Duchess Kate wears a new, red LK Bennett dress in London: cute & flattering?

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Here are some photos of the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge out and about in London today. I actually forgot that they were doing events two days in a row together, and this makes the third day in a row of public appearances from Work-Shy Will. Very suspicious! Yesterday, the Cambridges knocked out at least three major events (I’m sure the day will “count” as like six or seven events) in Luton. Today, Will and Kate went to an event for Young Minds UK, one of the charities that is part of Will, Kate and Harry’s umbrella organization Heads Together. You can read more about the trip here.

Will and Kate posed uncomfortably in some unflattering shadows outside of event today in London. Kate wore a new frock, so it’s a little bit disappointing that we didn’t get better shots of the dress from all angles in better light. This dress is a pretty cap-sleeved number from LK Bennett, best known as the makers of Kate’s endless supply of nude heels. Her repeat dress yesterday was from LK Bennett too. According to the Mail, this dress retails for $375, but I bet you a box of wiglets that Kate had the dress altered at high expense. My guess, just from looking at seams, is that she had the waist brought up so she would look leggy. Hey, at least she wore something new! And at least she wore her hair partially back. That’s refreshing. Historically, I’ve always enjoyed Kate in red too, even if I think this red is a bit too orange-y. She should wear more blue-reds.

What else? During one of their stops in Luton yesterday, William comforted a 14-year-old boy who lost his mum to cancer. William put his hand on the kid’s shoulder and told him, “Time makes it easier…I know how you feel. I still miss my mother every day – and it’s 20 years after she died. The important thing is to talk about it as a family. It’s OK to feel sad, it’s OK for you to miss her.”

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Photos courtesy of WENN.

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101 Responses to “Duchess Kate wears a new, red LK Bennett dress in London: cute & flattering?”

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  1. LAK says:

    My goodness that’s an unflattering dress. It looks like an adult version of a little girl’s dress.

    I’d tell any friend with such a dress to bin it.

    It’s a terrible design on a grown woman and poorly executed.

    • Olenna says:

      Agree, and it’s design is similar to another dress (or two) she’s worn in the past. Girl has no style.

    • HH says:

      I like it. I think a hairstyle could have matured it a little more.

      What makes me anxious is Kate wearing a float-y dress. We can’t go back to the flashing. We just can’t. We’ve come too far.

      And MY GOD. THE NUDE HEELS AGAIN?! Nude heels are best saved for dresses with busy patterns because they pull the look together. A plain red dress?! You could actually wear a fun and/or patterned shoe to jazz it up a little.

      ETA: Also, Kate doesn’t have the “gravitas”and/or charisma to pull off style. I bet this dress would look tons different on Rania, Letizia, Victoria, Madeline, etc.

    • INeedANap says:

      It looks like something Lena Dunham would wear.
      That is not a compliment.

  2. Betti says:

    Why of course its new – girl needs to be bribed to perform her duties. Also she’s had her face done, its looking tight and she’s looking youthful/refreshed.

    And yes, the stitching at the waist is bad. Not sure its from tailoring as L K Bennet can be shoddy, i know people who’ve bought from there and had to return things due to terrible quality stitching.

    As for the ‘flurry’ of events the past few days, with the Canadian tour coming up they need to bump their numbers up and that normally happens at this time of year. Once the Canada holiday is over we won’t see them for a few months as they’ll need another holiday on their own to recover from it.

    • Kitty says:

      What makes me angry is the fact that they will be praised on their Canadian tour especially if they bring the kids. Not fair!

      • Nic919 says:

        Canadians will complain about this. There are already complaints about Trudeau being PM selfie and he was at the last Hip concert too. This is more playing around and outside of a few die hard monarchists based in Victoria, the average Canadian won’t care about these two or the kids.

        I saw pictures of the “crowd” at one of the events yesterday. It was a single of line of people behind a barrier photographed to look like a crowd. Check for wide views when they get to these events… I don’t think they are even pulling the crowds that Charles and Camilla do.

      • Betti says:

        @Nic919 – they’re not pulling in the kinda crowds that people think, partly because most people in the UK don’t care unless its TQ and secondly most of their events are either announced or organised at the last min so there is little or no time for forward PR. Often we peasants don’t know they have deigned to grace us with their presence until we see photo’s in the Fail.

      • Kitty says:

        @Nic19, are you sure because every time they bring out the kids they are in favor with the public. @Betti, do William and Kate even believe in God? Are they faithful people?

