So much to talk about! Today in New Zealand, Duchess Kate and Prince William attended a wreath-laying ceremony and then did a public walkabout to meet the peasants who had lined up for hours to get a glimpse of the royals. Kate wore what I think is one of my favorite looks ever (on her): an Alexander McQueen coat-dress in periwinkle blue. Her hair was pulled back appropriately in a stylish ponytail too. She wore sapphire earrings which coordinated with her sapphire ring. The whole look is age-appropriate and stylish and she looks awesome in this shade of blue. You can see more photos here.
Last night, Will and Kate attended a royal portrait unveiling (the portrait was of the Queen) at the Government House. I suppose it was supposed to be a cocktail/formal event, so… no tiaras. Too bad. Kate wore a “bespoke” dress by Jenny Packham. Going by the photos at The Mail, I thought this was a full-length gown, but it’s not. It’s tea-length. You would think that if Kate was ordering a specially-made dress (probably upwards of $20,000, right?) with a glittery fern design, she would ask for it to be full-length? Not so much. It is pretty though – I like the fern detail and the sleeves are especially nice. Kate wore her hair down too, which… I still think is the wrong choice for formal/cocktail events in the evening.
Oh, and William made a speech! Here it is:
‘Rau rangatira mā o Aotearoa, tēnā koutou katoa. (Distinguished people of New Zealand, greetings to you all.) Thank you also for hosting Catherine, George and me during our time in New Zealand. I hope that George doesn’t keep you up! He’s at his most vocal at 3am, as you may have noticed – I swear I heard him doing the haka this morning. He’s a bonny lad and you’ll be pleased to know that he’s currently preparing for life as a prop forward! I cannot tell you how happy I am to be back here in God’s Own Country – as I have learned to call it – and this time with my wife and son. When I returned to New Zealand for the first time as an adult in 2005, I came mainly to watch the All Blacks against the British and Irish Lions – the best way to be introduced to this sports-passionate nation. In subsequent visits, my affection and admiration for New Zealand has only deepened. On this visit, I have no doubt that it will be Catherine – and not just me – who falls for New Zealand. The qualities that New Zealanders share in common with one another – warm-heartedness, generosity, neighbourliness, openness, an instinctive sense of justice and freedom, to name just a few – are qualities that I suspect – given your modesty – you may take for granted. But they are qualities for which New Zealanders are admired the world over.’
Thank God the bar is set so low for Kate and no one expected her to make a speech that length they would still be at the reception while she fidgeted with her hair and read one word… out… looking up… looking down… one… more… word… fidget…hair toss…word…
Photos courtesy of Pacific Coast News, Getty.
Lol that portrait of the Queen seems to be glaring disapprovingly at Kate, who is giving the Queen an irreverent look.
No, it doesn’t, Auri
Are the sleeves too long on the blue coat dress?
Maybe a tiny bit, yeah. Sleeves aren’t usually supposed cover that much of the top of the hand. Still, I do like this look on her and hooray for no button explosion!
I think she looks more herself in these two outfits than in the red coat/dress she wore departing the plane. Just for that, I like them on her. As others have noted, the red dress looked very much like something a stewardess would wear. Despite her privilege, she’s never struck me as a clotheshorse and I sometimes feel that her attempts at “Duchess-wear” look awkwardly derivative and costume-ey. That might just be my own bias, but it’s a feeling I often get from her. She looks lovely here.
And I like the red once much better than this because it felt more like “her”. Interesting!!
@bluhare: Ah, isn’t that the way it goes? To each their own, I guess. 🙂
If we all agreed it would be really dull around here, Anne. I thought the red coat was great . . . and would have been better minus all the bloody buttons! This one looks too . . . can’t quite think of the word.
“Buttony”
I think the dress lacked a flattering shape, her bra was wrong (round is better than sideway oblong – sorry), and the pockets were overpowering with that belt. I thought nurse uniform. Lots of uniforms! And even though so many have commented on her dress length, honestly who wears that?!
I liked her black dress, which I thought lovely and distinguished. Why are they making her wear such a long dresses? Isn’t there a sort of middle road? It looks like someone else dressed her. How would it be to have your very persona managed by someone else?
Her skirts have to be at the knee or lower. They aren’t required to be as long as the skirt on the black dress. Although to nitpick, technically black is considered off-limits royal protocol-wise. That is another one of those rules she breaks all the time.
Good observation on the bra – I didn’t notice much of a difference from what she usually wears up top although it’s pretty obvious she relies on heavy padding.
She looked beautiful. She always does.
Yes she looks lovely in both outfits. Her hair looks good in the black dress even though it’s boring that she wears it down so much. That said, before I had kids I never ever wore my hair up unless I was working out, but maybe I would have if I’d had a personal hair stylist.
I liked her hair in a ponytail too. This is the first time that I noticed how tiny and long her face shape is. The volume of her hair hides that.
Her eyebrows look so thin
Obviously, the queen’s Royal Plucker is trying to (with great subtlety) draw attention to the fact that Kate has big bushy peasant brows that must be tamed by force.
I’m on fire here.
That dress is too gorgeous to be at such a length. I have to say the way Catherine looks like she is trying so hard to maintain her interest or pretend she is interested by what EVERY peasant is saying to her. I guess over time she will learn how to look more natural when she is engaging people.
How much time does she need, seriously? Most of us ordinary folks often have to pretend to take an interest in a boring conversation. It’s not that hard to grit your teeth and nod and smile inanely. And given that it’s Kate’s job, and that she had years of ‘training’ for the role, you’d think she’d manage to get her act together by now.
I have to say I would have a really hard time looking interested at some of these events. It’s her job to not just look, but be interested, so I’m not making excuses, but really, nothing bores me like cocktail party chit chat. You don’t know the person, and you’re never going to see them again, so you aren’t going to have a meaningful conversation, it just all superficial so how many children do you have, what sort of work do you do (which I think is sort of rude but fall back on in desperation occasionally) blah blah blah blah. I have to go to events with my husband and the whole time I’m chit chatting, a little voice in my head is cheering me on. “Focus! Look interested! Smile! Your turn to say something! Act like you give a flying f…” Well you get it.
I’ll give her that. It’s tough to be engaged in small talk and maybe she wasn’t up to it that day. And the cameras are always snapping away. 1 moment of letting your face relax is the moment they get their shot.
My resting bitch face is depressed/bitchy so there’s never been hate on that from me.
With all of that said, if it’s your job you power through and fix that smile to your face.
Amen. I’m the world’s worst natural mingler. I’ve got better but I hate it.
I find some other lost soul and tend to them. With people that I will never see again I find it is easy to spill my guts (friendly), and be pleased that we connected, because they share too. There’s a lot that I can share with a stranger that I wouldn’t share with a neighbor! But in general, I’m too independent to just “get-along” with any sort of group thinking, and these types of events do not interest me. I’ll eat pretzels, but adamantly refuse to be one.
But one tip I’ve picked up from watching the royals is to look like you’ve just come from holiday! Seriously, that scrub and rubdown makes them look clean as a whistle, and ready to go and glow.
She did not have years of training for this. She didn’t spend the past 7 or 8 years attending state functions as the guest of honor and interacting with dignitaries. She did, however, have those years to learn dress protocol, how best to deal with the media and what royal life can be like. But some things one has to learn by doing. Kate has a lot of learning/doing in her future, imo.
I think that falls into the “if you fail to prepare you prepare to fail” catagory.
Not that she could practive having social gatherings and dinners with foreign dignitaries, but certainly there was much she could prepare for.
At least she got this outfit and styling right.
