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A Move Back to London for the Cambridge Family & Vote for Your Favorite New Pair of Kate’s Shoes

We are back with some news and our first polls looking at Kate’s 2016 wardrobe, beginning with one of my favorite topics: shoes. First, today’s confirmation by Kensington Palace that Kate, William, Prince George and Princess Charlotte will be based in London starting in the autumn.

Kebsington Palace

Kensington Palace

From the statement:

Their Royal Highnesses love their time in Norfolk and it will continue to be their home.

From this autumn, however, the Duke and Duchess will increasingly base their family at Kensington Palace. As they have in recent years, their royal Highnesses are keen to continue to increase their official work on behalf of the Queen and for the charities and causes they support, which will require greater time  spent in London. 

Prince George will begin school in London in September and Princess Charlotte will also go to nursery and eventually school in London as well.

The release also notes that Prince William will be giving up his duties as a Pilot with East Anglia Air Ambulance,

It has been a huge privilege to fly with the East Anglia Air Ambulance. Following on from my time in the military, I have had experiences in this job I will carry with me for the rest of my life, and that will add a valuable perspective to my royal work for decades to come.”

We will stay with the story and update as appropriate.

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Before we get to the polls, a big ‘thank you’ to everyone commenting on our posts taking a broad view of Kate’s clothing last year. The first (“2016: The Year Kate Amped Up Her Working Wardrobe“) looked at styles from the many new designers/brands the Duchess patronized last year. The second post (“Designs that Packed a Punch in 2016“) focused on style statements that came from designers the Duchess had previously worn, and all of the input was terrific. It was fascinating to see what you would have included/omitted from the lists.

Now to the shoes. We saw the introduction of 18 new pairs of dress shoes last year, and five pairs that were more casual in design. It was difficult deciding how to break up the different styles, hopefully putting some in the ‘casual’ category won’t seem terribly odd.  We start with the Rupert Sanderson ‘Malory’ ($675) in navy suede, worn to a February service in honor of the RAF Air Cadets.

©Rupert Sanderson / Polaris / Rupert Sanderson

©Rupert Sanderson / Polaris / Rupert Sanderson

Rupert Sanderson’s ‘Winona’ ($655) in gray suede was worn to the Commonwealth Day church service in March.

©Rupert Sanderson / /Rupert Sanderson

©Rupert Sanderson / /Rupert Sanderson

The Prada ‘Pointy Toe’ style in navy suede was first seen at the March opening of an EACH resale shop.

©Polaris / Prada / i-Images

©Polaris / Prada / i-Images

The Duchess was in a new pair of LK Bennett Fern Pumps ($345) in the ‘trench’ (nude) colorway when arriving in India at the start of this spring’s tour.

LK Bennett /

LK Bennett / Splash News

Also in India, the debut of the Prada Wavy Strap Sandal in black suede ($750), accessorizing a Jenny Packham gown at a glamorous Bollywood fundraiser.

Bergdorf Goodman / Splash News

Bergdorf Goodman / Splash News

The Duchess opted for a new pair of heels to go with a new Emilia Wickstead dress while in India, the Rupert Sanderson Calice in ‘pink lady crack‘ ($675).

UK in India/Rupert Sanderson

UK in India/Rupert Sanderson

At a party celebrating the Queen’s 90th birthday Kate wore the Gianvito Rossi Sisely Suede Sandals in Black ($777), also called the Criss Cross Sandals.

Kate Gianvito Rossi Criss Cross Strap Sisely with Temperley Delphia Separates

My Theresa / Polaris / My Theresa

Kate wore a new pair of flats when visiting a New Delhi charityRussell and Bromley’s Xpresso (£175).

Russell & Bromley/Splash

Russell & Bromley/Splash

When taking part in welcoming ceremonies in Bhutan, Kate wore the Florete ($325), also in trench and also by LK Bennett, but with a slightly lower heel measuring 3.3″.

Kate LK Bennett Florete Bhutan Arrival Official Welcome i-images

LK Bennett / i-Images

At a May garden party, the Duchess was in a new pair of Gianvito Rossi heels, the Signature 105 pumps ($675) in the ‘Praline’ colorway.

Net-a-Porter / Polaris Net-a-Porter

Net-a-Porter / Polaris / Net-a-Porter

At Order of the Garter ceremonies in June, the Duchess sported another pair of Gianvito Rossi Signature heels ($675) in a rich red hue.

© /Net-a-Porter/

©Polaris / Net-a-Porter / Polaris

In July Kate watched tennis at Wimbledon, wearing a new pair of nude Rupert Sanderson Malory pumps.

©Splash News/Rupert Sanderson

©Splash News/Rupert Sanderson

At the Art Fund Award announcements in July, we saw a new shoe brand for the Duchess, as she wore the ‘Dollie’ sandal ($180) by Brazilian-based Schutz

©Splash News/The Outnet

©Splash News/The Outnet

On the second day of the Canada tour, Kate wore Russell and Bromley’s Pinpoint (£175) suede heels.

© i-Images/Russell & Bromley

© i-Images/Russell & Bromley

Also debuting on the tour, the Tod’s Fringed Leather Pumps ($645), paired with a CH Carolina Herrera coat in Whitehorse.

