I’ve always wondered if there’s a Hat Test for potential royal brides. As in, do royal girlfriends get pulled aside for an afternoon to try on hats to see if they’re “up the job” of wearing hats and fascinators for a living? I say this because every woman who marries into the British royal family looks good in a hat. I think there’s probably a Hat Test. Anyway, these are photos from yesterday’s Commonwealth Day church visit, with Prince Harry, Prince William and the Duchess of Cambridge joining the Queen.
Kate chose something new and something an appropriate length for A) church and B) the presence of the Queen. No flyaway hems and miniskirts in front of the Queen! Kate’s coat is Erdem, and it costs £2,500 which… I think is an insane price for such an ugly-to-blah coat. I have nothing against shades of grey, and I actually love the cut of the coat a lot. But the “lace” or the lacy design looks really budget to me. I’m just into it, mostly because it looks like she took a perfectly nice grey coat and appliqued some cheap, newly dyed lace onto it. Meanwhile, Kate’s hat is by milliner John Boyd. It’s a bit of a wide brim, but the hat looks good, I think. It feels like it’s been a while since we’ve seen her in a good hat.
The theme of this year’s Commonwealth Day was “accept diversity.” The Queen made a message of acceptance for those “who feel excluded in all walks of life.” You can read more about it here. Kate also made a public statement, or rather she chatted with some London schoolchildren and her remarks were noted. She said that Prince George has a scooter and he’s zipping around the house in it, and he’s going “super-fast” and “It’s hard to keep up with him. Charlotte is keeping him in check. She’s getting bigger by the day.”
Photos courtesy of WENN.
I kind of get a feeling Kate tried to go a la Queen Maxima in this outfit. All the items of her yesterday outfit are nice, but on its own. Together they all look horrid. I like the hat though very much, its shape fits Kate. Yet, she has either stamina nor charisma to pull off such a headwear.
She doesn’t have the stamina to wear that hat? Lol, I didn’t think wearing hats was a big workout. Or maybe that’s a typo, but it was funny.
It’s probably more work than she expected or is used to. 😂
To me it looked like something Crown Princess Mary would wear. Not a fan of the Erdem coat. I hoped she would recycle that gorgeous McQueen dove grey coat she wore in Australia (two years ago) it was one of her best looks. She looked amazing.
http://www.hellomagazine.com/imagenes//fashion/2014042318338/kate-middleton-alexander-mcqueen-sarah-burton-adelaide/0-95-900/kate-blue—a.jpg
Yesterday, not so much. It was a heavy winter look, something she should wear in November or December, not in the middle of March. The hat was OK (better than any of her stupid fascinators), but together with the high neck coat and loose hair it looked like she doesn´t have a neck. Once again a missed opportunity 🙁
I forgot about that coat it’s gorgeous-she should have worn that!!
That’s also what looks very “off” about it. It doesn’t seem seasonally appropriate. But where I’m located it’s in the 60s (F). Is it colder in the UK?
Also, isn’t this a replica of what Carole wore to their wedding? I feel like I’ve seen the style before and it’s incredibly aging on Kate.
She always looks her most relaxed and animated when with both the boy/ princes.
I was just thinking he same thing!
I do believe it’s prince Harry that brings her out
agreed! But also, It’s almost like she’s more attracted/at ease with harry than william. Her body language with william is not that of 2 people who seem into each other.
I too am much more into Harry. 😉
I like that she did something different with the hat, but dang that coat is ugly. Shoes r ugly too.
Mmmmm Prince Harry tho… Poor fella, had to take Prince Andrew as his date.
She looks like she is swimming in that coat.. I find the fit of most of her clothing pretty terrible
She should use a professional tailor or seamstress on a regular basis, especially with her wearing thousands of pounds of expensive clothing nearly every outing. But I guess that would involve preparation through scheduling, which she doesn’t seem to like to do.
I actually think her problem is the posture. When you get items tailored you are told to stand straight, arms down etc. Then she puts the coat on, hunches the shoulders to be able to hold down her crotch with her clutch (always a bloody clutch, does she know there are other purses out there??? ) and there you go, clothes look weird.
She should take a look at Will’s grandmother, who has a better posture and presence at 90. And who actually moves her arms around, sometimes carrying her bag on her arm, and looks perfectly natural doing so.
In addition to a real makeup person, she should also invest in a mirror. See how she always looks the same, walking with her clutch herald tightly against her bits, and as far as I can tell… always the same clutch. Love the hat (sure, I would have done an elegant loose chignon, but this is Kate). The head to toe match colour is boring but at least her shoes look clean. The coat is blah but at least is a good length and if she stood straight it would look better.
Sixer – please enlighten me – is there some rule of protocol that forbids Kate from carrying another type of purse?
Vauvert: nope. that’s just Kate.
She doesn’t hold her hands or variety of bags in the same way when out shopping, so i guess this is her public persona routine for her hands and always a clutch if she must carry a bag.
And yet the coat pulls at the buttons.
I defer to LAK on all things outfit, vauvert! Not good on the fashion, hair and beauty stuff!
To echo Vauvert – she needs a tailor – the sleeves actually look tight and pull up at the top and we all know how weight controlled she is (super skinny all the time) – and not to mention always below the knee & weights.