True. She mingled with the dignitaries and shook hands with each guest (190). Sometimes the camera will catch you looking strained or tired. As for keeping a constant smile on her face, she is often accused of having a crazy/maniacal smile so whatever, you know? At least she is trying and should improve with time.
FLORC imagining your RBF is making me giggle.
She has had contact with adults of all types, from professors to parents of school friends to village cohorts of her parents. If you aren’t “perfect” yet at talking to dignitaries though you’ve been mixing with the royals and people at high-end schools, okay, then just try simple human respect and conversation. Ask questions. Attempt to follow thoughts. Compose your expressions. Because you are 32. When I was thrust into a world of higher-end people in my first internship, I was terrified but I knew I had to do it, not in 14 years but RIGHT THEN, so I studied the VP’s manners and approach and copied the basics and applied them to what I already knew. The other two interns did the same. Sink or swim. We swam.
My snarky teen niece who would rather be with her friends or on her iPhone can do a better job and sustain it when dragged to social events by her parents.
Kate’s only job is to do this: behave like an educated, alert, considerate adult in mixed company — at least when cameras are around. If it doesn’t come naturally, okay, at least develop a way to stop looking like an annoyed woman standing in a long line at a mall.. She didn’t crawl helplessly out of a bog. She has lived in her “better” sphere for years, chased it from university on at the very least. Basic people and social skills are acquired everywhere not just in Royal courts. Be considerate, pleasant, engaged and any normal human gaffes are forgiven. Yes, cameras can catch anyone with a momentary bitch face, and yet I don’t feel that’s what we’re usually seeing or I wouldn’t say anything. It seems like broader lazy “I’ll do it for twenty minutes then I’m out” disinterest. When she manages to engage, she does okay. Then…it’s gone. IMO, it’s the face of someone with no real goals, no sense of “I need to do this because…I need to manage myself to produce….” Okay, no sense of accountability? Does that make sense? “If I can do this well, I can win people over, and increase my ability to do something great for this charity or that group…”
Say a nice thing: She looks great in that tone of blue. I like her hair pulled back.
Liberty!! You’ve seen me at the mall? 😉
Dame
Kate’s crazy eyes impression is too obvious to ignore. Some posters here have said it’s the “cat got the cream” face. Or like Swifty’s “You picked me?! Wow!” face. She hasn’t learned how to look and act poised yet.
And my RBF really does have people who don’t know me asking if i’m ok. I can’t zone out in public! I would not hold up in Kate’s position.
Liberty
You hit it. There’s no accountability or true interest. She only needs to maintain with William to keep her goal and she does. To add to her very light schedule or to do something for her charities besides an annual visit is unlikely at this point.
She could get better. Maybe if her marriage becomes as terrible (openly) and D&C’s was she might throw herself into work? It’s a possibility. Until then the bar is dead and buried. Her skirt flies up again we sigh and say “well, that’s to be expected”. And if she doesn’t screw up she’s praised for not screwing up.
To praise Kate for wearing her hair back and speaking without reverting to notes every other word… Well, we’re praising an adult for properly lacing their shoes in the morning.
And did I miss book 9?
Well said, Liberty. She is feckless, hence superficial and artificial. Without purpose/passion one has little interest or motivation in anything but getting through it and hitting the spa. She thinks it’s all about her.
I don’t know if anyone commented on this yet but her posture is terrible! I know it could be oossible that photographer caught her at a bad moment but in general she has s tiny slouch.
@bluhare — that was you? My my! But I loved the tiara, and the summer evening cape you were waiting to purchase. And your shoes and ear bobs — divine. Your manservant, by the way, mmmm! And so attentive! I love the way he popped a chocolate into your mouth to take your mind off the wait.
@FLORC — do you think she would work if they had a marital jumble, or just head back to the gym and rowing lessons or Middleshanks Manor? I’m seriously asking, because I don’t know what I think. Missing book numbers — I write them but some haven’t appeared after I posted, I’m sorry.
@hmmm — feckless. That’s it!! The word I couldn’t reach when I was writing my comment in my little rage-y storm. Thank you! 🙂
Liberty, I’m surprised you didn’t notice Rodger’s new uniform. LAK is so taken with it I have to leave her at home these days. She keeps dropping her hanky so he’ll bend over and pick it up. Rodger was most upset when she asked him to flex his gleuts at the same time . . . . One does not need “hostile environment” complaints from one’s minions, does one?
Maybe if there was anything she actually cared about, she could develop more spontaneity in dealing with other people.
But alas, there are no shopping charities.
Dear bluhare — I wasn’t sure if something so small and sheer with tiny leather modesty panels, albeit with golden shoulder braiding, would be called a uniform, but indeed, when Rodger bends….! And the way he bear-hugs you, quite lifting you off the floor if you come too near a sale rack (shudder), muscles rippling across his back like sturdy pilgrims marching to a free shipboard brunch! You are a fortunate woman. Poor LAK, banished from this vision! I do understand the concern, but can she go through a course of sensitivity training? At any rate he is clearly is devoted to you. The way he kissed a lock of your hair, like PGTips himself! Oh — I meant to ask, why does he wear a ruby-covered eye patch? The tattoo of playful corgis that circles his upper left thigh – your idea?
Oh, CC — there is a shopping charity! It is run by LAK and bluhare and others and it is called The Very Best Things For Us and it makes people happy. They do an annual 14K Choose Choo Run as well for women living near only B or C malls.
Ah, dear Rodger, Liberty. A little secret between us girls. I’ve been having my bar maid put the gin on the highest shelf so I can have Rodger lift me up to get it. It’s so . . . energizing!
And the eye patch. Most unfortunate that. LAK was derelict in her duty of stoking the fire in my boudoir and I had to do it myself. Unfortunately, I’d forgotten I’d asked Rodger to pretend to be a bearskin rug in front of the fire and a stray ember got him. Luckily it was not in a very important area!
guffaw and a belly-laugh!
…muscles rippling across his back like sturdy pilgrims marching to a free shipboard brunch…Liberty, your images are breathtaking in scope!
bluhare! I am so sorry about Rodger’s little fireside debacle! It is positively annoying to have the help singed, isn’t it, and I am so happy for your sake it was an unimportant part like a retina. I must say it is wonderful that you are a bearskin-rug basis with your staff; I think it’s so important to be able unbend with them. But, we must wag a gloved finger at our LAK, mustn’t we? Just between you and me, I think she’s back to swooning over her old “Prince Michael of Kent: the Early Honorary Commodore Years” scrapbook — and you know where THAT always leads. She’ll be traipsing round the park in her peach satin directore knickers with a flask of lime rickey calling his name and swinging his old suspenders before you know it. Do lock her cottage door tonight, or make her sit and look at the DM photos of Baldtop relating well to small volunteer children to remind her that even the very least among us must show a sense of duty, even around the quite impressively detailed Rodger. I say, such hands!
wolfpup! I blush.
Vylette
Kate’s poor posture has been noticed by all. We specuated that if she wore shorter heels she wouldn’t need to look down on people so much.
Liberty
I honestly don’t know. She’s thrown herself into dieting and gym before. And i doubt she would gain a work ethic suddenly. William has strayed before. It wouldn’t be a shock to her system imo at this point. You can’t learn how to care for others when you get away with such apathy for so long.
Ladies: Roger is worth all the trouble. He was very amenable to my tender ministrations after *whispers* Bluhare nearly poked his eye out though we like to pretend that she was merely reaching for something else.
i quite forgot about the Prince of Kent substituting for my Tsar. Unfortunately i had to lie down after witnessing other unpleasant things. One is quite distressed.
