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Kate’s Coats in 2012: Pick Your Favorites, + Giveaway Winner Announced

It is time for us to launch our series of year end opinion polls on what Kate wore in 2012. We begin with the coats Kate wore last year, including what I would consider “coat dresses,” pieces that do not seem to have any garment underneath. We have broken this up into two polls, one for pieces that we hadn’t previously seen the Duchess wear, as well as those worn before. We are not including blazers or dress/suit jackets, they’ll be in a separate poll.

NEW COATS REFRESHER:

February 14 Kate journeyed to Liverpool for a number of engagements, she wore her Hobbs Celeste coat, purchased back in September of 2011.

PA Wire/Hobbs

March 1 it was M Missoni for Kate as she joined HM and Camilla for a visit to Fortnum and Mason’s flagship store in Piccadilly.  The Duchess also wore the coat for a June trip to Nottingham with William and HM.  The collarless coat featured multiple panels in the back, exposed seams, and fringe trim at the neck and down the front placket.

Toby Melville, Ian Jones Photography/Splash News

The annual visit to distribute shamrocks to the Irish Guard on March 20 brought an Emilia Wickstead coatdress.

PA Wire/Emilia Wickstead

For Kate’s appearance at Prince William’s installation into the Order of the Thistle she wore her third Emilia Wickstead piece, a yellow-gold raffia fabric from the brand’s spring/summer 2012 collection.

James Whatling / Splash News

At July 27th’s Opening Ceremonies for the London 2012 Games Kate wore a coat or coatdress by UK designer Christopher Kane. (Some think the Duchess had a dress on beneath the coat, I wouldn’t be surprised if she merely wore a thin camisole underneath, it is difficult to tell.) The bespoke silk satin piece showcased multiple gores, a covered front placket, slanted pockets, self-belt and peak lapels.

Dominic Lipinski (L) & Michael Kappeler (R)/PA Images

For a night at a private club in Mayfair this past October Kate was seen in an as-yet-unidentified black dress coat. This remains the clothing item yours truly would most like to see identified. The sleek lines and fringed placket are very appealing.

Weir Photos / Splash News

For a November stroll in Kensington Gardens we saw Kate sporting a new coat from Temperley, the Odele Coat.

WKW Facebook Friend Sandra/Temperley

When Kate and William traveled to their namesake city of Cambridge at the end of November, we saw the Duchess in a new coat from Max Mara Studio.  The style name is “Belli,” the coat features a funnel neck, hidden buttons, pick stitching and on-seam front pockets.

Splash News

For Kate’s return to her old prep school, Saint Andrew’s, Pangbourne, she chose a custom McQ by Alexander McQueen coat (or coatdress) in the label’s Black Watch tartan.

When Kate was released from the hospital December 6 she wore Diane von Furstenberg’s “Simyonette” from the company’s fall/winter 2010 collection. The navy and black plaid coat is double-breasted with slip pockets on the front and ruffled trim at the cuffs, shoulder and back.

Jeff Moore/Splash News

The poll allows other answers (I think), so if I forgot something, by all means, please add it to the list.

OLD COATS REFRESHER:

We saw Kate wear her LK Bennett Darwin coat on numerous occasions, in this instance it was while out shopping.

Photo L: Used With Kind Permission of IKON Pictures

At the June 6 wedding of Prince William’s cousin Emily McCorquodale Kate brought back her Katherine Hooker Buxton silk coat, seen below left. It was first seen at Order of the Garter ceremonies in 2011 (below right), the raw silk piece is done in a color the designer calls “ash”.

James Whatling – Splash/Katherine Hooker/Splash

In June Kate wore her Barbour Ladies Defence Jacket for a walk with Lupo and her brother James.

Country Attire/Jocelyn Laidlaw Twitter

June 18th’s Garter Day ceremonies saw the repeat of a much-loved Kate style, the Alexander McQueen coat with its tiered “Samurai skirt.”

