In the midst of one of the most interesting New York Fashion Weeks in a while (I seriously can’t remember paying this much attention to NYFW, ever), it seems that the newest member of the royal family is being discussed, dissected and disrespected all over town. Unfortunately, no designer, buy or style critic is willing to give Duchess Kate the hard truth: the raccoon eye makeup needs to go, and she needs to be weaned off of garish buttons. But there are still some bitches out there who come perilously close to hating on Kate.
Kate Middleton isn’t at New York’s fashion week, but she’s the big topic of conversation there, and a lot of it isn’t very nice.
When the Duchess of Cambridge is pictured wearing a new outfit it flies off the shelves and crashes retailers websites, but the New York fashion crowd doesn’t seem to be very impressed with her sense of style.
Gregg Andrews, the fashion director at Nordstrom had a backhanded compliment for Kate: “She is stylish, but she’s not setting trends, she’s following trends. If you take Kate out of the Royal Family, put her on a street in New York, you wouldn’t look at her twice. She’s a beautiful woman, but she blends into a crowd,” he said.
Ouch!
Elle magazine fashion news director Anne Slowey was a little more kind to the 29-year-old future Queen of England: “Is she a style icon of the likes of a Kate Moss? Absolutely not. Is she in the public eye? Are people going to become obsessed with everything she wears regardless of what it is? Yes.”
Neiman Marcus fashion director Ken Downing acknowledged that Kate does have influence over the fashion world: “Is she iconic at the moment? Time will tell. She’s certainly influential. In the position that she’s in you can’t be simply stunning as she is and not have influence,” he said.
[From Radar]
If you go back and look at Princess Diana’s style through the years (sidenote: don’t even start yelling at me about the Diana-Kate comparisons – Diana was our last stylish royal, and William WANTS people to compare his bride and his mother, or else he wouldn’t be so hell-bent on making Kate so Diana-esque), Diana’s early fashion doesn’t really hold up. As in, most of the crap she wore doesn’t look good to the modern eye. That being said, Diana was actually a trend-setter – that’s why many of her outfits look bad to us today, because she was setting trends and revitalizing the fashion industry and designers took her lead.
Now, maybe it’s wrong to expect the same kind of thing from Kate. It’s a different time, a different fashion industry, a different kind of princess/duchess, and there are different expectations. Kate is 29 – her general style tastes have already been formed, and as the years go on, I suspect that we will not see her change much. Same old raccoon eyes, same button problems, similar conservative, “mature” looks. By the way, Kate was named “Queen of High Street Fashion” by some UK poll – they put her at the top of a list that included Cheryl Cole, Pippa, Katie Price and assorted C-list British celebrities. Not really an accomplishment.
Photos courtesy of WENN.
Oh please. Everyone would be scandalized if she dressed like Lady Gaga. She’s a royal, not a model.
I feel so sorry for this poor girl. All she has done is try to be gracious and polite, walking a fine line so to speak.
I like her simple and elegant style.
She is not an actress, model, or singer so WHY does she have to be fashion forward? Her most important job is not being involved in scandals and making the royal family look good. So far she is doing an excellent job IMO.
I bet she cares
I would rather look like Kate Middleton than Kate Moss, Kate Moss looks like she needs scrubbed with dettol and a wire brush and she would give you a good dose of the clap. Leather crusty hot pants or a gorgeous DVF dress, think K-Midd is the way forward 🙂
I mean I bet she DOESNT care at all.
She wears what she likes and looks great. I think these detractors need new hobbies…
Her fashion is so boring,i’m so over it,she simply puts on a dress,a cluth,shoes,let her hair fly and that’s it for her fashion.No new makeup,hairdo or striking shoes!.i agree with Greg Andrews’s comment.there’s no wow factor,she doesn’t stand out.
Here we go attack her about the way she dress, leave the girl alone
‘Now, maybe it’s wrong to expect the same kind of thing from Kate.’ Yep Kaiser you are wrong.
Kate is expected to produce the future King/Queen nothing more nothing less.
Kate does seem less than Diana in a good way. Diana was what we would call today a fame whore, especially in the latter years. Kate is yet to reach those heights.