Briefing notes were sent to Baldtop so that he could be the star of the play date not that new personage that we have barely seen. i promised doggy treats in the form of Cressida two, but alas he sees the babies as teacup humans and we can not curb him from saying so in public.
Cressida two did not brief me on the new baby personage and i am at a loss that they are apparently referred to as ‘the bruiser’. Is this a newfangled title that i am unaware of? My almanac goethe doesn’t include any ‘bruisers’.
I thought that black dress was her best look ever until I saw it’s not full lenght.
From the pictures I have seen of the Tour, she looks really interested and really good. Much better than back home. She really loves tours, obviously.
http://www.nzherald.co.nz/nz/news/article.cfm?c_id=1&objectid=11235733
” Sir Peter left it to Bunty to explain the “Boyzone” story. The couple listened intently to the amazing war tale. Caldwell got into trouble behind enemy lines. At 5000-feet he stepped out onto his wing – a fact that amazed the couple – and hung on to wing to control the plane and jumped off.
“He brushed himself off,” and made contact with trenches, Bunty said. “No way, that’s amazing,” William said. “And how fast was he going when he jumped off?”
Sir Peter explained how he might’ve done it. Kate added: “That’s an extraordinary story.” She asked if he told his story while he was alive, to which her husband added: “He probably dined out on it for some time.””
****She asked if he told his story while he was alive*****
No, Kate, he told his own story only after he died. BTW “Can you test the smell by smelling it?”
I concur with the folks who think a 32-year-old, University-educated person should be able to make small talk better than this, especially as she is concluding her 3rd year on the job this month.
Just add it to the book of things Kate says in pubic… Dame Helen’s and the Queens faces when she asked the granny question.. I would leave out of pure shame if I did that and got those looks.
****She asked if he told his story while he was alive*****
!!!!!!!!!!!
FLORC
Public! Public! Rotfl…Freud loves you 🙂
{smacking head with hand and sighing deeply}
FLORC — hahhaahah!
Somewhat related: I looked at the face of Fraulein Maria yesterday and said to myself, “This is the job when she snaps. This triggers the journal she publishes in 2018.”
Whoa. Has anyone ever had flashing comment boxes while typing a comment? Takes me back quite a few years, let me tell you!
Maybe she meant had he written a book that was published posthumously. I’m working very hard on being charitable today.
Brilliant
There were pics on other sites of her genuinely laughing at something the portrait artist said. I think she’s doing fine.
That McQueen coat is TDF. Seriously. Hope that goes in the recycling rotation.
I seriously need that coat.
Really really i truly love how they make this kid sound so awful is like… “Oh George? yeah no He is the worst!”
My first baby was super colicky, so I totally sympathize with them. Like, “Yeah, of course I love my daughter. She is a little terrorist who is sucking the life force out of me and is driving me to the brink of insanity, but she is super cute, ha, ha, ha!”
With ya wren. My son was a preemie and super colicky for the first 4 months and I felt exactly the same. It really does change you.
I wanted to add though that I didn’t have the luxury of a full time nanny so it’s not really the same. I bet Will has been getting a full nights sleep since his son was born and he didn’t have to worry about food allergies and GI specialists or diaper rashes that kept my sensitive skin son screaming at night.
I tend to agree – these parents definitely have an army of assistants – but it’s not out of the question that Will and Kate (…. or at least Will) stayed up nights with George. Even wealthy parents may feel extremely attached to their children, particularly in the early months, and be loath to go to sleep if the baby is upset.
I have one like that too. After awhile you just can’t pretend its all sweetness and light anymore!
And yet in public, Georgie seems a happy, healthy, active, laid back child.
Yes but if he’s anything like my son he acts totally different when he’s around other people or different places and is being held. Kids and babies can act totally different when they’re are just their parents.
Mel: My mom still says that about me. 🙂
I like the fern dress, a nice way to incorporate one NZ’s national symbols.
The Queen’s portrait, not so much.
I like the fern dress, but like everyone else wish she had worn her hair back.
Plus since she clearly can’t wear a necklace with that black dress, I wish the earrings were more bold. The bracelet is pretty. And that there was another fern on the dress so it wasn’t a sea of black. Maybe on the hip? Or the hem? Something to give the look a extra pop.
L
That fern dress boat neckline is always best with hair above the shoulders. I’m not as bothered by her hair down, but more because she did nothing with it.
That it looks so flat on top and so bushy at the bottom seems like a poor choice.
Never thought I’d say this but props to Kate on that blue coat outfit. Beautiful colour, incredibly stylish and appropriate! Long may it continue 🙂
Huzzah! I approve of this look too. Lovely colour, cut, length and most importantly, hair off face. baby steps. baby steps….
she will allways look like if she is the Diana housemaid.
I’ll call it. All too old fashioned. Hair needs a cut, makeup needs redoing. Clothes are too old for her.
I agree about the haircut. Something around the collarbone would be more flattering, long enough to pull back but without the sausage curl effect. Kate looks lovely with her hair pulled back.
Ditto. From the waist up, the coat looks great. Waist down, the pockets look like the ones we learned how sew on aprons in 4-H. They’re too big for her slender (frail) frame. Her hair looks good, though. Unfortunately, the make-up is aging. Her demeanor at the ceremony was 100% better than it was at Remembrance Day. The tense face probably comes from her struggle to pay attention and look serious (I swear she has adult ADD or is on the spectrum, hence her difficulty engaging with people sometimes). Anyway, she gets an E for effort from me on this engagement.
Respectfully disagree that these outfits are too old for her. She is 32, not 22, making an official state visit, representing Queen and country. Over the past few years she has worn more than her fair share of skinny jeans, jeggings, five inch wedges, flippy skirts and disney princess dresses. While I thought the red buttons coat and pillbox hat was a bit costumey, with the blue Alexander McQueen and the black fern dress, I think for once she’s made some solid choices here.
I totally agree. I think the blue coat looks fabulous. She needs to be modest and elegant and event appropriate-the blue outfit and her hair are perfect!
Well, we didn’t see her Royal Love Taco spill call the outfit a win
Btw, I normally never cared much for Royal gossip but you all have got me hooked!
Royal Love Taco…Heehee!
I know this trip is “informal” so there will be no tiaras (wah!) or probably no formal evening wear, either, but I really was expecting a *touch* more when it came to the jewel game. So far it’s been a bit meh.
Me, too, dammit. Just a fern pin. We want pay dirt! Lol
It’s really a waste to lend Kate any fabulous jewelry. We won’t get a good look as she’ll hide it under her hairs. Look how unnoticed HM’s brooch looked on that stupid red coat.
Good point, OP. 🙂 I’m glad we’re friends again.
Well we have to be friends, old prudes gotta stick together!!!!!!!!!!
Thank you A;) old prude! Does this mean you can be A:( old prude when you’re cranky?
Blue,
A:) is for your request in the previous thread but that’s sad smiley is not a bad idea.
I know, and I thank you for it TPFKAA21!! (That’s The Poster Formerly Known As Angelic 21). I would love to have fun with the emoticon after A.
😛
I imagine the Queen digging around in a drawer and flinging an old fern brooch at the dresser. Here! This is good enough for who it’s for!
Then as soon as she saw they’d landed for the tour, she unlocked a big leather box, plucked out velvet bags and clipped big rocky stunners around her corgis’ necks, and laughed and laughed and laughed.