The hat – wonderful
Coat – truly cheap per LAK. It’s like Madonna (1980;s) and the Queen had a fight…
Honestly! I’m just a peasant and my clothes cost a mere fraction of what Kate’s do, but I make it a point to get much of my clothing tailored because it really does make an enormous difference in overall appearance. It is pricey, but I just buy fewer items of clothing per year and invest in making sure they fit well (like Kate, I’m cursed with short legs and a long torso).
There is absolutely no excuse for her clothes, especially the bespoke items, to be so ill-fitting so much of the time. 😒
The worst offender as far as Kate goes seems to be Emilia Wickstead. For the amount of money she pays for those custom-designed garments, they NEVER fit well. There is *always* some noticeable fit issue with her Wickstead pieces. I cannot understand how she (or her “people”) can’t see this and why she continues to use this designer.
I am scared to see what atrocities she will show up wearing during the tour of India…
Charlotte15: My goodness Emilia Wickstead is a repeat offender. I’ve noticed the same thing about Kate’s pieces from her.
Yet, last week I was at a posh hotel whose female staff is dressed by Emilia Wickstead. A more elegantly dressed set of women, despite wearing the same style dress in the same colour irrespective of size/height, you couldn’t hope to find anywhere else. I asked one of the women where they all got their dresses and she said it was Emilia wickstead. Apparently off the rack, but then tailored in shop to fit each woman beautifully.
So as others are speculating, it must be a combination of bad tailoring and Kate simply sending in her measurements and her bad posture = horribly tailored clothing.
A couple nights ago I had a dream I married Harry. I woke up happy! 🙂
The DM reports that the suede shoes by Rupert Sanderson cost £425 and that the hat was created by Diana’s favorite milliner, who is 90 years old.
I don’t know the costs of her hat, clutch, and jewelry, but with the price of the coat and shoes, her attire costs at least £2925, or over $4000.
Which is the usual cost of any outfit that she wears in public, it’s very rarely under £2k.
The coat is bespoke so it is likely much more expensive than the retail price. Regardless, it is an awful lot of money for a coat.
I just can’t with Erdem’s clothes. The designs are mostly horrid in my eyes.
@ ArtHistorian
It’s odd that her expensive, bespoke clothes don’t seem to fit her well. It’s as if she told them her size, told them what to change, then accepted the item, but never went in to have it professionally altered to fit her. Sometimes I think she or her assistant does some minor alterations themselves as she has had hems that were clearly done very poorly, even without the use of an iron.
It could be that she doesn’t go to fittings. If she doesn’t then she wasting great amounts of money. When clothes is bespoke it should look and fit perfectly. However, I do think her posture may affect how the garment looks. She’s always a bit hunched over.
Erdem’s close or so busy!!
I’m not crazy about the coat up close, either. It doesn’t fit well, for one thing. Sort of overwhelms her. But the length is nice and she looks good.
George is allowed to ride a scooter in the house? That seems odd, unless I’m picturing something much bigger than it actually is.
My kids have their bikes, scooters, roller skates, y-flickrs etc in the basement and they buzz around all day! I live where it shows half the year and it’s been raining for a week, so we bring things inside to keep the cabin fever down.
Not when the house is a palace or mansion with long hallways😉
I normally wouldn’t suggest scooters inside – too dangerous around stairs and sharp furniture… But I am sure staff is always standing by around George.
I read somewhere that one young member of the Russian imperial family learned to ride a bike in the corridors of the Winter Palace – those were the size of a country lane! 😉
I assume it is the little toddler/kids scooter that was in the now-disappeared Woman’s Day photos. Human powered, base about 1 foot long, a few inches wide, handlebar height about 2 feet.
Oh, that makes sense.
It’s weird that Kate said that while she can’t keep up with nearly 3-years old George speeding around on his scooter, ten-months-old Charlotte can. How is that possible?
The DM showed a picture of the scooter. Like notasugarhere said, it’s a foot scooter, like a Razor.
Because all of it is made-up. Or Charlotte has more energy than her mum which is entirely possible since Kate doesn’t eat.
Anne_000 I wondered exactly the same thing. That statement made absolutely no sense whatsoever. Did she even think about what was coming out of her mouth? A ten-month-old who likely can’t even walk yet (or if so, probably quite unsteadily) is able to keep her rowdy older brother in check? How so?
She and William are both so dim with the “we’re so relatable!” comments that they think we plebs want to hear. 🙄 I don’t think they even care enough to bother making sense.
I started out really liking them around the time of the wedding, and was still making excuses for them up until fairly recently, but they are both just too ridiculous at this point. It is unreal how quickly they burned through all of the goodwill they had just as recently as 2012-13.
They are so unlikable.
Does anyone know how a hat should fit? I personally wouldn’t want my hat to be hanging over one eyebrow.
Whilst some no doubt will like this outfit, I find the print on the coat to be especially vile. The words ‘spectre of doom’ present themselves.
Crystalball, Yeah but it covers the lines on her forehead, which the tabloids, may or may not airbrush!!!
Loving the hat but it would have looked better if she tied back her hair. The coat is one of the worst she’s worn. The least said about it the better.
I love the hat on her. The eyebrows are overdone though.
That coat, it’s one of her worst yet. The runway version of this coat had trench coat details and was actually pretty nice – more hip and youthful. This thing she’s wearing is too tight in the arms and the mid-section. Her posture looks worse than usual, too, probably partly due to the clutching of the little purse.
Kate has purchased yet another expensive designer piece that doesn’t fit. If she’s going to keep spending so much money she could use the help of a stylist because this coat is a big fail, imo.
