Skip to Content

The Duchess Dons a New Coat for Action on Addiction Visit

The Duchess was in a new Reiss coat for today’s visit to the Action on Addiction Centre for Addiction Treatment Studies. ©Stephen Lock / i-Images

Kate has been Action on Addiction’s patron since 2012, and she has visited several of the organization’s treatment centers, but today was the first time she has seen the training Centre. More from Simon Perry’s People magazine story:

This is the first opportunity she has had to see the other side of Action on Addiction’s work, which is their investment in professional development, to raise standards across those delivering these treatments, and ensure the best quality of support. 

After arriving the Duchess met students and teachers and took part in a tutorial session.©Eddie Mulholland/Pool/Nunn Syndication/POLARIS

200+ students have graduated from the specialized programs taught at the Centre. More from Rebecca English’s Daily Mail story:

 The Centre for Addiction Treatment Studies, in partnership with the University of Bath, contributes to raising standards in the field of addiction treatment by training addiction counsellors to a higher standard than ever before.

It is the only charity-owned and operated centre of its kind in the UK.

Kate also met with families from the M-Pact program (Moving Parents and Children Together), the endeavor is designed to help children ages 8-17 who are coping with the effects of parental substance abuse in their homes. Kate has been involved with the program for years (see here and here), it is a partnership between two charities that Kate is patron of, Action on Addiction and Place2Be.

After the meetings and classroom work everyone moved to another structure so they could join a ceremony celebrating the graduation of students who studied at the University of Bath Foundation and Honors Degree programs.©Stephen Lock / i-Images

The special celebratory event was for students who graduated from the Bath University programs; the University’s formal graduation ceremony was yesterday, so today’s celebration commemorated the occasion.

Now for what Kate wore.  As the Duchess’s new do is still top of mind, and very much a topic of discussion, we’ll start with two photos from today./stephen Lock, i-Images

With thanks to the very helpful folks at Richard Ward, we did have a response to yesterday’s inquiry. They verified Mr. Ward “is hairdresser to the Duchess of Cambridge” but did not elaborate on her new look.

Those fond of Kate’s coat closet will be happy to see an addition to the collection: the Rubik Houndstooth Wrap Coat in black/off white from one of Kate’s favorite coat purveyors, Reiss.

Reiss

Reiss

The knee-length piece is a wool/poly blend, with a high neck, self-belt, concealed button front and slim fit.

A few of us shared a brief discussion on Twitter about Kate deciding not to use the belt that came with the coat. One possibility that occurred to me: perhaps she just didn’t want to fuss with it. As far as Kate wearing belted coats, based merely on vague recollections of what we have seen over the years, I think that she really doesn’t wear belted coats that often. When she does opt for a belt she will frequently wear something other than the belt that came with the garment, like the wide black belt we have seen. This is *not* based on any research or serious data compilation, it was simply an initial reaction to a topic of conversation.POLARIS/Harrods

The coat is offered at these sites:

As noted above, Kate wore a pink bespoke version of Emilia Wickstead’s ‘Alice’ coat dress, first seen in 2012; the Duchess wore the teal, or turquoise color, in 2014.PA Wire/Stephen Lock i-Images, www.i-IMages.co/PA Wire

More specifically, on Palm Sunday of 2014, when on tour in New Zealand.James Whatling - SplashNews/

The bodice design and fine wool crepe fabric look like the Tamzin from the fall 2013 collection. (This is not to suggest the entire dress is like Kate’s, only the fabric and bodice are similar.) Another look at the dress as worn today.Robin Nunn/Nunn Syndication/POLARIS

A closer look at Kate wearing the Alice in both colors.Kate Teal Turquoise and Pink Wickstead Pleated Dresses 2 shots each
We saw familiar accessories, including Kate’s oft-carried Bayswater Clutch Wallet in black suede. We show it in black leather as the suede is no longer available. A sales and savings note: several colors in the Clutch Wallet are on sale, discounted from $790 to $554.  (I am sure someone commented or tweeted or Facebooked with this tip, thank you to whomever that was, I cannot recall where I first saw your info!) 

