We are back with another Q & A plus a quick look at the end of summer Sales and Savings opportunities.
Today’s question: does Kate have a professional stylist? This is one that I often hear; we’re all interested in how decisions are made regarding the clothing and accessories Kate wears on any given day. There is also interest in the basic logistics for creating a royal wardrobe: how pieces are found and then ordered; when, and by whom, are requests made for sketches and fabric samples; how are meetings with designers or their staffs handled? Do they always come to Kensington Palace, or does Kate travel to a designer’s studio? We’ll cover a few of those questions, but they are really ideal for a separate post.
Today we will primarily focus on the stylist element. It is widely believed that Natasha Archer is Kate’s stylist. Many of you will recognize her; here she is seen as the royal entourage arrived in Victoria, Canada last September for the Canada tour.
More from an April 2018 Daily Telegraph story:
Although the palace has never officially confirmed that Natasha Archer’s helping hand in the Duchess’s wardrobe, a number of designers have spoken out about working with Archer on the looks which Kate has worn.
When the Duchess wore a grey wrap coat by SENTALER, the brand’s founder Bojana Sentaler told The Telegraph that she had worked with Archer to provide options. “Her stylist discovered SENTALER and reached out to us directly.
Below, the stylist at the Beaufort Polo Club for a match in June 2015.
The Duchess and Prince George at the same match. 
This Evening Standard story offers additional background on Ms. Archer:
After graduating with a Hispanic Studies degree from King’s College in London, she started work at the Royal Household as Will and Kate’s PA in 2007.
But, in 2014 she was given a promotion to become Kate’s style advisor and now is responsible for putting together all of her designer looks and accompanying the family on royal tours.
Archer’s presence on international tours is also sure to come in handy, as she also gained A levels in English, Art, Spanish and Italian from private boarding school Uppingham School in Leicestershire.
Below, Ms. Archer in April 2016 during the tour of India and Bhutan.
From a 2014 Vanity Fair piece:
“Initially Kate was a reluctant fashion icon, but now she enjoys it. Tash helps source some of the clothes. She shops a lot for Kate online, and calls in hundreds of dresses for Kate to try on,” a source close to Tash tells Royal Watch. “She has persuaded Kate to take some more risks. The hemlines are shorter and Kate’s really pushing the boat out in the fashion stakes.”
In this image you see Ms. Archer on the far right, speaking with Sophie Agnew (dark hair). On the left of the photo, you see Amanda Cook Tucker, Kate’s hair stylist. This is from the hike to Tiger’s Nest Monastery in Bhutan in April 2016. 
Kate and William on their way to the monastery. (Our full post is here.)
Below, arriving in Whitehorse, Yukon during the September 2016 tour.
Returning to the Telegraph piece:
The Hispanic Studies graduate began working as a PA in William and Kate’s office in 2007 but in 2014 it was reported that she had segued into the role of style adviser and wardrobe manager for the Duchess, sourcing outfit options and ensuring that looks are perfectly put-together for each engagement.
We learn more about Natasha’s involvement with the Anita Dongre dress worn in April 2016 when visiting India.
From Bethan Holt’s story in The Telegraph:
Dongre, who started her label seven years ago, told The Telegraph that Kate’s PA-turned-stylist Natasha Archer got in touch a month ago to request some clothes for the Duchess. “Her stylist emailed us and and we sent her a look book, then she came in and got some pieces for fittings,” says Dongre whose Rajasthan-inspired designs are already popular in India, where she has eight shops.
…according to Dongre, Archer’s styling contribution is even more significant than first thought: customising Kate’s clothing to make them appropriate- and original- for her royal appearances.
Below, Natasha at one of the Queen’s garden parties in 2016. ‘Tash,’ as she is called by friends, is seen third from the right; second from the right is Amanda Cook Tucker, and on the far left you see Getty photographer Chris Jackson.
Natasha and Chris Jackson are married. The photographer occasionally posts family photos on his Instagram account, and he shared these from the wedding. Vogue reports the bride’s gown was by Kate-favorite Jenny Packham.
Below, the couple with Jenny Packham. They are expecting their first child.
Embed from Getty Images
Kate and Natasha wear many of the same brands and sometimes even the same items. One example of this: the Longchamp Le Pliage tote.
Below, Ms. Archer and Mr. Jackson on their way to the 2015 Boodles Boxing Ball. 
It looks like Natasha was wearing a pair of Riva earrings by jeweler Monica Vinader; Kate has also worn pieces from the Riva collection.
