Why Kate, Duchess of Cambridge has got the fashion blues

I wasn't surprised when Kate, Duchess of Cambridge turned up to two major royal events this month wearing blue. The duchess has chosen the colour more than any other for her appearances this year.
It's a fair bet now that if the royal superstar has a public engagement, her outfit will be blue or at least feature a few splashes of the colour here and there. Here are five reasons why 2014, so far, has been a year of the fashion blues for Kate, Duchess of Cambridge.
1. Fifty shades of blue
Kate has worn over a dozen blue outfits in public this year and she's used just about every shade going. In the last four weeks alone we've had ice blue, soft baby blue (I loved this new outfit, worn for Trooping the Colour), navy blue and finally mid blue for her appearance in Normandy on the 70th anniversary of D-Day.
Add in dark blue tweed (a recycled suit seen in New Zealand and one of my least favourite Kate looks), a touch of sky blue and a blue/ white mix and I think it's clear that Kate has settled on her colour of 2014. She has tended to team the outfits with her Alexander McQueen navy shoes which means we've seen a lot less of her famous nude coloured Kate shoes this year which I think can only be a good thing.
2. Florals and prints
Not content with wearing solid blocks of the colour, Kate has also favoured blue for her patterns as well. She wore a bold, blue floral print for her engagements in Brisbane on her Australia tour and an even bolder blue print for a visit to the appropriately named Blue Mountains.
Personally, I'd like to see the duchess try out some more daring designs and I think these two dresses are a great way to start.
3. Calm in casuals
Colour psychologists claim that blue denotes calmness so I'd say that the number of times Kate has worn the colour while on public engagements this year shows she's feeling pretty relaxed in her royal role. But even when she's off duty or dressing down for more low key royal events, the duchess can't stay away from blue.
Yachting around Auckland Harbour? It has to be a navy blue striped top. Wine tasting in New Zealand? How about a blue check shirt with navy blazer. Watching polo with uber cute Prince George? Blue jeans and yet another blue stripey top. I think I've made my point.
4. Dazzling with diamonds
I'm a bit disappointed that Kate has only worn one full length evening dress this year but what a frock it was. And, of course, it was blue.
The midnight blue, Jenny Packham designed dress was stunning and made even more memorable because Kate added some of the most famous diamonds in the royal collection to the look. I've always thought the duchess struggles with evening outfits but this vision in blue was a major success.
5. Royal recycling
I think one reason 2014 has been a year of the blues for Kate so far is because of her passion for royal recycling. For every new outfit that the duchess has debuted in the last six months, she's re-worn at least one other favourite from her wardrobe - and Kate has a lot of blue clothes.

But I think the Duchess of Cambridge took royal recycling to a new level by wearing a blue dress identical to a pale pink outfit first seen a couple of years ago. Royal watchers debated whether the teal Emilia Wickstead outfit worn in Dunedin in April this year was the 2012 dress dyed or a remake in Kate's favourite colour. I think the original is better (sorry, Kate) but the appearance of an old design in a new shade just goes to show that for Kate, in 2014, any colour will do - as long as it's blue.