I know others may disagree with me but let me just say that when Diana and Charles, (known as Lady Di back then), came to my part of the woods she was lovely. I was eight at the time and she answered our questions with good humour and even took photos with us children. So I always had a high opinion of her. I am just saying in later years she realised the power of the press and played it to her advantage.
Leave her alone. I don’t know why people expect her to be some leader in fashion. Is there a shortage of women who do that already?
Surely there is something better she could do with her time, especially considering her position, then parade around in the latest fashion and be judged on whether she is a trend setter or not.
I think she cares just the right amount about fashion. These fashion types think we all live and breath for their stuff. I mean, it’s good to look nice, but get over yourself, NYFW.
@Abby….I agree, where does it say she has to set trends? By all indications, the clothes that she wears become instant sellers in the stores, so I think she’s doing quite well.
The real question is: Where has Kate gone? She must be pregnant and in hiding out, re-wearing all her dresses, until its safe to announce she’s expecting. We haven’t seen her in months. .
Seriously, who gives a crap what these people say?? She’s a future Queen of England, not a fashion model. She usually looks lovely and tasteful, it isn’t her job to be a freakin’ trend setter and I’m sure it’s not on the top of her goal list either.
Why is everyone expected to become a fashion icon these days? Aren’t there nobler aspirations?
@Mitsey Martin ‘Kate Moss looks like she needs scrubbed with dettol and a wire brush’ LMAO!
She has beautiful and classic dresses, wore a stunning wedding gown and does great makeup that serves HER features well.
Save but the buttons issue, she does have a great sense of style, and just because she doesn’t give in to silly whims, or “trends that don’t flatter her body and her features, doesn’t make her lacking in style and fashion.
I don’t even like her, but the one thing she does have is a great sense of style.
And what makes you think she is molded in a very Diana-esqe sense?
William chose someone very different and their styles and personalities (and looks) are very different.
Isn’t everyone an “icon” these days? Katie Holmes. Ha.
i am disappointed in you. it is so shallow to expect her to be a fashion plate and to keep beating her up about it – which you do. is that all there is to being a prolific woman nowadays – prolific for whatever reason. actually i am glad if she sticks with her own style and doesn’t give way to the pressure to have a stylist and be the new jackie o or diana or whoever. it will say more about her character if she remains true to herself and surely that is more important or?
Seriously, Not everyone gives a crap about fashion or setting fashion trends.
Who really cares about such superficial stuff but others in the fashion industry. They’re probably pissed b/c she isnt wearing their works and isnt helping boost their sales.
I think she dresses nice. if thats what she wants to wear than that what she should wear. Its not her job to boost these designers sales.
Even if she did get a little more trendier, she would still be bashed for that.
She isn’t fashionable, she’s boring. And I don’t think she’ll ever set trends. She’ll be told what to wear because that’s the type of person she is. She doesn’t have the tenacity or creativity to be the first to do something.
Did that poll have Kate Moss on it (doesn’t sound like it), because if it did Kate Moss will win every time. There’s only room for one most fashionable Kate in the UK and Kate Moss isn’t going anywhere.
So she’s not a fashion victim and doesn’t follow only the latest trends, who cares! I think he style is pretty tame and boring but she is dressing low-key and uncontroversially. She is not out of style, she just choses simple styles that could be considered classic or contemporary. She’s a royal, not a model!
I wonder how much of what Kate wears is under some kind of dress policy or royal protocol. Even if not, she probably feels so much pressure to fit a role and not mess up and offend anyone. So making a safe choice is most likely the only choice for Kate right now. With time, maybe we will see more bold and individual choices. Then again, Pippa doesn’t have the same pressure, and she also looks like she shops at the mall. i hope those hideous wedges burn!
She knows what she likes, what looks good on her, and wears it well. Don’t know what the fuss is about.
God forbid she starts clumping around in Lady Gaga shoes.
Jane – uh she doesn’t do anything else with her time. Her clothes are the only thing she’s got going for her. Oh wait I forgot she’s a “housewife” *eyeroll* If the Royal family is going to keep up the charade they could have at least gotten someone who understands the game and knows her duty.
William will not make a good king.
I completely agree that she does not NEED to be a fashion icon, but I think people WANT her to be because of her position and her predecessor (Diana) definitely was. That’s why people are commenting on it. I also agree with the fashion peeps that her clothes are boring. Because they are. Her sense of style is nothing more than okay. Not bad. Just…fine.
