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.

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.

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

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.

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.

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.

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

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.

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.

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.

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”.

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

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

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).

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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!