Paul Edwards/The Sun/PA Wire/Press Association Images

In August Kate wore a piece seen on several previous occasions by Danish Label DAY Birger et Mikkelsen, this time worn for the Paralympics Opening Ceremonies. The coat was first seen at the 2006 wedding of Laura Parker Bowles to Harry Lopes (below left), then again in 2010 for another wedding (Mel Nicholson and Oli Baker at St. Andrews) and once more for the wedding of Zara Phillips (below center) and then July 2012 (far right).

Splash/Splash/Paralympic Sport TV

For October’s opening of St. George’s Park Kate wore a coat that technically we had seen before, it was just never identified. It’s the “Angel Fit & Flare” coat by Reiss, previously seen on Christmas Day of 2011. The coat has wide, top-stitched lapels, front pockets, multiple gores, and a concealed front fastening.

Ian Jones/Splash – James Whatling/Corbis/Splash

October 11 brought the return of another Christmas Day piece, the Aubergine coat by an independent dressmaker, worn by the Duchess for her trips to Newcastle and Stockton.

Splash News/Kind Permission WKW Facebook Friend Alyssa Phillips

Remembrance Sunday of 2012 Kate wore the same coat seen for the solemn occasion 2011, a 2008 style by Diane von Furstenberg. The double breasted piece has distinctive soutache trim on the detachable collar and cuffs and decorative buttons.

Splash News/Splash News

Also in November, Kate repeated her red LK Bennett Ami coat in support of Wale’s rugby team, known as the Red Dragons, for a match at Millennium Stadium in Cardiff.

Michael Steele – WPA Pool/Getty Images

I believe that is it for repeated coats, but if not, do write in anything I left out.

+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++

Today’s other item, the winner of our Cornelia James glove giveaway.

Random.org

Congratulations to Heather B, she will receive a pair of Kate’s Pure Wool Glove with Side Bow! Many thanks to Jodie at Cornelia James for making this one a breeze!

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ElizaMo

Friday 11th of January 2013

I found this one a really tough ask. If anyone has a flair for choosing coats it has to be Kate -- and she couldn't be in a better job for doing it.

Basically I felt there was nothing to choose between three favourites -- the Hobb Celeste chestnut brown, the Emilia Wickstead green and the McQ Black Watch.

But McQueen got my vote in the end -- I don't know, just a certain elan, and maybe still a faint whiff of dangerous sulphur from the name of the dear departed!

Thanks so much for an extra post while the Duchess drought continues.

Beth

Wednesday 9th of January 2013

St. John sometimes carries black evening coats with fringe down the front. I can't find any that are exactly like the one Catherine wore, but a couple are similar. I'm just wondering if anyone else on the hunt to ID that coat has found the same thing. It might belong to her mother and be from an earlier time.

GMC

Wednesday 9th of January 2013

What about the gray Jesire´s coatdress she wore in February? I really loved that outfit (although I might be the only one!).

Lili

Wednesday 9th of January 2013

I loved it, too. Great dress.

AshleyOlivia

Wednesday 9th of January 2013

I voted for the Black Watch McQueen (the coat that caused an audible gasp when I first saw it) and the Reiss Fit and Flare. I voted for the green Reiss because that is the coat that I covet the most; I could really see myself wearing it during the cold Oklahoma winters, and the collar would come in handy as a safeguard against the wind on days that I forgot a scarf. (My other favorite is the blue Katherine Hooker blazer that she wore in her pre-engagement days, but we haven't seen that one in a while. My fingers are crossed that she recycles it at some point, after giving birth of course.)

I really adore the light pink Max Mara, but I would be paranoid about stains. This winter I invested in a stunning white brocade tuxedo jacket that I wore to several holiday parties, but I found myself internally cringing when people hugged me for fear that they had canape crumbs all over their hands. (I'm awful, I know!)

Lily

Tuesday 8th of January 2013

What about the Orla Kiely piece she wore in February as well when she visited the Art Room ?

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