Duchess Kate wears Orla Kiely, MaxMara in London: beautiful or inappropriate?

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Well, at least it’s not a repeat. And at least Duchess Kate is working! This is the second charitable appearance by Duchess Kate in two days! She’s going to have to go on vacation all through December if she keeps up this heavy work schedule. Today Kate visited Place2Be, a youth-oriented charity for which she is a patroness.

First, let’s talk about fashion and styling. Kate’s full, pleated skirt is Orla Kiely (who also designed yesterday’s dress repeat) and the jacket is MaxMara. I like that Kate is mixing and matching her separates, and quite honestly, this looks like an expensive suit designed specifically for her by Sarah Burton for McQueen. So, on that side, this is a great choice, and Kate put the ensemble together well. I also love navy and I think she looks great in navy. I don’t really like the suede McQueen shoes, but at least she’s out of those g—damn LK Bennett nude heels. I also like that she’s finally (!) wearing her hair back. She so rarely wears her hair back and it’s always a special occasion when she does. I think she looks so much more professional and mature with her hair back.

Now, of course there’s a controversy. It’s the same controversy that Kate has dealt with many, many times before. Kate does not add “weights” to her light skirts, so time and time again, her skirts and dresses “blow up” and Kate makes the world her gynecologist. The Mail had even more photos of Kate’s skirt blowing up here – I guess the blue silk that we’re seeing is her slip? Sure. At some point, someone is going to have to tell her that either she needs to add weights to her skirts or she needs to stop wearing such short skirts while doing her “work” because she often needs to bend down to speak to children. Harsher critics call her an exhibitionist. They might have a point.

You can read more about Kate’s visit here at People Mag. To her credit, Kate got so involved in the conversation (which involved topics like cyberbullying, addiction, sexting, self-harm and special education) that she stayed a full hour longer than she was scheduled for. She even told one of her serfs: “I hope you’re writing this down.”

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Photos courtesy of WENN, Fame/Flynet.

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182 Responses to “Duchess Kate wears Orla Kiely, MaxMara in London: beautiful or inappropriate?”

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  1. Patricia says:

    Why are people so prudish about seeing the legs of the future queen? It seems very backwards and anti-feminist to act like a little thigh is some kind of scandal. Her body is not scandalous, she’s not dressed inappropriately at all. What is this, the Taliban?!

    • Xantha says:

      Blame the concept of monarchy. It’s super conservative and well, antiquated. Which means what wouldn’t be a big deal for the average person, would be scandalous for a Royal. Especially Royal women.

      • MissNostalgia says:

        I don’t think that not wanting to have your skirts blow over your head has anything to do with “super conservatism”; it simply is just that, not wanting to expose your underwear/slip or whatever in public. I work in New York and I don’t see women allowing their skirts to blow up to their waists and NY is by far the most liberal city in the US.

    • Rachel says:

      The problem isn’t her legs. It’s the fact that she has to hold down her skirt so she’s not flashing her ass. And not doing it very successfully.

      I don’t know where you work, but where I work, wearing a skirt or dress that I had to constantly adjust so I’m not mooning anyone would be very inappropriate. Considering these appearances are HER JOB, she should dress appropriately.

    • Suze says:

      Because she’s working. Because it takes the focus off of her job .(She stayed a full hour longer, that is noteworthy, and would have been the main story if her skirt hadn’t blown up).

      If someone were constantly flashing their legs at my job someone would explain to them that they needed to fix the situation.

      It’s not prudishness, it’s professionalism.

      • ncboudicca says:

        Hear, hear! I have to think about what I wear to the office everyday, and so do many other women (and men) who don’t have access to the $$ and staff that she does – I’m sure she could get alterations done very easily without taking time out of her day.

      • Mel says:

        Yes, exactly – it is about professionalism.
        I would only add that it is about style and elegance, too.
        Wearing according to the cirumstances – which include, prominently, weather and even the time of day (with special regard to the quality of light) – is the number one rule of elegance. Therefore, wearing a short skirt made of a flimsy material in a windy country, in late November, is undoubtedly a faux pas.

        The fact that a small girl is wearing a longer (and more wind-resistant) skirt than the very adult duchess says it all, really.

        (The cruel irony is that Catherine probably thinks her legs are great, so she may feel that the world shouldn’t be deprived of their sight… And they aren’t, Kate. They just aren’t that great.)

      • BlueDacnis says:

        I get that. I was thinking the opposite at first – what’s the big deal? But I think you’re right about professionalism. As much as I hate the confines of my professional attire at least I make sure my butt is not available for viewing, and that I don’t have to tug at my skirts constantly. I think it would take some of the focus off of my work.
        I didn’t know weighted skirts were a thing, though. I’m going to have to look into that.

      • GoodNamesAllTaken says:

        @Suze, ita. Especially since there is such a simple solution to the problem. I do wonder if she’s doing it on purpose.

      • Nancito says:

        And she really should know better, because she’s had problems with her skirts flying up before. When she came to Canada in 2011 she wore a yellow dress with a full skirt, and when the wind blew the skirt up we were all treated to a good look at her thong underwear.

      • LAK says:

        To change the subject to that noteworthy extra hour, KP has just confirmed that she stayed longer to hear more about addiction and self harming. it was apparently a last minute decision once she was at the charity.

        These were separate items in the day’s events exclusive from the topics she was invited to attend.

        The mirror newspaper was running a live blog of the event from inside. She was apparently very interested in the topic she was invited to attend ’emotional resilience and strength in schools’ and particularly years 0-5.

        Apparently she was very engaged and asked lots of questions and then decided to stay for the other talks of self harming and Addiction.

        Apparently there was some sort of fuss about making sure William knew that she was staying longer. It’s weird that a reporter would make a note of that.

      • Suze says:

        Actually, LAK, that is very impressive. If she becomes a voice for children with emotional problems, more power to her.

        Yes, odd, that they would report about William – but who knows what that is about.

        Thanks for posting this.

      • Lucky Charm says:

        @ Suze – Maybe daddy was at home taking care of Prince George, and counting down the seconds waiting for mommy to get home and take over, lol! If she made a last minute decision to stay beyond her scheduled time, he would need to know that he was going to have to be on the clock for a bit longer. 🙂

      • LNG says:

        Maybe William was at home with the baby? Who knows..

