The Duke and Duchess of Cambridge made a somber appearance at the Leicester City Football Club today to pay tribute to those killed in a helicopter crash. LCFC Chairman Vichai Srivaddhanaprabha was one of those killed, and he and William knew each other and had some kind of friendship. William and Kate were welcomed by his widow, and they laid flowers at the tribute.
For this appearance, Kate wore a new Catherine Walker look. Initially, I thought this was just a straight-up dress, but it’s not. It’s a coat, and Kate is wearing some kind of short black dress underneath it. What I like about the coat/dress: the shoulders aren’t puffy, and the top part looks very well tailored. What I dislike: the puffy pleats of the “skirt.” And the big cloth buttons are… there. Most of the women attending this tribute event were in black, so even though Kate was in a conservative shade of grey, she still stood out. Also: I really don’t get her current “ponytail with ribbon” trend.
After the tribute, William and Kate met with the LCFC team, plus volunteers and club supporters. Then they went inside the stadium to meet with some of the charities supported by LCFC.
Photos courtesy of WENN.
Well, it is not really “new”. She wore it when she went to Church with the Queen at Balmoral, just that that time we only saw the upper part cause she was in the car. So this is actually another rewear haha.
The dress under it is very short, but it is not as if she is going to take the coat off. And if the wind flies it up, the dress won’t move so it will be okay
This tribute looks very touching, and Twitter informs me that they are also going to visit the University afterwards. I wonder if she is going to change to something more relaxed?
ETA: Yas for the bow being back!! Kate in 2018: headbands and bows. I love it
Actually I read headbands are making a comeback. I like them (and wear mine) for keeping the shorter hair around my face out of my eyes, or when I’m too lazy to blow dry lol
I think Kate looks great, from the waist up. Not loving the pleats WITH the Peter Pan collar. Both make it look too little girlish. IMO, pick one or the other.
Now, that purse!!!!! I LOVE that!!! Any ID??
I like the coat from the waist up (although the seaming over the bust is puckered at a weird spot making it look like she’s cold), but I think the skirt of it is too short (not because I see royal knee *gasp*, but because the proportions just seem a bit off. Maybe if the skirt was straight instead of pleated? Or 2-3 inches longer?).
Something nice – her hair looks good and I don’t mind the ribbon.
I agree. 2-3 more inches would have been perfect.
The bag is an Aspinal bag, she carried the lilac version fairly recently.
Thank you, BeanieBean!
I still wear scarves in my hair as a headband of sorts, so I am here for the hair accessories!
That is one short black dress.
But yeah having a ribbon in your hair as a grown woman and the future queen of England is stupid looking.
A lot of her looks seem very young girlish.
When I look at some of the things she wears I think of like late 80’s early 90’s little girl holiday glam. Like, I was dressed that way for the holidays when I was young. All velvet, plaid, buttons and bows but you know what? I love it all on her lol. I think she looks great and can pull it off 95% of the time. I know a lot of you dont like the way she dresses but I almost always thinks she looks good. The velvet headbands she’s been wearing lately? Love them too. Could never pull it off myself but I think she does it well.
Mel nailed her style exactly- late 80s early 90s holiday girl glam. Never thought of it that way, but that’s exactly it. It is not my style at all- quite frankly, I hate it. I hate pleats and bows and peter pan collars and hair ribbons. All of it. But its definitely her style and she’s sticking to it, so I try to judge in that context. As for weather she pulls it off… I guess so. But she’s an attractive, slim woman so she can pull off most things. I still think she would look better in more modern shapes and styles but clearly it’s not her thing.
Agree about the clothes. But her skin and makeup have her looking a lot older than she is.
Ohhh I love bows. I am in my 30’s and I wear them as much as I can. I’ve been criticized for it (apparently a professor shouldn’t wear bows) but I love them, wearing them is my choice and it doesn’t make me any better or worse at my job.
Annie I think the bow is lovely and feminine, and I’m sure yours are too. I dont consider them to be an adolescent thing, and I dont think thats what shes going for. I think its classic and feminine and I hope it is a trend that stays!
I love the bows. I love her style today. She seemed very moved and genuine in the photos.
There’s nothing wrong with it. And if it makes you happy what else matters.
