Kate’s First Trimester Style Poll & Max Mara Pre-Fall

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.

Below, a closer look at Kate in the Angel coat at St. George’s Park, and the aubergine coat in Newcastle.

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.

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.

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.

Another look as Kate leaves Peterborough City Hospital.

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).

And then we saw this announcement on December 3rd: “The Duke and Duchess of Cambridge are expecting a baby.”

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.

As much as we saw Kate smiling during December, it was evident she was also tired, appearing frail and wan in some photographs.

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.

Footwear.

And just a few of the brand’s pre-fall dress styles.

Some styles are already in stores.

Here is our poll.