Liberty, I should not have read your comment in the library…….:D
FeeShalori! Apologies!! 🙂
That’s OK, Liberty, it’s the consequences of reading CB in a setting where you can hear a pin drop on most days. The patrons think I’m having a spazz attack with my effort to keep my giggles muffled!
Did you see the blonde woman in pink behind her? She was rocking a yummy diamond necklace with respectably sized rocks. I found her far more exciting than Waity. I like the Waity fern dress, but for some reason everything on her doesn’t pop.
LOL. The first thing I noticed in that picture was the necklace on the prime minister’s wife.
Oh… the shoes. I just don’t find her stylish at all, especially can’t understand how the press makes her seem like a “fashion icon”. C’mon, really? I know she’s got a certain role to play but she’s so young and skinny and could rock so many great designs, and yet she dresses like this. Like she’s ancient. This is not fashionable or notable no matter who the designer is. Style is a matter of accessorizing and playing not brands. So definitely not a fashion icon. I’m sorry I’m grumpy today I just don’t understand her getting any attention regarding fashion.
Man I tried not to comment but can’t help it!
I agree with you completely. But ‘fashion’ people (not tabloids) don’t really consider her as fashion icon. It’s the rags pushing her as one. Did you notice she is dropped from all the major best dressed/stylish lists already.
I hate that coat because it’s from McQueen. Alexander must be spinning in her grave seeing what crap Burton is selling under his name. How on earth people can tolerate Burton selling lace dresses or that coat under McQueen label. I not a fashion person but even I’m mad to what she has done to that label.
Yes. I’m not a fashion person but dressing up is something I enjoy playing with. Money can’t buy style I guess. You need to have something in you in order to chose the right people to surround yourself with to style you. Regarding McQueen – he truly was a visionary and yes this has nothing to do with that vision.
I didn’t even register the coat’s McQueen. He is rolling, no doubt about it.
I dislike the coat. Then I happened upon a photo of Sophie wearing the same/similar coat in winter white and she looks really good.
http://www3.images.coolspotters.com/photos/1179964/sophie-countess-of-wessex-and-alexander-mcqueen-belted-crepe-coat-gallery.jpg
On Waity it looks too busy. Too much detail. Apart from the fact that Waity makes dullness out of anything, could it be that in this case, she is too thin and the detail overwhelms her? And perhaps the white makes a difference too.
Sophie’s coat had detail above the belt but not those awful deep pockets or flaps so that’s why it looked better with less fussiness. She also has a curvier figure so the coat fit well on her. All those details on Kate’s did overwhelm her frame and her pockets were deep enough that she could have stuffed the flowers she was given in them.
I don’t think you’re grumpy, and I totally hear you, especially on the shoes, but I think she is somewhat limited in how stylish she can be by her job. Certainly I would never call her a fashion icon, but I do think she does a decent job within the confines of what’s appropriate for her position.
See I disagree that one can’t be conservative AND stylish. Many first ladies, Queens, Consorts manages it. Some, like Letitzia, with a fraction of Kate’s budget.
She’s been shopping for the best part of 10yrs, British stores including high street stores are marvellous at providing inhouse styling advice even if you have no interest in fashion. Being in the shops that frequently, and around clothing and accessories should have developed her eye
It’s especially eregious of her NOT to have developed an eye for colour/design/ display of heirloom pieces considering she’s an art history major.
I agree with LAK. You can be both. Maybe not fashion forward, but chic and stylish.
It’s not about being limited on her choices, it’s about not having style in the first place. I believe Kaiser said it in a previous post, but she spends a lot of money on new clothes which always falls flat because she can’t style herself correctly. The clothes, the accessories, the hair, the shoes, etc. all go in to completing the “look.” I think Kate wears clothes well, but that doesn’t matter if the hair is off, the shoes aren’t correct, etc.
She, herself, never claimed or wanted to be a style icon. And I don’t think she lacks style. I just think she has failed to develop it along with her current age and position.
I didn’t mean to imply that you can’t be chic and conservative. I just meant I think she usually does a decent job of looking fairly put together and appropriate. Except for the hair and the shoes and the blow ups. Now, I’m starting to see that my point sort of sucked. Never mind. Lol
Good,
Google Calra Bruni, that women is 1 of the most stylish women and she managed no blow up skirt, conservative, age appropriate, stylish, elegant all at the same time. I think Kate clothes have somewhat bi polar personality, sometimes it’s too teenage girlish and other too old. It’s very rare IMO when she gets it right.
I totally agree with LAK. Many first ladies and royal consorts are super stylish and even fashion forward (except not Letizia of Asturias, gosh that woman wears some awful clothes and she styles them worse). Look at the Empress of Japan (who is in her eighties yet still wears edgy outfits), Queen Máxima, Sheikha Mozha, Rania of Jordan, Caroline of Monaco (even other royal ladies as Rosario Nadal or Marie-Chantal Miller). They all have a distinctive style while being appropiate to their positions.
I agree. It’s The Duchess’ New Clothes.
I wish the clothes were actually new, but it’s always the same silhouette with Kate.
Fitted bodice. A-line skirt.
Fitted bodice. A-line skirt.
Fitted bodice. A-line skirt.
Zzzzzzzzz. It’s gotten boring.
Kate has set the bar so low that the fact that she isn’t wearing an obnoxious amount of buttons & isn’t wearing her hair in Little Miss Pageant sausage curls is actually being celebrated.
Don’t forget belts and buttons! And that raised waistline which does her no favours.
I agree about the raised waistline. It always looks like she’s going for empire bodices to me.
I just tumbled down some steps laughing. 🙂
@hmmm Oh Crap! The Buttons & Belts! Now I’ve got that damned Buttons & Bows song stuck in my head! 😉
I’d blame you hmmm, but it really is Kate’s fault. I wonder if she sings that song to herself in her head, to pass the time at these Official Functions?
Agree with you @mena, that the bar is set low, but I’ll take it. Feeling generous today.
I love her hair pulled back.
Me too…it makes her look younger and prettier…and the blue brightens her up…Kate in the black dress, with the long hair hanging down, looks ten years older…
+1 when her hair is back it looks fresh and confident versus emo high school girl hair down in front of shoulders.
What are the chances her skirt blows up again in the wind? How much fun would that be? Do we think the Q. Calls her back home?
Speaking some Maori was very cool and respectful, imo. I hope HM loves the portrait. The artist also gave William and Kate a piece of sculpture for their own. That the artist can excel in more than one medium is a true cultural credit to his country. William was passing a few polite words with him as the artist was explaining the meaning of the piece. Apparently, William became so interested by the only half overhead conversation that they sat down in nearby armchairs to continue the discussion.
Typical William to forget that he is supposed to mingle, but I am surprised/glad to know that he can engage people and focus on them when he chooses.if only he would provide more patronage at home *sigh*
In all of those photos (especially the last one-that fake smile!) William looks like he’d rather be somewhere else.
I love Kate, I really do and I hate to comment on someone’s body for no reason but she really needs to eat. If she looks that thin in a photo she must be even thinner in real life. She seems bright and happy so maybe its not an eating disorder but wow…
She just seems so frail and undernourished — in older photos before she married William she looked pretty normal – thin, but maybe more athletic. In real life she IS even thinner. My friend saw her up close when she was in Calgary and people in the crowd were talking about how frighteningly thin she was.
Yes. I saw her in Ottawa and she was/is very, very slim for her height (accentuated by the shoes)
I agree with you. She looks much prettier with some extra weight.
@Deb – She was exceptionally thin during her tour in Canada. I think they had even mentioned she was trying to gain weight. It was just off the heels of the wedding so i think she continued the diet and didn’t realize when it had gone too far. But she did look so much better during her university days.
