I already covered the basics in an earlier post this morning, but we got more photos in from Prince William and Duchess Kate’s trip to the Omaka Aviation Heritage Centre in Blenheim, New Zealand, so I thought you might want to see Kate’s Alexander McQueen coatdress from other angles. Also, it’s worth noting that Kate seems to have found some new shoes too – I haven’t seen those g—damn nude LK Bennetts so far. Also: I like that William is holding the umbrella over Kate. Polite.
Some additional details on the dress, from What Kate Wore: it’s a “customized” piece from McQueen’s pre-Summer collection. It’s called the Utility Coat Dress or “Belted Crepe Coat” and it’s offered in light blue and black. There ARE buttons, but they are concealed, so what’s the point, asked the Duchess of Buttons. The dress costs $3875.
The Telegraph has a lengthy piece on what went down during Will and Kate’s “walkabout” amongst the people. There are some funny details! For one, a baby sneezed on Kate’s dress. Oh dear. One must get the frock dry-cleaned! Kate also received lots of flowers and gifts, including a black bracelet made of rubber bands. One commoner said: “We asked her about Prince George and she said she would have taken him everywhere but he would have been a bit noisy.” I swear, the descriptions – from Will & Kate themselves! – of George are amazing. He’s “noisy” and “big” and he “wails” a lot. He smacks babies and steals toys and cries at 3 am. He’s always hungry. He chews on his mom’s hair. And we already know that Lupo is his best friend in the world.
Photos courtesy of WENN.
I actually really hate that dress. And I definitely have an aversion to powder blue.
I don’t mind it, but have to say, I don’t think that’s her color. She looks prettier in deeper colors.
Jewel tones are her friend.
Neutrals are her enemy. Pastels aren’t kind to her, but could be worse. I don’t think she pulls off spring tones.
I like the color and the idea of the dress, but not the pockets below the belt. It would have been better without the pockets.
She could do with the extra padding the bulky pockets provide.
I never realized that Peter Jackson is rather short. He looks like a Hobbit next to them! 😉
i see what you did there 😛
Oh my goodness – peasant baby boogers on the Duchess of Buttons?!! That just made my day. 🙂
Dearie me, a noisy baby! Scandalous.
I KNOW! I mean, I always wanted a baby, but are you telling me they cry? Whoa. No warning there!
I really enjoy all the decriptors they use for this kid, the noisy bruiser! It reminds me so much of my own little boys.
Aw. How many little bruisers do you have?
2. And they are definitely bruisers – the dawning moment for me was at a playdate with a sweet, delicate little girl at about 18 months with bruiser #1, and I hear crying and look up to see that bruiser #1 is trying to wrestle a crayon away from sweet little girl and color on her back. Nowadays playdates our home can feel like trips to the Thunderdome 🙂
does she keep anything in her clutch? Or is it just a prop to help her stand demure and polite-like and helps her know what to do with her hands for all these events and photo ops that go with them?
lol. I hope she has a chapstick and maybe a phone to play games in the restroom in there.
Hahah you know i always wonder what the Queen keeps in her purse, she carries it even in the palace.
The purse of the Queen is actually used as a way for her to communicate with her servants, like if she wants to leave a dinner, she places it on the table. There are also articles discussing what’s in it, just google.
Thanks for the tip!
That’s actually pretty interesting.
It’s a tool for code. Just as Charles signals to his security to move him along from reporters he makes a joke.
A sneaky packet of smokes and an old Bic lighter
+1 lol
I’m guessing its really just a prop – when she doesn’t have anything in her hands she often looks uncomfortable (and I totally don’t blame her – i never have any idea what to do with my hands, its nice to have a disctraction). If she didn’t want to carry the bag and needed something, surely one of the 84023 people who follow them around all the time could carry it for her!
Geez journalists make a big deal out of anything. I was reading that article too and I thought ‘the baby sneezed. What a big deal! They should kill him for disrespecting Kate!’
For the love of god Kate is human and a baby spends most of their time with a snotty nose and sticky hands. Maybe prince George has royal blue snot but still sticky and gross!
But how cute are those two ginger girls clinging onto that fence?? They are adorable!!
http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-2601139/Duchess-Cambridge-Kate-wears-blue-coat-dress-wreath-laying-ceremony-New-Zealand.html
Blue snot!!! Funneee!!!
OMG Paola these are the best photos! Everybody looks so happy .. Kate and William are really relaxed… Those two little girls were just gorgeous! Did my heart good 🙂
That picture of Will crouching down to examine that little girl’s wiggly tooth is adorable! I think they do a good job of glad-handing and mingling with the peasants.
OK, moms, tell me if I’m being too picky here. But why would she bring a baby with a cold out to meet these people? First off, the baby’s got a cold and is probably cranky. Second off, the baby could give the cold to Kate who could give it to George (or anyone else for that matter). George is already out of his comfort zone, and to get sick on top of it?