      • LAK says:

        LNG/Lucky charm: all perfectly reasonable assumptions, but why make a fuss notable enough for a reporter to comment on it? These things are normally handled discreetly. And PG tips didn’t come into the comment.

    • Stef Leppard says:

      @Patricia
      It’s not the thigh that’s the problem. You can see her undergarments. That seems inappropriate to me.

    • endoplasmic_ridiculum says:

      @Patricia. Agreed. I’m not a Middleton apologist. On the contrary, I think she’d be infintely more likeable if she’d ever had a (real) career. However, this really is not that shocking a skirt. It isn’t extremely short, just billows in the wind. Also, no one can see her undergarments. That’s the underlining of the skirt.

      Also, I think her lack of professionalism should be based primarily on the lack of quality work she’s delivered. If she shows up to some easy events every year in a matronly tweed suit, I’d still fail her on professionalism, regardless of her clothes.

  2. MacScore says:

    Love the jacket! But I don’t think the Queen would be “amused” by that flash of thigh. Kate really needs to address the “skirt flying up” issue. She’s got great legs, admittedly, but unfortunately in her position this is just not appropriate, IMHO.

  3. Meggie says:

    I like the jacket, although it looks oddly like my Lulu Lemon yoga jacket-actually that’s probably why I like it. I dislike pleated anything so the skirt is meh to me. Shoes, too.

    I’m so grateful I’m not under the scrutiny of the world. I’d have so much fail with my “fashion” choices.

    • MissyJones says:

      I hate the skirt too. Probably because my school uniform was exactly that! It was so difficult when it got windy, to control the skirt. Though the material used to be quite heavy. We used to wish that we had trousers instead of skirts.

  4. Erinn says:

    I like that she’s pulled her hair back and it seems like there’s less of it. She looks a little more like a real person. I’ll even forgive the liner if she keeps from playing with her hair.

    • Suze says:

      Her hair looks fantastic here.

      • LAK says:

        I wonder if she looks back at the first 2.5yrs as a royal and sees how ridiculous her self presentation was. The epic BIG hair with sausage curls, the excessive make up. Oddly she’s switched to shorter skirts since she became pregnant so i guess only one thing at a time can be fixed.

    • Spooks says:

      I hate her hair back. She looks even older. I wish she would cut it to a bob.

  5. Xantha says:

    I’m far more interested in the fact that she stayed longer than expected than her skirt. I wonder why she did the overtime?

    • Green Girl says:

      I am curious about this, too. I haven’t really been following her as much, so I am wondering if she stayed late due to any criticism.

    • m says:

      Its called PR. She would not have been allowed to stay if it was a last minute thing, this was obvioulsy planned by her team and thats how she found the time for it.

  6. LadyMTL says:

    The lighter blue could also be the lining, assuming that style of skirt is lined in the first place. I do agree that it needs to be weighted, especially because it is a “swirly” kind of garment that probably has a lot of movement to it to begin with.

    I do think calling her an exhibitionist is a bit extreme, though.

  7. Mary says:

    “I hope you’re writing this down.”

    Brilliant.

  8. Anna says:

    Black tights with navy shoes and outfit – no. Also, why a short skirt and high heels when visiting CHILDREN?

    • don't kill me i'm french says:

      Because Jennifer Garner isn’t her idol of style!

    • SuSu says:

      yes, i would never visit a children charity with high heels and mini skirt, but hey i would like to play and talk with the (much shorter) children without the fear of showing my butt or tower above them. Kate seems to have no problem with it and it´s ok.

      I think her skirts and shoes are her armour. She needs it for doing her job, she is extreme insecure when she is “working” alone.

    • MavenTheFirst says:

      That was my first thought as well. You get down and dirty with kids. A pair of trousers and a sweater would have made more sense. All she’s missing is the tiara. And the skirt is way too short for her position and role.

      • coconut says:

        she does have great gams, but i agree that the skirt is way too high for her position/role, especially with heels that high. she could wear short skirts on casual days and with lower heels.

    • bluhare says:

      I think the tights are navy. They just photograph black, or the blue on the shoes makes them look black.

  9. Ginger says:

    Really? You’re an exhibitionist now because it’s a windy day? Her legs are fabulous so I don’t understand the complaints or controversy. Just enjoy looking at how gorgeous she is. I like this outfit much better than the others I’ve seen her wear. It’s nice to hear that she stayed longer than necessary. Perhaps she’s more in tune now that she’s a mom.

    • don't kill me i'm french says:

      +1

      • TheOriginalKitten says:

        +2
        The monarchy in general seems like such a rigid and obsolete institution.
        *shrugs*
        I think she looks great but if there are dress code rules she should be following as part of her position then I see why others here would view her outfit as problematic.

    • don't kill me i'm french says:

      I like how Jennifer lawrence’s side boob or her see-through dress are okay to the premieres (where there are many kids) but how here it would be inappropriated

      • Suze says:

        Jennifer Lawrence is an actress, promoting her movie. The duchess is a duchess, royalty, and is doing a very different job.

    • Suze says:

      The complaints and controversy come up because she’s *working*. You shouldn’t be focusing on her gorgeous legs while she’s *working*.

    • Mel says:

      “Really? You’re an exhibitionist now because it’s a windy day?”

      You are if you’re British and know full well that you live in a windy country – especially in late November. (Not to mention all the previous occasions when the wind also seemed to take her – yet nobody else – by surprise.)

      You also don’t wear flimsy materials at this time of year, if you have any sense of style at all.
      And I used to love her style. It seemed almost pitch-perfect.
      Now it’s anything but.

      • endoplasmic_ridiculum says:

        LOL. I beg to differ.

        Walk around Soho/Covent Garden on a Friday night. The amount of British women who will brave the worst weather in tiny, ass skimming Lipsy-style dresses boggles the mind.

        Either half of London hasn’t received the “windy country” memo or they aren’t as fussed as you’d think about exhibitionism…

  10. BeckyR says:

    She always looks beautiful and appropriate. Leave her alone, nitpickers.

    • Lara Morgana says:

      Totally agree, BeckyR. She looks amazing.