I don’t wear them, but I’ve considered buying them. I’m 28 – and I don’t have a problem with Kate’s. I like them better than the 90’s scrunchies that I keep seeing pop back up.
I also don’t mind the look of the bow. If a duchess/princess or whatever she is can’t wear one, who can?
I like her hair. She used to wear it long and it always looked too heavy for her. Now it looks neat and simple. She looks pretty.
I saw the photo with the dress peeking out and involuntarily uttered, “Holy crap!”
It’s essentially a minidress. Yikes.
Same here. That’s not right for the occasion. Wear it for the disco. Was it because she was going to be around a lot of hot young athletes?
That was my exact thought. I am reluctant to overly criticize fashion for somber occasions like this, but that dress is short.
I think the dress underneath is moving a bit as she walks/puts the flowers down. I don’t know that it would be that short as she stands still. I think she chose the pleats for the same reason, the coat moves a bit as she moves where a more tailored piece would ride up as she places the flowers.
Agree with both your statements!
Dont forget to clutch your pearls while commenting on the length of her dress lol
my pearls are always close at hand.
It might not be a dress at all, but a slip?
Crown Princess Victoria wears them too. And she will be Queen Regent, not a Queen Consort.
Not my favorite look but it’s not inappropriate. Her hair is pulled back out of her face.
The dress is short, but it’s covered up with her closed coat, so it’s not really seen anyway. It could be just a slip, and the she wasn’t removing the coat
Not a big fan of the coat. Is she wearing a scrunchy? Are they back??
Yeah, they are. Unfortunately.
https://fashionista.com/2017/10/shop-buy-hair-scrunchies-comeback-trend
Also, a bunch of designers sent ponytails with ribbon down the runway this season…
Thanks for the link. This is a trend I will be skipping.
omg I used to love these! i am going to get some, I don’t care.
My eight year niece loves to wear a ribbon with her ponytail.
I love scrunchies…to wear in my hair when I am sleeping or lounging at home. I feel like the fabric protects my hair from the elastic. But I’d never wear them in public!
The coat is a repeat. She wore it earlier this year in August at Balmoral during a church visit with the Queen.
Kate & William will also be visiting a university later on in the day so I can understand why she wasn’t in black. Grey is still a respectable color for the days events.
I like the swept back ponytail but not the bow. Also like the coat except for the skirt. Too bad, because if the coat had a straighter skirt I would call this whole look a win. Like the black tights and shoes and cute little purse.
I agree with you – some minor tweaks and this look would be perfect.
Totally agree. The tailoring on the coat is nice, but that skirt part is just…..too fru-fru and weird. I wish she’d move away from that designer, if that coat was mine I’d take it back and ask them to alter the skirt part…. The dress is way too short, I really don’t understand why she is wearing that, even under a coat. I like the tights, shoes, and purse, they are the only parts of this ensemble that have any elegance. Kate somehow has this knack of combining old lady (coat) with little girl (bow and mini skirt). Puzzles me.
I see she’s continuing to copy Meghan’s hairstyle LOL
A pony tail? Gee I copied Meghan this morning too lol
I love Meghan’s ponytails, but has been wearing them for a long time lol. I can remember her in Australia with this very same hairstyle… And Meghan was not even in the picture back then
A ponytail is a really basic common hairstyle, and Meghan isn’t the first person to wear one. Jeez, I’ve been wearing them my whole life and didn’t realize I was copying Meghan who was born years after me
It was a joke, guys.
Some of y’all need a sense of humor..it was clearly a joke.
Nuh uh! I’m older than both of them and a pony tail is my go-to. Obviously they’re copying ME.
Are you serious? A pony tail is copying? Nope. Stop pitting them against each other. God, it is tiresome.
She should consider using the ribbon to wrap her ponytail, rather than the bow. That would be (I think) on trend without looking too youthful.
*1,000
I want that bag! Does anyone have an ID?
I think that bag might be Aspinal?
Aspinale. I think she has the same one in beige
Thanks ladies, I found the nude one online for £595. The black ones looks better, though. The purse is a repeat BTW, the Middleton sis seem to be into this brand…
I think she looks very pretty. But I don’t have a problem with BUTTONS! lol
I don’t have a problem with the buttons either, because without them, the coat wouldn’t stay closed. All of my coats have buttons or zippers too
🙂
I agree – I actually love this whole look on her.