What a surprise! She looks pretty pulled together She does not look at all sloppy around the edges like she usually does. The toes of her shoes look clean, and the coat appears to be nicely pressed. But I agree the fit is bad. It’s really pulling around her ribcage. I like the coat a lot which is strange because I never like Erdem. The collar is too big. I would have gone with no collar or a band collar for her bespoke version. The gray and heavy wool seems too heavy for it being so close to spring but this is one of the few times I think she has not looked unroyal.
I like the color on her, and the hat, but the coat = meh and frumpy with bad tailoring and/or missing a button in the middle. No reason for a coat on her to be that long. I wish she would wear shoes with a bit of embellishment.
It’s all about not dressing to her body type.
She’s an inverse triangle which means she has broad shoulders and a narrow waist/hips. If she’s gone up a *half a size, and tailored it as closely as she seems to prefer, it would look beautiful.
*or if this is bespoke, asked her tailor to add more material in the shoulders/upper chest.
Instead, she’s gone for the standard size that fits her overall body, but which is unfortunately too small in the shoulders/upper chest, leaving impression that the coat is too small for her.
On a positive note, I do like the hat. I even like the coat, but wouldn’t have buttoned it up all the way to the top. Until I saw the bottom, I was strongly reminded of Cavaliers/musketeers.
In the close-up photo of the upper torso, the coat looks painfully tight in the shoulders. When a coat gaps open around the chest area, it is obviously too small.
I hate the coat. She looks like she’s in a fashion show for the 100+ age group! Sorry!
Strange as it may seem, I loved the picnic-y dress she wore the day before! Maybe I’m loosing it!
She should have tied back her hair or put it up, because the photo of her from behind shows that her hair is overly voluminous as if lots of curled wiglets were put in, and some have commented elsewhere, that it looks like the back of D’Artagnan’s head with the load of dark curls and the style of that hat.
I don’t like that the various shades of grey that she wore with the shoes, coat, clutch, and hat don’t seem to blend well with each other. In some photos, the shoes look bluer and the hat looks darker, but not dark or light enough. I’ve noticed she has a history of when wearing one featured color, she’ll use various shades of it throughout her entire ensemble, which unfortunately makes it look as if they’re clashing with each other to take a dominant spot in her appearance.
I agree about the shoes and the whole outfit. Too many shades of grey. She looks like she’s going to a funeral! Why doesn’t she ever try livening things up with pops of colour occasionally?
I died laughing when someone suggested the wiglets were sewn into the hat. She tired for CP Mary’s look, but forgot the chiffon.
None of the top-voted comments on the DM (one of the most royal-positive newspapers) are positive towards these two. I don’t know if they realise yet that their old trick of one or two well-publicized events, followed by a holiday, isn’t going to cut it anymore. Clearly someone was paying attention to the negative press, or they wouldn’t have had their previous two engagements, but I think they’re actually going to have to have a packed schedule for the rest of this year to improve their image. There was already a growing discontent with their lack of work, but the media barrage was too much and too concentrated for the public to ignore it, especially with papers like the DM still gleefully sticking the ‘workshy’ labels into their articles. I think the repercussions of the media retaliation is going to be felt for a long time, even if these two dimwits fail to pick up on it.
I agree.
And what happened with Jason’s proclamation that Kate was going to be doing much more public speaking???
Once the media uses a negative moniker for a famous/public figure, it’s a herculean effort to remove it.
Well, we know he is now “Workshy Will” (amen!). But what about her, LAK? There are soooo many to choose from.
She’s still waity even after all these years.
Duchess Doolittle seems to be gaining traction. I’ve seen it a lot in comments. I’ve seen it appear in a couple of articles though not as a headline. It’s a matter o time before a newspaper uses it as a headline that it will overtake Waity.
Workshy Will just did an exclusive ITV interview about rhino poaching.
#jasonweseeyou
I’ve seen Willnot and Cannot used a lot as well to describe them.
Workshy Will has a nice alliterative ring to it, easy to remember, it’s going to stick for a while.
Against the tide, but I am in love with this coat! I saw the pics yesterday in the DM and thought it was beautiful, classy, and appropriate. Not crazy about the hat and shoes, but Kate looks good here.
I agree. She looks nice.
I like the whole outfit, to be honest. IMO, the best she’s looked in a while. I especially love the hat, I’m surprised it’s getting so much hate.
I like the coat too. But with that hat and those shoes she looks like her mother.
I always expect her to look more like a princess…. she looks so blah to me all the time. She needs to hire new makeup and hair people…
She does her own makeup, so she just needs to hire a makeup person, period.
I don’t know why she insists on doing her own makeup, she’s so bad at it. It’s not like money is an issue. I’m guessing that she’s surrounded by sycophants who all tell her that she looks fantastic.
I read that once every 10 years, you should sit down and do serious assessment of your “look” : is it age-appropriate? Is it still flattering? Have your face skin hair and body all changed so much that maybe it’s time to reassess your style choices and find a new look?
Now that she’s reached her mid 30s, Duchess Kate might really benefit from something like that.
someone needs to sit her down with the Lisa Eldridge youtube channel.
or better yet (and why not? They can afford it) with Lisa Eldridge herself. Learn something from the professionals, dammit.
I think there’s a definite ‘Middleton women’ look that all three purposely stick to as if to create a certain brand image. I think that’s why she doesn’t hire make-up artists as they’d only be allowed to do the same look that she can do herself.
