When Duchess Kate stepped out two weeks ago, doing three events within three days, no one was really talking about a “change” in her style. She seemed to look the same way she always looks for public events/galas: she wore her hair down, with a blow-out and curls, the raccoon makeup was still there and her fashion seemed to be consistent. “Consistent” meaning that she didn’t add weights to her coatdress, and she still loves showing off her legs (in a mullet dress by Jenny Packham and a gala-inappropriate Alice Temperley). At this point, I think people just expect Kate to get it wrong, to refuse to dress like a duchess and to expose herself in some way. But the royal propagandists want us to believe that Kate is changing! And they want us to believe that a new stylist is working wonders for Kate. This is according to Katie Nicholl:
When the Duchess of Cambridge stepped out looking more red-carpet glam than mumsy recently, there were whispers about her new look. Now Royal Watch can reveal Kate’s secret weapon in the wardrobe department: her P.A. turned stylist.
Natasha Archer, a 27-year-old personal assistant at Kensington Palace, has been helping Kate shop and experiment with some sophisticated new looks, according to sources.
Royal Watch has been told that it is Natasha who has steered the Duchess toward glamorous gowns, like the Alice Temperley and Jenny Packham evening frocks she wore to her recent engagements. The Duchess, who is around 14-weeks pregnant with her second baby, wants to be seen as on-trend and fashion forward, and doesn’t want to look older than her age. She will turn 33 next year. Natasha, who is known as “Tash” at Kensington Palace, is now said to be a key member of Team Kate.
“Initially Kate was a reluctant fashion icon, but now she enjoys it. Tash helps source some of the clothes. She shops a lot for Kate online, and calls in hundreds of dresses for Kate to try on,” a source close to Tash tells Royal Watch. “She has persuaded Kate to take some more risks. The hemlines are shorter and Kate’s really pushing the boat out in the fashion stakes.”
While Natasha has been helping out, palace sources say the final choice is always Kate’s. The Duchess wowed the notoriously hard-to-please fashion brigade with her knock-out jade crepe Packham dress, which she wore to the Natural History Museum earlier this month. She also dazzled in a risqué cut-out Temperley frock that showed off her fabulous legs at another official engagement.
Nicholl is so full of it! I guess she’s trying to maintain her association with Kate and the Middleton family. There is nothing to indicate that Kate is a “reluctant fashion icon.” Kate cares about clothes and she really, really enjoys shopping. She’s a world-class shopper. The problem is not “reluctance,” it’s taste. As in, Kate’s stylistic taste level is not where it should be for a 32-year-old duchess. As for the idea that Kate “doesn’t want to look older than her age” – okay. That’s a good start, because that is a problem. Kate veers between matronly looks and “college girl” looks and she has problems finding a happy medium, elegant looks for a 30-something duchess. I hope Archer burns Kate’s jeggings and wedges in a cleansing fire.
Photos courtesy of WENN.
Can’t stand those jeggings she wears – they actually look a bit rude – they’re not long enough and really pull at the crotch.
+1
Jeggings are rude? Is the human body a dirty thing? Sorry I find your comment a bit surprising considering it’s 2014 and many wear jeggings including me. I don’t consider them rude nor do they show my crotch. Talk about body shaming!
I find them a bit rude, too. Sometimes, females look like they’ve forgotten their skirts or pants when wearing leggings. Calling it body shaming is such a knee jerk reaction, IMO. I don’t want to see anyone’s bits nor be visually assaulted by them in public.
@hmmm, ITA. Body shaming is one those over-used and often incorrectly applied terms that get thrown around a lot here on Celebitchy.
Very, very few people can get away with jeggings or leggings of any kind yet many people wear them and shouldn’t. You need to find what flatters your shape and fits the social situation. Too many people out there just don’t get it. It’s like they dress in a house without full length mirrors.
As for Kate, she needs to learn vacuum sealed pants aren’t business casual; therefore, they should be nowhere near her body at an official public appearance. Her husband and brother-in-law get it right so much of the time with khakis and a button down shirt for events like the Olympics where a three piece suit would seem out of place. I find it difficult that Kate thinks her skinny jeans cut at the ankle with sky high wedges work.
Then I remember, Kate has very little professional experience given her short CV, so she didn’t go through the experiences that a lot of other young professional women face in their twenties while on the job. Also, Kate just has her personal assistant advising her. Clearly, that lady doesn’t know how a princess should dress and needs to stick to writing press releases and keeping madams appointment book. Time to get a professional stylist who knows how to dress a princess-at-work on Kate’s team.
Amateur hour needs to end.
That’s not body shaming, that’s having a “dress code”. No one said her body was bad, just that they don’t like seeing every contour.
Kate looks tacky and cheap in those jeggings. They show her ass cheeks and crotch area,like she’s wearing a pair of pantyhose practically, except they are blue. It’s just so tacky. It’s like she always needs to show some part of her body in a cheap way, it looks cheap when she’s out on royal duties.
India Andrews….Yes, “Vacumned Sealed Pants ” is a excellent description for those jeggings Kate wears. 🙂
Horrific.
A Royal Duchess should dress more formally than those around her, not less. It’s simply good manners.
Kate misses the mark every time.
I wish she’d get someone to help advise on her make-up … the caked-on eyeliner isn’t working for her and Waity would be better to adopt a ‘less is more’ routine.
Recently I switched to liquid eyeliner. And dear lord it’s not easy! It’s tough to get the thin line and once it’s on it’s ON! To get it off is irritating.
She should just be done with it. Her eyes don’t need it and it only ages her.