She’s a beautiful girl and seems very comfortable in her own skin (one of the best accessories one can have), but I myself am one of those people who want to see her step it up. Not because she must, but because I love fashion. And who better to be a style icon than the future queen of England?
The New York fashion industry simply doesn’t like the fact that somebody outside their inbred little industry is setting trends. That’s their job and they don’t like it.
And Kate Moss? I didn’t realize that forgetting to wipe the coke off your nose was trendsetting.
I think she has a greater acceptance of her role than Diana did. And for all those who say, “Diana was so fashionable! Diana was so involved in charity!”–no. Not at first. And I blame her wedding dress for much of the fashion of the 80s.
Kate dresses elegantly and conservatively, and after the past decade of Britney and Paris and the Kardashians, that’s very refreshing.
Oh! And I find it HILARIOUS that some people say stuff like “who cares about that superficial stuff” blah blah blah. So what do you do with your time? Save starving orphans? Everyone has/does superficial things in their own right. Some like fashion, others like cars, others like tech gadgets. No one is completely free of superficiality, so save it with the holier-than-thou.
Diana was her own worst enemy because she became a dangerous dichotomy of “royal” and “media star”. Being a royal is bad enough with the never-ending paparazzi hounds after you. But combine it with her hunger to be in the media spotlight, her fashion icon status, her manipulation of the press, her famous (or infamous) friends, well it had to end tragically one way or another. I admire Kate for not falling into that “I want to be famous” trap and just being happy to be William’s wife and future mother of their children. She seems very sensible and low-key, which is what the royal family needs now after the last generation’s disastrous marriages, affairs, and general un-royal behaviour.
You know what, Katie fan girls: If she actually did anything else, anything at all, no one would care if she was a fashion trend setter or follower. She has done nothing her whole life except bag a prince. She should pick a charity and get busy. Then people would lighten up on her dress. Personally, I think she’s boring as hell, but she always looks pleasant and well put together. Except for that hair flicking thing she does. Very affected.
And William invited the comparisons between his wife and mother when he gave Kate his mother’s ring. I don’t think that was his intention, but that was the outcome.
Ummm let’s see fashion icon vs. future QUEEN OF ENGLAND…yeah like she gives a shit what these common catty bitches think?
Do I see TOES!! OOoooo Kate…you in trouble girl!
Tierra – I agree with you 100%.
Doesn’t Kate wear British designers almost exclusively? I am sure that the NYFW designers would love the cachet of having Kate wear their designs. I think it is too early to expect her to branch out much in her style. She has found a great look that works with the type of public appearances she makes. She has to walk such a fine line, dressing properly, keeping the palace happy. She needs to soften her makeup, but overall I think she is lovely.
I think that they are annoyed thatvshe doesn’t wear high end designer duds all the time and that there are a lot of sour grapes talking in NYC this week.
Also, I watched the special last night about Jacqueline Kennedy. JFK absolutely told her that she could not wear French designers, so she went to Oleg Cassinni. He created her whole look and it was gorgeous. They showed so many of her gowns and dresses used for foreign visits. Kate would be well served to study Jackie instead of Diana. Jackie’s clothes influenced a whole generation.
I am actually happy Kate is the way she is. It makes her less shallow–or at least appear to be less so. She is who she is, and if I were her I wouldn’t listen to a lot of vapid fashion critics. She looks lovely and appropriate for her station in life. JMO.
Its hilarious and stupid how most of the lower NYFW asswh*le stylists comment on unrelated things just to stay relevant or make a ‘buzz’ during a one week thing.
Really important people in the industry arent spending their time commenting about her dress sense, they are the ones setting trends and are honored that she would follow it and wear their clothes, I reckon.
To me it just sound like a bunch of famewhores jealous because a newcomer isnt there licking their boots, simply put.
These fashion critics expect Kate to be like Victoria Beckham, which is ridiculous. I hope Kate continues to reject that world.
I love Kate. My only comment is that her hair is too long. It over-powers her tiny frame. Princess Diana didn’t always look great either, so Kate is bound to make mistakes.
I only agree with one item re Catherine. The under eye liner needs to go. Too harsh.
I’m so over people criticizing this woman for her hair, makeup, clothes, doing this – not doing that. Bleh.
