The next five days will be full of royal appearances across the board as the royal family steps out for events around Remembrance Day. The Duke and Duchess of Cambridge started things off this morning to launch the National Emergencies Trust, an organization which will help coordinate emergency services and charities in disasters, terrorist attacks, etc. This event was originally just supposed to be with Prince William, but Kate was added a few days ago, perhaps because her presence will legitimately bring more attention to the trust.
For this appearance, Kate wore a bespoke dress from Emilia Wickstead, one of her favorite designers. This is a very “Kate dress.” She loves this silhouette, she loves any shade of blue, and she loves a long sleeve. It’s actually a really pretty dress, I think? I mean, I’m not crazy-jazzed about it because she has a dozen dresses already in her closet with the same vibe and silhouette, but it’s cute. Fresh blowout too, which looks nice but I will always hate the way her hair covers up her bejeweled poppy pin. It defeats the purpose!
According to People Magazine, William and Kate also met with some survivors of recent attacks and disasters at the event, “including the Westminster Bridge terrorist attack and the Grenfell Tower blaze.”
Photos courtesy of Getty.
Now this is something I really do like
She looks great. As far as repeating the same style: If it ain’t broke do not try and fix it!
For me, I would have the dress bespoke custom tailored with a strait skirt (get rid of the flounce) and no belt.
Yes! so tired of the flounciness. She has the body for a pencil skirt, gosh I wish she would just try it just once!
She would kill it in a pencil skirt. I have no idea why she seems to have such an aversion to them.
I was thinking the exact same thing! It’s too twee and immature in my opinion. She could get away with tasteful pleats on a pencil skirt.
While a pencil would (does!) look great on her, she purposely wears a “poufy” skirt to give herself hips. She is VERY slim-hipped, has almost a “boy” body (wide shoulders and V-ing downward).
She looks great here; amazing color…but it’s like a hundred other dresses in her closet, where’s the screaming about the cost! (snarking here).
I agree with the hair comments; she has gorgeous hair, but it would’ve been nice to be half-up or a low pony, to show the poppy, and to be more professional.
Pencil skirt would not flatter her figure as she’s too thin with no hips. The skirt would highlight her lack of curves and make her broader shoulders look wider.
Also you can’t fake a waist in a pencil skirt. She wears belts higher to make her legs look longer.
I don’t get the obsession w pencil skirts. I’m built like Kate (176cm, 50kg) and I look fine in pencil skirts but they’re very restricting. She probably doesn’t like them, and prefers loose dresses. She looks good in what she wears, even if we think its repetitive and boring.
she could go with longer aline skirt. no need for pencil. but those short s
flouncy hemlines are wee and yucky
I think the dress it a lovely colour but boring design. I don’t get the obsession on here with pencil skirts, like they’re the only chic and grown up skirt.
Kate has worn pencil skirts before and she really DOES look great in them. Its not that we’re just sort of guessing she would look good in them. She really does.
@Nahema – we’re only obsessed with them bc Kate so rarely wears them lol. So many of her dresses look exactly alike and sometimes a pencil skirt would be a nice change while still being within her style wheelhouse.
I’m guessing she would wear them often if they were what she actually preferred, no? The woman might just be fine and comfortable w wearing the same thing over and over again.
I would wear this and I’m younger than Kate. I so so love this. She looks really good
Agreed. She looks wonderful & I would love to wear that
I love the colour of the dress and I have serious hair envy (my hair is thinning like crazy at the moment). I wish she would have ditched the belt – it looks budget.
The dress is lovely, again that jewel tone. I like the fit.
Hair everywhere! I almost want to see it just like pinned back a little bit, because she gets those fresh blowouts her hair is flying. Just pin the hair back, away from her face a little so we can see like her earrings and her jewlery.
Again, the “too heavy makeup” heavy top and bottom eyeliner in the middle of the day, just seems a bit much. Looks a little too heavy.
I wonder if she has a secondary wedding ring I’ve only ever seen her wear that large blue one, but I always wondered if Meg and Kate had more than one ring. It would make sense, like a larger one and then a smaller one. The ring looks fine on occasions like this but when shes in her boots and jeggings it looks a bit much, right? They should both just have a band for lowkey engagements.