@cro-girl – I think there are 2 things that add to Kate’s thin-frame: 1) Her Posture. It makes her look lanky, and awkward; and, 2) her narrow hips. Kate looks especially skinny because she has no hips. If you look at older pictures when she had more weight on her, she still had a very straight, up and down frame. Kate could stand to gain a few pounds, but it’s not like she will ever be Salma Hayek. Haha! She is always going too look… narrow. That’s just her shape. Pippa’s too, but she’s shorter so it’s not as exaggerated.
HH – Good points! I think you were bang on with those.
Very true, she will never be Salma Hayek!!! Although she was never the least bit heavy, she was always healthy and quite athletic looking up until the dramatic, unnecessary weight loss. Wonder what inspired that as she was slim and trim all the years she and William were dating – without being emaciated.
On a side note, others have commented on her inability to focus, concentrate and provide intelligent answers to people’s questions. A friend of mine works with anorexic patients and said when you don’t have adequate nutrition, these are some of the symptoms.
@Cro-Girl – Thanks!
@Caitlin – I agree. She was always very healthy and athletic looking. If anyone hasn’t seen these photos, then they should:
http://www.celebuzz.com/photos/kate-middleton-bikinis-in-spain/kate-middletone-bikini-2/
Kate had a great athletic figure, but still thin frame. You can also see that she has never been curvy. She has a nice figure, but she’s not built with a curvy, hourglass frame.
HH –
Exactly!!!!!!!!!
Simple – two pizza’s, ten candy bars, and three days – yum – problem solved!
*snickers* I’m sorry but the only thing I get from the photos is Kate standing in front of the Queen’s portrait and the look of the Queen “I’m watching you bish”
And if it’s not water, I’m going to grab that drink with my terrifying three-fingered hand!
ha!
She looks lovely in all of it. Though that boat neck isn’t a good line for broad shoulders, makes them look broader.
Someone needs to provide Baldtop with a new way of describing PGtips because repeatedly describing him as a screamer, together with barely being seen holding him gives the wrong impression.
“Baldtop” LOL
I think she looks great. It’s also very clear someone at the palace had a word with her about dressing more professionally and hem length. There were attempts to deny the story once it was out, but I firmly believe it now. I find it hard to believe Kate’s hem lengths and more serious style came about after 2 years without any help.
I remember reading somewhere that public sentiment in New Zealand now is leaning toward the more conservative end of spectrum, so that also may have played a role in influencing her styling choices/advice.
More likely the palace read her the riot act.
I’m curious whether in person her shoulders are as broad as they always appear, or whether its just because she has absolutely tinyhips! I agree re: the boat neck. I have the oppostie issue (wide hips/narrow shoulders and I use the boat neck all the time to even myself out! I’m not sure what you would wear to have the opposite affect — a line dresses? Maybe that’s why she wears them so much.
LNG: for broad shoulders, halter necks look great. Google pics of Kate in Halter neck dresses, you don’t notice her shoulders at all. And she always looks great.
V necks and halters are the way to go with broad shoulders. Shoulder pads have to be very small otherwise you end up looking like a line backer.
Anything boat or round neck or square neck always tooks terrible on broad shoulders.
As a girl with broader shoulders than hips, I can say LAK is right on the money. V necks, halters, tops with the armholes cut nicely in a bit.
Ok, I have spent far too much time looking at her outfits. You’re totally right – v-neck/halters are the best by far. Except that red McQueen – i still love that one on her. Perhaps the stuff going on around the hips balances her out more.
Maybe he’s just trying to come across as a regular dad and find common ground with the other dads that were present i.e. “I know where you’re coming from, look what a hard time I have with my kid”. Yeah right.
The faux buckle and huge pockets on that coat bring to mind 70s leisure suits.
Thank you. That’s it. All I could think of was garage mechanic.
It is giving off a sort of 70s Mr. Furley from Three’s Company vibe, isn’t it? Maybe the color is part of the problem? It didn’t seem this odd on Sophie.
http://www.rustyzipper.com/pics/150848.jpg
http://funnycrave.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/10/oj-kh100410.jpg
http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_0sA_1nj18Po/TDbeOSmoMNI/AAAAAAAAAfA/2cH-Tw6vHX4/s1600/furley+4.jpg
Yay for the pony! She did a good job yesterday, her pony and clothes were somber, she didn’t grin like a hyena, looked and acted somber and respectful at the memorial service. So full marks from me. She was very well behaved at the reception also, so over all a job well done!
Now back to clothes, although the blue ensemble was appropriate, I thought it was a little too matronly on her, like an old lady coat. I didn’t like the dress at all. The sequence looked off due to her poor posture and I generally don’t like mid length clothes. I prefer either a long gown or just above the knee dress but I’ll give her a pass since she is clearly making an effort according to what queen expects her wear, so again plus points from me.
I have to say I like the fact that she is wearing longer hem lines in this tour, looks like reports of HM’s dresser guiding her to wear more ‘proper or conservative’ were true after all.
Oh and before I forger PGTips rocks!
Well well well just found out Diana also wore baby blue coat to a New Zealand War memorial service. Earlier I thought it’s a co incidence that she wore polka dot coming out of hospital, I didn’t believe she copies Diana but both her arrival outfit and memorial outfit are of same color as Di. I’m not sure it’s still a co incidence but I really do hope so. Kate needs to form her own identity and not follow dead MIL.
I so agree re identity, you old prude, you!
I wish she’d stop trying to copy Diana. She comes up lacking. It’s sad she won’t forge her own path and instead continues to conjure up images of her husband’s dead mother. It’s creepy.
creepy….
I usually love Kate’s coat choices, but not this one. All I see when I look at her is a garage mechanic. She looks great though.
I liked the dress and loved the coat. The jewelry issue I get- while I’d love to see royal bling, it would prob be a bit over the top for this tour. Totally off topic- sure hope Kate and Will got to enjoy some fab NZ wines while there- I would be bummed too if all I could have was water!!
Anyone know why she is only drinking water? Did I miss something?
Apparently she just doesn’t like alcohol and chooses not to drink on most occasions. Maybe if she took a sip once in a while she might be more outgoing and interesting. There, snark over.
PS She really needs to cut that hair, it pulls her face down and adds shadows that age her terribly.
That’s interesting, because there’s plenty of photos of her being quite happy exiting clubs back in the day. She might be afraid of putting a foot wrong so doesn’t drink.
@bluhare, that’s my guess too.
There were yummy local wines at the reception and they will be touring some vineyards this week. I hope it further boosts the visibility of the wines produced there.
I don’t think visibility is the prob, rather distribution. Where I live NZ wines are difficult to find, exc for the usual suspects! Do enjoy trying different ones when traveling.
Have you tried winechateau.com! It is where I buy Mr. snark’s Bushmills.
Vineyard tours!! yay!
I think she could have wine if she chose. From what I’ve seen she usually chooses not to drink at these things.
she usually chooses not to drink at these things.
————————————————————————-
or eat!!!
Think of the calories vs. wine or another drink and it makes total sense. Also, she might not handle the alcohol well.
She’s said to not be a big drinker in general. I would guess that part of it is the calories, and part is keeping up the act (accent, personality) would be too difficult after one too many cocktails.
Love the coat. Not so much the dress.
Standing next to the portrait, Kate looks so uncomfortable and bored. Granny’s watching you!