Make-up should be invisible.
Her middle class origins cannot be denied. The upper classes KNOW that clean clear skin and a swipe of lipstick is ENOUGH.
Anne, maybe I’m missing a tongue-in-cheek comment here but I hope that remark is in jest. Being of middle class doesn’t indicate that you don’t know how to apply makeup. It’s Kate who has this problem. Sophie of Wessex coming from a commoner background certainly doesn’t slather on her makeup. And I have a middle-class background myself and certainly have a light hand in applying cosmetics, so does that automatically boost me into the upper class stratosphere?
Icon status for someone who bases their eye make up glamour game on The Crow. Mkay.
I knew this article was BS when a part of her new look is supposedly shorter hemlines… HAHAHAHA! As if her too long skirts were ever an issue.
Add to the short hemlines, wearing Temperley (since forever) & Jenny Peckham (at least since her marriage). What a lot of hooey. Does McNicholl/the DM think we have no memories?!
hahaha
She wishes she looked half as good. Brandon Lee was a god!!!
Brandon’s dad, Bruce Lee, was the god; Brandon was a mere godlet.
Kate a fashion icon? Really? I can’t remember of one look of hers that is memorable, not even her wedding dress. Queen Elizabeth II is more of a fashion icon than Lazy Katy.
I actually liked her wedding dress, but I don’t find the rest of her outfits inspirational in any way. When she was pregnant the first time around, she wore a cute polka dot dress: http://www.thehollywoodgossip.com/2013/04/kate-middleton-polka-dot-dress-sells-out-within-hours/ That’s about the only outfit of hers I could see myself wearing. And what can Kate do about the jeggings? She’d likely be called out for wearing boyfriend jeans.
She could wear tailored slacks, like other royal women do while on duty.
Nota
She should wear slacks or trousers. I’m such a broken record about it, but I stand firm. Tailored trousers are the absolute best way to show off your bottom and legs while maintaining some modesty/mystery. And a trouser suit with her funds would be awesome. She’s bared it all to us at this point, but it would still help with the modesty. That she’s there for business and not there to expose herself to the cameras.
Does she know pants that you don’t have to be poured into still exist? It would only benefit her.
I’ll clutch my pearls in a state of shock the day I ever see Kate wear a beautifully tailored pair of slacks. I just don’t see that happening. She wears those d@mned heels all the time to plump up her calf and of course she wants to show off her legs. Once in awhile would be fine, but I have the impression she’s obsessed with her own legs, LOL.
Vava,
she’s obsessed with herself. And I think she should wear more polished clothes, for the love of God, you are a princess! Make us love your clothes and want to be elegant like you, don’t wear jeggings!
I saw Kate’s dress and bouquet and immediately thought it was a Grace Kelly knock-off. Then, someone in the press mentioned Kate had attended a museum exhibit on Grace and that Kate liked Grace’s wedding dress a lot. That sealed it for me. Here is picture of Grace’s dress and bouquet and Kate’s dress and bouquet. They look familiar.
https://juliapgelardi.wordpress.com/2011/04/ For Kate.
http://www.blushrose.co.uk/vintage-style-wedding-like-grace-kelly/ For Grace.
http://manolobeauty.com/beauty-icon-grace-kelly
India Andrews
That is certainly 1 way of looking at it. In truth that style of wedding dress was far more like many others than Grace’s. I think it was a year or 2 before Kate’s marriage there was another royal wedding with an almost identical gown. Of course, Kate’s dress had greater quality, but the dress in style and detail was very close. Too close to write off.
Then there’s an article (sorry links aren’t working) titled Me and Kate forever wedded by dress. It’s from a wedding 1991and the style dress is again too close to ignore.
It was a popular style. Its a classic look. And I remember those Grace Kelly rumors. They sounded more like just that. Opinions created by bloggers that never got questions and in time became fact by way of internet popular thought.
Also, who didn’t like Grace’s dress? The silhouette alone is 1 to mimic and desire.
FLORC, Isabella Orsini?
http://www.marieclaire.co.uk/news/celebrity/525378/kate-middleton-s-royal-wedding-dress-inspiration-revealed.html
Nota
Yes! Nailed it! That was another example. Thank you.
Really, Burton and Kate were aiming for a classic and lovely gown that had her covered enough for the structure and ceremony. It wasn’t original. It was common enough of a style.
I thought her wedding dress was lovely. Pippa’s never looked better, and her attendants looked lovely. Say what you will about Kate, but she got it right that day, IMO.
imo, Blu, she didn’t look good on the wedding day. Too much spray tan, makeup especially harsh including her eyebrows, hair a super-tight dolled up version of her usual softer curls. The dress itself was a poor knockoff of Grace’s, and her post-wedding party dress (poorly fitted, badly-done corset/boning) was just as bad. The one thing I liked was the symbolism of the bouquet, but it was too small and didn’t fit the occasion or venue.
And that’s why opinions are great. Everybody’s got one.
I think if her whole look had been softened to 50% of what it was, it would have been fine. Nothing stunning, but fine. It was just too much, overall.
Bluhare
With just a touch of snark (we’ve been too level headed lately here). Kate’s untouched photos of her wedding day were pretty bad. Skin and makeup were on thick. She appeared very orange on top of it all. Still, in the photos she did wear an appropriately lovely and modest dress for the structure. And her hair was very nicely styled. To nit pick further is to go into a person’s personal preference. She followed the rules and it was her day.
You guys, I was talking about Kate’s dress not Kate herself. I said Pippa had never looked better (and I still think that holds) and that her attendants looked great. I loved their outfits. And I did like Kate’s dress and I still do. I’d have done the veil and hair differently if I were getting married in it, but that’s me.