    • Suze says:

      I love her hair here, it looks fantastic. The outfit is a great color for her. It’s good to hear that she was so engaged by the conversation that she stayed an hour longer.

      But, yes, she should have weights sewn into her hems.

  11. Hank II says:

    Darn her, now I want some navy suede heels! Why don’t more women wear below the knee dresses? I absolutely love tea- length skirts, and women rarely have to worry about bending over in them.

  12. Eleonor says:

    I am in love with that coat. Max Mara does the best coat on the market. Expensive, but they’re really worth their prize.
    I like the ensemble.

  13. IrishEyes says:

    I will openly admit I like her. I don’t think in a “normal persons” life this would be a big deal. But as a Duchess? If it were me, I’d be weighting my hems; keep the length, weight those hems!!!! And get a darker slip.

  14. The Original Mia says:

    She’s been in this gig for 2+ years. How hard is it to add freaking weights to her skirts? No one is asking her to become a prude, but she knows it’s a windy day and her butt is going to be exposed. Now, instead of talking about the fact she actually stayed an hour at her charity, everyone is talking about the fact the royal bum was almost exposed. Again.

  15. Florc says:

    Not this again. She’s at a work function that almost always requires her to speak with children. You have to bend down to get almost eye level with them. A skirt (even knee length) is not a safe bet. She has nice legs, but events are not the time to show them off. It’s not about being prudish. It’s about being a professional and a reprentative of your country. Trousers can flatter legs and butts while maintaining your modesty and showing people you’re there to focus on the charity. Not to steal the spot light with an upskirt shot or flash your bottom to the kids. That’s it. If you don’t get why she should have some hemweights sewn in you might never understand.

    All that aside, her hair looks great pulled back. Her outfit is nice, as is the color and accessories. Make up is also better. And a big Kudos to her for staying an extra hour and talking! Now, she can refer to the notes being taken later and hopefully do a fundraiser for this charity.

    This is good. I wonder if a switch was flipped with having george.

    • Green Girl says:

      Has she worn trousers to an event like this? I seem to remember her wearing skirts and dresses of varying lengths, but I can’t recall her wearing trousers to a charity event.

      • Reece says:

        Only skinny jeans no actual professional pants or anything.

        Edit: Which btw, a good tailored pair of trousers, would actually achieve the effect she so clearly covets that of making her legs look longer and thinner.

      • Florc says:

        Green Girl
        I’m not sure if she’s worn a pair to an outing. If she wears pants they’re almost always skinny jeans. Even when she camped out. Sitting, standing, and squatting in skinny jeans or jeggins is so terrible.

        Kate has a long torso with shorter legs by proportion. For her to wear an outfit like this without accounting for her measurements means her crumpets are closer to the hemline than you think.
        I agree with posters above. She is an exhibitionist. I mean this in the sense of how she has flashed her privates to us from exiting a car in a short skirt and no panties or wearing a flimsy and short skirt on a windy day on a tarmac with maybe a thong if there was anything. It’s an attitude of not actively doing it, but not caring if it happens. I’d expect that behavior from a toddler, party girl, or a playboy playmate. Not from a Duchess or a representative of one’s country.

      • Green Girl says:

        Hi everyone – I’d forgotten about those times where she’s worn jeans. I do think she could wear a very nice pair of tailored trousers and look great and professional, but perhaps the BRF has protocol regarding when she can wear trousers?

    • Suze says:

      Exactly. The story should be that she seemed to be very interested in the work of the charity, brought some needed attention to it, and can build on it for future events. It may well have been that becoming a mother has altered her perspective on Place2B, and that is a great thing.

      I don’t know that she’ll ever wear trousers. It just doesn’t seem to be her thing. But a slightly lower hemline and weights in the hems can also solve her issues.

      So, Duchess, sew some weights into your hems, and get on with it. You seem to be on the right track!

    • alee says:

      Florc, dude. How many times have you mentioned her long torso, short legs, and hemline in proportion to her “crumpets”/”Royal babymaker”/etc.???

      • maggie says:

        Florc who are you trying to convince? You crack me up every time!

      • bluhare says:

        Probably as many times as Kate has not accounted for it?

      • alee says:

        You just seem oddly stuck on her proportions & that particular turn of phrase.

      • Florc says:

        alee
        I mention her proportions because not everyone is built the same and cannot wear the same clothes. A person has to dress to flatter their measurements. We all do it. Kate at times dresses in clothes not tailored correctly to her. And when that outfit is a shorter skirt she has xtremely high risk of flashing children and cameras. Also, “Crumpets” was a word coined on this site. She’s flashed her “crumpets” almost annually to us. hat’s not appropriate for a woman of her position, but she’s done nothing to correct that behavior.

        Maggie
        This will be all i say to you. You seem to be in love with this woman and she is a saint in your eyes. I am more critical because I judge a peson based on substance. Not superficial qualities. You disagree with my opinions and I disagree with yours. Try to resist replying to my posts with how I make you laugh, but instead a logical argument. Not this school yard behavior.

    • Maria says:

      Florac, 1000% agreement. She represents the Monarchy and the country. I don’t have such a high profile job, but when I dress I know it’s an extension of myself. I am beginning to agree with the harsher critics: she loves to show herself off. Maybe she thinks: this is how I caught Wills’ attention and it can work on the rest of the world. Who knows what she is thinking, the only thing that shows with the pics we see is that she isn’t thinking.

    • Dominique says:

      Or a pencil skirt.

    • HRHLadyJ says:

      Just my 2c, but I believe this faux pas has a lot to do with Georgie! She looks really run down in these, and the last several photo ops… I’m not sure what’s going on with her, but I feel like there may be some post partum happening. She looks drained, her skin looks really dry, and she has dark circles… She may be exhausted, and detached from the outfit choices, just sort of going through the motions… I know these people are PR’d to the tiniest details, but something’s off with her, IMO. She doesn’t look well!

      • Jessica says:

        This “faux pas” has nothing to do with George, this is the sixth time the wind has blown up her skirt.

