With things remaining relatively quiet we wanted to take a look back at Kate’s maternity wardrobe. One note: I deliberately picked a very loose time frame for the retrospective, mid-October seemed a reasonable place to start.
We begin with Kate’s visit to Newcastle on October 10th: she brought back the aubergine coat made by an independent dressmaker that we first saw seen on Christmas Day 2011, underneath she was wearing the Sophie Rae dress by Whistles. For the official opening of St. George’s Park the Duchess repeated her Angel Fit & Flare coat by Reiss. We saw Kate in a version of Temperley’s Esmeralda dress at the Buckingham Palace reception honoring Team GB athletes, and an unidentified coat over the Rozalia dress by Reiss for a night out in Mayfair.
Alyssa Phillips/Splash/Splash/PA Wire/Splash
Below, a closer look at Kate in the Angel coat at St. George’s Park, and the aubergine coat in Newcastle.
Splash News/Alyssa Phillips
November brought more engagements, beginning with a Saint Andrews fundraiser early in the month. Kate brought back the popular Amoret gown by Temperley, first worn in January of last year to the War Horse premiere. It remains available at Temperley for $4055, and also at the Outnet where it is priced at $1999. My guess is that Temperley may continue to offer the frock for some time, while it’s probable the Outnet is liquidating a retailer’s remaining stock.
Splash News/Splash News
Remembrance Sunday brought the return of the same Diane von Furstenberg worn for the event in 2011. For a rugby match featuring the Wales Red Dragons Kate repeated her LK Bennett Ami coat.
PA Wire/PA Wire
Also in November, Kate’s engagement at the Natural History Museum, when she repeated Mulberry’s Full Pleated Shirtdress that was first worn to a reception at Buckingham Palace in the spring of 2012. For the couple’s historic visit to Cambridge Kate was in MaxMara Studio’s Belli coat and a dress also made by the brand.
Paul Harrison-Sky News/Splash/Splash
Another look as Kate leaves Peterborough City Hospital.
James Whatling / Splash News
November 30 of last year Kate returned to her old prep school, Saint Andrews Pangbourne. It was also Saint Andrews Day, honoring Scotland’s patron saint. That fact was not lost on Kate as she wore a coat from a brand founded by a Scottish designer, Alexander McQueen. The piece was from the McQ by Alexander McQueen diffusion line, the label’s Black Watch Coat ($7220 Special Order at Net-a-Porter).
PA Wire/Aquatalia Courtesy Photo by Getty Images
And then we saw this announcement on December 3rd: “The Duke and Duchess of Cambridge are expecting a baby.”
Duke & Duchess of Cambridge website
Because of Kate’s challenges with Hyperemesis Gravidarum, a potentially life-threatening illness, she had to be hospitalized and word of the pregnancy released earlier than expected. The couple had little chance to savor their secret and plan how they would share the news with friends and family.
After three days in the hospital Kate was released. She wore a Diane von Furstenberg piece from the winter 2010 collection, the Simyonette coat. We were surprised to see the Duchess again in just ten days time, taking part in the BBC’s Sports Personality of the Year Awards, wearing a bottle green gown by Alexander McQueen. On Christmas Day Kate and William attended a quiet church service with her family, repeating her Hobbs ‘Celeste’ coat for that event.
Splash/The BBC/Splash
As much as we saw Kate smiling during December, it was evident she was also tired, appearing frail and wan in some photographs.
Splash/Splash/Kind Courtesy/Jesal Parshotam
It cannot have been an easy time for the couple or their families, yet she managed to look lovely just the same. We will be back in another day or two with our look back at Kate’s style during her second trimester.
Our little poll follows at the end of the post.
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We leave you with a very quick look at pieces from Max Mara’s pre-fall line. Below, outerwear.
Max Mara Facebook
Footwear.
Max Mara Facebook
And just a few of the brand’s pre-fall dress styles.
Max Mara Facebook
Some styles are already in stores.
Max Mara Studio
Here is our poll.