Is she a person or a doll?
I personally love fashion and even I agree the expectations being put on her are ridiculous. All these designers must have quite the amount of free time to be so obsessed with what she is and is not wearing.
Why are they comparing Kate Middleton to Kate Moss? That’s idiotic. Kate Moss’s JOB was (is?) fashion. That is not Kate Middleton’s job (which is……??)
Anyway. I don’t care one way or the other about HRH but for crying out loud leave her be about not being a “fashion trendsetter”
She dresses like the sloane she is. Every girl/woman on the King’s Road dresses the same. There might be a bit of Essex creeping in ie the fake tan, but all sloanes [or sloane wannabees] dress the same. And as for the hair flicking, again, a sloane trait. They all do it. Seems to be the only thing they do except dress in a way that will frighten the horses!
I never saw her as a fashion trend-setter, and don’t understand why everyone assumes a “princess” HAS to be a fashion trend-setter. Is it because Diana was? Or because we expect royalty to be rich enough to AFFORD high fashion?
At any rate, I think Kate TRIES to be a fashion trend-setter, so any criticism of her fashion sense is fair game to me. All of her outfits looked terribly staged and over-thought-out (not to mention starving herself to be runway-thin). So she’s trying TOO hard, imo. And that contributes to people expecting some great fashion from her. But the payoff isn’t there. I’ve stopped expecting it from her, and I’m sure others will stop in time too, once they realize she just doesn’t have “it.”
She looks classically stylish, and comfortable in her clothes — she wears them, they don’t upstage her. She clearly has her own taste & style.
Also, I’m impressed she’s wearing $300 dresses, not $3000 ones. The fashion snipes are just mad she’s not shilling for their advertisers.
Eh, I think I liked it better before throngs of supporters kept reminding us of how well put together her eyeshadow is, or what-have-you. Now, it’s a crusade–‘Save Ferris, um Kate!’. Save her from what?
Kate Moss is as appealing as the things that left my body before the renegade face diagnosis, during the time in which it became evident that I was violently allergic to my pre-surgery antibiotics, and the things that fell out of my face after the dental surgery. My message is this: if you care about the health and comfort of your wisdom teeth and gums, don’t use Kate Moss. I saw her wedding dress, so clearly I just don’t get it…
…but as least she has a (smack) job, Middleton.
I would argue that she may well set trends, as far as more modest, conservative dressing goes, and that is not necessarily a bad thing.
She looks tasteful – no wonder the critics say she’s no Kate Moss. I don’t think we need anymore of those, thank you very much!
And get over your button issue . . . there’s not a button to be found in your photos above!
@danielle I completely agree. I think we’ll see the resurgence of nylons/stockings as well as an uptick in tailored, modest clothing in the upcoming seasons.
But I also agree with #41 (can’t read your name) that she needs to trim the hair several inches.
Did I miss the part where being a fashion icon was part of her royal duties? Kate always looks fabulous. She looks great in whatever she’s wearing. She’s not mandated to set fashion trends.
Half of the crap showing on the runways right now I wouldn’t be caught dead in. It’s all freakish and something Lady Gaga would wear on stage. What royal would want to wear that to a polo charity? Be realistic, people.
Please stop calling them buttons. They are broaches.
The duchess wears them because her grandmother-in-law, also known as the Queen, lends them to Kate from her private collection to wear on different occassions.
Rather than possibly getting on the bad side of this powerful lady, she does the nice thing and puts on the out-dated broach. No different than the wearing of an ugly Christmas sweater, etc.
‘William WANTS people to compare his bride and his mother, or else he wouldn’t be so hell-bent on making Kate so Diana-esque’
What a load of BS. I’ve read some tripe on here but honestly this is the worst untruth that has been used to excuse the utter comtempt you show for Kate. You have no idea who she is, who they are and to be honest you have no idea about the role of the royal family.
As charasmatic as Diana was, nobody wants another Diana, especially William.
And clearly Kate doesn’t want to be setting trends else she wouldn’t be shopping in the high street.
F8ck all of them. Kate is great.
Well, I’m not impressed by the stuff running around on fashion runways. Most of it looks ridiculous.
You know what I would say if I was her? “Bitch I’m a princess.” And that is all.
