Kate In Mulberry and Dolce & Gabbana for Visit to Women’s Prison & Charity Trust

The Duchess was in Mulberry and Dolce & Gabbana for a series of unannounced engagements this morning.

Kate started the day with a visit to the Eastwood Park Women’s Prison. More from The Evening Standard:

Kate met with staff from Eastwood Park, Gloucestershire, who explained the needs of the women prisoners. She discussed mental health concerns, family breakdowns, and treatment for addiction.

Kate also met with a small number of women prisoners to hear their personal stories.

That appointment was followed by a visit to the Nelson Trust. Below, Kate arriving at the Trust offices.

More about the Trust and its services from Kensington Palace:

Set up in 2010 @TheNelsonTrust women’s centre supports vulnerable women, particularly those who have experienced trauma & abuse. 

The Trust helps more than 500 women a year.

From Simon Perry’s People story:

The award-winning center has been lauded for the practical and emotional support it offers, with a focus on nine “pathways of need,” including finances; physical, emotional and mental health; drugs and alcohol; trauma and abuse; sexual exploitation and sex-working.

The Duchess speaking with some of the women who have benefited from the services provided by the Trust.

From The Daily Mail’s coverage:

In a meeting with some women who have used the centre’s facilities and support, mother-of-two Kate cooed over two babies – one girl who was asleep in her mother’s lap and a four month old boy called Gabriel, who was with his mother, Hlengiwe Sithole, 35. 

Now to what Kate wore, beginning with the Mulberry coat. It was first noted when Kate was seen wearing it as she boarded a helicopter in February.  And a look at the Duchess in the coat today.

The ‘Paddington’ is a single-breasted style, crafted of a wool blend with a touch of mohair. It also features contrast wool melton trim under the collar, besom pockets, and horn buttons.

It is from Mulberry’s Pre-Fall 2015 collection.

Mulberry

Thoughts about the look from The Telegraph’s Emma Spedding:

While most of us lean on navy or black for winter coats, the Duchess often opts for bright or pastel hues for her outerwear proving it pays to play with colour. Wearing a colour-blocked coat is a classic royal trick, often employed by the Queen, as it helps royals to stand out in the crowd.

February is also when we first saw the Dolce and Gabbana skirt, worn when Kate guest edited the Huffington Post.

The Bouclé Wool Blend skirt is made of a wool/acrylic/poly/alpaca blend; it also has contrasting fringe trim at the faux opening on the front, large buttons and a back zipper.

My Theresa

Kate’s handbag is also from Mulberry, the Bayswater clutch wallet in black suede (we show it in black leather).

It looked like Kate wore her ‘Power’ pumps by Stuart Weitzman.

Russell & Bromley/Splash News

We saw the Annoushka Pearl Drops and Kiki McDonough Hoops.

Kate wore a poppy again today, this one almost looks like it may be of the kind sold publicly by the Royal British Legion.

Both Photos ©Pool/i-Images/Polaris

We leave you with this image of Kate at The Trust unveiling a plaque commemorating her visit.

LINKAGE:

• Learn more about The Nelson Trust at the organization’s website here; the charity’s Facebook page is here and its Twitter feed is here
• The Daily Mail’s piece by Rebecca English may be seen here; The Mirror’s story is here; Simon Perry’s People story is here
• Emma Spedding’s fashion story for The Telegraph is here; Pop Sugar’s photo gallery is here; the Fug Girls’ gallery of 23 photos from the day may be seen here (if you click on the pictures, they are jumbo-sized)