Mulberry

Mulberry

We also saw the Power pump in black suede by Stuart Weitzman again.Kate Weitzman Power Pump Action Addiction Two Photos and 1 Product shot December 10 2015

As noted yesterday, The shoe is no longer available in black suede. Kate also wore her diamond/sapphire earrings, as well as her Mappin and Webb Empress necklace.  

Mappin & Web/i-Images

One more quick note: We are receiving a volume of email/messages about the fact we have sold out of the 2016 What Kate Wore Calendar we created with Mark Stewart. The two primary questions we are getting: 1) will the calendar be restocked; 2) if so, can people pre-order the calendar. We’re just tickled by the interest in the calendar, we had no idea we would sell out so quickly. We are checking with our printer to see if we can do another run, what the time frame would be for that, etc., and should have an answer within the next 12-24 hours. Thank You to everyone for your interest, we are more-than-flattered, and pedaling as fast as we can. We will update here, on Facebook and on Twitter. as soon as we have an answer.

UPDATE Dec 11: We have the printer doing another run, they’re back in stock at the store.

2016 Calendar Back in Stock Montage Trimmed

LINKAGE:

Pin It

This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.

Valerie

Monday 14th of December 2015

I purchased the Rubik Houndstooth coat from Bloomingdales in Hackensack. There was only one left and luckily it was my size. The coat is beautiful and fits nicely. I prefer the belt on me since I am a petite person. I think it looks better. Kate is tall so she looks great without the belt.

admin

Tuesday 15th of December 2015

Oh, good for you Valerie, it sounds like a wonderful piece! Thank you for the input on wearing the belt. :)

Laura

Friday 11th of December 2015

Everything is in order with this outfit. I really like the coat and the dress is fine Once again, nothing is very exciting or cutting edge, but I think a conservative, well put together look, is what the Duchess is going for and will continue to adhere to.

I prefer the coat without a belt. As someone previously said, the self tie belt gives it a bit of a bathrobe appearance.

The shorter hair looks sooooooooooo much better. My preference would be that Kate go even three inches shorter. But I realize that if it is too short it can't be put into a chignon or an updo.

ali

Friday 11th of December 2015

I think like the Queen she is trying to find a "uniform" to wear to all standard appearances. Something that is about the same look and always works but can be changed up with a different fabric, hat, coat, jewels etc. She has not found it yet but I do get that she may trying to find her way to a uniform like the Queen. has I am not a fan of the hair, it is just not very well cut in my humble opinion. Bangs too heavy a bit too flippy. I have said elsewhere she needs to find a new hair stylist. ali

Susan

Friday 11th of December 2015

The dress seems a little odd- it looks high waisted and she is long waisted! I think the dress needs a necklace or is better worn with a hat.

and the coat is begging to have its belt- looks like a dated style without...

Brooke

Friday 11th of December 2015

Just a thought - The "belt" on the Wickstead dress is at Kate's natural waist. The belt on the jacket rides a bit lower. Perhaps Kate didn't want to wrinkle the dress underneath with a belt that would hit on the pleats of the dress? Or - maybe both the belts together made her uncomfortable (I've had that happen with a belted dress and belted coat before), and she opted to forgo the belt on the coat. Technically, the Wickstead dress doesn't have a traditional belt, but there is definitely a belt-like structure on the dress. Maybe?

LOVE her hair styled this way. LOVE. So much more polished than when she wore it the first time. People commented on the last post that it was probably a "bang-transition cut", and it is clear that is EXACTLY what this cut is. Those bangs look so much better with this shorter cut. So much better. Love!!

Katie

Friday 11th of December 2015

I'm just thrilled she took her coat off! Hopefully the days of her wearing her coat throughout an extended indoors engagement are gone. That always looked so odd to me, not to mention hot!

I agree that the coat looks like her maternity styling but I wouldn't think that on anyone but her...that is how she dressed during her pregnancies, though. But that said, I like how she wore it today. And in the future - no belt, black belt, red belt, collar up, collar down, pair of boots, etc. ... I think it will all look great. I think it's a lovely, versatile coat.

This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.