No pictures from the WWII plane museum? There are some pictures from there that are comic GOLD. Not in the least Peter Jackson acting like a fan girl and taping everything on his iPhone.
http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-2601214/Pilot-prince-Prince-William-climbs-vintage-biplane-says-Its-perfect-start-dismounts-saying-oh-theres-no-dignified-way-doing-Kate-looks-impressed.html
I would love to see how different his personal photos are from the ones we’re seeing…
And his fangirling is hilarious!
William looked like a little kid getting into that plane. Bet he wanted to take it for a spin.
Omg, William in that plane I can’t.
Blue is my favourite colour. So much so that my bridesmaids wore Periwinkle blue. That coat dress looks fabulous. The black one isn’t my taste.
Oh, the hours I spent looking for decorations to coordinate with my own bridesmaids’ Periwinkle Blue dresses that weren’t too purple or gray! 🙂
I like the dress length because I am a huge fangirl for the 50s style. I would bring back white gloves for daytime if I could.
Agreed!!!! If I had had a formal wedding, I would have opted for a 50s inspired gown: boat neck, just below the knees, white gloves…
If Kate leaves her hair down, it drags her features down as well and I think it makes her face look more masculin. Why is William always wearing blue suits? A nice grey would be so much sexier.
I just watched that video and I honestly can’t believe how many people come and wait to just get a glimpse of these two. I don’t think there is anyone I would do that for. I’m an American so maybe I just don’t understand but it sees so bizarre.
If the march on the Mall was any indication in 2008 for the president, yeah, there’s a lot of people who are willing to turn out and stand there just for a glimpse (I was there, I was freezing and tired but I did it to bring my 101 year old great-great aunt because she is the daughter of a slave and it was important to her to see it). I stood in line for 3hrs to get Stan Lee’s autograph a few weeks ago. I guess if you totally squee out for a person, it makes perfect sense but I wouldn’t for these two because meh.
That’s awesome. I would stand in line to see a president, totally. Then again, I would also stand in line (and have) to see Peyton Manning, so …
I wouldn’t stand in line to see royalty, not because they’re not a cool spectacle, but because I just don’t feel any connection.
Omg if I met either Manning I would probably just die. In meeting famous people the only time I have ever been rendered speechless was Dan Marino. Not Madonna, not Bon Jovi, not Chris Hemsworth, not Stewart Scott but my American Football nuttery knows no bounds.
Why stand in line to see a president? They’re only there for…what? 10 years max? Maybe it’s because I think most (if not all) are completely mediocre, that I have this worldview.
Then again I don’t think I’d go anywhere for a glimpse of anyone I don’t personally know, if I did, it wouldn’t be a “glimpse”. Call it my ego (HA) but I see little to no value in standing to see personalities to whom you mean nothing in return other than, at most, a number.
8 years technically. I went because I’m black and a historian and took my 101 year old relative. She was the daughter of a slave and thought she’d never see such a thing in her life time. “I want you to look at this girl and know that *anything* is possible,” she told me and was beaming. I was glad to give her that as she passed away a year later.
So it wasn’t so much, “Zomg it’s the president!” but, “Holy crap this actually happened”.
@MonicaQ I have been a Manning fanatic since he took the starting QB job at Tennessee in … what, 94? I stood in line at a signing one time right after he graduated from UT, and when I finally got up to shake his hand and get my helmet signed, I couldn’t speak. I just stood there laughing and sweating and being an awkward 13-year-old. I’m sure I would do exactly the same thing if I met him now, and I’m 30. I also saw Greg Maddux (my all-time favorite baseball player) in the wild one time, and same thing – speechless, laughter, sweat.
When I’ve seen other celebrities, though? Cool as a cucumber. I just go nuts over sports folks.
@CC
I’m a big policy person – I have a masters in health policy and I work in a related field, and so big political personages, regardless of whether or not I agree with them, are so interesting to me. For me, seeing them in person and having the chance to speak with them would be neat.
@Bucky Totally feel you. I think I managed a stammering, “Thank you, sir” at 14 when Dan Marino signed my jersey during his last season.
I find it hilarious that my whole family (which are from Gainesville so dire hard Gator Nation) LOVE Peyton and Eli so much (obviously myself included). My husband is all, “What are you going to do when they retire? You’ll only have your Dolphins then.” and I shushed him. Do not speak of such blasphemy. Then on top of that my grandma is a die hard-Johnny-U-on-radio-back-in-the-day Colts fan so it came easy.
(I think it was also natural because I loathe Tom Brady–watching your team get roflstomped every time by him for 13 years will do that to you LOL)
Edit to add, still my favorite Peyton gif: https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/od3OqxQjEQyRcLQz5MluCgoXEiFDfhV5d2helrUUlFc=w288-h162-p-no
THE Stan Lee? Wowsa.
He’s so sweet! 4 hours in and he’s still cracking jokes. He asked if I was hot in my cosplay or not and that Florida was murder.
Cosplay! Whom do you portray? We are taking our niece to Tokyo for her sweet 16 and between the cosplay, anime and the cute school boys in their uniforms she is going to freak. Out.
So far I’ve done Reno from Final Fantasy VII, C’thulhu, Garrus from Mass Effect 2, Deadmau5 Thor, Deadmau5 Amaterasu (Okami/Marvel v. Capcom), my Tauren from World of Warcraft, DJ Pon-3 from My Little Pony (just a wig and horn and headphones) and a Moogle from the Final Fantasy series.
It’s so much fun! And my husband lets me dress him up too so that’s the best part XD. She should love Japan too! Try some of the awesome flavors of soda (if she’s allowed to have sugar). There’s all these different kinds and some are delicious.
Let me love you! Lol, if even I have heard of some of your cosplay characters then you rock hard 🙂
You must be penniless though if you do everything by hand, right? I am trying to get Mr. snark to go to one teeny, weeny, tiny steampunk ball with me. With a little perseverance ( and ducttape?) it could happen.
As for the sodas – omg. I’ll just say that an airport debacle involving melon Fanta and me refusing to chuck it into the trash probably made for some hilarious security camera footage.
@Dame I usually take a year or so on each costume and buy them piece by piece so it’s not AS expensive 😀 I do a lot of work arounds—EVA foam (the stuff garage floors are made out of) instead of fiberglass, stilts reinforced with wood and old sneakers instead of the metal spring ones, melting down tupperware containers, you’ve name it, I’ve done it! I’ve won a few contests so it just takes a little more time to make it look right if you’re using other materials.
I had to fight for my orange Fanta from Germany. I almost got a tummy ache from drinking all of it before I flew back but I was NOT throwing that away LOL!
MonicaQ
Fascinating! I would imagine the most rxciting part would be looking at an inspiration character and letting the ideas for adaptation/replication come rapid fire. I would also imagine that the most gratifying part involves the reaction of wonder/admiration of other like-minded participants. I’m so jelly right now lol. I am intrigued by the creative process. Explains why I was the only eight year old in my class waiting breathlessly for This Old House to come on. 🙂
What is your next big project?
My next one is Jon Talbain from Darkstalkers–a werewolf. Finding blue fur was waaaaaaaay too expensive so I just bought white fur from Jo-Anns on sale and dyed it blue. The head is just furniture foam with coat hanger bases because ah-hah carving all of that out of expensive sheets of styrofoam no. 😀
That IS the best part honestly! People come and tap on your costume (respectfully of course) and ask what did you do, do you have a fan in it, what temperature of glue did you use, and I’ve learned so much from random people just on the show floor. Any time I dress up as a mau5, little kids love it (I had a 5 year old attach herself to my leg at Megacon in Orlando a few weeks ago!) so that interaction is great.