I know there are other instances of Natasha in pieces the Duchess has worn, but my feeble brain is not remembering them. If you have any to share, let me know, and I will see if there are photos we can use to illustrate the point.
That’s our brief look at Kate’s stylist, I hope you enjoyed it!
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Now for our overview of Sales and Saving events happening this Labor Day weekend.
CLOTHING & ACCESSORIES
- LK Bennett is offering an additional 30% off sale merchandise on the US site; no promo code is required. There is not any special or extra discount on the UK/International site that I have seen.
- The Hobbs US site is promoting 30% off a select line of merchandise, no promo code needed.
- Nordstrom has a sizable amount of merchandise discounted in its summer sale
- Nordstrom Rack is taking an extra 25% off sale merchandise in its Clear the Rack Event
- Saks is offering discounts up to 75% off on select merchandise
- Saks Off 5th is doing an additional 30% off select goods with PROMO CODE GETREADY
- Neiman’s Last Call is offering an “extra 30 – 75% off everything“
- Ted Baker London has discounted almost 400 styles by 25%
- The Outnet (Net-a-Porter’s discount arm) is doing its end of season sale, with an extra 50% off a sizable group of merchandise.
- J. Crew is promoting 40% off your entire purchase with PROMO CODE BIGSALE
- J. Crew Factory is offering 50% off online only, as well as an additional 20% off sale prices with PROMO CODE SALEAWAY
- Rebecca Taylor is offering an additional 40% off sale merchandise with PROMO CODE SUNSET18
- Boden is taking 20% off Women’s and Men’s styles, and 25% off childrenswear
- Topshop’s final clearance is underway, with discounts up to 70% off selected lines
- Madderson London has some great buys in its Outlet and Sample Sale sections
COSMETICS:
- At Bobbi Brown everything is 20% off, and shipping is free. This is a good one because cosmetics don’t go on sale all that often.
- Benefit Cosmetics is doing free shipping with promo code FLOATON.
- Nordstrom has a number of beauty/cosmetic items that are on sale or gifts with purchase
If there are any big bargains or special deals you think we should include, just email or leave a comment.
The Duchess works with designers, but I don’t think she has a personal stylist and it shows. She is very beautiful and the pieces she wears are beautiful but rarely does she pull off a perfect whole look. The mismatched shades of blue, fabrics and accessories are a few examples. It’s a shame because she has good instincts and her style is understandably very important to her—it’s an important part of her personal and professional identity. Kate, get a stylist! The ingredients to make her appearance work perfectly are all there, but they need to be put together by a professional aide!
Natasha Archer’s wedding dress is gorgeous! The lace, fine tule, and satin waist band combine and create a most beautiful and pleasing effect.
Natasha is a lovely lady, herself. I’m so happy for her and her husband—expecting a child.
This is another great post on WhatKateWore. Thank you.
Thank you, Sheila! 🙂
I do enjoy reading about the people in the background who work for the royals. The older royals have employed what is known as a dresser. For more information on the logistics and preparation of the royal wardrobe, I recommend the book Dressing the Queen by Angela Kelly who started as a dresser and is now Her Majesty’s personal assistant.
I highly recommend that one as well, it is outstanding. 🙂
I really enjoyed this post-thank you so very much-
The Polish designer Gosia Baczynska said she had received an email a few weeks before Kate and Will’s visit in Poland. At first she thought it was spam :-), Cambridge? Cambridge diet perhaps! She ignored it at first, when she came back to it, she had to google who Duke and Duchess of Camridge were. Anyway, Kate’s private secretary asked for Gosia’ lookbook. She sent three lookbooks and a photo of one dress that she proposed for Kate to wear in Poland. And that dress was chosen. What is interesting, the designer didn’t take any measurements, wasn’t given any, she said Kate had such a perfect figure that it was easy just to guess what would fit her.
That’s interesting. Thanks for sharing! Nice insight into the prep for a Tour. I’m surprised Kate’s Private Secretary e-mailed rather than Natasha as I would think that would be her job.
I think she once said “private secretary”, and at some other time used the name Natasha. It was all the same to her, I guess. So it might have bęben Natasha from the very beginning.
Wow, what a great story!