I’m really into rings right now lol because we (partner and I) are looking at them. They are heavier than they look! I bet hers weighs a lot for her finger.
Have fun ring looking/shopping.As time has gone on I am happy to wear just a gold band in lieu of my engagement or anniversary ring.My style is very relaxed and I will even go without any rings for a long time.
When you select your engagement ring (if that’s what you’re doing)remember that big and bling can be fun to show off (I enjoyed my moment!)but something classic and simple and easy to wear daily is what you may eventually want.
Have fun 😊
Thank you! Very good advise. It’s easy to “oooo shiny” when doing this.
meghan didn’t wear her engagement ring at all on their last tour. she just wore her wedding band and a jennifer meyer ring that retails for like $300.
kate, however, always wears her big blue engagement ring to every engagement, no matter how low-key it is.
She looks like she’s flexing for a runway stroll rather than appearing (last minute as Kaiser noted) for a serious engagement.
Cute dress, great proportions on her. Also “bespoke” to cover up the price …nicely done. I think this is what Megan needs to do to keep people from yelling about the “price” of her clothes because if it’s “bespoke” no one will know what it is.
Nah, if Meghan started wearing all bespoke, suddenly bespoke would be a massive problem.
Not if they insinuate she’s following her SIL who ‘never puts a foot wrong’. 🙂
When she did wear “bespoke” before and during pregnancy there were howls of “Why is SHE spending all this money?!” all the time. She can’t win. If she repeats she is pandering, if she wears new she is “wasting tax payer money”.
They would simply reach between their ass cheeks and pull a random, incredibly high figure, and insist that that was the price.
I know many people will disagree with me as they have many times before but I do not believe now nor will I ever believe that female members of the BRF and extended BRF (i.e. Lady Amelia Windsor and such others) pays full list retail price for any of their clothes.
I worked in fashion and no they don’t pay retail. They work out an agreement for a reasonable price that will cover costs because they press they get, and the money they make from other customers ordering what they wear is enormous.
Thank you! I definitely don’t believe they pay full retail. By wearing the clothes it’s instant publicity for the designer so it’s a win-win for both the wearer and designer.
@HK9, I have said the same thing for years and people always say I am dead wrong with respects to the BRF. I am glad your experience has backed up my claim. The only famous people who pay full price are those people that shop in department stores and do not buy direct from the designer or a fashion house.
I don’t think they pay full retail price either! And with respect to Kate’s bespoke pieces in particular, I think that she wears so many similar dresses because they reuse the same patterns with just a few tweaks here and there. I think this is why she uses the same few designers for bespoke pieces over and over.
@LNG, Bespoke can be less expensive than department store if you do not need to make a pattern.
They don’t and celebrities don’t pay full price either. The majority of celebs borrow their dresses when they have red carpet events. Many of the guests that attended the Sussex wedding Instagram tagged the designer or shop owner for lending them a dress to wear.
I don’t believe for one moment Meghan paid discount or even owns her engagement photo dress.
@BayTampaBay, That’s interesting. The places I worked that made bespoke pieces charged more regardless of the pattern. I was told it was because of the time it took to consult with the client about the piece being made. I would love to find a place where it was cheaper though!
Wasn’t there a whole big thing about the queen insisting all the women wear panty hose? Because I don’t think Kate is.
I think they only have to do it in the Queen’s presence/ formal events. Kate pretty much always does and I would be surprised if she wasn’t. The only time I’ve seen her skip them is when she wore shorts sailing. Maybe she decided to ditch them after the world didn’t end because her legs were showing.
@Ainsley7 – thanks for explaining!
Kate is a beautiful woman, no doubt about that. And all these British royals, save for Harry and Megan, come off like massive assholes. That’s all I got.
she looks good, I really like this. It is very classic Kate, but it suits her.
She and William look really tired, maybe one of the kids is sick?
I noticed that too. Don’t mean to pick at her, but in her face she looks very, very tired to me.
Her botox is wearing off.
The dress is very pretty and pretty on her
She looks nice but god after everything her and William seem so fake.
She looks great.
She looks fresh and modern for a change.
Snooze fest. As Kaiser mentioned, this dress looks like SO MANY she already has in her massive closets. It bores me to tears. Could she pick more mundane shoes and clutch bag?