I’m not keen on Kate’s wedding dress. The skirt was lovely but ruined by the top. I found it a bit unimaginative but then I really liked CP Mary’s wedding dress, which is controversial in some fashionista circles.
Mary’s hairdresser was a commentator on the Danish broadcast of the wedding – he didn’t like her hair. He said something like “when you marry into an old royal house, you make an effort”, Kate, in his opinion, didn’t make that effort. The Cartier Halo Tiara is always lovely – too bad it got lost in the veil.
However, those are just personal opinions. I found the wedding a very dull and subdued affair compared to the Scandinavian royal weddings that have tended to be rather emotional and festive affairs.
Oh dear Bluhare!
Sorry!
I agree with ArtHistorian on wedding dresses and top being unimaginative.
And will agree again. Her dress was lovely and suitable.
Also, yes. Best Pippa has ever looked. High praise for buttpads!
Kate’s wedding dress + Kate = disaster (IM0)…and the thing I disliked about it most was that her chest looked like it had two rock hard balls stuck on it, … perhaps to give the impression that she actually had two breasts in there somewhere; she was faaaar too thin (after purposefully dieting herself into that very condition, BTW!!!). I really disliked the entirety of Kates look on that day. Stiff (like her bosom), hard and harsh (she looked like she was going to have a stroke at on stage), old fashioned, (in that stupid flat biblical days veil). On the other hand, Charlene (of Monaco) looked absolutely GORGEOUS on her wedding day. Elegant, soft, feminine, vulnerable, classy, regal. No comparison………….IMO.
I didnt like the wedding dress at all. It seemed like a bad imitation of Grace Kelly’s, that’s immediately what news commentators said, oh it’s similar to Grace’s dress.
Yes it is also very much like Orsini’s dress, too.
The thing with Kate is she has Always copied people. She has never really had her own style, except for those boots she wore with all the free Issa dresses she was given and everything else during the dating years and the jeggings and Wedges.
Kate copied Jecca’s outback cowgirl style when she first began dating William.
Kate then began to try to copy some of the Aristo girls in the set around William when she went to some of their weddings.
Herwedding dress reminded me of Grace’s, but I loved Grace’s dress and didn’t like kate’s dress, it looked too stiff.
She copied Diana or tries to still.
I think the mullet dress may have been copying Amal Clooney in a way.
She also wears dresses from her mother’s wardrobe at times
During the dating years many of her dresses wear Issa freebies. I honestly don’t think Kate really has much style, but she has one thing she likes to do and that is show off parts of her body when she dresses.
And the ISSA freebies are based on dresses worn by Wallace Simpson (as stated by the ISSA designer).
I remember my first look at Kate’s dress and thinking, “That’s it? That’s what we’ve been waiting for?” I looked at the cone boobs, the white on white detail that didn’t show up on camera, the dolly hair, the over-the-top stage makeup and the awful veil material–and I was so underwhelmed. I don’t think it was even close to Grace’s dress. There’s a reason Pippa and her dress was such a thing. It’s because she looked great and Kate was just a disappointment.
I think Kate does/did have her own style. The train photos of her in a collar shirt with a vneck sweater over. Or the type of hippie high waisted pants and a buttonup collard shirt from her college days. She’s got her own style and you can tell because she looks so comfortable in it. And it looks good on her.
She might be trying to be someone she’s not and that’s why the styles she wears look forced.
And since her weight loss she reveals more of her body. Her white bikini days she was fit and looked great. She didn’t flaunt anything. Now she does. More when William is near. I’ll give the side eye to that.
Deedee
The detailing and time that went into that dress was incredible! How it was made was very interesting.
I was on a layover of flights for a vacation. Caught it on the terminal tv. The flight attendants walking by were both “oh girl. Don’t smile so big when you say “or for poorer” you’re on live tv!”. I giggled. That’s pretty much my best memory of seeing that weddng on tv.
I always thought Kate excelled in her sporty casual style. She has the long leggy look of a Ralph Lauren model. Too bad she’s unable to transition good fashion taste over into her royal fashion.
I wouldn’t say that the baby blue hi-lo dress Kate is a mullet dress (hate that expression). The latter has a raised hemline in front (it can either be high or short) but the skirt is still in one piece. It is a shape that originated in the 1950s with couturiers such as Cristobal Balanciage and Christian Dior. In the hands of a master this dress shape can be very beautiful.
Someone needs to burn her collection of eyeliner.
And reluctant? We all know she spends her days shopping…….if only she put that same energy into charity work.
kate is not interested in fashion, sure she wants to look her part on official engegements but that’s it.
You only have to look at her private pictures, she wears what she likes and doesn’t care if anyone else does. Good for her.
She doesn’t want to be a fashion icon and she doesn’t care about fashion that is what she said.
nichols always tries to sell stories that are not true and she is def. not a middleton mouth piece. she always puts kate down in her stories, she is the one who invented that sexist waity nickname. She writes what gets the most clicks that’s it.
About her eye make up i don’t get why people on this site are so bothered by it, if she wants it that way her choice and again she doesn’t care what people think, she likes it so she wears it that way. periode. accept it.
Nicholls did a lot to build Kate during the girlfriend years , but at the same time would sometimes put her down.
She was definately a Middleton moutpiece for years. Even told how she called Kate on holiday and Kate answered, oddly No one knew where the couple were holidaying but Nicholl’s managed to get a phonecall right into Kate. That was no accident.
