Duchess Kate in green boucle Eponine in London: super-cute & bright?

Catherine, Duchess of Cambridge visits Lavender Primary School

This is Children’s Mental Health Week in the UK, and the Duchess of Cambridge arranged for two events today at elementary schools. The first stop was to a North London school, Lavender Primary School. Kate decided to actually wear a bright, cheerful colorful while visiting children, which is a shock! Perhaps she’s continuing to subtweet her sister-in-law’s fashion choices – the more Meghan wears new, expensive couture, the more Kate repeats, and the more Meghan wears neutrals and dark, almost neo-goth looks, the more Kate wears bright colors.

Kate’s look today was Eponine and it was not a repeat from what I see. The Daily Mail isn’t calling a repeat, and I don’t remember her ever wearing this before, although it does have a familiar vibe. I enjoy the fact that the boucle dress isn’t smothered in buttons, and I also like how she styled this, with almost a mod touch. The black tights and the black high-heeled booties are great with the dress. This look is…shockingly cute from Kate. It also passes the “not too young and not too old” test. She looks like a pretty 30-something school teacher.

I’m not sure if everyone caught this, but over the weekend, People Magazine published a piece called “How Kate Middleton Is Turning Her Own ‘Struggle’ as a Mom into a Defining Mission.” The article featured quotes from the CEO of Family Action (“a member of her steering group”) and unnamed sources from the Royal Foundation. The point of the piece is that Kate is keen to “do something really significant over multiple decades. This is something potentially for her working lifetime.” Which is just a reminder that Kate still hasn’t launched her big mental health initiative. Remember that? That was all these “royal sources” could talk about for months last year. There were even people saying that Kate was mad that Meghan was stealing her thunder because Kate wanted to do her big launch late last year. People, we got keen-baited. She’s never going to launch that big initiative.

Catherine, Duchess of Cambridge visits Lavender Primary School

Catherine, Duchess of Cambridge visits Lavender Primary School

Catherine, Duchess of Cambridge visits Lavender Primary School

Photos courtesy of WENN.

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135 Responses to “Duchess Kate in green boucle Eponine in London: super-cute & bright?”

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  1. Clare says:

    I like it.

    I also like how i almost always learn about the various things the ‘royals’ are up to from Celebitchy lol – who even knew it was Children’s Mental Health Week? Not I. And I read the news (various outlets) every morning. (Although not the Fail, never the fail, which might explain why I never know what the royaleeches are up to).

  2. Hannah says:

    She is definitely looking more modern these days…I know if I mention it’s all thanks to Meghan, some will argue, but she wouldn’t be caught dead in these cute booties a year ago! Also, fantastic cause and glad to see countries shedding light on such issues!

    • Luxurylucy says:

      The silhouette of the dress is actually a signature Kate style. And the ankle boots she’s wearing are LK Bennett which is her signature shoe brand! Kate has worn ankle boots before over the years to official events, a quick search on the internet will show you this.

      I don’t understand when people say Kate never dressed modern. She has worn lots of clothes that are modern & sometimes even daring. It hasn’t always been coat dresses & lace!

      • Jan90067 says:

        I think she’s spot on today. LOVE this dress(color and all, though I first thought those pockets looked like angry eyes, and that got me thinking of that song by that name by Loggins & Messina (thanks, it’ll be in my head all day now, and it’ only 5:30 am!!)

        Anyway, love the dress, LOVE the cute booties, and love that Kate (finally!!) seems *really* happy and engaged at her engagements now. He smiles feel genuine. I really do think something shifted with Louis’ birth, whether just for her, or for her *and* William (as a couple), but she’s happier now. So good on Kate.

      • Nic919 says:

        Someone on twitter compared the pockets to Kermit the frog and now I can’t unsee it.

        I like the boots though.

      • Becks1 says:

        It’s not the ankle boots in themselves; its the laces that add something different to the look.

      • Some chick says:

        FWIW, Kermit the Frog was originally made out of an old coat that had belonged to Jim Henson’s mom (when he was young and broke, heh). So, people seeing Kermit are not far off!

    • Megan says:

      Her regular stylist is on maternity leave. She clearly hired a professional stylist until Tash is back.