I think she looks nice; Id like that coat myself!
Minus the dress seeming super short, and the bow in her hair, I think Kate looks very nice and appropriate here. Yes, buttons, but I don’t mind them for some reason and overall the dress looks very well tailored and it seems to be a good fit for the day’s events.
Typical Kate-wear, but the ribbon in the hair is an upcoming trend I think we will be seeing everywhere the next few seasons.
Her face is collapsing! 🙁
What do you mean? Like drooping from age? Not being snarky, just curious.
I noticed it too. Kate likes to be super-thin. Not unhealthily so, but thin enough that when she loses the baby weight she loses enough subcutaneous fat in her face that her skin droops a bit. She also has a tendency to jowliness — also exaggerated by the weight loss.
I’ve never thought she looks good in black or grey, either. Those tones make her skin look more sallow. She looks so much better in jewel tones.
Its the weight loss – its accentuates her jowls. The makeup and bad skin don’t help either. The panda eye’s are back and she was/is a long term smoker who loves the sun so all that has taken a toll on her skin. I know someone who is 28 but looks about 48 because she smokes like a chimney and lives on the tanning beds – then tries to cover it up with super thick makeup.
Meghan also smokes. Sometimes it could just be down to genetics. Let’s also not forget that many women we’re used to seeing in the public eye especially in Hollywood have been under the knife. At least Kate looks real.
“Meghan also smokes”.
?? I’ve never seen a picture of her with a cigarette? She seems to enjoy a very healthy life style, so smoking really wouldn’t fit?
Yeah, didn’t Meghan get Harry to quit smoking?
@Isan there is a picture of Meghan smoking with her friend Jessica Mulroney in 2016. Just look for it on the internet. Incidentally there’s never been a picture of Kate smoking but there was one time when a cigarette packet was pictured in her bag back in 2007.
Yeah there are pics of Meghan and Jessica smoking in Italy. Just do a Google search. Not to say she’s a heavy smoker but she definitely has smoked.
I thought I had seen older pictures of Meghan smoking, and recent pictures of Harry still smoking. There are people who live otherwise healthy lifestyles but still can’t stop the bad habit of cigarettes. I hope the pregnancy will stop them both from ever smoking again
Yeah I think its mostly genetics and the fact that she hasn’t had “work” done. She looks pretty normal for a real woman her age, honestly. We are so used to actresses and models and photoshop that I think we have an unrealistic idea of what a woman normally looks like. Meghan looks younger than her age- lucky duck. I am 2 years young than Meg/Kate and I presently look pretty young because I have a young looking face- alexis bledel syndrome, I call it. But my skin is pale and wrinkle-prone like Kate’s so I expect to start looking older quite soon. And there’s nothing I can do about it. I don’t tan, don’t smoke. It’s just genetics.
Yeah, I hope they are not still smoking. Hopefully they’ve both let go of the cigarettes. I am surprised I didn’t know Meghan had smoked, I knew Harry had but I had to do an extensive search to find that pic of her with a cigarette and it was kind of blurry (it was on one of those dreaded MEGXIT sites) but nonetheless looked like a cigarette.
There are pics of Meghan smoking from a few years ago. I’m pretty sure she is more of a social smoker though. Harry also seems to have quit, his skin has been looking a lot better lately.
The topless balcony shots of Kate supposedly also included pics of her smoking but those were among the more risque shots that never saw the light of day. I also remember paparazzi who saw them ar the airport said that Kate had lit up outside.
I wonder if they have to go outside and stand around in the wind and rain to smoke like everyone else. Lol.
I’m guessing not likely.
I see that the dress is very short. Will the protocol police arrive now? Ah no, Kate is white and not biracial
You can see people criticizing it here.
In my case, I don’t complain cause it is underneath a closed coat, so…
Whoops, there went your stereotype, Loretta. Perhaps time to reconsider that Meghan I only criticized for her race?
kate has ALWAYS been criticized here for her short and often unweighted skirts. it’s been going on long before meghan started dating harry.