  3. Karen says:

    croydon facelift (tight hair) or botox? forehead is looking very tight.

    The look it too little girl for me. Between the half up and the dress style. But the color is nice.

    • Barrett says:

      Is the color orange? Like a orangey red?

    • MissyD says:

      YAS, where are the forehead wrinkles from a few months ago???? Dang, that forehead is smooth now.

    • Eva says:

      my first thought too, been hitting the botox again for sure. She looks good though. When she was all botoxed and fillered up a few years ago (see London 2012 olympics) I thought she looked great!

    • Marta says:

      She’s done breastfeeding so she is able to hit the botox again.

      • kaiko says:

        My bet is she didn’t breastfeed Charlotte more than a month or two, if at all. I say this mostly because it was reported that she had supply issues with George, which is usually because of a) not enough breast tissue or milk ducts, which is kind of rare (or so I was told by an LC) b) you aren’t breastfeeding your baby enough and your supply isnt being demanded, so to speak. OR and this is my guess per Kate c) you aren’t taking in enough calories or fluids, your body says “WHOA”, and your milk goes down–I personally struggled with this and eventually gave up being size 2 for a few years in order to nurse my children. Kate isn’t a tiny or super slender woman naturally, but she was fit as a fiddle fast after both children. We’re all human and our bodies can only take so much….JMO though…

      • Oksi says:

        I am sure she not breastfeeding since October. When china guests were in London. She drink alcohol on that event. There is photos.

  4. Seraphina says:

    I’m having a cup of coffee to help me wake up because her outings are not helping to wake me up. She is boring. I’ve said it before and I firmly believe she will never be the star we all hoped for. the kind that demands attention by how she stands, how she walks and what she wears and using that to do good and bring important issues to the forefront. Alas, we never will get Super Kate, we will have to settle on Put us to sleep Kate. She induces yawning 😴

    • Betti says:

      She was never going to b Diana and we don’t want her to b a superstar just someone who pulls their weight something neither of them r prepared to do.

      • Kitty says:

        What did Diana have that her fame was so big and that she was so special?

      • paddyjr says:

        Yes! I would be happy if she even pretended to do the job she accepted. She just has an “I don’t give a f***” attitude which, IMO, shows in her clothes. She literally spends millions on clothes and she chooses the most bland outfits (not even a fun statement necklace????). She had 10 years to prepare for this role and still fails miserably. Other non-blood Royals manage to do it (I’m looking at you Sophie) on less money, less help and fewer excuses.

      • Green Girl says:

        Sophie has the added advantage of being a PR professional. She is savvy and smart. I know I’ve said this before, but I really think Kate should spend more time with her one-on-one.

      • LAK says:

        Kitty: i know you are a fan of Harry. Imagine a female version of Harry set to max.

        Her popularity took everyone by surprise because it wasn’t planned. The public responded to her in a visceral way and she was very engaged and engaging to the public.

        Definitely not the way the royals had presented themselves before. She did all the stuffy protocol things and made it look like fun. And she remade public expectations of what royalty could do.

      • perplexed says:

        “What did Diana have that her fame was so big and that she was so special?”

        Massive charisma.

        Diana knew the power of her role, and somehow knew how to fit her personality into the role

        I don’t think Kate needs the level of charisma Diana had to be a star, since half the interest people have in her would come from being royal/married to a royal, but to maintain interest you should probably have some kind of personality. Not the exact same personality Diana had since we’re all individuals, but at least a personality. Look at Michelle Obama — she has a personality and understands the power of her role, and fits her personality into that role. Maybe the problem with Kate is that she doesn’t have much of a personality to begin with.

      • Kitty says:

        @LAK, then why hasn’t William and Kate have that yet Harry does? Also, why has the monarchy gone back to the way it was before Diana joined?

      • Seraphina says:

        A star in the Royal C ircles is what I think we were hoping for. Someone who has empathy, a work ethic worthy of her entitled role and charisma. And she has none of those. And Perplexed said it all very well.

      • LAK says:

        Kitty: A question everyone asks.

        Though Harry does have the advantage that he inherited some of her charisma such that people instantly warm to him without taking his measure first. That’s a quality that can’t be taught or faked.

    • bluhare says:

      I agree, Seraphina. I’m getting less and less interested in what she does.

      Betti, she said “star” not superstar. And even if she did say superstar,that doesn’t mean a DIana clone. There’s plenty of room for self expressionin star and super stardom I think. I was hoping she’d be a star too.