      • Florc says:

        HRHLadyJ
        Jessica is right. I just want to add that Kate has bad skin. Pox marks, smoking, sun have all damaged her skin and the double gs under the eyes is a Middleton women trait. Some photos are edited to smooth out her skin. Wha we now is how she’s always looked in candid photos.
        Kate may be a hands on mom, but she’s not doing it all. There’s a staff for PG greater than we know. They take care of him constantly.

  16. Gine says:

    Oh man, I love when Kate wears shorter skirts. All the pearl-clutching and monocle-popping in response is hilarious.

    The hair looks great, but we’re back to the black eyeliner again. Sigh.

    • snark says:

      THIS. I think everything looks awesome except the raccoon eyes. Her eyeliner ages her big time.

    • bluhare says:

      Funny, because I find all the eyeliner carping hilarious.

    • livinglavitalola says:

      +1 it’s hilarious

      Unless the definition of mini skirt has changed, I don’t see how her skirt is considered mini. I intern at a finance company and the length of the ladies skirts are about that length.

      Kate is actually working, so they can’t whine about that. Ppl are just splitting hairs here

      • Maria says:

        She should be working, there are people who can’t make ends meet in England and she leads a life of privilege. She needs to earn her keep and this is nothing to what she could be doing.

  17. HH says:

    I can’t decide if I’m annoyed or amused that the bar for her has been set so low that points are being given (even by me) because she “pulled her hair back.”

  18. SuSu says:

    Her hair looks fantastic! She should wear it this way more often!

    The whole world has seen her naked, so all her Marilyn moments are nothing special. Her hemlines become shorter and shorter, i have the feeling she will show her new skinny look to the world. Being pregnant and a little heavier must have been terrible for her. Kate looked so much softer and better with more weight! I found her really pretty and now she looks gaunt again. Sorry, but her face looks unattractive… old and haggard.

  19. LadySlippers says:

    I don’t wonder if going with a slimmed downed household is part of the reason there are never weights in her skirts and she often runs into a flashing issue when windy as there is no one to do it.

    And I agree with the posters — while she does indeed look lovely it’s totally unprofessional in almost any job to be flashing people. If it was a gust of wind out of nowhere or a one time thing, it would be understandable. But almost all of her skirt issues are preventable and conditions were known and yet it continues to happen.

    Premieres are different as you are expected to be a tad edgier and risqué which is why most are held in the evening at a cinema. This is a charity event which is professional in nature held in the day where more condervative rules apply. Plus being carried out by the standard -bearers of a country which usually demands a higher level of professionalism and conservatism.

  20. Angelic 21 says:

    Her vanity have no limit s, it’s bloody freezing in England and she wears a sheer stockings and short skirts to shows of her legs at a charity event where she is meeting kids?!!! Did some one else noticed now that she is alone today without William, she seems so happy and relaxed, oh the joy of young love and amazing fairytale. I excused her when her skirt blew up in Canada for the first time but this has happened way too much for it to be a mistake, she is an exhibitionist IMO. She is not a celebrity but a representative of 16 countries, so yes it’s a big deal when she is showing off her thighs on official engagements. Imagine Hillary Clinton or Michelle Obama wearing short skirts, playing with hairs, almost showing her underwear in so many official occasions and tell me it’s not a big deal. I think it’s proves what a failure she is in her role as a royal that people compare her to Kim K and other celebrities IMO.

    • LadySlippers says:

      I think it’s stupidity on her part. But it’s getting annoying whatever the reason.

      There are numerous high profile women in politics and in monarchies that aren’t plagued with Kate’s flying skirt issue.

  21. Penelope says:

    She looks beautiful and her hair is fabulous. Meh, so her skirt flew up a bit; whatever. I just can’t with the aging, heavy eyeliner, though. STOP!!!!

  22. INeedANap says:

    Why does she always look like she has trouble smiling? That’s the face I make when I put a clay mask on my face and then try to talk. Botox much? Or surgery?

    • Florc says:

      She has veneers. Maybe the veneers? She’s never had thick lips, but during her University days she had a healthy weight on her an her smile didn’t look as strained.
      Looks like she kicked the forehead botox once she got pregnant.

  23. Lizzy1013 says:

    I feel like she put her hair back because it was going to be windy and she didn’t want her hair blowing in her face. She ALWAYS has her hair down. Why didn’t they think of the skirt and the wind factor

  24. Lizzy1013 says:

    Ewwww in that one pic the guy standing next to the little girl is staring at her skirt blowing up!!! Major creep!

    • LAK says:

      ….but isn’t that the point of weighting her hems and or having longer skirts when on duty? So the creepy guys aren’t on the look out for a chance to get an opportunistic eye full?

      • bluhare says:

        LAK, LAK, LAK. There you go being logical again.

      • Zimmer says:

        Exactly. Either she is just extremely vain and an exhibitionist as claimed or she is following domineering William’s wishes in regards to legs and hair. I haven’t decided, but I did like her look when the skirt was hanging properly.

  25. iCali says:

    Some people like her so much that they are willing to sacrifice their own intelligence to defend her. Bottom line, flowy skirts and wind don’t mix unless you have weighted hems. Also when bending over to talk to children. The first mistake in Canada can be forgiven, but keep it up and people start to question Queen Eliz and why she cannot or has not talked to Kate about these constant “Marilyn Monroe moments.” It reflects poorly on the royal household and it needs to be respected. Camilla can even say something!

    I guess Queen Eliz was so beaten by her past daughter-in-laws, Diana and Fergie, that maybe she has said to hell with this granddaughter-in-law.

    • LadySlippers says:

      HM is not one for confrontation. She didn’t even do it with her sister… That’s why the courtiers and/or Philip do it.

      But with William I’m sure no one bothers…

    • taxi says:

      Only extremely light weights, inadequate for strong breezes, can be used with flowy skirts, or the flow is ruined. Wear billowy skirts to indoor events with no wind or weight the slip. While bending & stooping to get at face level with kids, somewhat longer skirts & lower heels help.

    • Green Girl says:

      Has there been a shakeup in Kate’s office? I am just curious, as I’m noticing more of a difference from her first year of marriage. I’d think a good manager (PR person? I don’t know what the title would be) would be able to help Kate select appropriate outfits for these events. Surely the palace works with the charity and everyone gets an itinerary, so if Kate is scheduled for a meet-and-greet outdoors, everyone can plan accordingly. So, does she still retain someone like that?