    • Ravensduaghter says:

      Love the color and style of the dress and the sassy little boots.
      She’s so skinny-she can wear anything!

  3. Lightpurple says:

    Cute and appropriate for the event.

  4. Eribra says:

    She should wear this color every day for the rest of her life.

  5. Cactus says:

    The dress is awful. It’s the colour of slime that children like to play with

  6. Marie says:

    Sorry but I hate this shade of green on her. Gosh those boots are fine but enough with her greyish tights or whatever. As always there is something off about her.

    • NotHeidisGirl says:

      What’s wrong with “her greyish tights or whatever”? Serious question, I’d like to know 🙂

    • manda says:

      I agree, I don’t like the color. I also don’t think the boots go with the style of the dress, but I do like the boots. I think her tights here are black and I think they are fine

      • Enn says:

        I do like the boots but not with the dress. I think either a Chelsea boot or a heeled bootie would have been more sleek.

    • Himmiefan says:

      Yeah, that shade is close, but not quite right. I love a good spring green, but that’s not it.

      • Jemimaleopard says:

        I like the boots but the dress looks like she skinned Kermit 🐸

      • windyriver says:

        It’s got blue undertones. The spring green you’re probably thinking of has more yellow undertones, and not everybody (raises hand) can wear it/looks good in it.

        I look better with blue undertones in colors; my sister-in-law, for example, is better with yellow. Some years back we both bought the same style green sweats, but different shades. What looked good on her was awful on me. That was a useful wardrobe lesson.

        And yes, I do see a bit of Kermit in that dress.

      • Pearlime says:

        Looks like kelly green – thats pretty much the marmite of greens 😉

  7. Ohio Girl says:

    Love it! The boots are so cute and modern!

  8. Beli says:

    I really don’t like the colour but hey, it’s for the kiddies and bright colours are an improvement there. Good to see she’s started changing up her shoe game over the last few months too.

    Like you Kaiser, I’m still waiting for that much-hyped announcement of Kate’s lifetime initiative.

  9. Scal says:

    It looks like she has angry eyes on her hips with those pockets.

    The boots are fantastic!

    • Other Renee says:

      Scal, I thought the same thing! Also, although I do love the overall look and dress color, the material is wrinkled.

    • PrincessK says:

      There is a whole article in DM about the angry eyes….and mouth, on the dress, even saying, ‘One snap shows the duchess holding her clutch by her hip, and looks as though her dress is snacking on the bag’…….😂

  10. OriginalLala says:

    The colour is great but the dress itself is not my favorite on her – the shoulder pads are overwhelming her figure

    • Aoife says:

      Agree. Facially and hair-wise she looks good though.

    • Lady D says:

      I usually like what she wears, and her hair look good as does she, but man that dress is ugly. I think it’s the worst looking dress I’ve ever seen her wear. The only thing likable about it is the cut.

  11. NotHeidisGirl says:

    Not a colour I would wear (but I could see the Queen wearing this colour!), but Kate looks good!

  12. Ariel says:

    Pregnancy vibes?
    Or am I just the asshole jumping to a conclusion because a skinny woman dares wear something not cinched at the waist ?

  13. Shilohray says:

    The original story about Kate’s new initiative was written by Rebecca English of the DM. All the other stories written afterwards is just a repeat of the original DM article. KP haven’t released any official information about the initiative, or what it will be called and when it will launch. However Rebecca’s report said it will launch in early 2019, so there’s still time!

    Also the bit about ‘broken britain’ came from the journalist & not KP and I seriously doubt this is what they’ll call it.

    • aaa says:

      Excellent comment! 👍

    • Natalie S says:

      So, I guess Kate was not dealing with “mountains of paperwork.” Interesting that Rebecca English and the Daily Mail chose to publish the story a few days before the Hub cookbook news was published.

  14. Chaine says:

    I love it. Envious of women with skinny hips that can wear that style.

  15. Billie Bee says:

    Finally she wears heavy tights with appropriate shoes. If I saw one more thin-heel/thick stocking look…
    This is nice.

  16. Mia says:

    Don’t like the color green of the dress because she looks good and happy.

