooler and sexier' image and helping profits to surge in the year to January 31 2011.