She looks fine. She isn’t a fashion model, and people would probably blast her for putting too much effort/time/money into her look. She always looks fairly tasteful and her job is to look conservative and normal.
You must have missed her turn in the powder blue Jenny Packham where she looked like an aging Hollywood starlet desperate for attention. Mini skirt under nearly waist-high slit to show off her latest tan. Oh so “tasteful”.
She’s always seems so blah to me. Hat and purse are the same colour, check. The Cambridge Crotch Clutch, check. The coat is ugly, depressing and seems to be wearing her. (2500 pounds for that!) The shoes look more blue than grey to me. Also, why oh why does she not stand up straight? Grade D overall. Ugh, so underwhelming.
Does William only have one blue suit?
An how can you get it so wrong all of the time when what you are wearing costs 4000 euros?!? Way to tone it down, Duchess.
Workshy Will is here to stay, I think. And 90% of the comments on the Daily Mail are negative with a few positives from the sycophants.
I don’t know how many blue suits in William’s closet, but his pants always look too short.
Not to defend him BUT those pants look fine standing. Moving it’s the problem. It’s an old fashion rule as how long the pants should be. If they were longer you would laugh looking at him standing. I know about pants because of the clothes i wear for work. As for her and her clothes yep she needs a stylist, at least for a while till she learns some basic things. I think she is too monocromatic. With her money and resources she can do wonders. I mean look at the queen. She is 90 and looks so good and she doesn’t have her body (i know i know to old to judge her for that).
I don’t really have a comment for Kate, but for the theme, “accept diversity.” Really? That seems so tepid, barely one step up from “tolerate diversity.” What about “embrace inclusion,” “celebrate diversity,” “united in vibrancy”? That last one is a little cheesy, but you get the picture. The choice of “accept diversity” appears so intentionally innocuous that I actually feel a little offended.
LOL. Yeah I would have gone with ‘Deal with It’ and of course ‘Deal’ after my PR campaign gained momentum.
Also, ‘Diversity Matters’ would be fine plus it would capitalize on the popularity of The Bucket’s mental health awareness gig. And for James Middleton, might as well go with ‘Marshmallows Matter’.
I know, right!? They may as well have gone with “Long Live White British Imperialism!”
That “accept diversity” line has a vibe of “the days of the white anglo-saxon monoculture is over, better accept the reality”. I think “celebrate diversity” would have sent a better message, i.e. that cultural diversity can be enriching.
@ArtHistorian, you nailed it.
Cambridge Crotch Clutch: hèhè, you’re funny!
I think it would look better for her to bend her elbows like the Queen does and hold the clutch up higher or at her side. The crotch position seems so affected and peculiar.
Going by the above comments about Kate’s coats not fitting her upper half, she probably cant move her shoulders to bend her arms.
She manages to suck the life and creativity out of every designer she wears. Also, thanks for accepting diversity, Queen. Most of the people in the Commonwealth are diverse. Why do we pay for your ass?
But not all Commonwealth countries are particularly accepting of diversity – of opinion, belief, conscience, etc.
I’m trying to think of a theme that properly reflects this, then. “Commonwealth Day: Accept Intolerance”? “Commonwealth Day: So many ways to hate, but it’s okay so long as your oaths of office refer to the Queen”?
Or how about “Commonwealth Day: The More Money the Merrier”?
What about, “You’re all common, and we have Wealth”.
But seriously, the word “Commonwealth” is derived from “common weal” which literally means common well-being. I learned that from a high school teacher with a white mane of lion-like hair, a pipe, and elbow patches on his corduroy smoking jacket. Such a crush on him!
OMG @Canadian Becks, I just laughed so loud at “You’re all common, and we have wealth” that I’m afraid I might have woken up my husband! Hilarious!! 😂 And sadly exactly how W&K think.
Awful all around. The hat is too big. The coat is…well I don’t actually know but I hate it.
ITA. She’s looks like she’s drowning in both hat and coat, and she doesn’t have the gravitas to wear either of them properly.
I think it may have occurred to Kate that lower brimmed hats are a sneakier alternative to Botox-ing her forehead. Big hats suit her better than those wretched bowed, flat toppers she’s so fond of, IMO.
I don’t know what the weather’s like in England, but where I am, we can feel spring in the air. I think a lighter shade would have made this look better.
Kate, the coat wears her, I just took one look and went “UUUUUGGGGG”!!!!
you all have gone mad, i LOVE this look!!! its very ‘british, proper, apropo’ for this event. and i actually think mature’s Kate a bit. she doesnt look like a little girl wearing mommies clothes. 10/10 Kate!!!
I agree with you but I think there is a rule around here to find anything wrong with this woman you can find, be it real or imagined.
“British, proper”? That’s not saying much for the British, is it?
“mature’s Kate” — tsk, tsk 😏
I think she looks just like her mommy here. Carole to the life.
The hat would have looked better with a more fitted jacket. As it is the coat is too loose and buttoned up too high.
It drives me crazy that she monochromes her outfits every time. Grey hat, coats, shoes, bags… Didnt anyone teach accessories should never match? The Queen was wearing a blue coat with a black bag and looked great.
By the way re her comments. Can someone explain to me how a baby can keep a toddler in check?
Charlotte is getting to the age where if George comes close enough to harass her she can attack back. If his within reach she can slap, pinch and even bite if he sticks around long enough. My nephew totally turned the tables on my niece about this age and boy did she deserve it. For some odd reason, I feel like George does too.