The hair looks good even though it’s all over the place.
She looks exhausted around the eyes. Poor Kate, she’s working too much. 😉
These are minor tweaks to the silhouette and they are paying dividends. Somebody has a better stylist! It has a flat front, no bulky buttons; the length is perfectly to the knee, not calf and not thigh skimming; there’s an a-line skirt but no flounce and no peplum; and it’s a boat neck, no collar! Plus she put a rich jewel blue with a black shoe, not neutral! It is conservative but casual enough to not seem stuffy. I like it. Is it worth a custom price tag just to achieve this? Hardly.
But more than that, I like that she is working and meeting the people whose queen she will someday be. That looks better than anything she wears.
I like the color of the dress, but she does have a dozen other dresses almost exactly like this (not so many with the belt but still). I’m not sure why a new one was necessary, but oh well. That’s Kate.
I’m honestly wondering if any of the Kate fashion sites have a running tally of how many blue dresses/coat dresses she has because it’s got to be in the hundreds by now.
Right? Kate just wears the same thing over and over again and this is so boring.
What is the point of buying new if it looks like the old? Just rewear and get the good press.
It’s a pretty dress but I agree with Kaiser – she owns this exact silhouette a million times over.
She looks great.
She looks 50
No, she doesn’t. But IF she did so what?
Some people always find the negative
If you want to see some people “always finding the negative,” I suggest you go check out the comments on the post about Meghan.
Yes, she does look quite older than her age. It’s nothing new though, she’s looked like this for years.
It’s possible PatCliff was commenting on her style, not her looks. Kate looks fine here, and I seem to be in the minority here, but I think that the vast majority of her looks are a bit matronly. I generally think what she wears would be more appropriate on a woman much older. I know she has to dress on the conservative side because of her role, but there are many royals from other countries (like the Swedish royals who are around Kate’s age and even Leticia of Spain who is older) who manage to look more current. This look is so dated to me. The shape, the belt, I don’t know. I’m not criticizing her looks at all, I think Kate is very pretty and she may look a bit older than her age, but who cares? I just think she needs a stylist with some fashion sense because, let’s be honest, good style doesn’t run in the Middleton family.
Exactly, very middle aged/matronly. But that is her style. I believe she is saving up all these dresses/coat dresses for her later years as queen. Think of all the money that will be saved.
😀
I think she dresses older on purpose so people take her seriously in her role, but acts young and dumb to appear more attractive to men.
Kate and William, when properly tailored and groomed, do look the part. I like Meghan and Harry way more than I like W/K (which I don’t like at all) but they seem to appreciate what well fitting clothes can do for you and your image—unlike H/M. The latter couple has a different style. Not tripping but they could look a bit better in terms of tailoring.
Also, has anyone else noticed that over the last year, W/K seem to be doing more events as a couple. They each used to do more solo events in the past versus events as a couple.
True. Thank you. I by far prefer Meghan and Harry but I wish they would pay attention to these details. The Cambridges can be quite good at producing an image while lacking substance which is probably why they lean so heavily on image. The Sussexes have so much substance so just a little more with the visuals could be fantastic
Yes, but WK don’t deserve any praise for that, they get away with spending endless amount on clothing and professional stylsts because the taxpayers have put them on a pedestal, H&M would be tormented for spending that. The comparison is unfair.
She looks amazing. The tailoring elevates the dress.
omg her waist is so tiny!! major tiny-woman envy
I like this look and think the unflashiness of it suits the event. The outside light is washing her out, but the photos from inside of the event are nice. I would love for Kate to wear a stronger lipstick color.
Also per Russell Myers: “The #DuchessofCambridge has visited the BBC Children’s and Education team at Old Broadcasting House this afternoon ahead of #AntiBullyingWeek next week. It was a private engagement but I understand something very interesting is in the pipeline“
Honestly until something concrete happens this PR of things to come isn’t any different than the advanced PR for broken Britain that we haven’t seen one year later.
Also very tone deaf to go on about anti bullying at this point considering the lack of action about the media attacking their sister in law. It’s no different than the hypocrisy of Melania and her be best garbage.
I co-sign Nic’s comment. Also, Russell Myers is one of the worst of the worst.