      • Suze says:

        I don’t know – it’s rumored she doesn’t use a stylist or dresser. I think she really, really needs one. Not because of her personal style, but to avoid any wardrobe malfunctions.

      • LAK says:

        They’ve had a major restructuring such that WK have their own office separate from Harry. The guy who ran the formerly combined office, Jamie Lowther-Pinkerton, resigned earlier this year though he is on retainer once a week to help WK’s new office staff handle the transition. WK’s office is now based at KP. Any statements fron them are signposted as KP statements. They seem to have retained most of the old staff in the restructure.

        Harry’s office remains at SJP. Any statements about him will be signposted as SJP statements.

        Confusingly, the Royal Foundation is based at KP which means any statements from the foundation regarding WHK’s charity efforts will also be signposted KP.

        And of course CH and BP speaks for them collectively on occasion.

      • bluhare says:

        Suze, you’re forgetting the godmother of style crap from a few weeks ago!!

  26. Aeryn39 says:

    I really don’t get comparing the Duchess of Cambridge to a movie actress. She’s wife of a future King. A head of state. I don’t get how someone at a premiere or on a red carpet is remotely in the same realm in terms of expectations for clothing as someone representing a nation and a Commonwealth at a charitable function. I am forty, maybe I’m just old-school or something, but it seems so different to me. I can’t imagine a First Lady consistently behaving that way. Look at a lot of the other young royals in this world. Queen Maxima of the Netherlands is relatively young and stylish to me but I don’t recall her flashing thigh regularly even though most of the day outfits I’ve seen pictures of show her in dresses cut above the knee. Same with Queen Raina of Jordan and Crown Princess Victoria – both are young and gorgeous and stylish but keep their skirts in check. The Countess of Wessex has really upped her fashion game in the past couple of years and keeps her skirts in check. I mean, I think if Kate was just the rich girl next door it would be fine and I get the whole “Prince Charles pushing for a slimmed down monarchy” thing, but Kate just comes off as budget sometimes.
    I do feel bad for her sometimes. Generally, I’m over it because after waity-ing for 9 years and being married for 2 she just doesn’t seem clued in – or cares to be clued in – to what’s expected of her. But then, it must be hard to live under such constant scrutiny. And she does look tired and and it’s so hard to believe she’s just 31. Of course, the eyeliner isn’t helping that.

    • LAK says:

      You know, i think she dresses like a young person on their first job which in a sense she is. She’s Queen of waitying so perhaps we need to show same level of Waitying patience before she changes. Her hair alone took 2.5 yrs to change.

      • Dena says:

        But how would Kate know? She’s never ever had a professional job in a professional organization to know how other professionals dress. She only knows how to dress to entice William–that’s been her only gig. A “position” in a mail order and/or online family run business couldn’t have given her any noteworthy polish or social cues where her attire and demeanor are concerned.

        She is really indistinguished.

      • LAK says:

        Dena: She’ll figure it out if they don’t allow her to hide away? A person can only ignore bad headlines for so long before they make a change.

      • Dena says:

        Hopefully, it will happen soon. She needs to buy a vowel or something because she is no longer some sweet lil thing overcome with the giggles. She’s 31!

        By the way, if my message read as if I was expressing empathy or compassion, I wasn’t. However, I WAS trying to say in a nice way that she doesn’t have any real experience to pull from cause she spent all those years waiting on her prince (I mean ship) to come in without doing any real work to develop herself for the role outside of concubine and breeder (if that).

      • Florc says:

        Dena
        She is a 31 year old mother at this point and her fans are still defending her giggles and school girl attire. Both need to mature imo.

  27. Maggie says:

    Oh I see we have a major prigfest going on again. She’s not in an office setting, she’s visiting children. Hilary Clinton and Michele Obama dont have the legs to show off therefore dowdy suits! I think she appears tired but the outfit is lovely.

    • LadySlippers says:

      It has nothing to do with priggishness and everything to do with professionalism. Hilary, back in the day, had very nice legs as does Michelle now. But that’s not the point — again it’s about professionalism.

    • Suze says:

      Maggie – I agree!

      It doesn’t matter what happens when she’s visiting the kiddies. It’s not serious at all; not even real work in that sense. Why are we prigs taking it so seriously?

      In fact, you’ve converted me to your point of view. Next time she should leave off the skirt entirely and do the entire event in her underpants.

      • MavenTheFirst says:

        In fact, on the next red carpet appearance, perhaps she should wear J Lawrence’s sheer dress.

      • Suze says:

        LOL Maven.

        Maybe we should just get live feeds from her bed chamber. She won’t have to change out of her nightie – or even leave her bed!

      • Dena says:

        I am with you, Lady Slippers. When picking out an outfit to wear one must consider the event, the audience, and what role they will play at that event (among other things) and if you know you will be talking to children, while it is not necessary to wear a Care Bears sweater and granny jeans, it’s inappropriate to wear clothes that will, in essence, have you ass-out as you bend from the waist and not at the knees. She’s just oblivious [read stupid].

    • HH says:

      So… we can compromise on professionalism if someone has nice legs? Or a decent rack? Maybe the office would be more appealing if the men with decent “packages” wore tight slacks. If you’ve got it flaunt it, right?

      Hillary and Michelle may no longer be young, but degrees, intelligence, and work ethic will always be respected.

      • Maria says:

        I almost choked on my coffee on that one! Well done!

      • Suze says:

        LOL!

        I learned something today at CB.

        I have a great rack – or I’ve been told so anyway. And it’s rather beautomously large.

        Tomorrow, when I dress for work, I’m gonna show as much cleavage as possible. Because if you got it, flaunt it! Doesn’t matter what the environment or circumstance – always, always show off your assets.

    • Tatiana says:

      Ughh, this comment has such nonsense and vitriol. I just can deal with the fact that Kate Middleton (and even her legs are not all that, Goop and Gisele Bünchen have better legs in my opinion) is even on the same sentence as Hilary and Michelle. I just can’t with this.

    • bluhare says:

      Maggie, does your company have a dress code or are the HR people jealous prigs too?

  28. Decloo says:

    Say what you will, that girl’s got some beautiful legs (or “pins” as the DM would say).