  17. Becks1 says:

    I think she looks great. I like that shade of green, and I like that it is one of her classic styles (she has a fair amount in that sort of style, although she usually styles them poorly) but it is in a different fabric to make it more interesting. and I LOVE the boots. I love them for themselves and I love that Kate is wearing them. Without them, the outfit is nice but boring. the boots definitely take it up a notch.

    Now, I will say that I do think Kate is taking “style tips” from Meghan, but not in a conscious way. We have often said on here that part of Kate’s “issue” when it comes to clothes is that she never really worked, and she has no real concept of what professional women wear. I think that’s part of why she has always defaulted to styles that are more similar to her mother, Camilla, or the queen. I think with Meghan, she is seeing that you can dress professionally, and still in a fairly classic manner, but with some trendier pieces to liven up an outfit, and still look like a “royal.” I feel like pre-Meghan we would not have seen Kate in these booties. (yes I know she wore booties on occasion, but they never quite seemed to work IMO.)

    I also always get REALLY Excited when Kate steps out of her comfort zone, even a little bit, lol.

    • Bluecanyon says:

      I don’t think Meghan knows how to dress appropriately for the events she attends. Many times it looks like she is dressing for a different event. Take the bodycon white dress she wore to the dog shelter or the all black while visiting students. From what we’ve seen so far of Meghan’s style it’s been all over the place & incoherent. If anything Kate actually looks more polished. Meghan could do with lots of styling tips herself in my opinion!

      • Becks1 says:

        Whether Meghan’s outfits are appropriate for the specific occasion is different in my opinion than how she puts outfits together overall. I don’t think she dresses perfectly, but like I said I definitely think she is good at dressing professionally and relatively classic with some trendier elements, and I think we are definitely starting to see Kate adopt that. Usually Kate is all “classic” veering on boring. This outfit is a good example. With black pumps, or plain black booties (Kate’s usual), this outfit is boring. The boots take it up a notch.

        I was praising Kate overall in my comment. Geesh.

      • Bluecanyon says:

        I disagree. I think a large part to looking professional is knowing how to dress appropriately for an event. Kate could show up to a school wearing the white bodycon dress Meghan wore to the dog shelter however it wouldn’t be appropriate and so would have looked unprofessional. My point is I don’t think Meghan is all that great at dressing professionally because quite often she doesn’t tailor her outfits to fit her surroundings. Like I said it usually looks like she’s dressed for a different event.

      • Beach Dreams says:

        “Bodycon”???? That was an actual maternity dress. At least be accurate/honest about the information you’re throwing out in your criticism 😒

      • Natalie S says:

        Kate has worn black to visit children. And for solemn moments, she has worn bright colors and at one point a flowered print with open-toe shoes and bright nail polish. And would that H&M dress count as body con?

        And of course there were the dress flying moments Kate has had because she kept wearing the wrong silhouette.

        I don’t know if Kate knows how to dress professionally so much as she repeats classic silhouettes and looks that we associate with royal women and so it looks passable. And who can blame her for playing it safe so often when you look at the criticism women especially get for their clothes.

        I think in the earlier days, there was a lot of speculation that Kate was trying to avoid her clothes looking dated so she went over the top with the clothes she wore to try to look classic. Interesting to see her breaking away from it more. Less of Kate the royal robot and more of Kate the person showing up. Everyone has commented on how relaxed she looks now.

      • Bluecanyon says:

        @beachdreams bodycon is a tight figure-hugging dress made from stretchy material. That is exactly what Meghan was wearing. Not all maternity dresses are figure hugging but the one Meghan wore was styled that way. Many posters on CB even commented at the time that the dress was too short & too tight.

    • Amelie says:

      Haha remember we all lost it when she wore those pants a few months ago! We were all amazed she wore pants that were not jeans!

  18. Cidy says:

    Those boots! So cute! I dont know about that shade of green but I think a part of it is that wore it as part of doing things for kids

  19. Eyfalia says:

    The skirt of the dress goes outwards like a bell, seen in the second photo. This is not good for a bespoke dress. Sorry, at the moment I cannot with her, everything seems so exaggerated. Maybe I will change again sometime soon.

  20. Gigi La Moore says:

    A bit too loose fitting. A positive note:. She has on boots instead of her normal black tights/pumps look.

