Kate Wears Goat Fashion for Visit to Harlem Child Development Center & British Consul General Luncheon

Kate returned to a favorite label for this morning’s engagement at the Northside Center for Child Development in Harlem.

She visited the center with New York’s First Lady, Chirlane McCray. Clarence House posted this Instagram photo of the Duchess arriving and greeting Ms. McRay.

More on the Center’s work from Simon Perry’s People story:

“It’s an inspirational center which provides children from disadvantaged backgrounds the chance to learn, and build their own self esteem from an early age,” an aide says. “This is an issue the duchess is personally very interested in and reflects the work of some of her existing patronages in the U.K., such as Place2Be.”

The Center works with more than 3700 children and families in New York.From a WCBS story:

“It’s just amazing. We feel honored, we feel privileged,” said Executive Director Thelma Dye. “Her royal highness feels very passionate about mental health, children’s mental health, global mental health, and that is absolutely what we care about.”

Once inside Kate and the First Lady set to work helping the children wrap donated Christmas gifts. ABC’s Carolyn Durand shared these photos of Kate and Ms. McCray with the children.

Ms. McCray and the Duchess also helped the children with some craft projects. Kate very much seemed to be enjoying herself.

The children were enchanted by Kate, although many seemed to have been thinking that Princess Elsa of ‘Frozen‘ fame was coming for a visit.

Fans gathered early to see the Duchess, and not all were local. For anyone wondering about media interest in Kate and William’s visit, here is a look at just some of the photographers credentialed for the Northside Center visit.

Following the Northside visit the Duchess headed to the British Consul General’s residence for a lunch in her honor. Elizabeth Holmes, the senior style reporter at the Wall Street Journal, shared this photo on Twitter.

The Sun’s Emily Nash noted on Twitter that “Kate chatted to British ‘success stories’ including Welsh actor Matthew Rhys at lunch. She also met award-winning producer Colin Callender and NBC football presenter Rebecca Lowe.” Below, a photo Emily posted on Twitter.

Prince William spent a good part of the day in Washington. He met with President Obama at the White House, discussing efforts to curb the illegal wildlife trade.

The British Embassy (@UKinUSA) Twitter Feed

From a BBC story about the meeting:

Prince William held talks with President Obama in the Oval Office, in advance of delivering a speech to the World Bank on wildlife crime

BBC royal correspondent Nicholas Witchell said the prince had enjoyed access “most politicians can only dream about”.

William then addressed the World Bank’s International Alliance of Corruption Hunters, it was a major address for him on the illegal wildlife trade. William at the airport ready to board his flight back to New York.

On to what Kate wore today.  She was in the Washington coat from a label that has become a favorite for her, Goat Fashion.

The coat is a swing style with a retro, 1960s feel. It is made of heavy wool crepe, with contrasting tabs at the cuff and on the back with decorative buttons. It is available at Goat in all sizes except 14, selling at £680, about $1050 at today’s exchange rates. It is also offered at Matches Fashion in all sizes, where it is priced at $1038.

As many of us noticed, Kate’s coat is different than the version seen online and in stores, additional fabric was added to lengthen the garment.

The Duchess accessorized with her Episode Angel heels; this is from a Women’s Wear Daily’s story:

Fans made much of her footwear, towering black pumps that most five-month-pregnant women would eschew.

Kate carried her Mulberry Baywater clutch again and had on her Cornelia James Imogen gloves.

They are made of 100% merino wool, and have the side bow that Kate favors.  The Duchess has worn the brand’s gloves for several years now.

For those unfamiliar with the company,  Cornelia James has long been the holder of a Royal Warrant. The NY Times recently did a profile on the brand. From that piece:

Few of us can live like a queen, but we can wear that glove.  Or the pure merino wool pair worn by the duchess of Cambridge, or the singer Rihanna’s long French lace ones, or even the opera-length satin sheaths that set off Lady Mary’s gowns in “Downton Abbey.”

Each of these gloves was sewn in a converted cowshed on a farm in East Sussex, under the direction of the willowy Genevieve James.

And while the company does make flashy lime-green-and-fuschia items for stage shows like “Mamma Mia,” many of its products are simply, subtly beautiful. It’s a mark of their class that all but the ski gloves, for example, have no external label or logo.

An interesting note regarding not just the companies or designers whose pieces Kate is wearing, but the location where things have been manufactured: the Beulah dress seen Sunday and today’s Goat Fashion coat were made in Britain, just like the Cornelia James gloves. The Duchess isn’t just flying the flag for British designers, she is also promoting British manufacturing.

Kate also wore her Annoushka Pearl Drop earrings suspended from Kiki McDonough hoops.

For the day’s engagements, the Duchess wore her hair partially pulled back.

Tonight the Cambridges are off to the NBA game in Brooklyn between the Cleveland Cavaliers and Brooklyn Nets. Cavs star Lebron James (also known as “King James”) has shared his thought about playing basketball with William and Kate watching. More from Cleveland.com:

“The stuff that you read about, people like them, only in books, and to hear that they’re coming to town to see me play, they want to see me do what I do best, it’s a huge honor,” James said Sunday, before the Cavaliers’ practice at Baruch College in New York City.

James called the game – and the Royal couple’s attendance – a “pretty huge deal in my household,” comparing it to past experiences of playing in front of people of great stature like Obama.

We will be back shortly with a post on what Kate wears this evening.

LINKAGE:

• Learn more about the Northside Development Center by visiting its website here, watch a video about the Center by clicking here,
• ITV’s story about the Northside visit is here,
• The full text of Prince William’s speech to the World may be seen here, info on the World Bank’s International Corruption Alliance may be seen here
• The Daily Mail’s photo-laden story is here, the Daily Telegraph’s live blog is following all of the events, Victoria Murphy’s Daily Mirror story with photo gallery is here
• The British Consulate shared this video of Kate leaving the center, Louisa James of Good Morning Britain on ITV posted a video of Kate arriving on Instagram
• To read the entire NY Times story about Cornelia James click here