Kate & Pippa Middleton Top Fashion Buzzwords in 2012; Lady Gaga Outshone (PHOTOS)

As the New York Fashion Week begins Thursday, a new revelation about the fashion world suggests that Kate Middleton, now called Catherine, the Duchess of Cambridge, tops the fashion buzzword list of 2012, according to the annual analysis by the Global Language Monitor (GLM).

The top fashion word associated with Kate Middleton is The Duchess Effect, GLM, which tracks trends in usage of English language, said in a statement Wednesday.

Kate is joined by her younger sister, Pippa Middleton with Pippa's bum being one of the top fashion buzzwords this year. The Duchess's sister shot to fame as bridesmaid at Kate's wedding in April last year.

The Duchess Effect appears to extend much further than the economic impact of Kate's fashion choices; this year the fashion landscape seems to be a brighter, more accessible place with the styles more colorful, feminine and graceful than we've observed in many years, said Bekka Payack, GLM's Manhattan-based Fashion Director.

In December 2011, GLM predicted that the word Kate, denoting the endearing Catherine Middleton, would be the most buzzing word in English language in 2012. It was a rage in 2011 as well.

The other buzzwords rounding out the top ten include peplums, braid bars, pyjamas, paisley, Gatsby, pale colors, tangerines and novelty denim.

Incidentally, U.S. singer Lady Gaga, who held the number one and two slots in Fashion Buzzword list in 2010 and 2011 respectively, dropped off the list of 2012, Payack added.

Should The Duchess Effect be blamed? Well, check out below the top fashion moments of the Middleton sisters as they outshine some of the top fashionistas this year.