Hey Scarlett, when everyone talks Kate’s button obsession they are talking about the clothes that she wears with a lot of big buttons not the jewelry that the Queen lends to her.
She is gorgeous and lovely and I’m sure is not crying in her loafers over the slights by so called fashionistas that think they have the pulse on all things fashionable. There is something called classic style which is also very fashionable for most of us and which Kate embodies. She is not forcing her style on us she is just living in her style which is fantastic. I hope my daughter dresses like her one day and not the exhibitionists that are pretending to set trends.
I don’t even like the royal family but she’s a PRINCESS, who gives a fuck what some buyer from a department store thinks???
personally I think her look is tasteful but boring – at least she’s not flashing her knickers and getting a boob job like most English chicks her age 🙁
They just want her to be a tool for them to sell their crappy clothes.
I love Kate for being who she is (eyeliner and all) and not trying to please everyone – especially these losers.
Diana tried meeting everyone’s expectations (and getting love from others since it wasn’t coming from her “family”) and it sent her right over the edge.
Thank goodness Kate has more self esteem and support than poor Dianna did.
I like that she does not care to be a fashion icon. She is a real woman that will wear and has worn some of her outfits more than once. Good for her…she does not seem like a shallow “look at me and what I’m wearing now” type ..a la KK, Gaga, ect.
I think her “job” is something else than setting trends.
I also think she wants to appear more “normal” and approachable.
Gee, as symbolic link to the head of state in a struggling economy her low kye manner is respectful of British citizens. Wouldn’t it be shameful, if she pranced around in high priced duds while London burns? Thats what celebs are for, not the Royal Family.
I’m going to say that I don’t really know who Kate is yet, or how great a royal she will be, but people saying she does;t have a job just don’t realize that at least 90% of the photographs of her are taken of her DOING her job. Right now she is learning. She is accompanying her husband and other royals to charitable or important events, making visits to friendly nations, and so on, so she can learn the ropes of the public life, something which I am sure must be experienced to be learned.
As to her fashion sense, she wears well-taliored clothing that fits her and is appropriate to the occasion, which is all she needs to do.
I have a theory about the fashion industry in general, and the “high fashion” and couture markets especially…..that the designers deliberately try to make lots of ugly things (not all of the pieces from a collection, that would be too obvious) to see what people are gullible enough to wear. The “trendsetters” often are people who fall for this crap, and I imagine Karl and Co sitting back at night watching footage of this and laughing……
Diana was called a trendsetter but really she just did the same thing that Kate is doing, for the most part…putting on tasteful clothing that flattered her frame, and the masses went out and bought it because she was wearing it. Trendsetting, yes, but not in a strictly “fashion forward” kind of a way.
I think she does care what people think of her appearance. I think she cares too much. Anyone who loses that much weight like she did this year has body-image issues and must be very insecure. The fact that she’s a “princess” is not much comfort. Diana was a “princess” for a while too, but her divorce taught us all that princesses (even very popular ones) are disposable. I’m sure that weighs on Kate’s mind every day, hence her drive to be super skinny (and fashionable, which she fails at, but I’m sure William and the rest of the royal family wouldn’t know good fashion if it bit them in the behind anyway, so that’s ok). If she’s that skinny in photos, I can’t imagine how sickly she looks in person. And the fact that her family and husband don’t seem to care is very sad and disturbing.
No she isnt fashion forward but I dont think its her job to be fashion forward. If she was she would be criticized for wasting her time as Queen to be on fashion vs substance/charity work.
She does try and she does care (a little to much) but she comes from more of a conservative background so it would be odd if all of a sudden she started dressing avant guarde.
Patricia – I dont know if Kate has more self esteem than Diana. She has only been a Princess a short time and in this very short time has lost a ton of weight, more than Princess Dianna ever did, and cares very much about her appearance. She has only begun to hear critical comments. Time will tell if she holds up.
Certainly having a husband who loves you and not someone else from day 1 of marriage (Charles & Camilla) should give her more comfort than Diana ever had.
I love Kate! She is classy and conservative and she represented her country and the monarchy with incredible grace on this summer’s North American tour. She is lovely!
Kim – great point about having a very loving husband. They do appear to have a strong relationship. That will help the both of them.