  21. vava says:

    This ensemble isn’t too bad. It looks the best though when her arms are covering up those weird pockets……. I like the color, the style (except the pockets), the black tights and boots. Cute! Her hair and makeup are good too. The only thing “off” is her posture.

  22. HK9 says:

    She looks good in bright colours, but the pockets make the bottom half of the dress look like a green muppet (cover up her top half in the photo there’s a whole cartoon character there..I can’t unsee it now 🙂 ). Because she’s so slim, she can literally wear anything but this look is a miss for me.

  23. Angie says:

    She really has bad posture. Good reminder to me to stand up!

    • Ellie says:

      I think her posture is improved here, but, yes, it could be better. The shoulder pads don’t help!

  24. The Fifth Element says:

    Except. In the top picture the pockets are angry eyes and the crease across her mid-section is a grumpy mouth so basically this dress is a grumpy character off Sesame Street. Am I the only one seeing it?!?

  25. HeyThere! says:

    I’m shocked in a good way when she wear different shoes!

  26. Toniko says:

    Oh gawd, lol. This woman has no style.

  27. Jen says:

    I like it but of course there are buttons on the pockets. 😉

  28. Enn says:

    Totally not my style, but the whole look reminds me of something that my two coworkers (late 20s) would wear. They always look stylish and I feel like a frump next to them some days.

    I do love boucle though.

  29. Jessica says:

    I actually don’t think opaque tights look good on women who are almost 40 but ok.

    • Coz' says:

      No offense but I don’t get this kind of comments.
      Why should women nearing 40 stop wearing opaque tights? What’s the alternative during winter?
      What’s the fundamental difference between a 35 y-o woman and 40 y-o one?
      I am im my early 30’s and I sometimes convet my mother’s outfits or shoes. I love the fact that my mom keeps it stylish and fresh.

    • Ellie says:

      @Jessica — I think opaque tights are better for older women because they conceal the muscle tone and suppleness lost with age.

    • Shan says:

      These kind of comments are so weird, and I see them frequently on this site. Is there a definitive rule book somewhere that states what ages women have to stop doing things? I guess mine got lost in the mail.

    • Becks1 says:

      I’m almost 37 (on Friday) and I wore black tights yesterday. I didn’t realize there was an age limit on them?

      • KEEKS says:

        there isn’t an age limit on stuff like tights. Really @jessica. Having an off day? I am 44 and I can pull off anything I want with the right attitude. Keep your ageism to yourself and your own closet.

    • Tina says:

      Never go to Paris in that case. One of my favourite things ever is seeing the 60-somethings there rocking fishnets.

    • Blair Warner says:

      I absolutely HATE the black tights with this dress. Black does not match everything and this is a perfect example of when it doesn’t!

      And yes, the pockets are ugly.

  30. Chef Grace says:

    Hmm. It is a face in top photo.
    A grumpy stalk of asparagus.
    But I do like this look.

  31. minx says:

    I like it, very different for her, please stand up straight.

  32. LahdidahBaby says:

    Cute dress but hate that color on her or on anyone with pale skin. The tights and booties are great—LOVE those booties—but she needs to learn the trick of tucking the long laces into the boots after tying them because as they are it gives her a sloppy look. They seem to be coming untied.

    I know I’m in the minority here, but I far prefer the way Kate’s usual fit-and-flare line looks on her. Much more flattering with her long waist and slim hips than this straighter dress.

    I like how animated she looks here, and how genuinely involved she seems.

  33. Cee says:

    That’s a cute winter dress.

  34. Ellie says:

    As an American, I am curious: is there a strong desire for Kate to work in the UK? Many Americans I talk to believe she is the model of a perfect woman. She’s pretty, married, and a mother of three. Her job is just to be pretty and produce heirs, but then we don’t pay for her lifestyle. What royal with young children is (or has been) seen as doing it right workwise?

    • Rosie says:

      I’ve never heard anyone in real life mention how little she ‘works’. Just on here and the DM. I think Sophie probably has a good balance.

    • Tina says:

      I want her to work, but Rosie is right. No one here really cares about how much Kate works.

      • Tina says:

        But God I have to say that comment made me want to vomit. My model of a perfect woman is Ruth Bader Ginsburg. One’s virtues as a mother or attractiveness or marital status really ought not to come into it.