@Maum, I read on some other site that this is actually a “trend,” this head-to-toe different shades of gray nonsense, and that it is called a “Groutfit.” I think it was on What Kate Wore or some such site. Is this a “trend” that anyone here has heard of? Because I certainly had not. It sounds ridiculous.
And I wondered the same thing about Charlotte/George. It makes zero sense.
I haven’t heard of such a trend. However, following a trend dubbed “groutfit” is too silly to contemplate – sounds like something out of a comedy skit.
Ugh this shade of gray is dreary and the black lace does make it feel aged, heavy, dark like something to be worn for doomsday. The worst thing is that this expensive coat was custom made for Kate’s particulars – meaning the designer worked with Kate’s requests to take all the design and interest out of the runway style and instead tailored it to Kate’s boring self. For all that money it doesn’t even fit properly!
Awful, awful coat. One of her all time lows. The hat is charming though.
“The worst thing is that this expensive coat was custom made for Kate’s particulars – meaning the designer worked with Kate’s requests to take all the design and interest out of the runway style and instead tailored it to Kate’s boring self. ”
Yes, you nailed it, Thinker.
And think of all the time spent on fittings for custom clothes!!! Where were the
Children that she can’t leave to go do
any substantial work?? The horror!!!
It doesn’t look to me as if she had any fittings on this coat – because it does not fit.
I don’t mind the outfit, I think it’s nice. The only thing I wish she’d do is wear a shade of lipcolour that had a slight berry tone. The look is so monochrome it needs little pop of colour.
I don’t like this “50 shades of grey” outfit. Awful! Awful! Awful! She looks like granny in this outfit,
but she is only … how old is she? 34?
And her make-up … I hate her eyeliner! Smugde you eyeliner! Smudge!
Elizabeth II would look gorgeous in this outfit. Sorry…
50 Shades of Nay.
🙂
More expensive ugly clothing. In the past few weeks, she worn at least £6000/$8000 worth of new clothing not counting accessories. Is this the kind of bribe it takes to get her to work a handful of hours?
LOL!
Hi Celebitchies! Long-time lurker here but infrequent poster. I think Kate looked nice enough on the day, and I appreciate her serving up a slightly fresh look (albeit stolen straight from Queen Maxima’s handbook, as someone noted upthread).
I always enjoy hearing ‘first hand’ celebrity accounts, especially of W&K (because secretly, just a little bit, I always think – ‘I don’t know. Maybe we’re blowing all of this up & maybe, maybe?, they’re decent, hard-working people really who somehow get a bad rap.’ I said secretly). Anyway, this weekend I had lunch with an old friend who used to work for a top London PR agency. One of her colleagues had formerly worked in Prince Charles’s camp, and had choice words to say about ol’ Bill’s reputation. According to him, & many others who worked for Charles, William was openly known to be, quote ‘one of the laziest people he had ever met’. If even your FATHER and his entire office admit that you’re a lazy, entitled brat, what hope is there? I don’t see how anyone can continue to refute the growing mound of evidence supporting the truth about how Bill & Cathy operate. He’s lazy, she’s lazy. And everyone knows it. By the way, other bits & bobs I’ve heard about them over the years only serve to support many of the stories & themes we keep hearing over & over about this couple, so it’s not a one-time thing.
Thank you for sharing! I always love hearing random accounts. 🙂
Agree!!
So …. You’re going to tell us more, right? 😉
Very interesting. Laziness (at least related to ‘work’) does appear to be the underlying problem with both.
I don’t like the coat at all.
Love the hat and blah on the coat. Finally something that is appropriate.
And yes. I do believe that she is at her best when Harry is around. And why not? It’s said he has his mother’s emotional intelligence. He connects with people and it shows
He works at putting people at ease it appears. Princess Madeleine of Sweden said something similar recently. As an introvert she might be intimidated about walking into a room filled with people, but it is her job to put people at ease and make *them* feel comfortable.
Meh. It ages her and she looks like her mum in some pictures.
She has to stop smoking the fags! It’s doing such terrible things to her skin! Love the hat, I think it may be the first time she has ever worn a brim. I really really hate pillbox style hats, so this is a thumbs up for me.
I am conservative and likes lot of her looks.
This is too old and matronly! Plus ugly w the lace and color.
She is dressed like a 50 year old. There is time for that honey. Enjoy your 30s!
How can a ten month old baby keep her 2.5 year old brother in check? It seems that whenever W&K are talking about Charlotte they can hardly remember that she is a baby like when a few months ago Will said that she was “very lady like” at 6-7 months old. That being said the coat is awful and Kate doesn’t have the charisma necessary to pull off the otherwise nice hat.
I like the outfit, especially the hat. what kate wore had a nice little story about the milliner John Boyd who designed the hat and also designed many hats for Diana including her going-away outfit hat from her wedding. He’s 90!
He’s 90! Hold the phone. That’s fantastic, thanks for sharing that tidbit.
I loved the story about the milliner as well. I’m glad you added it, that was going to be my comment. I love the hat and immediately thought of Diana. I love the color of the hat but the coat doesn’t do it for me. Maybe without all the lace on top.. the way it’s bundled up tight around her neck and with the hat she looks like Paddington Bear.
That he’s still inspired to create new things at 90 is great. Her using one of Diana’s main milliners? Her constant SWFing of her late mother-in-law is creepy.