      • Betti says:

        Sadly I don’t think she ever had or has it in her to b a star. Whatever spark she had is long gone. Carole and William saw to that. When u look at some of the uni photos u could see something in the eyes. Makes u sad to see where it went.

      • Egla says:

        She settled to this life. Maybe it was to much work to try and change him so she adapted. I don’t know why but I have seen many accomplished women do that for a man.
        Let’s not forget the she wanted HIM and what he represented and was willing to do everything in her power to get him. And when I say “she” I mean her mom more than Kate. From what I have herd of her before the whitewash I don’t think her real personality would be appropriate for her job. She has no empathy as far as I can tell

      • Seraphina says:

        Thanks Bluhare, yes to exactly what you wrote. Should have read further before I tried to answer other posters 🙂

    • Sarah says:

      @Kitty, she had charisma, but she had a caring heart, which was visible to all.

      Kate cares about Kate. And Wills. Period.

  5. MinnFinn says:

    My theory about so many pairs of nude, navy and black shoes is that she has a set at KP and another set at Anmer.

  6. vava says:

    Meh. It looks like other red things she’s worn before. I am not a fan of the raglan sleeve on her, though. Something like this screams for some interesting accessories, but this is Kate we are talking about. Beige Kate.

    Definitely has has something done to that face of hers.

    Hate the hairstyle, she looks like a pre-teen.

  7. jeane says:

    could she be pregnant? i know they’re going on tour so it isn’t likely but she looks healthy to me and not too skinny. she usually only looks this good when she’s pregnant.

    • LAK says:

      She’s pulled out of an announced tour, itinerary comfirmed etc days before it happened due to pregnancy so it’s possible.

      • Kitty says:

        Oh please hope it does not happen.

      • Betti says:

        Even if she was i doubt she’d pull out of this one – its a place she likes. Which tour did she pull out of again? It wasn’t China?

        Am sure they’ll use that same old chestnut excuse of extreme morning sickness – u know that same excuse used to pull out of a solo engagement only to be seen with William at an airport in Scotland sneaking off on a vacation the day after.

      • LAK says:

        Malta.

        William had to go in her place. Accompanied by Kate’s team.

      • Betti says:

        @lak. Thanks couldn’t remember. Was that supposed to b her first solo tour?

    • kate says:

      I thought the same thing! Her face seems fuller, but if she had work done (like people are saying) I guess that could explain it too…but ya she definitely gives off pregnancy vibes in these photos. Plus they did just get back from a vacation so….idk could be true

      • Tough Cookie says:

        It seems they are ALWAYS getting back from vacation LOL

      • Oksi says:

        they did nothing at all, they just walk on some events from time to time. Can you explain why they need a vacation? Does she tired to play tennis on her back yard?

    • Cricket says:

      I thought that as well but wouldn’t she be pregnant then for Pippa’s wedding? Not sure when her wedding is but I can’t see Kate being pregnant for it, I think Kate would do her best to upstage the bride.

      • littlemissnaughty says:

        I mean then a pregnancy would be perfect. It’s not like she could dazzle everyone with her sartorial genius.

    • Anett says:

      The same thought crossed my mind when I saw her yesterday. But because of the upcoming holiday called as a tour, I do not think so. Maybe her hair gave me that impression because it was so huge. Anyway she looks happy and healthy so everything must be great in their kingdom.

    • Birdie says:

      I’m glad you said it, because that was my very first thought: She’s pregnant. Her skin looks so much better here and her face is rounder. She looks best pregnant and those pics give me that vibe.

      • Nic919 says:

        Microdermabrasion and fillers are why her face looks better. She is not pregnant. Will doesn’t want another child and so it won’t happen.

  8. Zardi123 says:

    She just plays at dressy up will never grow into an adult
    dress is awful and too short … again she is all about showing her legs off .. Pity she didnt do real work all this duo do is holiday endlessly and turn up for short time to an event .. they are more than useless
    The photos online of her naked are indeed step too far vulgar horrible and in the position she holds should not have happened .. Her and her family have brought huge shame on the BRF through their constant freeloading on freebies and using people to use their chateaus and holidays for free instead of paying their way …
    We can see a Republic happening in the future as this lazy duo are not worthy of this role they play at constantly

    I have never had our views published on this site wonder why .. as we say what we feel ….

  9. pumbi says:

    Oh God!
    I can’t decide if it is more boring or childish.
    What I miss is two side ponitails. That would make the look perfect.

