Like Mother, Like Daughter: Kate and Carole Middleton Just Co-Signed This Major Summer Trend

But as the week went on, I noticed something else: Princess Catherine wasn’t the only royal reaching for a cornflower blue (or was it periwinkle?) blazer. Her mother Carole Middleton also wore a similar style to Wimbledon later in the week. Then there was Queen Mary of Denmark. Could the blue linen blazer be the official hallmark of a royal summer? The more I studied the trend, the more convinced I became.

Here’s why it works so well within the royal repertoire (and why I’d wager even more royals will wear it before the season is over). First and foremost, it’s versatile. A linen blazer is tailored and crisp. In the case of the Princess of Wales, who wore it as part of an oversize set, it delivers professionalism while still feeling subtle and soft. Carole Middleton, Kate’s mother, threw hers on over a white ME+EM dress. And Queen Mary switched it up even further, relying heavily on the rule of thirds and pairing her blazer with a white button-up and black fit and flare skirt.

Still, it’s the delicate hue that makes the look feel so special. Whether you call it cornflower blue, periwinkle or a soft cobalt, the shade is striking and quintessentially summer. It’s evocative of the ocean, but also a more chill and laid-back season. And considering both Catherine and Carole wore theirs during a heat wave, the cool-toned color almost creates the illusion of a refreshing breeze.

Does it make me want to rush to buy one for my own summer closet? Absolutely! In addition to gingham—which the Princess of Wales wore to the Royal Charity Polo Cup last week—I’d say that a blue linen blazer is top of my list for rounding out the summer, but also going into fall. Our sister site, The Coveteur, predicts that both cornflower blue and cobalt will be all the rage as we head into autumn and winter, too. To make shopping easier, I’ve rounded up few royally-inspired blue linen blazers sitting at the top of my wish list.