Kate Middleton, the enchanting wife of Prince William, has a very good eye for style, and she knows what suits her. Nevertheless, every now and then she picks something that doesn’t flatter her perfect hourglass figure. Most often, Kate shows off her tiny waist. However, the suit on the right makes her figure appear so straight that she looks almost boyish.

Kate is known to prefer garments with V-necklines, perhaps because they accentuate her slim waistline. However, the rounded cowl collar of the two-piece suit looks matronly. The “sloping” hemline of the skirt also misses the mark, because it creates a rounded arc, which makes the young Duchess appear bow legged.

Cowl collars are difficult for women of most ages. If you’re past forty, you definitely want to avoid them, because of their inherent matronly look. Wearing a cowl collar if you’re under thirty may result in looking as if you’ve borrowed your mother’s jacket. If you’ve got jackets with cowl collars, have your seamstress remove the collar and turn your jacket into a collarless V-neck design.

If your legs are as slim and shapely as Kate Middleton’s, stick to pencil skirts so you can show them off. Fuller skirts slim the legs, and they’re a good choice for women who want their legs to look slimmer.

Coral and bright greens are irresistible after the long dismal winter. The trees are a bright Spring Green and the tulips are bright coral and the forsythia is a bright yellow. These colors signal that winter is over, and we can’t wait to get our hands on those colors, because they boost our spirits.

Katie, I’m certain you are in the category of colors that includes  the colors called jewel tones; so that means you will look better in fuchsia or magenta than in coral. Coral pales your skin a lot, and you might have noticed that you need more makeup when you wear it, because it causes “hot spots” on the face (and they highlight little furrows, etc.). When it comes to Spring Green, it will do the same thing; so you will look better in emerald green, a vibrant jade green – and the dark racing green in the winter.

You look lovely overall, but you will look ravishingly-beautiful in YOUR colors.

A reminder that necklines matter. The orange shell is close to the "Hanes T-shirt" line, so it it not a flattering line for women. This line emphasizes  the neck, usually making it appear wider. That's okay for men, but not for women. Wear your shells no higher than the collar bone for the most flattering results. In the summer, they can be worn lower, but never low enough to expose cleavage.

You look much more beautiful in the photo on the right. First, your hair is more elegant = keep it that way! When the hair flips up, it easily looks flyaway. The result is that you look like you have messy hair. The neckline of that suit is wonderful (Escada?)

One last tip, when you wear black, try a fuchsia lipstick so that the black doesn't look as severe. Earrings also help "defeat" black's somberness - and yours are great.

Your hair is getting better and better. The taupe suit is nice, but it's a little monochromatic in terms of hair, skin and garments. Adding bolder accessories would enable you to make a more powerful statement.

The middle jacket is also lovely, but the olive green color of the blouse  seems a bit drab, and the line of the blouse is not as flattering as the one on the far right. That's my favorite look for you. The neckline of the top underneath is perfect and lets us see your beautiful face.  The bold earrings announce "Evening News," and your hair looks especially beautiful!

Hello beautiful Katie. You look fabulous in pure white, and it really makes your face look luminous! However, the white shirt looks a little staid. I'd recommend a pair of bold earrings to offset it - maybe a silver Omega necklace to add authority.

Love the contrast of the dark jacket with white top, and the earrings are wonderful. Tip: the pendant brings the eye down, so it's better to have a pendant dangling a bit higher so as to not look suggestive.

Katie, can't say enough how much I love your hair now that it's getting longer. It's absolutely perfect in the photo on the left. One thing to note is that you have cool skin and the orange sweater is warm. If you look closely, you'll see that  with the  orange, you get a circle of pale "hot spots" under your eyes that even the thickest of TV makeup can't banish. This makes your eye makeup seem darker and hard. This won't happen when you wear cool colors like fuchsia, royal blue and purple.

Your suit with matching blouse, on the right, is elegant. It's also a warm color, and a drab color as well, so it dulls your hair and gives you an overall somber appearance. Of course with all the somber news you had to report, it was probably an instinctive thing. So sad to hear about Lara.

Katie, that's a great necklace on the right. One suggestion, choose a shell to wear under your suits that falls at least one inch lower - even two inches. If you look at the photo on the left, you'll see that your neck looks much wider on the right, and that's because there's nearly a straight line from the suit jacket to the top of your shell, and this near-horizontal line suggests a wider neck. That's why the "Hanes T-shirt" line is for men, never for women!

I love all the bolder earrings you've been wearing. Think about wearing bolder colors, too. Like jewel tones. Love that purple suit of yours!!

Another tip:  the rounded  cowl collar of the suit on the left tends to look a bit matronly compared to the snazzy peak collar of an Armani jacket, for example. Glad you teamed this jacket with a necklace. Think about adding really bold earrings to keep the attention on the face when you wear a drab color. You look so much prettier in jewel tones!

Picture on the right: Katie, your hair is looking great! Love  the silver earrings -  and the massive silver chain necklace; it really makes the perfect statement for the Evening News and a woman of your stature.

Picture on the left: Turtlenecks don't do you justice, Katie; they are too collegiate looking - especially when worn with a camel blazer.

Image consultant's advice:  Katie, please don't cut your hair again. I love the way this style (or even an inch or two longer like it was before)  frames your face so nicely -  and makes you look really pretty. That short hairdo didn't do you justice.

Of the three photos, I like the one on the right because of the way the blonde streak makes a nice  contrast. Adore the chunky  hoops in the center photos. They make you look so much more professional than the dainty pearls in the photo right. The chunky hoop necklace in the left photo is fabulous also. I wouldn't wear a top quite as high as the white one in the right photo. See how much nicer the left photo looks. It's all about line. The white top makes a severe straight line, so it can make the jaw appear wider, as well as the neck. I'd love to see you in that beautiful royal purple suit again!

Katie, red's a good color but color's only half the wardrobe battle.  Line is at least as important.  This ensemble boxes you in with the masculine lines of the jacket and the "stiff", all-buttoned-up lines of the blouse.  Even the ruffle is squared off--a masculine look--rather than soft and curvy.  The combination's also in clear contradiction with the softness of your pearl drop earrings.

Women appear more powerful and dynamic when they honor, not defy, their femininity.

Take the edge off, Katie.  It's a distraction from the dynamic woman behind the suit.

Readers, care to comment?