I think Nicholls just plays both sides promotes her, yet does sly put downs too in her pieces.
One of the Middleton clan was assigned leaker to the DMail for years, from what I hear.
That quote was years go from college if I remember. She spent £94,000 of Duchy money in a single year on clothing and jewelry. She wears things slit up to there, slit down to there – things guaranteed to bring attention to her and her body. IMO, she cares a great deal about shopping and fashion, obviously far more than she cares about her charity work.
+1
Trying to bring attention to her body is so tacky! She needs to save it for her “off hours”. Does she really think that Willy will drool over the photographs? I’ll bet the Queen didn’t try to show off body parts and neither did Diana, nor any member of the royal family (anywhere?).. When it was integral to the jewelry, one might have seen a deep or open neckline from English royalty, but that was for the purpose of showing off the jewelry – not their bodies (some of you might remember Diana’s first faux pax, pre-engagement in a plunging black gown – and which she never repeated!).. I believe that if Kate were to go the jewelry angle, she might automatically look stunning by mere association with them, although she needs a aristocrat to teach her how to use them, or perhaps a jeweler. Basically the girl needs a team! She doesn’t need to be on the best dressed list so much as she needs to show her status, rather than her celebrity. (I wonder how much eye-rolling the Queen does). Maybe she needs to step up to being Catherine, not Kate. Let’s her go for a little dignity (which does not entail mumsie).
She was totally unprepared for the job and presents herself merely as spoiled rich girl. This will never work for her. IMO
+100
Nicholls didn’t invent ‘waity katie’ moniker. That was invented by royal fanblogs. Nicholls and other media simply repeated it.
That said, british media is cruel as far as nicknames for public figures. Kate was lucky she was called waity Katie. It’s not as bad as ‘Duchess of Pork’ – Fergie.
Diana did however, insist on being called Diana rather than Princess Di.
Wolfpup: Diana knew that ‘Princess’ Diana wasn’t her title so she was correct in discouraging people from calling her that. And Diana was very aware of titles, wouldn’t hesitate to throw her own in people’s faces including Philip.
‘Princess’ Diana was a media fiction that caught on and is forever sealed in the public’s mind.
True, the Royal message boards created the Waity Katie term….for Kate.
But….Katie Nicholl’s nickname was ALSO Waity Katie. Nicholl’s was called Waity Katie when she dated, by her friends, because she dated someone for years….
…….
Not sure I agree with that. If Kate wasn’t interested in fashion, why would she not like it when people copy her outfits? Imitation is the sincerest form of flattery! Someone not interested in fashion wouldn’t pay attention to any of that, I wouldn’t think.
I see an incredibly sexist theme going on with Kate. First, she is defined merely by her sexuality. Think of it, the college catwalk, the girl sexy on the boat that Will still could not resist, her exposure in France; stirring up thoughts of the mile-high club when she showed everyone her lack of underwear on the tarmac, all the slips of wind that showed us no slip.
It is sexist to go on defining her by dinner parties and motherhood. (and looking athletic, massaged and saunaed (pampering, with lots of fruit juices…) She does not appear maternal, no “madonna” type images (can there be more than three?) And either she ran home, or Will left her at a time when we are most vulnerable; with new birth. That’s when a woman needs the most, to feel the protection of her mate. (This is faintly reminiscent of Will’s father).
She doesn’t have to do anything, except with her character. Really, at this point, that would be enough. Aren’t women more than their sexuality nowadays? Kate seems almost vacuous.
As far as a stylist, she could have merely read our comments because you all just come out and say it, and I love that here.
I agree Kate is defined by her looks. She hasn’t done anything else to be defined by which I think is a shame.
@wolfpup,
I think she defined herself according to sexist precepts. She agreed to them.
Still I find Kate’s clothes boring or bordering on bad when she does try. I can’t think of one thing except maybe one gown that I really liked.
I also didn’t like the wedding dress.
I agree. Very boring. I was hoping for a new look after she came out of seclusion, but got the June Cleaver dress, a mullet-split hybrid bordering on the trashy side, and a Halloween costume instead. I didn’t like the wedding gown either. I know it was made from the finest materials, but it looked common and the V-neck and pointy bodice didn’t help.
+1
Her stylist is too young – Kate needs “someone”older and wiser, telling her what to do.” She needs a stylist with”background”.
I’ve often thought the same thing wolfpup. Kate would benefit greatly from a team but even one seasoned pro could make a huge difference. “Seasoned” could be someone in her 30’s who has worked for 4-5 years in a major design house or merchandising/fashion in a luxury retailer. Kate’s confidence/sophistication level seems to me to be too low to hire someone with that background. I think such a person would intimidate Kate.
I’m not sure youth is the deciding factor, but wasn’t this woman hired for something else and has just gradually started helping her? Her background isn’t fashion, I don’t think, but I could be wrong there.
Agreed. There’s nothing iconic about her, she’s just plain boring.
Exactly.
When I think of Kate, I think of jeggings and wedges.
and nude pumps and butt flashes.
I agree with folks suggesting Kate needs a team of people. Whoever is on Charlotte Casiraghi’s team has got it right. She always looks fabulous. She’s younger than Kate, but she gets it right.
LOL, Kate is the saddest fashion icon of all time. Sad state indeed.
That eye liner really ages her. I really wish she’d stop putting on her bottom lids.
The eyeliner, brown stick, tanning, eating disorder, and cigarettes age her as well.
Is she being called a sudden fashion icon because she was not nominated for the fashion awards? Are we competing with Amal perhaps?
Probably.