Thank you for sharing this, it’s terrific having more behind the scenes information! 😊
The idea of Kate having a stylist/clothing coordinator has long intrigued me. There are so many elements to consider when dressing a royal. The imagined details and logistics are fascinating to me. What sort of inventory system do they use? Are the clothing stored by color? Season? I admit that I wonder a lot about these things. 🙂
As for Kate’s personal style – I do see her own hand/taste/vision in almost everything she wears. She is presenting a very carefully curated ‘look’, which is completely understandable, considering her status, station, and scrutiny she seems to be ever aware of. She majored in Art History. There is a knowledge and appreciation for the story her clothes tell. And it is usually ‘safe’ and very British.
It is interesting to note the cultural/geographic perspectives we bring when we comment on her looks.
To us Americans, she can sometimes look stiff, formal and frilly (that photo from the garden party highlighted her penchant for peplums!) but I think we do understand she is dressing the part.
The Danish, Swedish, Spanish Royals reflect an entirely different aesthetic and their clothing showcases that.
While I find Kate’s look to be always elegant, appropriate, and classic, I tend to agree with the posters that her style is often “close but not quite”. And far from being a criticism, I find that element to be particularly endearing. I think it’s really rather charming that she stays close to her curated look, and is comfortable doing so.
This is such a great post, Susan! I realize I’m late (again), but I love to chime in on something as interesting as this. I really admire Natasha’s personal style and I think she always looks fantastic. I can see why she and Kate are such a good team; they are clearly on the same fashion page. I’m surprised by how sad I am that Natasha is now going on maternity leave– I hope she and Kate collaborated on “W K Will Wear” for the upcoming months while Natasha is on new mummy duty!
Thank you, Anne-Christine! 🙂
I’ve always wondered where Kate gets her clothing dry cleaned? Is there a dry cleaner on the grounds of KP? Or do all the royals send their clothing to Buckingham Palace for dry cleaning?
And where does she store all her clothing? My oh my, it would have to be a massive space. When she lived in tiny Nottingham Cottage she would have had to have an additional storage area.
Thank you for this interesting post! It would be so amazing to get to know more about the work behind the scenes. Such a shame we don’t get photos like the one of Diana with the Emanuels (I think?) and insights.
I think I remember that Natasha has worn the belt from Kate’s second wedding gown with her own second wedding gown?
I also wonder what their relationship is like. I like to think that Kate and Natasha get along very well and that she and Wills also like Chris and like to chose him for photos of George’s first school day etc but I’m not sure 😀
I really appreciate posts like this where we get to go behind the scenes a bit. Thank you very much! Speaking for myself, I would most definitely enjoy more posts like this.
Hmmm…Natasha is pregnant and will be on maternity leave by next year. I wonder if we will notice a difference in Kate’s styling whilst Natasha is away.
I feel like Natasha’s role might be more like style advisor and wardrobe manager than stylist. She does the legwork like contacting designers, sourcing pieces and accessories, sorting out alterations, thinking up ideas and combinations but the ultimate decision is with Kate. Given the number of events Kate attends, professional and familial duties and the sartorial scrutiny she is under in her role and these duties will keep growing someone like Natasha is indispensable to her. I think you would need one person just to manage the sheer number of hats she must have!
I do think Natasha does quite a good job considering she isn’t quite qualified for the role from her previous experience. My one issue with Natasha is some of Kate’s shoes. I am so tired of thoise nude suede pumps so I’m dismayed to see her wearing a very similar pair in the garden party pic lol!
I will say both of them carrying a Longchamp tote doesn’t mean much as every middle to upper class woman in London has at least one Longchamp bag. Same in France!
Thanks for the post.
Im with you on the nude pumps.
Thanks for all the insight. She always looks amazing; with everything she has to manage, looking cool calm and collected. She is a great ambassador and role model. I have learned so much from the posts.
I enjoyed this post as well. It feels like one from the early days of WKW — not sure why! And I LOVED the thoughtful links to all the sales — very kind of you.
Perhaps Natasha does the clothing logistics for Kate — kind of like when I order 10 shirts for my husband and he tries them all on, finds some that work well, and then I return 6 of them. I know what he likes but one cannot really tell how it will look until it’s on the person. So if Natasha knows Kate’s style inclinations, or Kate says she is interested in a designer, then Natasha is the one who does the contacting, shlepping, displaying and returning. By the way, that would be my ideal job, no matter what you call it!
Kate’s style has come on in leaps and bounds this last couple of years, and I can’t see how anyone in her position could manage without stylist help. We’ve had some major treats when Kate has bucked safe choices and stepped out in the likes of the Casasola Bardot neckline dress or the astonishing Baczynska cocktail number in Poland, not forgetting some eye-popping Erdem prints like the striking red, blue and cream Alouette worn to the V&A, and the glorious gold, purple and blue Stephanie in Sweden.