If you wanted to try with your wee one (and she sounds adorable) you can always do what’s called closet-play first to see if you like it. It’s what I did first (basically rummage around your closet or the thrift store and put pieces together) or a school girl/sailor scout kind of thing. That was it’s like, “Hey I’m dressed up but I’m totally comfortable!”
I love that McQueen coat. LOVE IT. I want it, but alas.
In some of the pictures, it almost looks like she’s mentally reminding herself to check her posture, since her posture is … not great. As a tall gal myself (I know y’all say she’s more 5’8″ than 5’10”, but that’s still tall), I think that decades of trying not to stick out like a sore thumb around average height friends can wreak havoc on posture. I’m only 5’10”, which isn’t crazy tall, but I’m constantly reminding myself not to stoop, and whenever I see photos, I realize that I’m still subconsciously lowering myself to the (physical) level of those around me.
I like looking up to taller women. Men feel the same way about other men’s height. Maybe it goes back to the mom and dad thing, but there is something that is reassuring about tallness. Please stand tall, and let me look up to you and admire you.
Finally. This is one appropriate and beautiful ensemble – the blue coat and the pulled hair, the jewellery, etc. And again, this is one unappropriate sausage curls hairstyle for a dress with such beautiful decollete and detail. Oh well, 50/50 is better than zero, I guess.
wow, they spent 3 hours working today. no wonder they will take a much needed break tomorrow, they will fly to Auckland and be ”informally” greeted by airman(that’s an engagement according to the palace!), there they will spend the day yachting and go on ”sealegs”. what a hectic tour! *sarcasm*
p.s.I don’t know why everyone here was saying yesterday that the playdate was 2 hours long, it was actually 30minutes.
She looks lovely and the hair pulled back really suits her. Hope she wears it pulled back more often in the future. On an unrelated note, that picture of the queen is pretty bad! They did well to keep their composure.
Hmm, in the pictures of her in the black dress, where her hair is askew, you can see how she’d look with shoulder length hair if you cover up the side with the longer hair. So much better, neater and a lot fresher than when you cover up the side with the “short” hair.
I love how every single one of Kate’s outfits gets dissected by the media, but William pretty much wears the same thing every time. Ok, so now for my dissection. Kate looks better. She has looked better since the christening. Yes her “choices” are very conservative, but they are professional. She can be youthful or daring in her private time, but for state dinners and charity events, she doesn’t need to prove anything. She needs to look the part of a government official. She looks classy here. Props to her (or whoever is dressing her).
We accept that William is dull and apparently has one dozen of the exact same suit in his closet, one pair of mom jeans, one webbed belt for casual wear, two or three cashmere v-neck jumpers, perhaps five ties in various shades of blue and a plethora of white and blue shirts. Just the way it is.
I wish he’d try a nice charcoal grey especially if it has a bit of a sheen. I know we’ll never see him in a skinny suit, but he could try and get out of the blue scheme just once, right?
Looking at the dresses she’s worn, I’m getting more and more confident in thinking that Daily Mail article about how she was getting advice on dressing more regally (the article’s term not mine) was actually spot on. Her hemlines are dramatically lower. The hair’s a bit shorter too.
I know we can go on and on about whether it’s dowdy, appropriate, chic or old fashioned, but the BRF is the BRF and they aren’t going to change any time soon.
I agree. I think she was told to lower her hems, and she did. With her style and belief that A-line is the best, the execution is off. Yesterday’s dress was actually the best I’ve seen her in awhile.
But it took her how long to listen to what they & every fashion magazine has been saying about her skirt length? Kate’s a kirt length has been an issue for a few years and she’s only now starting to lengthen them. At this rate, George will be in middle school & Kate will still be flashing her bits because her skirt is still blowing up.
My question: there are so many skilled designers. Can’t one or two make it a project to create a look that is both BRF-appoved yet a little more modern, or simply help her establish her personal best looks and style? We’ve all seen images of the young royals of other countries looking both contemporary and appropriate (Princess Letiizia stands out). I suppose they would have to wait to be summoned and that won’t happen. Perhaps they can create for a site or a magazine, a fantasy photo shoot, show their concepts and get her thinking….look at Letiizia on Zimbio to start.
A nice (though casual) shot of Letiiza and her family…Kate and Baldtop could pull this off:
http://www.newindianexpress.com/entertainment/photos/article607754.ece
From what I’ve read, Princess Letizia has a much smaller clothing budget (a fraction of what Kate reportedly gets) and I think she does a fantastic job of looking elegant, professional and age-appropriate. Though I realize she has her own image issues within Spain.
Please do not put Leti as an example. It is true that her budget is much smaller BUT her some of her choices are baffling and not event appropiated. She has not style whatsoever (which is fine I think) but she dresses like she is out for a concert when in true she is in a military parade and has to be respectful to it.
But she’s already done a couple of “bespoke” outfits, hasn’t she? Sarah Burton or Emelia Wickstead? Diana used someone at Vogue, at least initially. Someone who’s in the fashion world could do it. Heck, I think Victoria Beckham could do it. I really like some of her things and she can do a ladylike sexy look.
Perhaps I need to start following letizia’s fashion choices more closely.
VB is a great suggestion for the duchess of upskirt.
Admittedly, I’m a big Letizia fan. I’ve seen her being used as an example for Kate to follow in the last few posts here. So let me just explain:
Letizia has about 200-250 events a year. Most of her clothes are recycled and cheap. She didn’t have her own clothing budget until this year. 10 years as Princess and she only got her own clothing allowance this year. Her clothes are cheap and they truly look cheap. But they are also Spanish brands and Letizia was put in a box a decade ago when the media labeled her a Spanish fashion ambassador. She’s not allowed to wear foreign brands or clothes that the media may deem too expensive. One wrong facial expression is enough to set the tabloids printing gossip after gossip, what more if it’s a pricey dress?
Letizia’s style nowadays is minimalist and adequate for a modern-day royal who is constrained by budget and heavy scrutiny from the press. It’s a far cry from her earlier pretty pastel suits and very elegant outfits. The change in her style was brought on by negative feedback from the media. They called Letizia’s gorgeous suits old-fashioned, pretentious, and a copycat of the Queen’s. The royal house probably made the conscious decision to change Letizia’s style to a trendier look, and the Spanish recession coincided with the usage of cheap clothing.
Her off-duty style is actually quite chic and relaxed. It’s the official day events that become a problem when she starts to recycle and mix-and-match individual pieces. She is not very good at it. Dresses are better for her because they’re easier to accessorize. Also, Letizia has never had a stylist. She has no shopping assistant. She has no hairstylist on-call. She has no team of professionals who help her get ready for her events except for State events like State dinners and royal weddings.
To be honest, what I like seeing in Letizia are her focus and dedication to her job. She always looks interested. She exudes presence, gravitas and intelligence. I forget about her outfits but I remember the events she’s attended, the speeches she made, the positive impressions of those who’ve met her, and the awareness she raises by continuously supporting charities and organizations.
I think the best moment I’ve seen of her was when she attended a conference for rare childhood diseases, a cause she has championed for several years now, and a little boy spoke about his condition. The camera panned to Letizia and it showed her intensely listening and she was tearing up. The little boy blew her a kiss and Letizia started wiping her tears. Her clothes are not the best but her human connection and compassion more than make up for any “concert outfit” she may wear.
It’s the opposite with Kate. I often forget the events she attends, but I remember her appearances for the numerous short hems, the upskirt photos, the annoying hair, the fidgeting and giggling, the vacant stare, the inane and vapid questions/comments, and overall immature demeanour. No amount of McQueen or $50,000 dresses or royal jewels can cover up for a dull personality and an uninterested mind.
hear, hear!