She really is desperate to cling to her university girly days. The coat dress itself is fine but she ruins it with the ribbon in the hair, the black shoes/tights combo and the little girly handbag.
She goes between looking young and girly to matronly. And she really needs to something with that hair – it needs a decent cut and style.
But I say all this in vain, she will never change her look and style from what got his attention in the beginning – such is her fear that if she changes her appearance he will dump her (given his history of cheating).
Maybe she just likes how she looks?
I’m not a fan of the ribbon, but other than that, she looks great. If she wants to dress “girly”, that’s her style and she’s not going too far with it. I think her hair recently is looking better than ever with its shorter length.
Talking of someone with a history of cheating perhaps we should be checking in on Harry who is currently on a solo trip to Zambia where his first great love Chelsy also lives!
Chelsy has lived in London for years. Her family is from Zimbabwe and not Zambia anyway.
Chelsy’s jelewlry business Aya is made in Zambia. She splits her time between Zambia, her parents home in Zimbabwe & London.
Its sarcasm because of the silly Jecca connection that’s constantly brought up even tho Jecca is happily married and lives in London!
You’ve a problem with black tights at an outdoor event in England in November?
Why do you never get called out for your frankly disgusting comments? You full on slut shamed the other day and now, despite 7 years of marriage, 3 children, and not an ounce of evidence he strayed during the marriage, you bring up him cheating on her? Worse, you put down her motivations for the clothes she wears down to “keeping her man interested”. Take your salty bs somewhere else.
Herewegoagain
+1
Herewegoagain
THANK YOU!!! Her comment was disgusting and appalling. And she never gets called out.
THIS
Thank you, ITA.
I think some people do try and call her out for her shameful comments, however, for one reason or another they don’t stay up for long
The velvet ribbon in her hair is on trend. She’s in her 30s-not her 60s-it’s completely fine. Also, there is nothing wrong with black tights and black heels.
I honestly don’t know what’s wrong with the black tights and black shoes combo. I’m 40 and wore the combo at a company party last week, and I wasn’t the only one. Especially common to wear in the chilly time of year by people of all ages
I love the black tights and shoes.
I guess you like cold legs?
I’m not sure that’s a dress at all—it could be a simple slip that’s riding up a bit as she walks. I usually wear one between a dress and tights to keep the materials from catching on one another.
I think this look is very polished and it’s nice to see another rewear. That said, i don’t understand why she thinks that make up looks good?! Lightening the eye shadow, or at least not taking the dark brown color over onto the side of her nose would help so much.
I can’t with the bow thing on a grown-ass professional woman. It’s ridiculous.
So said my cousin, and yet this slightly old professional woman (Philophy professor here) continues to wear them to work.
It is called… Having different opinions!
I like this coat on her, it’s appropriate for the occasion but not too formal for the university visit. The dress underneath is too short though. I don’t mind the bow in her hair. I don’t like bows on clothes because I think they make most outfits look frilly but I think it’s fine in her hair. Unless you are constantly staring at the back of her head it really shouldn’t bother anyone.
Also RBG in her younger days wore silky scarves in her ponytails, don’t hear anyone criticizing her. And she still to this day wears scrunchies. (I saw the trailer for the RBG biopic On the Basis of Sex and I was very excited to see the actor playing her was wearing scarves tied around her ponytail in the trailer!)
RBG can wear, and do, whatever the hell she wants. She’s earned that right.
I love RBG but how long ago were her younger days?
Kate’s style seems very stiff, prissy 80s. I don’t get feminine from her look. I get cold and prissy. The hairbow ties into that. It’s all a bit 80s Nellie Olson.
RBG broke ground by being one of the few women in her law school in the 50s and then arguing for women rights in the 70s even before she was nominated to the Supreme Court. She faced sexism for decades and still works very hard in her 80s. RBG was challenging assumptions for women at a time where women were expected to stay at home and have kids. Kate will never be in this woman’s league so I’m not sure why there is the comparison.
It was a comparison of style, not a comparison on their roles and what they’ve accomplished. I love RBG but I would never compare her career and what she’s achieved to Kate. Personally I think you should be allowed to wear what makes you happy, regardless of what you’ve done in your life. No, Kate is not RBG and she never will be. Not sure what Kate has to do to “earn” the right to wear bows tied around her ponytail.