If this is the result of Kate teaming up with Natasha then I’m all for it. It’s great to get insights from sellers on royal enquiries. I can see it being a full-time job to check out all upcoming engagements, research options, and then presumably organise a whole stack of fitting sessions. With three small children and a royal household to manage, never mind Kate’s involvement with umpteen charities, I caan see some seriously tight scheduling being in order.
I so wonder about fitting sessions and how much like work rather than pleasure it might seem to try to sort out several outfits at a time, knowing how intense the scrutiny will be over every detail. I can well understand how tempting it must be to have some signature styles that can be relied on to make up numbers.
Thanks for the comprehensive list of sale options for pleasurable browsing!
Thank you!! This is my special treat everyday & you are fulfilling your roll especially well while the Duchess is on maternity leave.
Thank you for this post! So since Natasha came onto the scene in 2014, who was styling Kate from 2011? Or do we not know?
I thoroughly enjoy reading your posts and check everyday for something new. Thanks for keeping it interesting with the extra topics during the Royal summer holiday.
Hugs from Canada!!
Valerie
Thank you, Valerie! I’m sending hugs right back at you! 🙂
Thank you for a very interesting post, your page is always up with the latest information, amazing!
Thank you, Ava! It’s fun doing topics like this one! 🙂
I always thought ‘stylist’ to be a brazen name to call a profession – you can’t buy style etc. Unless you work for a magazine. ‘Wardrobe manager’ sounds right, and of course there is one given the logistics of procuring wardrobes and accessories: the emails, the shopping, the storage, etc.
Wearing similar items doesn’t really say anything – 80% of middle and upper class women probably have those Longchamp totes. Kate’s been photographed with those totes since her uni days. If anything, she influences her ‘stylist’. And if you contact a brand, any brand, and make a purchase on behalf of your employer, you probably get in their list for freebies. Even without purchases you get freebies (e.g. bloggers). Imagine if you were the one to contact a brand for a product that ends up being worn and increases the brands sale by hundreds folds.
I think “wardrobe manager” is a good way to describe it. And when you look at Natasha’s style, it does mirror Kate’s (or vice versa) but like you said that doesn’t necessarily mean anything. Those Longchamp totes are kind of just ubiquitous at this point in a certain social set.
I do think Kate would benefit from an actual stylist – someone with a background in fashion and dressing people for events. So many of her looks are “close but not quite” for me, and I think a stylist would help with that (like wearing earrings that don’t work with the outfit, or the wrong shoes, etc.) I know the common response is that Kate doesn’t care, but if she doesn’t, then its all the more reason to outsource it.
I so agree with this! A number of Kate’s outfits are “close but not quite,” and it would be awesome to see Kate hire a real stylist to fix those details. Princess Mary of Denmark is someone who gets not just the frock but all the details right — I’d love to see Kate have that.
In my opinion, Mary more often than not ties everything together with the total look. Mary, on many occasions, goes shopping with Anja Camilla Alajdi a former magazine and TV fashion director, who acts as the full time stylist to the Crown Princess. I think that having someone who is familiar with the fashion industry and can access a broad range of contacts is extremely helpful. I agree with previous comments that sometimes Kate is a little off with the accessories, shoes, proportions and alternations details. I think this is where someone with more professional experience can help tie all the elements together and make sure of a more polished look. Not to say someone outside the fashion industry can’t do it – if someone has the means, why not find a professional that does it for a living and excels at it…
I totally agree with all you say, Becky. Susan’s blog says, that Natasha majored in Hispanic languages. That hardly is the background needed to be a “real” stylist. Someone who has spent many years working in fashion, or who is employed by a design house, would contribute so much more. As several people have said, Kate often misses the mark somewhere in putting together an outfit. It is usually her accessories, that don’t do a dress of coat justice. Natasha likely seeks out appropriate things for Kate to wear according to the occasion. But quite often she doesn’t seem to take the outfit across the finish line.
Hope it’s ok to add my two penn’orth here. I don’t have a problem with whatever title is used to cover the wardrobe wizardry, I just think it’s essential Kate employs someone in that role. I also don’t see any particular background as necessary for a stylist as we all know of people who can pull a look together effortlessly without help while others can become victims of style advice which leaves them looking ridiculous. I think Natasha’s background simply means she chimes with Kate’s own. And I’m not sure I agree that Kate’s outfits are ‘close but not quite’ as I think she’s very well pulled together without looking too contrived.