      • Natalie S says:

        Yes, Kate’s should make the choices that are right for her but I don’t at all see her specific choices as a way to be a perfect woman.

  35. Jaina says:

    You can’t tell me any different. That dress has eyes and it is watching you!

  36. Beach Dreams says:

    Never liked that shade of green personally. Also, someone on twitter posted three other kermit green dresses she already has that are very similar to this one. I’ll never under understand why she does that.

    • Natalie S says:

      Yes, in 8 years, doesn’t she have plenty of expensive green dresses that she can rewear? Brexit etc.

      The same goes for her new hiking boots from her engagement a few weeks ago. Why a brand new pair from Chloe when she was just visiting children in London and not doing anything physically strenuous?

  37. Moneypenny says:

    I like this look quite a bit. I like the style, the color and the boots. This is something I would wear :).

  38. Natalie S says:

    So, there’s no initiative?

  39. Nikki says:

    I thought Kaiser was a button hater, but y’all are going to like a dress that has 2 central buttons that look like EYES?? No, no, no on this. The weird little eyes are also in some kind if recessed pouch, so it’s like a Kermit kangaroo with eyes. I don’t love the black tights either.

    • Becks1 says:

      I’m trying to avoid seeing the eyes. I liked the dress at first but if I look at that first picture too much I cant stop seeing the eyes and I am trying to be more positive and give her more credit lololol.

  40. MeghanNotMarkle says:

    I like the dress, wrinkles and all. The boots aren’t my style but they look good on her. I don’t know if they necessarily match the dress (maybe a black shootie?)… I still call it an A look, though. Way better than her usual 50s housewife or Victorian throwback looks.

    And OF COURSE we got keen-conned again. Is anyone actually surprised?

  41. Jan says:

    This look is a total miss for me. The color, the fit, the wrinkles. And the material looks oddly…thin and unsubstantial to me? I guess because it’s from a summer collection.

  42. GreenQueen says:

    I hate this. Getting a lot of Oscar the grouch vibes from this. I feel like she’s trying so hard to be as interesting as Meg but I’m bored.

  43. Themummy says:

    That color is absolutely hideous. The dress is hideous, in general, but that color actually kind of makes my stomach turn. It looks like she got the side of the bargain bin at the dollar store.

    • themummy says:

      Umm…yeah…nice typo in that last sentence, me. Should say “got it from the bargain bin.” That’s what I get for commenting after being awake two minutes.

  44. BeanieBean says:

    I like it. I like it so much I had several versions of this in 6-8th grade. It came from a Simplicity pattern & my mom made variations of it for me. That would be late 60s-early 70s.

  45. Rosie says:

    Not keen on that particular colour on her although I think a bit of colour is good.

  46. S says:

    I have come to the conclusion that my tastes in fashion differ greatly from the blog writer and many of the commentators on here. The two outfits Kate has worn in the last few months that were considered awesome and modern (aka not typical Kate) were this and the pant outfit she wore in December.

    While she looked fine in both, they were by far my least favorite outfits she has worn over the last year. Admittedly, I personally lean toward more classic and feminine looks which likely explains my preference for classic Kate looks.

  47. JennyJenny says:

    This looks like a dress she will be able to re-purpose in March when they are giving out the shamrocks !

    It just looks like something someone would wear on St. Patrick’s Day

  48. Chrissy says:

    Let’s be fair. She always looks polished but super boring. Her hemlines are usually too short, she choses looks that are dated whether they are repeat or not. Style is not her thing no matter how much it has been pushed to be so. Meghan is a far superior dresser and Kate has tried to step up since Meghan has got so much press, but Kate is not an icon of fashion. This look is safe and okay.

    • Elisa says:

      Tastes are different, I for one prefer Kate’s style. However, neither of them is a fashion icon.

      • Natalie S says:

        Yes! Neither woman is some kind of style icon when it comes to their royal work outfits. And they both need better taste in stylists. There’s no winner in this competition.

    • Tina says:

      Neither of them can hold a candle to Letizia and Maxima, in my opinion. They do fine.

  49. khaveman says:

    She upped her shoe game IMO, so progress. Boots are a fun look.

  50. Vanessa says:

    I hate the black hose with it so very much. Cute dress, ruined by the hose.