Tod's/

Tod’s / Polaris

For a series of engagements in Canada on the last day of the tour, we saw the Duchess in a new pair of shoes by J. Crew, the brand’s Avery design ($278) in a plaid tweed fabric

J Crew/Polaris/J Crew

For a children’s tea party at the Natural History Museum Kate wore the Hugo Boss “Staple P90-L” in embossed leather, another new brand for Kate’s footwear collection.  

Hugo Boss/Polaris/Hugo Boss

Hugo Boss/Polaris/Hugo Boss

Our final new pair of heels was worn to the Place2Be Awards in November when the Prada Wavy-Cut Suede Pump ($750) was worn with the Preen Finella dress in black.

Nordstrom / / Prada

Nordstrom / Polaris / Prada

We saw several new casual footwear styles last year. We begin with Russell and Bromley’s loafers, the ‘Chester’ style (£185), worn when Kate was out shopping in January.  

For a cricket match on the India tour, Kate wore a new pair of wedges, the Monsoon Fleur (£45) in taupe. 

Kate India Tour WEdge Espadrilles Cricket Water Tower Monsoon Fleur Taupe April 10 2016

In pictures released showing the family on a ski trip, the Duchess was in a pair of Sorel boots, the brand’s 1964 Pac2 snow boots in curry with contrasting natural faux fur.

Sorel / Polaris

Sorel / Polaris

For America’s Cup events in May Kate was in a new pair of sneakers, the Adidas Pure Boost in black and shock green ($120).

© /

© Splash News / Adidas

On Day 5 of the Canada tour, Kate debuted a new pair of boots by R. Soles, the Virgi Chocolate Suede style ($385).

R. Soles/i-Images, Polaris

R. Soles/i-Images, Polaris

We saw the Duchess in a new pair of sneakers during the Canada tour, when she wore the Superga 2750 Cotu Classic in white canvas while aboard a tall ship in Victoria Harbour.

Superga/Polaris

Superga/Polaris

We’ll see you early next week!

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Janet

Tuesday 24th of January 2017

Wish I cold vote for more than one! I love all the Gianvito Rossi suede heels (red ones are my absolute fave...), and the Prada cutouts are also so elegant!

Ali

Monday 23rd of January 2017

I asked earlier and had not heard anything, but does anyone know the most likely spot for Charlotte to go to nursery and primary school? Assume they could be the same. But Anne would have been the last female Royal to live in London and I have no idea if she was taught at home till boarding school or not?

Alora

Friday 27th of January 2017

Governess Catherine Peebles looked after and saw to Anne's education in her early years. Don't see a repeat

Lynn from California

Sunday 22nd of January 2017

Just wanted to say that I discovered your site about 1 year ago and I love it! Thanks for all the great photos and commentary. You've educated me many times with your terminology and I never knew there were so many intricacies to fashion and design! Keep up the good work!

admin

Monday 23rd of January 2017

My goodness, aren't you nice! Thank you for the kind words! :)

Larissa

Sunday 22nd of January 2017

It was so exciting to see Kate try so many new shoes, and designers, this year after seeing so much of the same in the past. While I commend her efforts, I just can't really get excited about any of these! I went with the Prada wavy cut-out heels for the first poll. I wasn't a fan of the style of the Tod's shoes on the first outing, and while they're growing on me (I really like the chunky heel), I'm still not a fan. And I will never understand buying practically the exact same style shoe in two different designers. I can understand getting the Gianvito Rossis in every colour if they are so comfortable, but I can barely even see a difference in the Rupert Sanderson and Prada navy pointed-toe pumps. Honestly, I'm always amazed our admin and other readers can spot the fact that Kate is even sometimes wearing different designers in similar styles, they all look the same to me!

I usually love Kate's casual shoes and they always make me want to throw out my (already extensive) sneaker collection and start over with expensive brands. But I find those Superga sneakers so ugly and can't believe they cost that much. They look like a $10 pair you could pick up at a grocery store - wish we had seen the Mint Velvet shoes on that occasion instead. Growing up in Alberta as someone who couldn't stand the country music scene, I can't get behind the cowboy boots, and while Sorel boots are definitely practical they aren't very fashionable. The Adidas runners are rather tame compared to most of the running shoes available nowadays. That left me with the loafers and wedges; I ultimately went with the wedges just because we saw them more often, but those loafers do look insanely comfortable as well and I hope we see them again. Actually the Monsoon wedges make me pine for the black LK Bennett wedges Kate practically lived in for a year after her wedding - they were one of the first pieces I ever hunted for a "copy-Kate"!

Amy

Saturday 21st of January 2017

I honestly don't think I can vote on the new dressy shoe - I love them all! I guess I would eliminate the nude heels because that's a pretty standard look for her, but I love it (even though everyone else seems tired of it). Really thought the navy and red suede heels "popped" beautifully; liked the plaid shoes for something different; adore the burgundy colored fringe pump; liked the glamorous black Pradas and sandals worn at the Queen's birthday party. How to choose? How to choose?

Much easier decision on the casual shoes - each pair has its own purpose, but my favorites are the loafers from Russell and Bromley.

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