  10. Citresse says:

    The dress isn’t too bad and Kate’s hair looks ok. William, on the other hand, looks like he slept in his suit. And William is dressing very casual.

  11. NGBoston says:

    No to this look. Too matronly for such a young woman.

  12. Adele Dazeem says:

    Every time I think she couldn’t be any more boring BAM she bores me more. There is nothing fundamentally wrong with a basic solid dress but the key to basic solids is to dress them up with accessories, a word she’s never heard. And fun shoes, which we def know she has not heard of.

  13. Chaine says:

    I think William is improving? You know it must have taken him utmost effort to say something so genuine to that boy, as he is usually so guarded and stiff. He said something that mattered to that person, and hopefully it helped the child.

    • MinnFinn says:

      I also thought his comment to the boy was an improvement. It really surprised me because his m.o. has always been either sarcasm, putting down George/Harry/Kate or belligerently refusing to answer an innocent question posed by a non-journalist bystander.

      • Gg says:

        Yes actually I just broke down crying after reading his comments. If you’ve experienced loss and grief the words, “it’s ok to be sad” are the most sensitive thing to say! I have trouble sharing my grief because people want to make me feel better, but really I just need to be sad with someone and for that to be OK. It’s actually a beautiful sentiment and I love him for that!

  14. O'Connell says:

    It looks like a lot of her dresses. She’s repeating, even when she’s not repeating. She looks a bit ill at ease here, still after all this time.

  15. Lainey says:

    She literally has an identical red dress to this that she wore to Wimbledon I think last year!!! But of course she had to go out and buy another. And I hate this hair style on her.

    • Hazel says:

      That’s it! I knew I’d seen her in something similar recently!

    • notasugarhere says:

      It does look almost exactly like the red one from Wimbledon, as if it had shrunk in the wash. Same color, shorter sleeves, shorter skirt, raised waist, basically the same dress. Had to go shopping, had to spend more money.

  16. cindyp says:

    OMG, that dress is so ugly, sleeves too big, too short, not tailored, something a teen would wear. She is so boring. Wears a solid color with no accessories. How about a scarf or a pop of something?

    • Chrissy says:

      Who knows how the dress is supposed to look when she constantly has dresses altered to make her legs look longer. If the waistline was raised, the whole shape of the dress is ruined IMO. It looks like a sack to me. I agree with you, cindyp about accessorizing. She should have worn some patterned shoes/ handbag or a scarf/brooch. She’s so hopelessly boring.

    • Oksi says:

      I think she can’t wear accessories because she doesn’t know how to do that. And they can remind her hers attempt to work as a buyer. And, you know, she is a real princess and real one don’t work. She is trying to forget that horrible period of time.

  17. Sarah Schwoppe says:

    I like her dress. I think the color is fun and length is fine. As for accessories, clearly lots of accessories are not her cup of tea. She looks appropriate and engaged.

    • vava says:

      Some modern leopard print block heels with ghillie lace up detail would have been nice with this cheap looking mess.

  18. joannie says:

    I think the dress is fine. I find too much jewellery to be tacky looking. It might be she has an allergy to it. We don’t know. I think it was really touching of William to comfort the boy by sharing his feelings.
    There will be large crowds to see them while they are in Canada. There were on their last trip. They are popular over here. But don’t take my word for it. See for yourself!

    • Jan says:

      Sorry Joannie, but as a Canadian I can say that these two are not even on the radar. Granted I don’t live anywhere near Toronto/ Montreal or the West Coast so who knows. All I know is that I resent having my tax dollars used for such ridiculous PR antics. I say, let Justin pay for them to come here out of his own pocket if he wants them here so much.

      • joannie says:

        Maybe not on your radar but you wait and see. People will come out in droves just like they did the last time. Personally I think it’s great to see some positivity for a change. The news and everyone seems so negative these days.
        On another note Trudeau cannot possibly do worse than Harper who has dropped off the radar. Well he has been seen shopping in Safeway and walking his cat around the block.

      • Nic919 says:

        What large crowds are you talking about? They attended Canada Day in Ottawa which is already heavily attended because it is freakin’ Canada day in the capital and they attended the Calgary Stampede, which again everyone attends regardless of royalty.

        When they went to Quebec they were booed … Because Canadians who are not of British origin resent paying homage to an archaic institution that has no real connection with Canadians.

        Will and Kate are even less relevant than they were five years ago and have proven themselves to be boring. When Harry was in Toronto for Invictus, there were crowds because Harry has charisma. These two don’t.

