SHE once famously declared that she wasn’t fussed about fashion, but now Kate Middleton looks set to be a national style icon.

Within hours of being photographed in a Burberry Mac this week, the company reported that it had sold out of that design and Asda reported a 300 per cent increase in sales of trench coats. Similarly the blue dress she wore for her royal engagement spawned a million copies.

But the future Queen of England’s wardrobe was under public scrutiny long before a royal wedding was on the cards.

There was that black see-though dress she wore for a charity fashion show which, it is claimed, is the outfit that first caught Prince William’s eye at university.

For her first official event with Prince William, Kate wore a Vivien Sheriff beret. It was made especially for her from silk velvet by the Wiltshire-based milliner near the New Forest.

Her sister Pippa also wore a red perch fascinator for a society wedding last week, designed by Maddie O’Mahoney who works for Vivien.

“She has the Princess Di factor in that people feel they can relate to her. She comes across as very approachable and unassuming.” says Maddie.

“There has been lots of speculation about who is going to design her wedding dress and what it will look like. I think it will reflect her current style – nothing too flamboyant, just beautiful and elegant.

“I expect she will choose ivory. Kate is very confident and knows what suits her so I don’t think she will be swayed by what other people think.”

And even a princess is not immune from making the occasional fashion faux-pas. The royal bride to be once turned heads for all the wrong reasons when she sported a large fur hat at the Cheltenham races which turned out to be made of mink.

But it seems that the public have been quick to forgive any fashion crimes.

Tracie Beardsley of Fab Frocks of Westbourne, who has supplied outfits for one of the royal wedding guests, feels Kate has developed her own sense of style.

“When she first came into the public eye I initially thought that she dressed too old for her age but I think she is getting it right now – I love the 1940s/50s coats she’s been wearing lately.

“Finding the right formal wear when you’re in your mid-20s is a problem because it does tend to make you look older so we have been getting new labels that specialise in formal wear for the younger woman.

“But people are going to love her because she fills the gap left by Princess Di. Kate is living the dream – all little girls dream of marrying a prince one day.”

Image consultant Lucy Rosseter who runs Vixen boutique in Canford Cliffs agreed: “I would advise her to chose a wedding dress that reflects her personality.

“Nothing ostentatious but classic, stylish and simple with a bit of lace.

“I also think that the couple are mindful of the current climate so she won’t want anything that could be seen as too lavish or extravagant.”

Lucy added that she was not surprised by Kate’s style status.

“She is automatically going to be a fashion icon because she is pretty and a princess and people aspire to be like her.

“It’s also a positive story amongst all the negativity in the world at the moment.”