I’m not sure of course what standard anyone is talking about here, but I wouldn’t welcome Kate striving for some sort of cover girl perfection every time. I think that’s too much to ask of anyone and I don’t think it fits with being a royal. I think human idiosyncrasy is essential to keep her in touch with the rest of humanity. I’m also of the view that the scrutiny we place her under is unnatural and that it would be impossible for anyone to survive that much focus without the criticisms coming in. Familiarity breeds discontent, and there is so much impatience online, on top of the habit of comparing women to commercially contrived images.
I certainly don’t buy that other royals get it right where Kate doesn’t. I find Mary much more hit-and-miss than Kate and anyone following Letizia has to get their head round her habit of wearing up to six consecutive black-and-white outfits at a time, just because she does. Give me informal, inconsistent, laughing Kate any day over some chilly, precise fashionista.
That’s the difference ElizaMo between us – How we view many of her outfits – which is fine. But I don’t think saying she is often “close but not quite” means that I mean she should look a cover girl. It means sometimes her proportions are off or something and a stylist would
Help pull it together.
NOTE: quick admin edit
Thanks for your comment, Becky, I would heartily agree that differing opinions are fine – they are part of the fun of coming here and I’m grateful as always for civilised discussion. Thank you as well for clarifying your take on a stylist’s contribution which I agree could add a certain polish. I just get sad when Kate comes in for flak over details when she’s doing such a terrific job.
Eloquently said ElizaMo. I firmly believe Kate is doing a stellar job in a difficult and demanding role. I love seeing what she is wearing and think she looks wonderful most of the time. This site is a great forum for discussion over fashion and styling points and I thoroughly enjoy reading everyone’s thoughts and opinions. However, Kate is a member of the Royal Family and as such fashion plays an important part in her role but not the most important. The level of scrutiny Kate must deal with seems extraordinary and yet she manages that pressure with grace and dignity. She is not a model, a fashion muse, or a fashion icon – she is a young woman whose fashion while interesting and enjoyable to follow is only part of the role she plays. Fashion is fickle and everyone has an opinion – Kate straddles that world with aplomb. I can only say ” Bravo Kate”.
100% agree with everything you said–Natasha is more of a wardrobe manager IMO than stylist–and an actual stylist would be a great idea for the duchess.
Frankly she seemed more pulled together during her first tour of Canada, so I don’t know if she is simply overextended now that she has three little ones and many more patronages, but someone to help her accessorize and “finish” an outfit would be very beneficial. Don’t get me wrong, I still admire her greatly and think she is doing a fantastic job handling the global attention. When she has a “hit” it is a home run, but there seem to be more misses than there used to be.
I disagree. The title “stylist” isn’t in regard to having style or not (there are plenty of stylists whose “style” I abhor), it’s about the act of styling – to style a look is to put all the pieces together.
A wardrobe manager sounds like a person whose job is to manage the logistics. That’s not the same thing, at least to me. One person might be both a stylist and a wardrobe manager, but they don’t necessarily have to be.
It seems safe to say that given the quotes from Anita Dongre-India inspired designer; Vanity Fair; Evening Standard; and Daily Telegraph pieces Natasha is very influential as she’s involved in acquisition, communication, design changes, shopping, etc. for Kate’s clothing and accessories. Curious what Natasha’s exact job title is…started as PA but what is her title currently, Style Advisor? Since the Palace isn’t confirming title or job duties we’re left guessing what she does and how much is Natasha’s branding and how much Kates – especially when both women are photographed in Jenny Packham, Longchamp and Monica Vinader.
Another layer to the story is the Getty Images connection with Natasha’s photographer husband. I’ve always wondered if the Royals have photographers they turn to when faced with the media lenses. Remember Prince Harry calling out to Tim Rooke after hitting the ball towards the pool of photographers at the Sentebale polo game? Wasn’t it then Rooke who broke the story Harry and Meghan were going to attend the Charle Van Straubenzee wedding? The topic of photographers is also worthy of future investigative research!
I’ve long followed this blog, and really love reading pieces like this. Thanks for providing such wonderful, well-researched content! With most fashion blogs I enjoyed over the years having turned into transparent marketing schemes, your work is so refreshing.
What a lovely compliment Katie, thank you! 🙂
This was a fantastic post!
Thank you, Sarah Ashley! 🙂
Very interesting post, thanks.