She looks like an old lady in that black dress. She looks way better and cuter with the blue coat.
why doesnt she try and be FIERCE like princess charlene, charlene is ALWAYS interesting well kate is ……. Boderline duill,
CHARLENE!?!?!??! Fierce?? the ambassador of beige? 97% of the time she looks like an unbaked bread roll in pain. Am I missing secret photos??
Fiercely depressed? Fiercely repulsed by her husband? Those I get.
I think she’s trying for INNOCUOUS. Seriously.
hmmm, I agree with you.
Fierce??? Take a good long hard look at her eye make up – esp. the liner – if that doesn’t make her look severe & fierce, I don’t know what would! Fierce isn’t what someone in her position should be aspring to anyway.
Fiercely coked-out in my view, but I would agree that Charlene knows how to dress appropriately and chicly (is that a word?) for official functions.
I liked the blue it was a nice colour on her. Loved seeing her with her hair pulled back; a welcome change and it really suits her. I do think she could do with a bit of extra weight on her, she looks a bit frail to me. I know she signed up for it but the intense scrutiny must be pretty overwhelming, talk about pressure to perform!
At the dinner I loved the silver fern on the neckline of the dress but not so sure about the length of it? i would have preferred it to be shorter, but maybe she’s following the Queens wishes here? I loved her black suede stilettos I just bought a pair last week, but mine are not Jimmy Choo alas! 🙂
Overall I think both of them deserve full marks for the way they handled today’s outings; it was nice to see them both interacting with the children who came to see them in Blenheim. William has a nice way about him when around children; he was very cute with the little girl who had lost her tooth.
I just don’t think that color blue is quite the right hue to highlight her skin. Otherwise, I like the coat, and the dress.
I am SO relieved to hear you say that! I so totally agree! She needs a deeper hue.
That woman is plain…plain…plain.
And her legs look super stubby in that black dress.
Please keep writing about the Aus trip. It’s so much fun!
Also she’s starting to look really mean.
It won’t be long before she’s downright nasty.
I think she looks great! My hair is longer and just as thick if not thicker than hers. It’s beautiful hair so why not wear it long?
The pockets on the blue coat are fugly, too big. The belt is too wide, too. The color is OK, not my favorite on her.
The black dress would be ‘super’ if the bateau neckline wasn’t so wide and if there were some beaded ferns on both sides. Right now it looks like a silver spider dropped on her left shoulder.
I’m not sure about her hair. The pony tail shows how horrible her skin tone is, and the loose mop detracts from her so-called professionalism mostly because she’s always running her fingers through it.
At least the hemlines are appropriate and there wasn’t any flashing going on. 🙂
I wish she and Wills would hold hands once in awhile, or she would take his arm. They always stand together yet apart with their hands clasped in front of them. It looks awkward somehow, like they are uncomfortable when they’re together. And I’ve never seen Wills hold the baby.
At least Waity didn’t flash her royal taco today, so there’s that. But that coat looks like a mechanic’s! The pockets are too big for her frail frame. Someone get that girl to eat! Look at those bird legs! How inappropriate are those sausage curls? OMG she looks so bored, like she can’t be bothered to engage in conversation with peasants. She can’t even work 3 hours a day without almost falling asleep. Baldtop at least looks OK, but I bet he hates his kid.
I do think some of y’all’s comments are funny but this whole post is an exercise in hostility and meanness. Women are women’s worst enemy. Peace out.
Why don’t we forego the fashion show critique and focus on her role as a royal and whether or not she’s measuring up? Naw, that would be too boring for the majority of the posters….there wouldn’t be much to talk about.
She dresses like former first lady Barbara Bush. I don’t know why some people think she is “fashionable.” Unless “fashionable” means dressing like senior citizen from the 1990’s.
seriously, her “style” is disappointing for her position. That black dress is very boring…She’s not glowing. I think she’s not even trying!
It’s the nicest she’s looked in a long time. And she pulled her hair back! (must be the apocalypse. damnit I’m trying to be not snarky)
One small critique though is broad shouldered anyone shouldn’t wear bateau necklines. It emphasizes the shoulders. Coupled with the tea length really stumps entire body.
I like the blue coat. I don’t normally think any clothes are “too old” for a woman, but that black dress with the silver fern is too old for any woman. It looks like she’s a frumpy woman in an Agatha Christie mystery set in 1936. The one no one believed would be capable of murder because she’s so stupid, but it turns out she has enough crude shrewdness to have pulled it off. At least she pulled her hair back.
That’s the most we can expect out of this woman: that she will occasionally pull her sausage curls back. Forget any speeches or work or inspiration or patronage. She pulled her hair back, and that’s a step forward.
LOL…….Agatha Christie movie set………..!
It’s quite telling when she gets praise for wearing a pony tail. After three years, the expectations (by me at least) seem to get lower and lower…. Sorta like it was so great that her skirt didn’t fly up yesterday! LOL.
Very pretty.
And I thought the ferns were a lovely touch on the plain black dress (Obviously the ferns are a symbol of New Zealand for those that don’t know).
I hate all of her clothes and I want Letizia to teach her how to dress.
Off subject, but my hometown of Memphis TN is reporting that William and Harry, and possibly Kate, Cressida and the York sisters will be in town next month to attend Guy Pelly’s wedding. He is marrying a local girl. Should be interesting..
Her hemlines are SIGNIFICANTLY lower! I think the Queen has nothing to do with that but apparently someone said something to her about not choosing such short dresses…
Ha! What a coincidence. I saw pics of the royal tot at that play group and thought, “That lad is a future prop.” None of you will get what that means, but google “rugby prop” to get the full gist of his nibs description of his son. A prop is basically a human troglodyte–and I’m allowed to say that because I was a prop.
‘Twould do The Firm a power of good to have a rugger king some day. Enough with that fricken, effete polo; put a rugger lad on the throne and that might stave of republicanism for another generation.
To me she looks drab and boring, as per usual. She doesn’t have that certain spark or vibrance to carry off any outfit properly, She seems to always be in another world or worrying about if she’s doing everything perfectly and properly. She, also, appears as if, in some pictures, she’s not entirely comfortable around William, like he is disapproving of her and like he’s is going to give her a good yelling later. Just my two cents.
DM has photos in her latest outfit — skin tight jeans and those wedges!! An ole favourite. LOL> Only accentuates how extremely thin she’s become.
Seriously, I really don’t understand how it is possible to be this thin unless you are doing copious exercise and severely limiting calories. I know that some people are naturally very thin and have fast metabolism but we’ve all seen the photos of Kate in college when she was less slim. It is very rare to just naturally be 5’10 and have had a baby and be 30 years old and slimmer than most 15 year olds. It bothers me that society upholds kate as a role model and even with her education and status, she is obviously pressured to be this thin. If this is how thin she looks in photos then she must be tiny in real life
She is 5’6″, not 5’10”, and she is deliberately 20 pounds underweight. I do not think this is due to stress, she started over-slimming to get William back the last time he strayed and it worked.
Great observation!
Her face doesn’t look gaunt tho… Although I do think she would look better with a few pounds. But that’s the same as how I feel about Angelina and I often get jumped on here if I ever mention her weight so I’m not sure if it should be an issue here.
I think Hollywood in General perpetuates the skinny is beautiful mantra and I wish it wasn’t so… I was Kate would break the mold a bit but doesn’t seem as tho she is going to at this point..
I know if the eyes of the world were on me I would be pretty committed to my diet also… Hmmm maybe I should just pretend LOL 🙂