I doubt it. Her nomination was to stir up interest. And it didn’t. While her name and the scandals the follow does attract readers, nominating her (like Amal) was only to generate views.
I think this is just to put another article out about Kate trying to improve her image. And tossing a story to KN. Otherwise it’s Kate on vacation again. Something needs to paint her in a working light while on vacation. This has always been the formula.
Kate Moss is a fashion icon. Duchess Kate is someone who can afford to spend a lot of money on nice clothes.
THIS. I like a lot of Kate’s clothes but they are not the clothes of a fashion icon to me. A huge part of that for me is the utter lack of individuality in her choices. Where’s that bit of personality in a coat with a surprising lining or buttons? A clutch with a hint of quirk? Shoes that are more than classic and elegant, they have a touch of sophisticate? Or the easiest IMO, some jewelry with unique touches? I get that she’s a princess but a few little things could really raise her outfits. That’s what keeps her out of icon status for me. Her clothes are pretty and beautifully tailored but her overall looks are boring and pedestrian.
Rich girl pedestrian…
Lila – You make an important point. So many of Kate’s expensive and especially her McQueen clothes, usually lack the exquisite design details that make them worth the price.
+1
+100
RGPedestrian ……exactly
She is tacky & makes the clothes seem cheaper. A fashion Icon should be able to make a tshirt from the Gap feel like Chanel not the other way around.
+1
Oh I think she wears clothes nicely, but she could use some help picking them out.
Although I find her lack of actual work to be massively disappointing, I do enjoy a lot of her fashions. I think Catherine has beautiful hair and eyes and attempts to showcase both, via the professional blowouts and use of eyeliner to define the shape of her eyes. As for her clothes, I think she manages to look nice and not too risqué or matronly. I like her the majority of what she wears, but my favourite items are the ISSA dresses, as the look incredible on her.
The only criticism I have of Catherine is the fact that her outer appearance is the thing worth discussing about her because of her relevance or refusal to do more of the work required of royals. She has an amazing platform from which she could help bring about change to many important UK issues, such as poverty among the elderly. I don’t mind seeing her attend the odd gala, but it would be impressive to see her take a page out of Princess Diana’s charity work and get truly involved with a charity – with and without the cameras around.
I think Catherine has potential to do good but she needs to tap into that good and do some real work versus the continual parade of fluffy unimportant glamour events.
Well said. I disagree with many attacks on her because I find them unfair but her lack of work… It’s really disappointing. Especially as time goes by it’s more and more obvious. She has amazing power at her disposal, she could do so much good. It’s such a shame she’s not using it.
I couldn’t agree more, Laura.
The BRF getting could easily draw huge global donors and constant global publicity if they focused on a few carefully chosen issues. I have often thought the BRF is the only royal house that has the potential to make major progress within the British Commonwealth nations or on a global issue akin to Bill Gates or Jimmy Carter’s foundations. The Gates foundation immunization program is responsible for wiping out polio in India. Carter’s foundation has almost wiped out Guinea worm disease in Africa. They are on target for complete eradication by 2016.
Completely agree, MinnFinn. Well said.
Well said. I couldn’t agree more
Natasha has been in place for years now.
Katie Nicholls is simply regurgitating a piece of information that is always printed bi-annually.
The last time Natasha was outed as Kate’s fashion stylist was ahead of AUS/NZ tour. Before that it was birth of PGTIPS, before that it was ahead of Asian tour.
Thank you LAK. I thought that was her bringing in her clothes after George was born.
She’s as much of a fashion icon as Kim Kardashian. They both have practically bottomless budgets to buy absolutely whatever they want (fashion wise) but they don’t look any better for it — and most of the time they get it wrong. I’d say Kim is at least daring (I’m not saying she looks good). Kate is just boring.
True. One thing I find odd about Kim’s clothing (separate & apart from some of the truly bizarre things she wears), is the lack of tailoring. She’ll wear something that is obviously expensive–exquisite fabric, cut, color, etc–but the trousers will be dragging on the ground, or sleeves hanging below her hands, or pulling too tight around the hips. Doesn’t need to be that way. Some of the designers must hang their hands when they see their creations on Kim. Or maybe not–she probably gets a lot of this stuff free, or greatly discounted.
I think she dresses rather matronly and her outfits are dated. She’s been styling her hair the same way for more than 7 years, and her eye makeup is always atrocious. Icon? Maybe for the Brits.
To be honest there is nothing iconic about Kate’s fashion choices.
Carla Sarkozy and Queen Rania of Jordan have way better fashion style than Kate.
I have only one memorable outfit of hers, which was the Alexander McQueen pleated silk-chiffon gown with a shiny belt she wore at the Baftas in 2012.
I’ve found out that ‘fashion icon’ is one of the titles the media like to throw around particularly on people who happen to be popular and can afford designer clothes.
It takes much more than money to be a fashion icon; poise,elegance,grace,adventurous in one’s choices and the carriage to make even a bean bag look good.
Kate Moss, Rihanna, Dianna Krugar even Mrs Beckham and am no fan of any of these women but that doen’t negate the fact that they rock almost anything they’ve ever won.
Not to mention CP Mary of Denmark who has a professional stylist as well as poise and elegance – and a work ethic!
Complimenting CP Mary? The hags @ the Royal Dish will have fits of the vapours!
CP Mary will be my queen one day and she does a lot of good work, like support structures for children of parents suffering from mental illness. I wish something like that had existed when I was a child and a teen – it is a horrible and scary place to be in all by your lonesome. The stress and pain of it slowly erodes your soul. For that alone I have a lot of respect for her.
