Cat Deeley has become one of the most-copied dressers on daytime TV since joining Ben Shephard on ITV’s This Morning. Her formula is easy to steal: bold colour, a feminine silhouette and a smart mix of designer pieces with high-street finds from M&S, Next and Boden.

Below are her recent standout looks, where to buy them, and cheaper alternatives if the originals have sold out or sit above your budget.

Relaxed fit jumper and slouch boots (Wednesday 21 October)

This morning, Cat has pulled off a relaxed fit jumper with a flowy mini skirt and slouch boots. This outfit screams relaxed but ‘put together’ in the most perfect way.

• Suede Slouchy Kitten Heel Knee High Boots – £125

Knitted midi skirt and matching top (Thu 15 October)

Cat turned an M&S skirt into a cosy, polished co-ord, pairing it with a high-neck sleeveless knit, LK Bennett London Loretta Burgundy Leather Knee Boots (which seem to be a sell out we cannot get them online anywhere) and gold jewellery.

• M&S High Waisted Knitted Midi A-Line Skirt – £36

Peach ruffle blouse and camel jeans (Wed 14 October)

A head-to-toe Boden look that leans boho without tipping into costume.

• Boden Ruffled Georgette Top, soft peach – £119
• Boden High Rise Column Leg Jeans, camel – £99
• Boden Seam Detail Knee Boots, tan leather– £239

Fiery red knitted dress (Tue 13 October)

A slinky knit with strong shoulders and a funnel neck, proving red works beyond party season.

• Karen Millen Slinky Drape Knit Power Shoulder Funnel Dress, red – £95.20

Tomato-red suit with trainers (mid-September)

High-street tailoring dressed down with a slogan tee and Adidas trainers.

• Next red crinkle blazer – £64
• Next Red Crinkle Palazzo Trousers – £45
• Sezane L’Ete T-shirt, ecru/red – £50
• Adidas Handball Spezial trainers

Beige trench mini dress (Tue 15 September)

A bargain M&S shirt dress, with the tie belt swapped for a vintage gold belt from her own wardrobe.

• M&S Pure Cotton Tie Waist Mini Shirt Dress – £22.50 (reduced from £45)

The day before, she wore the Rixo Fern dress in wine.

Alternatives to shop

If a piece has sold out or is over budget, these are the closest swaps.

Instead of the Boden ruffle blouse (£119)

M&S Lyocell Rich Ruffle Tie Detail Blouse – £40. This is the closest match to Cat’s top for about a third of the price. The lyocell-rich fabric has the same soft drape as georgette, and the ruffles and tie at the neck give it the same romantic look. Wear it with camel or tan jeans to copy her whole outfit.

Mango Ruffled Lyocell Blouse, pink – £35.99. Its pale pink is close to Cat’s soft peach, so it keeps the warm, gentle colour that makes her look work. Pick this one if the shade matters more to you than the exact cut.

Instead of the sold-out high-neck knit top

M&S Wool-Rich Knitted Vest with Cashmere – £68. M&S also sells the £36 knitted skirt, so this is the simplest way to rebuild Cat’s matching knit set from one shop. The cashmere blend makes it feel more luxurious than an everyday vest.

Chinti & Parker Wool Cashmere High Neck Tank – £68 on sale at John Lewis. It has the same sleeveless high-neck shape as Cat’s top in a 90% wool and 10% cashmere knit. The rich aubergine shade works with the skirt as a tonal pairing or as a contrast with neutrals. It’s the more premium choice, currently at a sale price.

 

How to steal her style

The Cat Deeley formula

Her look rests on four simple rules, and once you spot them you’ll see them in almost every outfit.

• One hero colour, everything else neutral. In February she paired a poppy-red cashmere jumper with an olive suede midi skirt, tan belt and tan knee boots. The red does the talking; the earthy tones keep it grown-up.
• Tailoring, but relaxed. Think a grey double-breasted jacket worn open over wide-leg trousers, with a plain white long-sleeve top and Adidas Sambas instead of a shirt and heels.
• Midi lengths and a defined waist. Skirts and dresses hit mid-calf, and a belt or tuck almost always marks the waist.
• High street meets investment. She mixes M&S and Mint Velvet with LK Bennett, ME+EM and Rixo, which is exactly how most of us shop.

Three outfits to try this week

Monday at the office: colour pop. Red knit tucked into the suede midi, tan belt, knee boots. It’s her signature look and it takes about two minutes to put on.

Midweek: polished but comfy. The suit jacket worn open over a plain white long-sleeve tee, matching wide-leg trousers, clean trainers. Swap the trainers for loafers if you’ve got a meeting.

Friday into the weekend: the denim shirt, two ways. Chambray shirt tucked into the leather or suede skirt, or worn with wide-leg jeans and the boots. Throw the suit jacket over the top when the evenings turn chilly.

The trick is that every piece talks to every other piece. Seven items, at least a dozen outfits.

Finishing touches

• Hair: soft, bouncy blow-dry with movement rather than anything too sleek. A big round brush and a bit of volumising spray get you most of the way.
• Make-up: fresh, glowy skin, groomed brows and a rosy or berry lip that echoes your knit.
• Jewellery: keep it light. Small hoops or studs and a delicate chain; let the colour and the tailoring do the work.
• Fit: her clothes always skim rather than cling. If a jacket’s sleeves or trouser hems are slightly off, a cheap trip to the tailor is the most Cat Deeley thing you can do.

Your turn

You don’t need a stylist or a new wardrobe to dress like Cat this autumn. Start with one bright knit, one good skirt and a pair of tan boots, then build from there. Which look are you trying first?