Strangely enough my favorite look was the one she wore when released from the hospital. Although she looked exhausted, I liked the classic coat, the periwinkle scarf, and even her hairstyle. It was softly pulled back from her face with just a bit of wave to it, rather than the elaborate curled ends she favors. I also loved the flat boots. It just looked like an overall classy, comfortable look that wasn’t trying too hard.
I also give her credit for wearing pantyhose and smiling while leaving the hospital! She must have been feeling awful but she put her best foot forward regardless!
I like all of them but the Black Watch Coat’s my favorite.
I voted for the DVF plaid coat (hospital) but I qually love the DVF black coat (Rememberance). Kate does wear some beautiful coats.
I love MaxMara but those slouchy/sloppy pants have got to go. They really look awful on anyone who isn’t tall and lean.
I am really not liking the Amoret gown. I think it’s much too funereal for my tastes.
I also am not a fan of the green dress she wore with the pleats from Mulberry. I can’t believe I missed that it has peace signs on it the first time she wore it.
Tough choice to make, as is usual with Kate. She always looks good.
Getting really excited about Baby Cambridge! I hope everything goes smoothly.
I am going to skip the vote…as I like pretty much every piece except one…so if there was a poll for “least favorite” I would vote then. LOL
Great poll, thank you!
Hi
Is the McQ Black Watch tartan coat still available from Net-A-Porter?
It appears I can’t give you a direct link to the terms and conditions but click on the link above, then FAQ and scroll down to to “Read our McQ Alexander McQueen Terms & Conditions” and then look at #2.
🙁
Hello, and thank you for commenting. I have looked at the FAQ on the US site and am not seeing any McQueen FAQs, nor under the T&C section of the site…? Feel free to email (susan@whatkatewore.com), although I don’t know if I’ll be able to provide any insight. 🙂
My apologies, I don’t think I was clear enough.
Click here: http://bit.ly/UwQja3 then click FAQ, scroll down to ‘Read our McQ Alexander McQueen Terms & Conditions’ and read no2 which says the following:
2. Term: The Goods will be available for purchase from 12pm BST on 16 May 2012 until 12pm BST on 23 May 2012 from http://www.net-a-porter.com/mcq
Hope thats a bit clearer
Thank you for trying to clarify, it’s much appreciated. Unfortunately I am not seeing any specific “McQ Terms & Conditions” under the FAQ. I was able to select a size, place the private order coat in my basket and go to checkout. (I didn’t complete checkout, just to be clear.) Perhaps it’s an anomaly with the page I’m seeing…? This one might remain unresolved. Thanks for the extra effort on your part! 🙂
Is that Rozalia dress by Reiss or Whistles? You have it identified two ways.
I chose that outfit as my favorite of the first trimester looks, though frankly, we never did get a very good look at it. I am mostly going on what I can see of the coat, which appealed to me, though of course we don’t know anything about the designer or label.
I also liked the Black Watch tartan dress, though it’s not quite my personal style, and of course the Max Mara Belli coat, though the dress isn’t my cup of tea, and as I’ve commented before, I wish the coat were a touch longer.
I love the new Max Mara coats shown here, but the dresses aren’t anything special as best I can tell. The black-and-white spotted print might appeal to the Duchess. The little coat would have worked nicely as pregnancy wear. Perhaps she’ll go for the dress.
Thank you for letting me know about the error, I have made the correction to the poll.
I would hate to have been as photographed during my pregnancies as she has been! She has looked lovely the entire time. I hope that she is able to find moments of peace and beauty in her new little one!
I am a Kate fan and totally understand where your comment comes from…but I wouldn’t worry too much on her bahalf because she knew what kind of deal she has signed up for…Hope this didn’t come cross as a mean way…
I know this isn’t about Kate but….Zara is pregnant
http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-2358171/Zara-Phillips-Mike-Tindall-expecting-baby-New-Year-Buckingham-Palace-says.html
I’m so happy for her. I didn’t know much about Zara before her wedding, but I’ve really come to like her a lot. 🙂