  29. yeahright says:

    I dont understand how anyone could give this girl flak. She’s perfect for the role she’s expected to play and she seems quite personable. I think there are nitpickers because they begrudgingly accept her. A flash of slip….. scandalous!!!!!

    • Kate says:

      If Kate had been a (let’s face it) not-too-intelligent aristocratic 19-year-old when she married William (just as Diana was when she married Charles), perhaps the criticism wouldn’t be so deafening. Royal women have never had careers (Sophie tried and had to quit after she married Edward), and in fact Kate is one of the most highly educated royal women in recent memory, and after the likes of Sarah “Please Lick My Toes” Ferguson she seems the epitome of class and sophistication. No, what’s really going on here is the social experiment of social media and the internet, where people can be vile in safe anonymity. If Diana had to deal with celebrity bloggers, the comments sections of websites and Twitter, she woudl have suffered the same snarks and criticisms. People are really just gross, and they pick on those whom they envy and who make them feel inadequate.

      • Suze says:

        Who is being vile? What are people saying that is so terrible? That her skirt blew up and showed off her legs? Well, it happened! And it’s happened several times, in fact!

        And why are you throwing insults at people who weren’t discussed in the original post – Sarah and Diana – or, for that fact, in the comments? Are you picking on them because you envy them and they make you feel inadequate?

      • bluhare says:

        LOL, Suze. Was just going to point out the same thing re inadequacy.

    • Lisa says:

      Yes yeahright — sunning her tits on holiday when she was supposed to be supporting handicapped athletes, flashing her (we hope) thong at almost every international airport, unable to string two coherent sentences together, twirling her curls and have a good giggle while remembering HER country’s war dead, working maybe just maybe 15 hours a month. She’s just perfect for the role. What role is that exactly?

  30. Lucky Charm says:

    I like Kate’s outfit , her blue suede shoes and that her hair is pulled off her face. But what kills me are the blue booties the other woman is wearing with her black dress and tights! Why????? Not only is the color wrong, but the boots are entirely wrong with that outfit. Is she trying to copy the dress, tights and booties ensemble that Kate wore yesterday?

    Maybe Kate could have all of her skirts made with velcro on the inside and wear tights and hose with velcro on the thigh portion… 🙂

  31. Reece says:

    I wonder if a photographer had gotten that one split second where the skirt flew up just a little too much would he/she have been tried and put in jail?

  32. Kate says:

    Weights sewn into the hems of dresses and skirts mess up the fall and the drape of those skirts and ruin the look. It’s fine if you’re okay with looking dowdy, but Kate is too young to look dowdy, and she already dresses very conservatively for someone her age. I can understand why she doesn’t want to do the weights. Her hair and her legs are her best features, so I also understand why she wants to show them off. To prevents situations like this, though, she might want to take to wearing a pencil skirt or something that won’t blow up in the wind. She can still do a shorter hemline if she wants (and why not? I’ve seen far more offensive things than Kate Middleton’s thighs), but a more fitted style wouldn’t lift in the wind.

    • LAK says:

      Hem weights aren’t some sort of fuddy duddy complicated thing. They are incredibly light weight and go in any fabric. Only bad tailoring ruins drape and fabric.

    • bluhare says:

      From The Daily Mail:

      Last year the Mail revealed how, despite conducting thousands of public engagements in her 60 years on the throne, the Queen’s decorum has almost never slipped.

      Slipped inside the lining of each of the Queen’s exquisite hand-made outfits are a couple of small lead curtain weights, costing just £1.50 for a packet of four.

      The small circular weights, measure just 1.2inches (32mm) across and weigh less than an ounce each.

      And they are sourced, of all places, from the curtain accessories section of famous Chelsea department store, Peter Jones, by her favourite couturier, Stewart Parvin.

      Society dressmaker Mr Parvin then neatly stitches them into the hem of her garments, which prevents them from blowing up in the wind.

      The surprisingly cheap trick seems to work, for the Queen has seemingly never been photographed in public looking even remotely ruffled.

      ‘The beauty of a handmade outfit is that it hangs just right but, of course, we have a few tricks up our sleeve,’ Mr Parvin told the Daily Mail in an exclusive interview.

      ‘Surprisingly, it is nothing fancy. I use curtain weights, lead weights, from Peter Jones’s curtain department. We call them penny weights.

      Read more: http://www.dailymail.co.uk/femail/article-2510464/Kate-Middleton-Marilyn-moment-charity-visit.html#ixzz2lDFKBLmV
      Follow us: @MailOnline on Twitter | DailyMail on Facebook

      So four of them would weigh less than four ounces on a hem. As she’s wearing it to an engagement, I don’t see the argument. She could wear something in which they work well. She doesn’t have to wear chiffon, or full skirts.

      • taxi says:

        That’s the point – weights heavy enough to hold down very light weight silk/chiffon/voile etc in a breeze do ruin the drape & swing of the skirts. We’ve used weights for decades & many designers still do, often in jackets. Why do Chanel jackets always hang so perfectly? Not all weights are the round disc type, or hardware store washer. Many times, a small is sewn into the hem all the way round the garment. The tiny chain used for skirt hems in those fabrics is inadequate to keep them down outdoors.

      • bluhare says:

        taxi, so isn’t it pretty simple to not wear a chiffon or full flowy skirt when it’s windy out?

  33. Liz says:

    I think Kate can do a way better job with the platform that she has.

    Check out Duchess or Diva’s opinion on Kate’s latest appearance: http://katemiddletonduchessordiva.wordpress.com/2013/11/20/performance-review-place2be-112013/

  34. Sachi says:

    Shame that her interest in the charity has been overshadowed by the bigger interest on her legs, helped along by a short, flimsy skirt that easily blew up in the wind.

    Instead of people talking about the charity she’s visiting and the work she could be doing for said organization, it’s her legs that’s got all the attention. Once again, she and her body are the focal point and the charity only gets a look-in from those who actually care to read the articles. Considering the many reports that Kate’s charities don’t get enough support and Kate as their patron does nothing to increase their visibility and funding, it’s even sadder to think that Kate’s legs have taken all the attention away from a worthwhile cause.