He also has designed hats for Princess Anne, Princess Alexandra, Princess Michael, the Duchess of Gloucester, and regularly his hats are seen at Royal Ascot, so I don’t find this creepy.
@ notasugarhere
Why couldn’t she find a milliner that didn’t have to be probably pulled out of retirement or semi-retirement at the age of 90 in order to do this one special hat for her? Why use Diana’s former milliner? Seems so desperate. W&K are always trying to bring back Diana’s image as if that will get the public to like them by rubbing off on her memory.
John Boyd is still working and is a fabulous milliner. I am 34 and wear his hats. Check out his website – loads of amazing designs.
The problem is that this hat is not right for the occasion. The shape is great but the colour and fabric are more suited to a country church service or jumps meet – and not with a great coat but maybe with burgundy or something more vibrant.
Amanda Panda, I think you’re right about where that hat would be most appropriate. (I’m no hat expert, but what you are referring to makes sense to me). To wear this hat with an all gray outfit just really DOES NOT WORK.
That said, I hope she gets more hats from this milliner.
Carole looks great !!!
Hahahahaha
The coat is terrible but the hat is giving me the feels…its giving me Diana flashbacks! And then come to find out its from her old hat maker. I hate fascinators, I don’t think everyone can pull them off.
I agree with an up thread poster, what is with the matchy gray shoes? I’d have intuitively worn black accessories w that horrid coat.
I have love red accessorize with grey ever since I saw Princess Benedikte rock a grey jacket/skirt combo with fire.engine red shoes and clutch. One would think that the red would overwhelm the grey but it didn’t. It looked absolutely fabulous!
Bright red would not have been appropriate for this event but a maroon or burgundy would have looked lovely with the coat, especially since it sported black lace.
i find it strange that Kate’s art sensibility apparently doesn’t lend itself to accessorising or colour mixing or appreciating the bigger picture of her self-presentation.
There was a photo of her attending a wedding where she wore all black but was rocking a pair of dark plum suede shoes. I wonder if they would have looked cool and modern with this ensemble?
Princess Benedikte almost always gets it right IMO. She’s like Princess Alexandra (Ogilvy) that way.
Princess Benedikte has a sartorial bold streak. Perhaps not as bold as her sister QMII in her heyday, but she often adds at least one bold element to her ensembles, whether it be fire-engine red shoes, a full-length cape or a big hat. She also has good posture.
@Art Historian
Even cobalt blue shoes (maybe Mary Jane style with a buckle?) with the matching cobalt purse? And then a cobalt trim on the hat would have worked in this case. It surely would have seemed more youthful and not dull and boring. I realize that she needs to dress conservatively given her status, but she, long ago, crossed the line into too safe and dowdy and just fading into the background. What an incredible waste of money for bespoke clothing. Her hair and makeup? I just can’t….
I am digging the shoes!
The outfit screams middle aged matron, the coat is ill fitting as usual. Either she is too thin for even tailored clothes or she doing the tailoring herself, badly. At least she didn’t wear something that was designed to upstage HM.
This surge of engagements won’t last, they will disappear again after India when the inevitable 3rd pregnancy announcement is made. nothing like another baby to turn the image around and they totally would.
My guess is that she is already pregnant with number three.
I doubt it. Kate will wait until the tour of India is over. She knows she wouldn’t be able to keep up given her history with morning sickness. I wouldn’t be surprised if a pregnancy announcement arrived by June or July.
yay! Harry pics! Can we please have a post to discuss how great a taste Harry (or his dresser) has for “ties”! Seriously he picks great ties.
I can’t believe I’m saying this, because I generally think Kate is alarmingly thin, but in the close up it almost looks like the coat is too tight? It’s squeezing around her body and bunching a bit… Maybe some tailoring could improve it? Either way, I like the length and that she chose something appropriate.
Dreary dreary dreary. Ill fitting coat, should have worn charcoal or black shoes for some contrast. and maybe she could try a different bag? 34 years going on 80.
Yes, ironic she kept wearing the same black pumps with various outfits the last six months but this is the outfit where those black pumps would’ve looked good. Some media are calling Kate’s all grey look (outfit) a groutfit.
citresse, groutfit, ha,ha,ha,ha,!!!
Love the hat, love the soft color, ensemble appropriate if not exciting.
50 Shades of Blah. I love the hat. Very reminiscent of Diana and the glorious 80s. The coat is one of the worst she owns, and she owns a lot of coats. I saw the runway look and it’s interesting and trendy and therefore, it wouldn’t be the one Kate chose for herself. I hate her posture and don’t understand why she doesn’t straighten up. It would make her clothes look a tad better.
Harry looks good. The Ginger Beard looks good. Granny must have given him permission to keep it.
She has a granny style. Not modern or European at all ! She wears same coats and shoes as the Queen !
I think when the hats cost like 800 bucks, they’ll look good on everyone. That’s why they cost so much.
so will all the influx of the Buckets lately, I’ve been wondering.. is Carole part of their staff that she is always there ‘hosting’ things? like a lady in waiting – is it possible she could be paid for doing all this organizing, etc..? I think hell would freeze over before the Buckets would give up their place for the throne. Remember when the Wales’s divorce was finalized and William was totally pissed that they took HRH from mummy’s title? Part of me thinks William’s attitude reflects a lot of pent up anger from how mummy was treated and he is acting this way as an ‘f u’ to his dad and the Firm.