  51. SandyBay says:

    I tried looking online to find out how going to two elementary school helps with Children’s mental health, but couldn’t find anything. Was there a meeting at the school with others working in the field? Not really sure of the purpose of this royal visit. Does anyone know? Sounds like it could be a good thing if it is tied to some joint effort.

    • Natalie S says:

      The school she visited is receiving support from Place2Be.

      • SandyBay says:

        Thanks. When I searched online before I accidentally put a space between the m and i in Kate’s name so I got only the basics from my first search. Here in the US, they don’t cover Kate’s outings as much a they used to now that they have Meghan to talk about. So, I thought that I heard Kate has
        a big program starting at the beginning of the year, so I was wondering if this could be part of it.

      • Natalie S says:

        It’s still very early in the year but I think the leaks about the initiative were more to stave off criticism of Kate’s charity efforts vs. Meghan’s work with the Hub.

    • PrincessK says:

      Hmm…my sentiments too, I was really trying ti work out the purpose of this visit. Kate should be working with the parents, if she can, trying to help them support their children in better ways.

  52. Cerys says:

    The negatives first, £2,000 for a dress is obscene especially if you have 8 years of designer clothes to wear again. The positives, it’s a lovely colour, the boots, tights, accessories and hair all look good. Despite the cost, I think this is one of her better outfits. It’s appropriate for the event. It’s a fashionable look too. She looks like a 30+ woman instead of a teenager or a middle-aged matron.

    • StacyN says:

      I looked online and no Eponine dresses were close to this. Usually around 400 euros. I think the DM is trolling here.

  53. Summer says:

    Hm, I am not a fan of this color at all.

  54. Mego says:

    I really like this outfit especially for the event with children. Well done Kate.

  55. Stef says:

    For some reason, I don’t like it at all. Her hair looks good but the dress is boring, the colour is off season, and I’m just not a fan of this look.

    Glad she’s trying though, and good point calling out that we’ve been keen-baited yet again. Rinse and repeat…

  56. Velvet Elvis says:

    Other than those weird pockets that look like eyes, I love this look on her. Fresh and modern. Would love to see Duchess Meghan in a more varied color palette.

  57. notasugarhere says:

    Appears Together Our Community Cookbook by Hubb Kitchen is the winner of an André Simon Food and Drink Book Awards Special Commendation for 2018.

  58. Kk2 says:

    She looks great! One of my favorite things I’ve seen her wear, which I feel like I’ve been saying more frequently lately. This is a great silhouette on her.

  59. Carolind says:

    Who the heck cares what she wears as long as she is nice. Niceness much more important than dressing well. Our bodies to clad as we choose and no-one – no-one – has right to dictate otherwise.

    • Tina says:

      Ah, the tyranny of niceness. The cell in which we women voluntarily imprison ourselves. Dare to escape niceness, ladies. Offend someone today.

  60. Anare says:

    That dress took my breath away… and not in a good way. I don’t care for any part of her look. The dress is odd. It’s a little short. It doesn’t move. That shade of green is fluorescent. Yikes! How to style that odd dress? Instead of black tights she should have tried a very slim leg black pants and a simple black suede boot in maybe a 3” heel. Those boots she is wearing are fug. The heel is too high. Why wear 4” heels when she is already tall and she’s bending down to talk to little kids? Why wear a short dress for the same reasons? Ugh! All I can see after being blinded by her dress, are the tacky heels and huge grommets on those boots. They look cheap and gimmicky. This look is a big Nope.

    • Ahoyoy says:

      Whomever told her that she looks good in bright colors is not her friend- particularly this green.

      She needs to get her narrow behind to theory and buy some suits in navy, black, ivory, khaki, gray, etc. Nothing ages someone in their 30s like brightly-colored grandma wear. Her fuschia clothes are just as bad as this. Slim suits and professional pumps would give her such a boost in gravitas. Right now she looks like a clueless sorority girl. The mod look hasn’t been fresh in a couple of years.

  61. Flying fish says:

    The dress looks like something worn on an episode of Endeavour!

  62. Meg says:

    I never thought id see her in shoes like this-nice change for her. The same old same old was getting super boring

  63. Buttons and pockets and color oh my!

  64. Christine says:

    The eye pockets are fab!