    This is the 7th/8th time her skirt has blown up. There’s no more excuse for this continuously amateurish moment. Her outfit is actually nice but it was ruined by the short skirt that proved to be too light to deal with the wind.

    Everywhere she has gone, her skirt/dress has blown up in the wind: in Canada, Singapore, Australia, California, and in the UK. This is becoming the norm for her and it shows a lack of professionalism.

    It’s not about being dowdy or dressing like a grandma, but about trying to bring attention to the actual event and making sure you are there to enhance the profile of the charity, not take all the media hype for yourself. The charity’s hospitality is wasted if every headline is about Kate’s super-toned legs and how cool it is that her skirts are so short. Those foundations must prepare a lot for a royal visit but what do they get? Kate’s legs in a short skirt and media praise for “sexy Kate”. It’s quite unfair. Kate would always get the attention no matter what she does/wear, so a “Marilyn Moment” in the headlines just seems so silly when there’s an important charity that deserve more attention and coverage.

    • Florc says:

      Sachi
      You think maybe she’s kicked up her public persona and personal appearances because Harry is getting closer to bringing Cressida into the picture? Just like Diana and Fergie the mags will go nuts with that comparing the girls. It might be unlikely, but I bet i’m not the only one wondering it.

      • Sachi says:

        Florc
        I’m not sure about that. I really don’t think Harry and Cressida are very serious and on the brink of engagement just yet.

        But there’s probably a holiday in December just in time to claim that Kate and William have done so much the past few weeks that they’re exhausted and need a break. And since the sycophants have such short memories, the several events they’ve done before the holidays would seem like they’ve actually done a lot and so people will believe that W&K are entitled to a long holiday.

        Also, Harry is away for Walking for the Wounded and getting deserved media praise and attention. William can’t let that happen so he and Kate also do some events, 95% of which are fluff and galas where they just dress up and smile. Of course, the media eats it up and it takes attention away from Harry. William is so predictable. Every time Harry has an event, William/Kate will also schedule one right at the same time.

    • Tatiana says:

      This!

    • maggie says:

      Believe me her short skirt brought more attention to that charity than had she dressed as you would have liked her to. Like some prudish prig! Kids relate better to someone they feel is young and pretty. She showed up, stayed late showing an honest interest in the charity and that’s all that should matter.

      • Lisa says:

        Yes Maggie because goodness knows there’s no other way for a woman to bring attention to a cause than nearly flashing her ass. The fact that you seem to be ok with it is just sad, very sad.

      • maggie says:

        Lisa I think your focus is scewed. And it’s sad.
        Sachi did she show her butt? Believe me I know what a prig is. And it’s not me obviously!

      • Sachi says:

        LOL, Maggie.

        You’re sure she brought a lot of attention to the charity by almost showing her butt? How do you know? Did you interview the people there? Can we expect Kate to show up in her underwear next since showing off her thighs bring so much attention to her charities? Imagine the amount of donations that would flood her patronages if Kate showed up in lingerie. How cool and youthful!!!

        I don’t think you actually even know what being a prig really means. Kate cannot dress like a “prudish prig” because being a prig is a trait, a part of a character and personality. I always see you calling others that when it doesn’t really apply to anyone here.

      • bluhare says:

        Ok, Maggie, I’ll bite. What did you learn about the charity? And no fair going to look it up before you respond.

      • Lisa says:

        Maggie — how is my focus screwed? Please explain.

      • MinnFinn says:

        Maggie,
        Her short skirt brought attention to her legs and nothing else.

        I’d bet my last dollar that if marketing research were done on that visit, they’d discover that hardly anyone would be able to name the charity. That by any marketing standard is failed PR.

    • bluhare says:

      I know a lot of people aren’t fans of some of the Kate blogs, but I really have to give Charlotte over at hrhduchesskate kudos on hers. She always talks about what the charity does and gives a lot more information about it than anywhere else.

  35. Janet says:

    LOL what a flap over nothing. To hear some of you guys, she shouldn’t leave the house without putting on a burqa first.

    She has some great legs and a her age there’s not a thing wrong with showing them. Get a grip, people.

    • bluhare says:

      For you and me, OK, but even I don’t want my skirt blowing up in the wind. But Kate is representing a head of state, for heaven sakes. It’s not like she popped out to the shops.

    • MavenTheFirst says:

      Yeah, because it’s all about her legs and not the charity. Sounds about right to me.

  36. Shelby says:

    “Kate makes the world her gynecologist.” Geesh…this comment was harsh.

    • bluhare says:

      Truth hurts sometimes.

      • imqrious2 says:

        This is a direct “steal” from the BritCom “AbFab” (Absolutely Fabulous). The character, Patsy Stone (played by Joanna Lumley) said a line about her job as a Fashion Editor: “With one word I can raise hemlines so high the whole world’s your gynecologist!” 🙂 What a great show! lol

  37. weegie warrior says:

    She does have really nice legs but they shouldn’t be the focus when she is out supporting a charity.

  38. Lisa says:

    Curious where and in what capacity all the posters who think what Kate was wearing is appropriate work because I’m really struggling to think of a professional environment where coming that close to flashing your ass on the world stage would be acceptable, apart from Hooters or something. It makes her look like she’s suffering from some sort of emotional/ mental deficit.

  39. Janet says:

    While we’re all snarking on Kate, happy 66th anniversary to her in-laws.

  40. Fue McCormick says:

    Girlfriend needs to put some weights in the skirts/dresses, stat. If I were QEII, I’d be pissed! It’s only a slip, and we’ve all seen those boobies … but c’mon … get an effin clue, girl.

  41. KatC says:

    I wore a pleated skirt in London once, and only once. The wind was insane even on bright sunny days. That said, does anyone else think that she may have chosen her outfit to resemble that of the students?

    Also, as the daily mail photos show, she was clearly only outside for a few moments, to be greeted and presented with the flowers. The rest of the event seems to have taken place indoors, thus without wind.

  42. TreeAnne says:

    If she’s so dead-set on skirts, why not a fashion-forward knee-length pencil skirt that won’t flap in the breeze and show too much skin? I work in an office and even without a breeze, I would NEVER wear that skirt length to work. And I can sympathize with Kate being a tall lady myself. But damn, pick something a little more appropriate/functional/professional! It’s not hard.