Diana volunteered to give up the HRH style during the divorce negotiations assuming that they wouldn’t accept her offer AND that they’d give her a better settlement.
Sadly for her, she’d pulled one too many sheninigans and her voluntary offer was accepted.
Later, she realised she’d made a mistake and that she would have to curtesy to other HRH styled royals including *Fergie whose HRH hadn’t been removed in *her* much divorce.
*Fergie’s HRH was never part of her divorce negotiations and no one even thought it could be. Diana’s HRH was also never considered a part of the divorce negotiations until she voluteered it up.
So Diana cried to the media that those horrid royals had taken away her HRH style and after much boo hoo -ing, hoping to sway the royals’ side. When they didn’t budge, she circulated a story to the media that William had said it would be OK.
As a direct result of Diana’s media play, HM was sufficiently moved (read annoyed) enough to create a caveat in the letters patent that govern these styles to make it an automatic loss of HRH style for all divorced in-laws holding the style.
The unintended consequence was that Fergie’s previously safe HRH was removed.
LAK can I just say u rock with knowledge on all things BRF and I so look forward to all of your insight 🙂 .. no, I’m not SWFing you, just a fan that enjoys your insight 🙂 thanks!!
Thanks Cricket. memory like an elephant -> me!!!
Ooooh, thank you, LAK! I always learn something new. Didn’t Fergie also volunteer to take a smaller settlement in the divorce, in the hopes of smoothing things over? Or am I thinking of someone else?
What do you recommend for reading materials regarding the 80s and 90s in the BRF? I have read a few books here and there, but am eager for more recommendations.
Fergie’s settlement was laughably pitiful. Despite what everybody assumes, she didn’t get even close to £1M. Her settlement was based upon Andrew’s naval salary rather than his overall wealth that included his family trusts. The kids were taken care of, but Fergie was cast out with barely a cent to her name and a mountain of debt.
In her book, imaginatively titled ‘my story’, Fergie says they had her over a barrell over the series of public scandals she’d caused so she didn’t fight them, and *they shafted her.
*my opinion based upon what she got in the end.
Diana was a fighter. Impulsive at times, to her detriment, but there is no way she was going to let them shaft her in real terms.
In terms of book recommendations, I always defer to books by Sarah Bradford. She seems to be the most balanced author of BRF books from that period.
All other books have a very skewered agenda as well as telling outright lies, especially the ones with direct cooperation from the subjects.
@LAK, totally agree. But they shot themselves in the foot when shafting her, as they had to bail her out when she went bust anyway. She lives with Andrew and rumour has it that she’ll marry him again when Philip dies.
ITA that Carole could be an unofficial lady in waiting, I don’t think they get paid per day but maybe get expenses covering official engagements. It’s pretty much accepted that Carole practically lives at Amner, she seems to be there more often than she’s seen around Buckleberry.
Yes! this is why I was thinking if she had any capacity as a lady in waiting, then she could receive royal perks like meals, clothes, holidays, etc.. that the Midds would normally have to contribute to.. just another technicality like the Midds Manor renovations for security, etc.. covered by the tax payers.
It’s been reported that Carole was on the recent ski trip. She’s supposed to have “hosted” it. Supposedly, she made the restaurant booking, arranged a private seating area with the restaurant, and settled the bill, although I am sure she gets reimbursed by the palace.
The Cambridges were there with another couple- that friend of William’s who is recently divorced after 2 years of marriage, and his new paramour.
I think Carole probably takes it on herself to be the “overseer” of the various nannies. These particular children are gold to her.
Still holding in her pelvis, I see. She should see a physiotherapist for some strengthening exercises.
This particular clothing range is very Cressie Bonas kind of whacky boho so it’s interesting how Kate is moving away from the inverted commas affordable high street. Therefore in my view the hat and shoes just don’t match this style, perhaps invite Cressie over for tea for some boho advice.
The next holiday will probably be the races on Friday.
One of the most interesting aspects of this Commonwealth Service was it featured Ellie Goulding in a giant cape singing “Fields of Gold” by Sting. I’m not kidding.
Geez.
Coat fits a bit large on her and the pattern is a little busy. I find it looks better from the back (not quite like Pippa’s dress at the wedding)…. I was referring to the pattern. The shoes are nice. The hat is ok, but it looks a bit too large on her also… so the overall effect is like Kate is a little girl in mom’s closet playing dress up.
I saw these pictures on the news last night and thought, oh CB is going to have a FIELD DAY with this 😂😂
Girl should stick to whistles cos she sure can’t dress.
I like the outfit, but the coat looks a little large and is too long in length and in the sleeves. I like the hat, I get tired of her little jaunty hats–so predictable. Overall, her look is too conservative. Agree about the monotone issue–burgundy accessories would have improved the look. Agree with the poster who mentioned that this would look good on HM–it would be perfect for her. A 34 yo and nearly 90 yo should not be dressing in the same style. Kate needs her own style–she dresses sooo blah.
Of course, it shouldn’t be about the clothes, it should be about what these royals do. Which is sadly, not nearly enough.
I also think her coats are too long, why couldn’t they be 3/4 length ? She is always so covered up.
That’s when the mood suits her. Other times, she’s flashing everything for all the world. Remember Kate Middlebum?
I think this is the worst outfit I’ve seen her in. In my opinion, the hat overwhelms her fact and the coat is horrid – it looks like she’s covered in snakeskin. And it doesn’t fit. Everyone is well aware of how thin she is. Why does she have to wear everything skin tight to the point that it gaps at the chest. I couldn’t stand to wear anything that tight. I don’t know how she moves in it.