    • notasugarhere says:

      How does it comfort a child to know, according to William, that he will miss his mother as much in 20 years as he does today?

      Crowds? Like the 20 people who showed up in NYC? Oh the humanity, call out the extra guards to hold back the excitement.

      I do enjoy the excuses you pull out of nowhere. Now she has an allergy to jewelry? Funny, because she’s spent roughly $200,000 on forgettable pieces of jewelry in the last 5 years. Forgettable jewelry that she wears, so there is no apparent allergy.

  19. perplexed says:

    I don’t think the dress is ugly or unsightly, but I think I’m not used to seeing royals or even celebrities without some kind of accompanying accessories.

  20. cerys says:

    The dress is a nice colour. However it is too short and at that length would look better on someone younger. If it was at her knees or just below it would have looked better. She looks better in general lately. Her holiday must have done her good so she’ll need more to maintain it.

    • vava says:

      microdermabrasion, fillers and botox. She definitely had some work done on that face. Where are the forehead wrinkles? Where are those jowls???

      • Zardi123 says:

        Vava we agree with you as in other photos her face is so different lines on brow an aged face for 34.. now it has plumped up and lines are not there she has had a load of work done on her face.. she will look haggard at 40 and really aged as botox doesnt last forever ypur face can fall apart …with all the chemicals

  21. sequinedheart says:

    Goodness gracious, she is dull.

  22. Starlight says:

    Poor lad losing his mum well done Wills for his compassion. The dress is off the peg I can’t see how it would be changed but I will have a look at the dress next time I am in LK – the colour seems to be fashion for Autumn – I sometimes think she would look more sophisticated in flats but that won’t happen because she wants to show height and not look short next to Wills, I think she tries to hard to look sexy all the time the short skirts and high heels trying to look like a sexy femme so she keeps him in check. I bet she wore a thong under the dress it’s all about looking irresistable.

  23. Laura says:

    I think Catherine looks nice. I am not a huge fan of the dresses that look more suited for small children, such as this new dress, but she looks a lot better than some of the women I see in the media. I think her hair looks pretty and she has a lovely face.

    I wish there was more to talk about with Catherine than her clothing, hair and face but there really doesn’t seem to much she is passionate about beyond her appearance – at least not publicly.

    • graymatters says:

      I agree that her style is generally blah and that she would be more interesting if she were — well, more interesting. I think she’s said more and done more for her charities these last two days than she has all year, so I’m giving her a pass on style today. Anytime her substance outweighs her style is a win, in my book.

      William’s doing better, too. He’s still awkward, but not as petulant, so I’m calling it progress. I’m not wild about seeing his ankles or Little Willy’s silhouette and I don’t think he chose the right shirt or tie, but he did do a much better job these past few days. I haven’t seen much about the trip to Germany, though. Does anyone have any details?

    • Sarah says:

      The woman has never worked. Never volunteered. Didn’t spend her 20s developing skills, or a good character. Just hung around, waiting for the phone to ring. All she has is her appearance, which is a shame.

  24. Kaz says:

    Boring, boring, boring. What is it with dresses all the time? With George looking a bit casual it would have been a perfect opportunity for Mildred to ditch the dress/shoes and maybe even wear pants or skirt. Something less ‘I’m all dressed up and going to lunch afterwards’ look. And that awful ‘holding my clutch tightly in front of my crotch’ pose could be solved if she experimented with carrying a different sort of bag. Is there a rule against carrying a bag bigger than a spectacle case? Maybe even something with handles?

  25. Patty says:

    Kate’s dress looks like one of my favorite dresses. Except I got mine at Target and it cost like $15. Also William is a one trick pony.

  26. Oksi says:

    Bill is so crumple. Is it hard to sit normal? Can you see her nose job? Before that it was more like double potato. And yes, she is trying to look like a little girl. She acts like a silly little girl. I think she is very infantile.

    • Starlight says:

      I have a Capricorn female colleague friend who acts girlie – girlie voice – plays the helpless card but has a tummy pierce and is very vain. No one can make her out as she comes across so genuinely vulnerable, but unwittingly you realise she will do anything to Win in every avenue. While your sitting there like a rabbit in the headlights.

  27. Matchday says:

    She always manages to bring new levels of boring and bland to her wardrobe. (A round of golf claps, the most boring of claps, for Waitey)

    It looks like someone went back to the botox. Forehead wrinkles are gone and they were looking Grand Canyon like a few months ago.