Hahaha. So women (meaning Kate) need to earn the right to wear ponytails and bows in their hair? Woah, that’s a new one…
Obviously every woman can wear what she wants. But that doesn’t necessarily mean that all women should never face any criticism. IMO, you “earn the right,” colloquially, to wear whatever you want and largely be free from criticism when you have achieved a certain age or a certain status in your career. RBG has achieved both. Kate has achieved neither.
Just occurred to me (and may have already been discussed at length before!), I think it’s the pleating and fuller skirts that make (some of) her skirts, coats and dresses seem shorter than they are. Looking at the coat now, it hits her knees which is a fine length (I still prefer just below the knee, but that’s me) but for some reason it seems a bit short to me. Not inappropriate, but like it’s short on her body, a weird length for her. If this was a tailored coat, or a skirt length that was straight or pencil, I don’t think I would have noticed. Anyway. Aside from that, I think it’s nice with the pony. I don’t like the hair bow with the outfit, it adds a bit of whimsy to a somber figure, which is weird.
Other than the jeggings she wears from time to time, I find her clothing choices to be matronly but this coat actually looks good – gives the illusion of “weight” making her seem less frail
I can tolerate the hair ribbon but it’s a hard no on the pleated coat.
She somehow managed to look matronly and girlish at the same time 😬
I don’t think the girlish styles do her any favors. She looks “younger” in more professional or sleeker silhouettes.
Why are A-Line skirts deemed girlish? Pencil skirts are nice but sometimes you want to twirl around and have a bit of flair to your outfits. Kate clearly prefers floaty skirts and dresses to pencil silhouettes.
While Kate’s style is not my style, I think she looks nice here. This is her style and what makes her comfortable, so I like it for her.
The only issue I’ve ever had with her dressing is the fact that she didn’t put weights in her dress hems and those flashes of undies or less to the public was not appropriate. She should have fixed that after the first incident, because famous, royal or regular person–it is not cool and it’s very awkward. Imagine having seen that and then having to meet her right after that! “Oh hello, lovely to meet you, nice knickers, BTW! Yes about my charity. . .” Ugh!
How would she know in advance what the other women were wearing? I’ve always found grey to be perfectly acceptable at funerals, actually my go-to funeral dress (yes, I have one) is grey. So I don’t see how she can be blamed for “standing out.” Good on them for paying their respects.
I really like the coat. The scrunchy thing I can do without but it may be because I remember the first time they came around. The skirt is a little short but as long as she keeps the coat on she’ll be fine. Maybe she was feeling saucy today? Maybe her and Wills are looking to have some time in the SUV on the way back to KP lol.
It’s a memorial service for a group of people who died tragically and in terror. It created a mass outpouring of grief and they were there to honour the dead.
I rather agree with Kaiser on the puffy pleats, but I think it’s because of the length: they would have been quite elegant if the bottom of the coat had been below the knee rather than above the knee. It also would have made the overall look more mature. Grey can be a hard color to wear, it washes a lot of people out, but I have to say, Kate can carry it.
But it’s beautifully tailored and fits nicely.
Her posture has gotten really bad over the past couple of years. She used to be able to hold her neck straight, so this isn’t something she’s “always” done. And I’m not just being mean — if a woman in my family who was only in her late thirties had posture like that, I would suggest they check with a doctor. Early osteoporosis? Maybe lack of proper nutrition? I know she smokes, so I wouldn’t be too surprised if she neglected her health in other ways too.
I get people riled up by saying this but she reminds me of my 32 year old friend with decades long anorexia issues. She has poor posture, poor skin, and looks 10 years older than she is. Kate would look better with 10 lbs of weight on her like she did in her early 20’s. This isn’t a thin shaming–there is such a thing as lacking nutrition due to severe restricting.
I do not understand Peter Pan collars on grown women – adorable on a child, but zero sophistication.
The black dress under the coat was very short. WTF? Where they headed to a snazzy cocktail party after with no time to change? The coat is not a good look. It is neither on trend or classic. The lower half is too full in contrast with the fitted bodice. The fullness is made worse around the back with all of those pleats. It also too short. It doesn’t even look childish, just tacky. SMH.