And the hags at RoyalDish can go f**k themselves, they are absolutely awful. I apologize for the rude language but that site makes me stabby and ragey – besides most of the vitriol (and it is vitriol) levelled at Mary on that site is from people outside of Denmark, most often on the opposite side of the globe. Besides, they tell the same stories of Kate, Mary, Mette-Marit and Leitizia – when the narrative about very different women stays the same, the issue is with the people critizing and not the women critized.
Concerning Mary’s fashion: I think it was avery smart move of her to emply a stylist. Her style has evolved very nicely during the deacde she’s been CP and it recently won her a 3rd place on Vanity Fair’s Best Dresses List in 2014.
I don’t see a lot of photos of CP Mary but she always looks very very nice, appropriate and polished.
My problem with CP Mary isn’t her work ethic, it is the amount of taxpayer money she spends on designer clothes. It isn’t her job to be on international best dressed lists, and imo she shouldn’t be spending taxpayer money on Prada and $1000 designer shoes.
I have the same problem with M-M of Norway. On the rare occasions that M-M works, she shows up in Valentino. It isn’t appropriate to shop like that with taxpayer money. Letizia has a fraction of their clothing budgets, works hard, and looks professional in her less expensive Spanish brands.
I don’t have much of a problem with her wearing designer clothes, and it is my taxpayer money that goes to it. She’s very good a recycling her outfits and mixing in highstreet items – and I definitely think that for her and the Queen to be elegantly and appropriately dressed on duty. Most of Daisy’s wardrobe is custom made and I bet a lot more expensive than Mary’s.
It is true that Mary’s clothing budget was astronomical the first year of her marriage but that was when she was building up a working wardrobe. Using a stylist also lets her combine and recycle items in a smart manner. I must admit I’m a bit tired of the budget Letitizia argument (granted Spain is in a worse slump than Denmark) but I find her style boring – and I think that you should be able to tell a bank manager from a queen. -) Royalty is a category unto itself and today it threads a very fine line between mystique and relatability. If they become too “common/ordinary” the mystique vanishes and if they become too remote they lose the connection to the people. However, the mystique of roaylty requires a certain degree of spectacle, of glamour – tiaras, gala gowns, etc.
NaS,
I’m curious. It has often been stated here that people wouldn’t mind Kate’s spending so much if she did the work. CP Mary does the work, and hasn’t nearly as much money for clothes like Kate and yet she can’t do right either? Are you against monarchy on principle because that is certainly a valid opinion? Or is it simply a question of finding fault with public figures that you dislike? Who would indeed live up to your exacting standards. I am genuinely confused. Like I said above, I’m Danish and I actually don’t have a problem with Mary’s clothing budget. She does a lot of work, both for Denmark and the UN and I think that she represents my country and my queen in a very elegant and dignified manner, which includes a professional wardrobe. And I maintain that a royal professional wardrobe isn’t and shouldn’t be the same as a high powered business woman’s. That’s where I actually think that Letizia falls short sartorially speaking. She’s a very beautiful and poised woman, who does a lot of work but her style reeks too much of bank manager, which I find rather jarring (I’m not keen on her cocktail dresses either).
Regarding clothing budgets: do you have any numbers on the budgets of Mary and Letizia for us to compare?
I would certainly find it very interesting to see what is budget for a royal working wardrobe but unless I see numbers then I really can’t take your statements at face value.
What do the different monarchies cost in compared to others? Denmark is not one of the most expensive ones, and the DRF hasn’t much in terms of private wealth since they lost most of it in the 20s due to their bank going under.
AH, I’m trying to ignore the fact that you’re verging on a personal attack of me here. I think the days of royals spending whatever they want are over, and that includes large amounts of designer clothing. If we go with the idea that there is no such thing as royal blood, and they have to earn these positions every day, then they earn it by working hard and spending appropriately. They should distinguish themselves as being a royal representatives through their work and actions, not through the price of the coat on their back. And I type that as someone who enjoys Royal Order of Sartorial Splendor!
If they were spending their own money, they could spend as much as they like. Letizia used to wear beautiful designer trouser suits — when she was paying for them herself out of the salary she earned as a tv reporter. If Letizia spent more on clothing, in an economy with a 25% unemployment rate, that would be the end of the Spanish royal family. That is why we have yet to see her wearing the rumored 5 year anniversary tiara she was given. Whether Felipe bought it or the jeweler gifted it to her, it is hidden. (She does wear the pin that is said to come from the tiara.)
The Spanish royal family has cut their budget every year for the past 4-5 years, Denmark’s has received an increase several of those years. Problem is, Denmark and Spain don’t seem to report royal money the same way, at least I’m not finding it. BTW, there are 46 million people in Spain, 5.6 million people in Denmark.
CP Frederik gets €2,499,109 paid annually (if I used the money converter correctly). That must include their household and staff expenses. CP Mary gets €249,910 of that amount.
I’m not finding mention of household expenses for Felipe and Letizia, but their salary and representation expenses figures are online — €146,376 for Felipe, €102,464 for Letizia for 2014 (stated for when they were the CP couple).
CP Mary recently spent $4000 on a coat. She will wear it a couple of times and then get rid of it. That is excessive spending in my mind. I think the historic inherited jewels can cover a lot for the “royalty” aspect of dressing royal; they don’t need to be spendthrift on designer clothing for everyday work occasions.
NaS,
I’m sorry you interpreted my comments as a personal attack, it was not the intention. I don’t know your nationality but I assume you’re not Danish (that may have coloured my response), if you are I apologize.