As a mom there is a convenient set of standards when it comes to whether or not you should keep a kid home: green snot, a fever over 100, vomiting or some sort of poopsplosion within 24 hours. Aside from that it’s considered socially acceptable (and reasonable) to take your kid out and about, since kids get runny noses ALL THE TIME and for various reasons, including teething.
Thank you, Bridget. Although they said the baby has a cold, not just a runny nose. And I’m not usually picky about these things, but I think taking a sick baby out to infect others is a bit inconsiderate. To everyone, even the poor baby!
Honestly, as long as its not really endangering the health of another kid (say, if George was immune compromised) I’d say it wasn’t a big deal. Kids are walking germ magnets, and if they don’t have a cold that just means they’re about to get one. Plus you can just keep the baby with you so that you don’t directly expose other kids.
Baby might not have a cold. Baby could very well have allergies or be teething. If I stayed home with my son every time he has a runny nose, I’d be a hermit.
Her hair is in a ponytail! She looks so great with her hair pulled back, keep it UP Kate.
On day 1 of the tour she told a little girl her hair was stringy from the rain which IMO is the only reason for the pony today. I like the pony too but I believe it was borne of necessity and therefore the hairstyle of absolute last resort.
I’d clean my coat too if a baby sneezed on it, lol. And none of mine are worth anywhere near $3800.
I love the coatdress from the back, the pleat details are great.
I’m sure she probably doesn’t care. At this point, it’s a safe bet she’s been peed on, pooped on, and vomited on. Sneeze? Whatevs. Hit it with a baby wipe.
no mention of the fact that her hair is tied back?!
I love her hair tied back it looks great!
Also made me laugh to see Peter Jackson’s casual look I don’t think that man has ever dressed up for anything ever, but I love him for it, that’s one person who is supremely comfortable in his own skin!
Ps any photos of the artist Nick Cuthell who painted the portrait of the Queen? he is very cute and an ex of Sir Ian McKellans.
Tried to post a link to Go Fug Yourself but it wouldn’t work…
I think she is styled great and love love love her hair pulled back out of her face. She does look like she’s back to her pre baby figure though. I thought she looked the best right after George’s birth, but that’s just me.
A lot of us prefered how she looked with the baby weight. Baby weight on her is a healthy weight for her.
Forget baby weight for a second — I recall she looked much better and normal looking before the wedding. Not a bit of fat on her mind you, but much, much healthier. I think someone posted a photo on the other Kate post (with the blue coatdress)
when I said before the wedding, I meant pre-engagement (immediately before the wedding she was emaciated!)
Engagement period kate was skeletal. Many people were worried she was going the route of Diana and her ed.
That coat must come in cream because Sophie has the same one.
Oh, I could hardly sleep last night thinking about what the Duchess would do next. Not surprisingly, she did the same things she has always done, minus the panty shots. Trying to look fashionable and chic and royal but failing miserably. Someone should tell Kate that just because a dress is expensive doesn’t mean that it is pretty or even slightly attractive.
Honestly when W and W talk about George, they sound like teenage babysitters who run away from their first born son as fast as they can. I seriously doubt they are involved at all with Georgie, which is sad. Another odd thing I noticed is Kate rarely makes eye contact with him. Most mothers (Me) gaze adoringly all day at their little ones. Why is this missing from Waity and George?
Very strange.
Kate probably would have had her pictures retaken had she known you would be able to learn so much about her from them. Pffft.
Haha! Who cares what Kate would do?
I see you care what she does – and probably lots more than she would care about what you think of her bond with her son.
Angelique
It’s obvious you care very much what Kate does and even what others think about her. I’m basing this from just your comments on this post.
And don’t get so judgy here. We’re on a gossip blogging site. That means we all are taking an interest in the lives of others. You’re here too.
As usual, FLORC said it better than I could.
Ummm. . . the baby has been photographed out in public like, what? Three times now? And you can tell from those snippets that Kate “never” looks him in the eye? Wow.
I see you’ve been drinking the Kool-Aid.
Thanks for that comment! @MollyB. When we have seen George and Kate they have been busy interacting with other people – at the Christening, coming off the plane and at the play group. If she had been staring adoringly at George during those times she would have been extremely rude.
George seems like a confident and curious little fellow, and that comes from a strong bond with his mother. He is at the age when he can leave her for a short period to play with toys because he knows she is there and will be there when he wants to cuddle again. How you can look at the contented baby snuggling on his mother’s shoulder and not think there is a real bond there is beyond me
http://www.express.co.uk/life-style/style/469468/Prince-George-wears-sailor-dungarees-to-first-play-date-in-New-Zealand
While I agree that George hasn’t been photographed randomly or often… What we see here isn’t anything much.