Right? It’s always “something interesting in the pipeline” or “BIG plans coming up!!!” with this woman. These declarations deserve nothing more than a derisive laugh.
something “very interesting” is ALWAYS in the pipe line for kate. it’s all talk. i just want to see action from her, not hear about something coming that never seems to materialize.
#AntiBullying Week? Something interesting coming up? *snort*
She looks good but I can’t help but compare with what Meghan is wearing today. Like does Kate not feel cold? She is not wearing a coat dress which is what I would expect from her.
Meg is outside for a long period of time, which is why she would wear a coat. Kate is going from the car to inside. Doubt she feels the need for one for a few steps. I’m sure we’ll see Kate in a (warm) coat dress for the Remembrance event on the 10th.
Makes sense of course. But it almost looks like they are in different countries.
I’m not a fan of the fresh blow out where it looks like your hair is almost floating above your head. Like it looks like every piece of hair is blow-dried to stand up and away from the skull, rather than just lying down on her head. You can see the entire outline of her face, which is weird for a hair-down style. She looks like a skull that has a wig hovering slightly above it. I’m probably not explaining it very well.
You are describing what I think also about her hair, just couldn’t put it in words. She has gorgeous hair, this style just isn’t her best look.
I know exactly what you mean. It was the first thing I noticed.
She’s looking fantastic! Looking good Kate!
This color and silhouette are both great on her! I also think her hair color is looking nicer.
The dress is fine. I HATE the belt. Ugh. Cheapens the look.
Boring. As usual.
Typical Kate wearing a typical dress. She looks fine.
The fillers make her face look much fuller. I would kill to have her clothing and stylist team budget, I could really use it.
I wish it was a couple of inches longer. I hate this length. It still looks too young to me at this length.
The hair is ridiculous
Super surprised so many people like this. The dress is pretty, but the belt makes it look SO dated and blah.
Did Will drive the jaguar to the event or were WK driven there? Is it part of a private collection?
Duchess Doolittle
I am clearly looking at different pictures from everyone else. All I can see is a woman who is becoming more painfully thin every time we see her. She looks tired and ill to me.
I’m with you, she looks very drawn.
Its likely she looks tired and ill because she is soo thin and prolly because the RF are working her to the bone.
That was what I thought too Cerys. My immediate reaction was that she is super thin – too thin – and the big hair just accentuates it.
That was my first though too when I saw the pictures – “yikes she’s getting thin.” I feel like every time we see her she looks thinner and thinner.
I agree Cerys. Yes she has good genes. Yes she exercises and watches what she eats. But I think there is something more going on there and that makes me sad.
What’s there to feel sad about, she’s that skinny cause she wants to be, its what makes her more popular and to her popularity is the most important thing.
First thing I noticed was her tiny disappearing waist and big hair. She looks like a mop.
She does look ill. I hope she’s not coming down with anything.
And what’s going on with her eyes, too mch fillers or something, her eye skin looks tired.
She looks exhausted and very thin.
She looks tired but I wonder if it’s from the cold weather or her makeup?? I don’t like commenting on women’s weight as it’s a sensitive issue but I agree with last comment that the dress isn’t good for her figure! She also has about a dozen of dress of this EXACT style & colour!! Not surprising with her access to endless funds from Charles over the years+obedient RRs who’d kindly ignore her repetitive wardrobe choices🙄
She has become the Kate-Bot: robotically predictable, even the ‘variation’ programme is predictable. Bland, inoffensive, artificially perfect.
Spot on!
She does have this same dress in other colors. She definitely has her uniform when it comes to dressing and it works for her. Dresses and coat dresses work, pants are hit or miss. It’s safe but suits her. She’s thin but athletic, and doesn’t look like she’s starving or anything. William always looks disappointed and middle aged, like these events are painful. I still don’t understand why these people thought being petty and unsupportive, and condoning nasty smears was a good idea.
How much did this bespoke Emilia Wickstead dress cost the hardworking British taxpayers who will likely be eating chicken fajitas out of a paint can in January if there’s no Brexit deal?
Why not tie your hair back when you know it’s going to be windy and you need to show off your poppy? Same goes for Meghan, you couldn’t see her poppy properly either.