(BTW, I do now how many people live in my country.)
I DO mind when non-Danes tells us what we should spend our tax money on: it is condenscending and off-putting. It is up to us and the officials we elect.
That is why I myself never go into the debate on how much tax money William and Kate spend because that really isn’t my place. I do comment on the work ethic (or lack of it). One of the reasons that monarchies still have a certain relevance is that they as in a sort of non-politic manner can serves as figures of national unity. However, that depends on the members of the RF’s connecting to people of all walks in life in a meaningful manner. Will and Kate doesn’t do this and that runs the risk of them alienating the very people they are meant to appeal to. I think they do a good job on this in my country and that’s is why I support them.
Regarding Mary’s latest coat. I really don’t care and she often wears her things more than a few times. She recently made an appearance in a 10-year-old dress. At the end of the day, neither you nor me knows exactly what goes on in Mary’s wardrobe (whether she stores things for later use or whether she tosses them) so I find it a bit presumptous to claim that she will only wear things once or twice and then toss it. We judge for official appearances (and not private ones) – and some items might not be seen in a long time and then re-appear. That might very well be the same with Kate, she has only been in this game for 3 years.
AH, always difficult to read tone online. I figured you’d know how many people are in your country. Maybe you knew how many are in Spain. Others reading this thread may not know the difference in population. Denmark spends a lot more on their royals per person than Spain, and that is reflected in the wardrobes of the royals. I’m not saying how Danes should spend their money, I’m pointing out how much of that is spent on the royals relative to Spain.
“One of the reasons that monarchies still have a certain relevance is that they as in a sort of non-politic manner can serves as figures of national unity. However, that depends on the members of the RF’s connecting to people of all walks in life in a meaningful manner.” I completely agree. I just don’t agree that it needs to involve expensive designer wardrobes, especially designers from other countries.
Letizia works hard, mostly wears Spanish brands, and walks a much more difficult line than Mary. If she showed up in designer clothing it might please you, but there are many unemployed Spaniards who would probably disagree with you. Yes, Mary recycles some. She also spends a lot on new, non-Danish designer clothing which I find inappropriate. I personally find it offensive when someone wears designer clothing to an impoverished country — and then asks for donations for development funds.
We’ll just have to agree to disagree since I very much doubt that I can sway your opinion on Mary.
I enjoy Mary’s fashion game and I don’t find it inappropriate for her to wear non-Danish designers – so does Victoria, Maxima and Letizia. I would also mention that I have never seen her inappropriately dressed at her different types of engagements.
I like to focus on the positive aspects and I very much respect and admire Mary’s work with her foundation. She has put her name and face on a number of issues that I feel very strongly about, issues such as bullying, mental illness as well as support for children of parents suffering from mental illness. That work has very real effects. An initiative like this would have meant the world to me as a child and teen. Raising awareness and finacially supporting issues like this (as well as art and design industries) is part of her role and she does it well. In the end that means more to me than the price on the clothes on her back. I also sincerely doubt that the people in the organisations she works with and the people who benefit from that work find her clothes and its price of paramount importance. Do they think “Mary wears an expensive coat/dress. How dare she!” – cue faux outrage. I doubt it.
I do think that there’s a sad and deplorable tendency of constantly moving goal posts when it comes to women in the public eye. There seems to be an idea that they should be perfect in all things (much more than men in the same position). I don’t require Mary, Maxima, Letizia or Angelina for that matter to be perfect. Their work, its effects and their good intentions is much more important to me. It is also curious to me that other women draw much less ire in this respect. Maxima obviously spends a LOT of money on clothes but she doesn’t get the same kind of criticism. Of course, she is much more charismatic and her spontaneous show of emotion makes her much more endearing than ladies who are much more aloof and guarded in their public personas.
When it comes to subjects like these we all have out own biases and prejudices and it would be disingenous to pretend that we don’t. The least we can do is be honest about it. I, for example, find it hard to respect Kate because she spent the better part of her youth being completely idle despite a good education and every advantage that a wealthy and secure upbringing would bring her. I freely admit that. Also she kind of gives my field a bad name in the public sphere, which I resent. That might not be entirely fair to her but it still annoys me. On the other hand, Mary supports (also financially) some causes that I feel very strongly about. Causes that get a much wider coverage because og her patronage and initiatives that I know a real difference for children who are in the same situation that I was as a child, initiatives that very likely will help them through a hard and painful situation with much less trauma than I experienced.
In the end, that means much more to me than the price on the clothes on her back. I don’t require her to be a perfect paragon of queenly virtue. I simply want her to represent her country and her sovereign well and try to make a difference in the world. She does that well. The rest are details of less importance. However, I gather that you feel differently and that is certainly your prerogative.
Katie Nicolls has her nose firmly planted up Kate’s butt. She’s no more a fashion icon than I am. Just because one can afford expensive clothes doesn’t mean it should be bought. Kate hasn’t learned this. She buys expensive and thinks it’s fashionable, when it’s not fashionable nor appropriate for her position. They are trying so hard to turn her into the second coming of Diana and there’s literally no chance of that happening.
She has zero presence. I am actually surprised that her clothes are expensive because to me it looks like Target clothing. Nothing wrong with affordable garb but Bargain Basement Princess is NOT the look.
+10
+100
I agree Kate makes expensive clothes look cheap.
And I’ve seen plenty of women Kate’s age kitted out in Target’s clothing who look quite stylish. Kate does not have style, poor thing.
“She shops a lot for Kate online, and calls in hundreds of dresses for Kate to try on”
It takes a lot of time to try on “hundreds of dresses,” time that could have been spent working with charities instead. But oh well, Kate has her own priorities.