I think she looks lovely. She doesn’t need to be a fashion icon. All she needs to do is sit pretty and look elegant.
She has a boring style, hardly a trendsetter; the clothes wear HER. Blame the media for being OTT as usual about her fashion “capabilities”.
Kate’s major issue, fashion-wise, is her tendency to dress in costume-like outfits. Over-do it and it stops being a clever and thoughtful reference to the occasion, and instead comes across as condescending, manipulative, and shallow. Good use of deeper meaning rather than just looking pretty: her wedding dress lace was embroidered with the symbols of the UK, and even the maple-leaf hat, though a little cheesy, was still a sweet and funny gesture. Bad use of costume: the military outfit for the Birmingham riots visit.
She’s relevant -after all, they’re talking about her, and I think she clearly cares about clothes becasue of the excessive thinness. It’s her desire to avoid any criticism, including of her appearance. She seems to have a wonderfully supportive family, and I hope she finds her way, and learns to not need a perfect score from the media. The general public is much nicer and more accepting than say, the Daily Fail, the tabloids, and the fashion press, so she doesn’t need it. What she does need is some substance in her public image.
What those superficial twats at NYFW fail to take on board is that maybe Kate IS happier following trends than setting them. If she dressed like some of the less important Royals do the knives would really come out. She can do whatever she likes really. If I was her I would say ‘I’m a DUCHESS, so bugger off you boring little peasants’.
So yeah, her clothes are boring, conservative and modest and not ‘fashion forward’. But that’s kind of the point. Part of her Royal PR job is NOT to stand out of the crowd but be relatable to the public. Some of the staunchest fans of the royals in the UK are elderly, and her clothes fit the tastes of this demographic whilst still being streamlined enough to appeal to the younger public.
Diana did set more trends, and this buzz around her is what fuelled the paparazzi’s long standing obsession with her, so i’m sure that the last thing the royal family wants now is another diana situation. Kate’s job is to show up, look gracious, smile and not create any waves, which is pretty much what she is doing.
I like her style. It’s simple and elegant and I don’t have a special hate for buttons.
If I was her I would say ‘I’m a DUCHESS, so bugger off you boring little peasants’.
And the boring little peasants would reply, “Duchess ONLY BY MARRIAGE! Get off your filthy high horse.”
Go Tierra! I agree 100%
Why she should go to a fashion week? She is a royal not a trendsetter, it’s not her job being fashionforward.
Why does she have to be a trendsetter? Can she not just wear appropriate, flattering, feminine and demure clothes? Not every woman wants to be a fashion victim (or trendsetter). She has a reputation to uphold and also a Royal family to placate. They certainly don’t want another Diana figure, she is being kept away from any scene stealing occasions, she cannot upstage them the way Diana did. They have to make sure she is malleable.
Is her job as duchess in the eyes of the public and media anything more than being a walking mannequin?
The pictures on this story aren’t her best looks. She has worn many pretty outfits. Her outfits are of a more classic style than most celebrities, but the royal family has a dress code due to the nature of their activities. I think Kate Moss usually looks awful and can’t imagine why she is looked on as a fashion icon. The only thing I agree with here is the eyeliner isn’t great on Kate. Otherwise, I think it’s nice to see a young-ish woman who looks ladylike and modest.
Finally, a classy role model for young women. I think it’s funny that some people just can’t stand that. She should inspire a generation that’s been infiltrated by Jersey Shore/Kardashians,etc and have them rethinking how they represent themselves. I think she is doing a superb job with the wardrobe selection. Plus, you can bet her team of people have the all the research they need to know what works well for public appearances. She will never please everyone, but let’s not be so freakin harsh. We we do that, we’re just placing a value on crappy trends and an image that’s overall trashy.
I enjoy reading your pieces… but boo on you for picking the quirkiest pictures of Kate to go along with the storyline! If any of us had cameras snapping every second of our every move we would all look like fools at some point!
That being said, I don’t really understand the disdain for her style. She isn’t supposed to be another Paris Hilton or Kim Kardashian. She is representing a family steeped in tradition. She is supposed to be different. She isn’t campaigning for an Oscar – she already has the lead role.
I believe she’s in a position that, no matter what she does, she will be criticized by everyone. We all need a little constructive criticism every now and then, but some of it just seems hateful and unnecessary.