    • TheyPromisedMeBeer says:

      Seriously! A pencil skirt would have been cute, and very flattering on her figure. Plus, you can still bend down and interact with the kiddies without any mishaps!

    • LadySlippers says:

      Kate is only about 5’7″ish or so. She’s honestly not that tall. (I’m biased since I’m 5’10”).

      And you can find appropriate clothes for almost any height — especially with the fact she has more money than most of us.

      • TreeAnne says:

        Google says she is 5’9?!? I thought she was taller than that! I’m 6’1″ and I don’t have a problem finding height and work-appropriate skirts and dresses on my middle-class budget. She really has no excuse then. :-/

  43. TheyPromisedMeBeer says:

    My mom, a few of the ladies in my family, and a couple friends of mine are teachers. Specifically, elementary school (so kids from 5 to 11, depending on birthdays and whatnot). A nice range of ages and sartorial choices. My point here is that they all know how to dress stylishly, professionally, and appropriately for working with young children all day. That right there, what Kate did? That’s an assistant/intern mistake and Kate should have known better. There is a time and place for a dress like that, but being around kids where, in theory, you need to interact with them? Nuh uh.

    And I’ll go ahead and nip in the bud any accusations of “prig” – not where I’m from. We know how to dress for work in a humid, tropical setting and not give the kids an early anatomy lesson.

    • maggie says:

      Oh puleeease. Talk about holier than thou! Time to take the knot outta those bloomers!

      • bluhare says:

        OK Maggie. Post a photo of you with your skirt up over your head and we’ll all admit to being jealous prigs. ‘K?

        And by the way, I thought old fashioned schtick was pretty funny when you first trotted it out, but it’s getting a bit shopworn now. Just in case you want to think of something fresher.

      • TheyPromisedMeBeer says:

        Well, bless your heart, Maggie.

      • Florc says:

        Bluhare
        I’m retiring the wet wiglet. I’m really enjoying your witty posts. The glet will never be trotted out again until Kate herself brings it back. At which time we will all know it’s back since it cannot be unseen.

      • bluhare says:

        Thank you, Florc! (Although I’ll miss the wet wiglet. ) 🙂

  44. P.J. says:

    I’m no duchess, but if I had those glorious legs, I’d be showing them off every single chance I got too!

    Also, I love, love, love the risk she took with those beautiful, comfy-looking blue suede heels 🙂 I’m totally with Kaiser in that I think those awful L.K. Bennett’s should be burned at the stake too!! Ugh. (Reportedly she has been wearing the same pair for YEARS and simply keeps having them re-soled. Yuck. Liv Tyler said that she’s been doing the same thing with her favorite pair of black Lanvin flats for over a DECADE b/c she’s “afraid” to buy new ones and all I could think was 1. Those things must stink to high heaven at this point. And 2. WHY?? You can more than afford to buy more! Sigh.)

    • bluhare says:

      I don’t think she should keep her legs under wraps either . . . when she isn’t working. If it were you or I at our job, and we wore an outfit that blew up and was a bit uncomfortable to wear, I bet our employers would cut some slack. Maybe even the second time. But the third time? We’d be brought into HR for a little dress code chat.

  45. JessSaysNo says:

    Not inappropriate at all. That’s a conservative dress and she can’t control every wind gust. A little thigh? Not a big deal to me…

  46. Julia says:

    I’d be happy to claim her legs as mine.

  47. MC says:

    What I’m really wondering about are those forehead wrinkles! DAYUM those things appeared overnight.

    • LAK says:

      She stopped botoxing during the pregnancy and hasn’t continued as agrressively as she did pre-pregnancy or perhaps not botoxing at all.

      Also, more unphotoshopped pics of her are making their way into the mainstream media unlike pre-pregnancy when pretty much all pics were.

      • Thinker says:

        Agree with LAK – the Botox magic is gone. It’s always noticeable when the ‘tox wears off on Pippa too.

  48. Suze says:

    Recently, for some reason, more non-photoshopped photos of the duchess have been released.

    • Thinker says:

      Maybe photoshop, but more likely Botox.

      During her pregnancy Kate stopped botoxing and has not yet resumed…
      If she starts again, her forehead will once again be lineless and her smile a manic grin. Without the Botox her face is dramatically more emotive. I prefer seeing her like this, it’s more natural.

  49. ADD says:

    Thanks for not airbrushing her pictures! People Magazine puts Kate through the “Oprah lighting” filter. So refreshing!

  50. Jessica says:

    This is the SIXTH (6th) time the wind has blown up her skirt. Why the hell can’t she put weights in her hems? Any sane person would have learned from any of the previous five mishaps. What a moron.

  51. vava says:

    Well, she’s just a WAG so my expectations of her are pretty low. She doesn’t know how to dress professionally for the job she’s in, and apparently no one has talked to her about it. So she sexualizes her appearance because that’s all she knows. She did that for years to catch her prince. Full skirted dresses or skirts have movement which is great – but in her new role she needs to take action against ever EVER having that blow up in the wind. She must be either incredibly dense or vain to allow this to happen more than once.

    Her sprayed jeggings are not appropriate for a royal appearance, either. And playing volleyball in sky high cork wedges is equally ridiculous. She just comes off looking like a fool. I couldn’t care less what she wears on her own time, but when she is representing the Royal Family, this chick needs to get her act together because right now she is neither elegant or royal. She’s a WAG.

  52. Rae says:

    This keeps happening. She probably reads the papers. So conclusion she doesn’t care to put weights in her dresses. So we should just get used to it. Because what this is the 3 time this happened.

  53. shellybean says:

    She has great legs, but her skirt should be several inches longer. Given who she is, it just seems more appropriate.

    And I still think she looks so old for her age. Pretty, but not 31.

  54. lakawak says:

    I don’t think there is anything Kate cares LESS about than the fact that some welfare recipient who make $20 a week on a crappy blog doesn’t like her outfits.

    • Eyeroll says:

      This is such a nasty comment. If this blog is so ‘crappy,’ then why exactly are you here? And personally I’d say that what people think of her outfits/appearance in general means more to Kate than anything else. Especially her charities.