She has a signature style, but iconic? I don’t think so.
She’s either mumsy (that red coat getting off the plane in NZ, various other blah coat dresses), tarty (the mullet dress recently, skin tight jeggings with the cork hooves), or just plain inappropriate (flying skirts revealing a bare butt, too short skirts showing too much thigh for a royal, etc.). There are some rare occasions where she actually looks stylish and those tend to be casual wear. There are a few gowns that are nice, too. This does not an icon make.
A better use of her time would be to delve into some sort of work related passion. She’s got a wardrobe she can wear now for awhile, stop the shopping. And get rid of the things that did not work – auction them off already!
“She’s got a wardrobe she can wear now for awhile, stop the shopping.” As others have pointed out, she didn’t purchase a “working” wardrobe. She keeps buying expensive, similar one-off items (Michael Kors gray coatdress, identical bespoke Burton gray coat dress. Bright blue LK Bennett dress, identical bright blue Stella McCartney dress. Custom red coat dress. Another red dress. Another red coat. Another red dress. Another red coat dress. Custom green coat dress. Another custom green coat dress. Custom pink dress. Identical custom dress in aqua. Custom yellow dress. Another yellow dress that blows up in the wind).
She purchases dresses and coat dresses, one-off items. She doesn’t purchase suits or separates, which could be combined (mixed-and-matched) into a working wardrobe. And cost a lot less btw.
+1
Well put. I always had the impression that Kate’s mother was a practical person, but Kate doesn’t seem to have learned that lesson from her mother.
+1
Very well said!
I’ve always wondered if the caked on eyeliner was a way of copying Diana, which seems rather odd.
It’s likely not. Kate is a fan of a show called TOWIE where the ladies have caked on theatre grade make up. Diana was simply suffering from the 80’s trends. *shudders* Such horrible trends in the 80’s!
Is her eyeliner permanent, as rumoured?
It’s not. I say this because there’s photos of her..
Photos of no eyeliner. Eyeliner colors from brown to black. Her eyeliner is both in and out of the water line on the lower eyelid. And the eyeliner can go all the way or half or quarter way. Leaving the rest of her eye without eyeliner. It has mascara which can be confused without a closer look as eyeliner, but it’s not tattooed on.
The links always get caught in moderation. She applies that stuf daily.
Frog, if she wants to copy Diana, I suggest she start by emulating her work ethic and the genuine, compassionate way she treated others in the course of doing her royal work. Skip the other stuff especially concerning her personal life ie the affairs etc
She wears what she’s told to wear, and like most young monarchs, she’s told to wear ugly shit that makes her look like she’s an 80 year old. Add to this that she never had the best taste in fashion and that everybody pretends she’s gorgeous and edgy and classy when she’s just looking like an ugly grandma, and she obviously is not going to change her fugly fashion choices anytime soon.
I’ll stay with Rania and Mary of Denmark, thank you very much.
No one tells her to wear what she’s wearing. She sets her own schedule, she chooses her own clothes, she chooses her hairstyle and makeup. And she’s not the monarch, she never will be.
Given how the royal ladies each have distinctive style, I would say Kate has a heavy hand in choosing her wardrobe.
When Kate is 50 she’ll likely still have fabulous legs like her mother. Does anyone think Kate will still be wearing shorter skirts at 50+ like her mother does? Here’s link to photo of Carole in an orange strapless cocktail dress. http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/uknews/kate-middleton/8442992/Royal-wedding-whos-who-in-the-Middletons.html
Both Kate & Pippa seem to have inherited the physical stature of their mother; added to that, likely the same style of eating, certainly the same style of & amount of exercise. There were some good habits instilled young (except for the smoking & sunbathing…).
If those looks that Kate has sported in the past month are sophisticated like the article claims, Natasha Archer needs to stick to answering the phone and writing memos.
I see it’s still 1814 on these threads.
Karole Midds is totally muttonous. (mutton dressed as lamb, lil bit tacky, inappropriate really. Apple doesn’t fall far from the tree)
I’m not sure she does like clothes. I think she likes buying stuff, I’m not sure it really matters what the stuff is. We’re told she mostly shops for clothes, make-up and home decorations but her clothing is bland, out of date and doesn’t flatter her frame, her make-up is all the wrong colors and extremely poorly applied, and apparently her decorating efforts were so bad everything had to be re-done. If she was actually interested in any of this stuff surely she’d get some of it right at least some of the time?
I know quite a few young women who’s only ‘interest’ is shopping. They don’t really care about what they’re buying, they just like the actual shopping, the rush of buying something new. They tend to buy clothes and shoes and make-up just because that’s kind of expected, but if they had a reason to be buying say, gardening items or tools, that would suit their needs just as well.
So Kate has a stylist and that stylist should hide her face in shame.
Just a few random comments. I agree Kate should follow Diana’s example regarding hard work but Diana didn’t always get it right fashionwise. Does anyone here remember the Sunday afternoon polo match around 1986 when Diana wore something like a woolly jumper, a thin flared skirt, polka dot ankle socks and high heeled shoes? If Kate wore anything like that she would be murdered on here. Kate Moss should also not be held up as an example to anyone; she is a known drug taker and her photos are heavily retouched. An example was given only last week of this retouching. I agree Kate should keep the skirt level down but again on platforms Diana often wore short skirts pulled up even higher. The Queen used to be crucified years ago for her fashion sense as were Princess Margaret and Princess Anne. Kate is finding her way and no different from any other royal lady who has gone before.