How Would Kate Celebrate Spring?

Spring is arguably the most exciting time of the year. After months of grim weather, we finally see the light at the end of the tunnel. The return of flowers, budding trees and warm weather signify the excitement of the months to come. Many people have spring rituals to celebrate the start of the season. For some, it means swapping the treadmill for the sidewalks. For others, it’s the excuse to indulge in new wardrobe pieces that are trendy this year. Me, I like to treat myself to a walk to an ice cream shop on the first warm day of spring. But how would the Duchess of Cambridge celebrate the dawn of spring?

Bring spring in! Once spring has sprung outside, why not bring it inside? We’ve seen that Kate enjoys decorating her home with fresh flowers (and who doesn’t?), and there’s no better time to do so. Whether flowers from the local market or even budding branches from your own yard, a sprinkling of fresh life from outdoors instantly makes your space feel brighter.

Now that it looks like spring inside, add the scent of spring to match. Swapping out your heavier winter-scented candles for light, fragrant spring scents can do wonders for your mood and the ambiance of your home. If your budget permits, go for a Kate favorite and stock your abode with Jo Malone candles. She’s certainly considering a refresh of her home with bright, floral-scented candles this time of year. If not, you can easily find less expensive and equally lovely candles from discount stores, such as T.J. Maxx or Target.

One of the best parts about spring is spending more time outside. Short and dreary winter days turn into long, warm spring days and the possibilities suddenly seem endless. Trade the gym for a run through your neighborhood. Pack your little ones up, and spend the afternoon at the park instead of cooped up indoors. When she can, Kate exposes her children to as many normal childhood experiences as she can, and I’m sure she’d be as anxious as any mom to get them out of the house and to the park or on a walk as soon as it’s nice out.

And now, my favorite—spring fashion! Kate is no stranger to testing out the new spring trends. But one of my favorite ways to celebrate spring (and I suspect Kate’s, too) is bringing my large stock of airy sundresses back into rotation. For spring, you can get away with lighter fabrics, whimsical, vintage-inspired cuts, and bold colors. And Kate does this! Every year it’s exciting to see what spring dresses she wears.

One of my absolute favorite spring dresses that Kate has worn (and that I feel completely embodies spring) is her yellow Jaeger shirtdress, first worn in the Solomon Islands. The bright yellow color and breezy short-sleeved style mimic the sun itself, so I decided I had to have it for myself this spring.

Instead of shelling out a lot for a designer dress, I decided to sew my own, using Butterick pattern #6333 and a lightweight, yellow cotton fabric. This ended up being one of my favorite homemade repliKates ever! I was lucky to find such a similar pattern. It only took a weekend to complete (and all my coworkers were very impressed!). I love that simple sewing skills allow me to make items I could only otherwise covet.

If sewing isn’t you thing, I found lots of similar dresses to Kate’s in the same lovely spring yellow. And remember, be a repliKate, not an exact replica! The idea is to emulate the feel of Kate’s look without matching every detail, unless it works for your body. I decided to take a chance and sew this specific dress, because I knew I loved the style and that the shape worked for me. To make this look work for you, start with your number one must-have aspect—whether it’s the sleeves or the color or the shape of the skirt—and build your look from there