And she loves it when Harry tags along – the flirting is fascinating! I’m surprised William tolerates it.
You know, I think that whole look would be amazing if she would have thrown her shoulders back, held her head up, and really owned it. As it is, she looks like she’s trying to disappear. Also, the coat needs tailoring; it’s too big for sure.
Her very high heels seem to contribute to her poor posture. Daily Mail had video of her walking into Westminster looking like she just got off a horse. I rarely watch video of her so now I want to compare her posture and walking when she’s wearing sneakers.
Actually the coat is too small. Gaping at the bodice, which indicates it’s too small, and the sleeves are too tight in the upper arm.
like Maxima!!!
Looks like a very wintery and somber outfit, even though they are attending a church service.
All her clothes wear HER. It should be the other way around, but honestly I’m sure she’s very nice and all that, but she strikes me as dim bulb. I’m not a huge Diana fan, but even I can’t deny that she radiated from within. I look at Kate and it looks there’s NOTHING going on inside. No interest, no warmth. She’s got all the charm and charisma of a wet sock.
Looks like she was trying to imitate Lady Mary in this coat.
She just doesn’t have the gravitas of Michelle Dockery or the posture.
You’re so right it does give a Downton Abbey vibe
I can’t wait until tomorrow, what with an actual TV interview WITH BILL unveiling a poaching initiative, in which he supports trophy hunting, calls George a bum and is asked directly about being work shy. HOORAY!
I read the DM article and realized that William cannot string a coherent sentence together. So much for all the education and sophisticated hobnobbing. Also read the comments – the DM people really hate him now.
There is video all over Twatter if you want to see it!
“And that should give everybody a lift and realize there is hope that we can fix stuff.”
SMH
Maia
re- the hateful comments, I find that very sad, especially considering how hard his grandmother has worked her entire life.
OMG……I watched it.
He is a disgrace to numpties. He is too dim to be allowed to play with the other dummies.
As I go to sleep, the Guardian, DM and Daily Beast have a story on this along the lines of ‘PW supports Trophy Hunting’.
The DM comments are nuclear. Outright hating him. They are going to have to astroturf the hell out of that comment section to try and balance the strength of feeling.
I am going to use the phrase “disgrace to numpties” a lot going forward. Brilliant.
I just had a gander at the Fail’s comment section. OMG indeed. The Grauniad wasn’t brave enough to even open theirs!
Does he not know that he lives in a country famed for having more sympathy for animals than human beings? Does he not remember the pitchforks over Cecil? Is there a regressive royal gene? These are questions I need answered!
He’s lucky it’s Budget day.
He’s an arrogant ninny, who truly thinks he’s smarter than everyone else. Digging that hole ever deeper.
Oh God, no! What a pillock. Trophy hunting is just disgusting on soooo many levels and ought to be abolished internationally and PERMANENTLY. How in the actual f*ck can he claim to be an advocate for conservation and yet support this despicable practice. His Royal Hypocrisy. Ugh. Send in the elephants to trample some sense into him. Idiot.
Of course I know the mass interest isn’t there but for an antidote to Kate’s fashion, check out some of Queen Maxima’s latest outfits esp. from her recent state visit to France. For a concert event she wore a fabulous Tom Ford black velvet and hot pink dress with amazing ruby and diamond jewelry. Royal order of sartorial splendour has pictures.
I love it when Maxima brings the bling. The Dutch RF has a very well-stocked vault and Maxima is not afraid showcase those gorgeous jewels.
She’s the best royal magpie since Queen Mary.
Maxima looks gorgeous ! I was watching some Maxima videos today and it seems as though she loves what she’s doing. Perhaps she has an outgoing personality. I bet if you spoke with her, she would make you feel like the only person in the room.
Kate –not so much.
Ugh, that coat is awful. In the more distant shots, it looks like a cross stitch or needlepoint grid pattern was applied to the fabric.
Enough lace already.
As for the St Patrick’s day tradition wanna take bets that she’s popped shopping in London even thou she supposedly back in Norfolk as she couldn’t bear ton away from her children. Willy’s will be presenting the shamrocks instead.
The matchy-matchiness is just horrendous, the overall greyness is so blah-de-blah. Good heavens it’s Spring, not November at the Cenotaph. Obviously mummy is acting as senior fashion consultant these days, more’s the pity. I do (somewhat) like the hat, though.
Interesting body language in these pics… Kate does always seem to be more at ease in the presence of Harry, who’s adroit at handling William’s churlishness on such occasions. Must be a welcome buffer for her. Also, check out how both brothers have the mid-section palm-to-jacket mannerism thing inherited from Philip and Charles whilst in public.
Kate and the clutch-to-crotch thing, though. Ack! I understand the need to keep some parts of one’s self private when exposed to public scrutiny, but she really has to stop using her bag as a Fanny Shield. It’s becoming ridic.
LOL! Fanny Shield!
her coat is.fine.but as always ot dorsnt.fit looks like shes wearin rags and harry is so cute
Her eye makeup is much better here without the jet black eyeliner. love the hat. Someone convinced her to do some supposedly natural eyebrow tattoo I think thats what it is. Looks too harsh. My eyebrow guy also is pressuring me to get that done and keeps insisting that it looks natural and then shows me the receptionist who also had it done and I pretend it looks natural and complement her. But it doesn’t.