I’ve heald my friends babies and have just the same shots of someone elses baby snuggling and laughing. Then handing them over to a parent and they cry. It’s about the baby’s current disposition. There is likely a bond, but i’m not basing that on 1 photo during 1 occasion. There’s too much personal opinion swaying thoughts.
And George has been photographed with nannies so those photos get squashed quickly.
Totally agree with what FLORC is saying here
I’m glad you said it, Angelique. I know little about babies, but I have seen mothers gaze at their children in a certain heart melting way, a softness, and I have never seen that on her face. All I can think of is she’s too busy acting for the cameras as is her wont.
Thanks hmmm. I’m glad you got it.
@ just me The only time I have ever seen any “gazing” on Waity’s part was in the christening photo. Oddly, that was a posed picture, not a spontaneous shot. As for the pic of George snuggling on his mother’s shoulder, if you look closely there still isn’t any eye contact.
It’s very odd
Balls
Huzzah!
Her hair is pulled back and looks great. Her skirts are an appropriate length. No playing with sausage curls. No giggling during somber moments. No manic faces. Working.
Chalk today up as a total win for Kate.
Ikr!
I would call that a win for the palace. 🙂
+1
I’m glad there weren’t any buttons on this dress but, wow, look at those giant pockets!
I think she’s got a couple of kangaroos hiding in there.
Will plans on shooting them when they get back to England.
Heh. I’m convinced the coat looks worse on her because she’s so thin, and all that detail overwhelms her. I hate the giant pockets. If it had been bespoke, the ratio would be adjusted.
Good point. I wish I knew more about bespoke and non-bespoke.
I don’t like the stupid coat dress even more after reading the price tag. It looks so basic for such a high price meh.
Please more so Baby George, not his useless parents.
The pockets are ridiculous.
I’m with you on “more baby, less parents”.
I haven’t read the earlier post yet so I’m not sure if it was yet mentioned, but PLEASE let us not ignore a few very important facts: 1. Her hair is finally UP and clearly has been cut/de-weaved quite a bit-looks great!)? 2. The hemlines so far on this trip have been SIGNIFICANTLY longer (we’re talking knee length here people!!), and 3. The makeup has become slightly more subdued.
Looks like those reports from a month or two ago about the Queen finally laying down the fashion law and schooling Kate about her frequent inappropriateness during official appearances was true 😀 Love it. (And no, the flowing hemlines do not yet appear to be weighted but baby steps people. Baby steps.)
PJ
I’m on the fence with makeup… Depending on what camera has taken the shot and what filter was used her skin tone, texture, etc.. change. It’s possible her makeup is just as bad, but it’s edited to look lighter and more subdued.
I completely agree with everyone about her hair…so nice to not see it whipping in the breeze or Kate playing with it. I think this look is great and like how informal these shots are. George of the darling cheeks was probably much happier playing instead of being carted around, but I hope we get to see more of him.
Perhaps I’ve missed it in another post, but does anyone know the significance of the orange pins (?) she and Will are sporting?
They are Poppie pins, used to commemorate ANZAC
Gracias!
Its not a coatdress, its just a coat and she wore a navy skirt underneath.
McQueen custom pieces have a starting rate at around $8,000 so Kates coat is much more than the $3,000 for the off the rack piece.
This looks off the rack. As I mentioned upthread, if it were bespoke the details would be sized properly to her slender frame, not overwhelm her. And her sleeves are a tad too long. Surprising!
hmmm – The Kate fashion blogs have researched McQueen RTW and came to the conclusion that it is bespoke. Here is one of them on the subject. http://hrhduchesskate.blogspot.com/
I agree that one would think the pockets et al would be proportioned for her frame but as evidenced by her wedding dress, Kate calls the shots when it comes to Sarah Burton.
Wowza, MinnFinn! Thanks for that! I am gobsmacked. It’s just truly awful. I just don’t understand it…..
It must be so tough for her to deal with all the peasants and commoners clutching and grabbing at her. Oh dear
Actually she looks happy enough. The pictures of her talking with a elderly veteran are very sweet. He said she was very natural and everyone else who was there had a good time.
http://www.stuff.co.nz/national/royal-tour/9925791/Royal-tour-Rapturous-reception-in-Marlborough
Nope, those are not new shoes; she has been photographed in those navy pumps many times.
You forgot to mention that film director Peter Jackson showed them his planes..
Not the best look on her….but her poise & elegance makes it all the better…every pic I’ve seen of her proves…SHE wares the Clothes …they don’t ware her.As for the sneeze..she probably laugh it off in Kate fashion…After I think she knows people & babies sneeze..even Royals..😉
For the first time in forever we see the Duchess of Cambridge looking like, well, a duchess! Hats off to her. Blue coat, good hair, smiling like she’s actually having a decent time. Let’s give her a break, peeps.