Is Kate Coming to America? Also, Another Possible Reason Kate Wore Red

Hello-Hello, and welcome to our post on a Sunday/Monday Tuesday/Wednesday, depending upon where you are as you read this.

We have a number of updates and newsbytes in a post we wanted to keep separate from tonight’s coverage of the Plunket event. The first is completely unrelated to the Tour, so we’ll simply get it out of the way. We’re talking about reports that William, Kate and Harry are coming to the US for a wedding. More from Hello!:

Members of the British royal family will be out in full force to attend the wedding of Guy Pelly and Lizzy Wilson, according to The Sunday Times.

Names on the star-studded guest list include Prince William and Kate Middleton, Prince Harry, Princesses Beatrice and Eugenie and Harry’s long-term girlfriend Cressida Bonas.

Nightclub owner Guy has been friends with William and Harry for years, and has reportedly asked the brothers to act as ushers at his wedding.

There’s really no way of knowing if this is a definite Stateside appearance for the Royals or not. The wedding is May 3rd in Memphis, TN less than a week after the Tour is over. We’ll keep you posted with any updates.

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Talented blogger Tatiana has done an in-depth look at the shoes Kate wore when changing planes at the Sydney airport.

Tatiana’s conclusion is interesting; she believes the most likely match of the four shoes under consideration is the Dune ‘Appoint’ in ‘mink,’ we show it at John Lewis. I am still not convinced any of the shoes shown above, or perhaps others mentioned elsewhere that I am unaware of, are the same as Kate’s. Nor do I feel strongly one isn’t what Kate wore, I just don’t think we have had pictures good enough to guide us in deciding the most likely pair. But I recommend Tatiana’s post, it is a good read for those interested in the topic.

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Next, thoughts about what Kate wore for TRH airport arrival and official welcome at Government House, reaction to the ensemble not covered in our initial post.

• from Fashionista: “Kate Middleton Kills it in Red on First Day Down Under” was the headline for the story. Nora Crotty writes “Really: As breathtaking as her shimmery, dramatic red carpet gowns tend to be, I’m not exaggerating when I say that this might be my favorite K-Middy look to date.”
• Josh Duboff writes in Vanity Fair: “When we de-plane after a mere one-hour shuttle, our hair generally looks like a bird’s nest and our face like a Walking Dead zombie, so it’s really somewhat miraculous (though not surprising, given this is Kate Middleton we’re talking about) that the Duchess of Cambridge looked basically immaculate Monday, upon her arrival in New Zealand after a flight across the globe.
• thoughts from the Fabulist Fashion at E! Online, Cinya Burton: “The look was very similar to red coat and hat combo that Princess Diana wore during her arrival to the country in 1984. No doubt this was done as a nod to William’s mother, who was a fan of Walker’s designs.”
• MSN offers these thoughts: “The Duchess of Cambridge has proved time and time again that scarlet is her colour, (remember that Diamond Jubilee Alexander McQueen ensemble?), so we’re pleased she picked this eye-catching colour for her first look as she touched down in Wellington, New Zealand for the start of the royal tour. The young family looked smart and elegant as they descended the steps of their private plane, despite a few gusts of wind threatening to play havoc with Kate’s skirt and hair.”

I am a little flummoxed by the number of reports saying that the ensemble was designed as a sort of homage to Princess Diana, or created to “channel Diana.” With apologies to those who find the Diana references tedious, inaccurate, inappropriate (or all of the above), I believe there have been isolated instances when some element of Diana’s style influenced what Kate wore. I just don’t think that was the case with this particular outfit, at least not in any substantive way. Nor do I think Kate was ‘channeling’ Jackie Kennedy with her headwear choice. The former First Lady is so strongly connected with the pillbox there’s no avoiding the reference. I expect the Duchess made a decision to wear the style *in spite* of that connection, not because of it.

Perhaps the most logical explanation is that Kate and whomever she worked with at Catherine Walker (I’m presuming Said Ismael, the company’s creative director and husband of Ms. Walker, who died in 2010) wanted to tie the hat to the military-themed coat. A spot of background from a firm specializing in headwear, Easy Hat Blocks.

Pillbox hats have become quite popular in the last years, but their history dates back to the Roman times. Historically, the pillbox was also military headgear.

Even these days in some countries pillbox hats often including a chin strap, can be seen on ceremonial occasions, for example, the Royal Military College of Canada dress uniform includes a pillbox hat. In military terms the pillbox is a round defense structure for ground troops, popularized in World War I by the British.

I don’t know about a return to pillbox popularity, but I did look online to have a point of reference in terms of the style’s availability.  It isn’t impossible to find the style for sale, it is abundant at vintage clothing shops and online millinery boutiques. But you can also find the style offered for sale commercially if you do a little digging. Below, chapeaux from the Village Hat Shop.

Other designs from Hats and Caps:

Seeing what the hat is called at Sur la Tète (above) shows how strongly many identify this style with uniforms worn by mid-century flight attendants. Some comments (at other sites, not here) about the similarities have been unkind, while others merely made the point as a historical reference. Regardless of how one discussed the topic, in my opinion the association can’t be helped, the two images are that striking.

I have long thought the Duchess devotes a significant amount of time researching things when she is preparing to commission new garments and accessories. Such research for this Tour would reveal an important cultural element that may have impacted Kate’s color choice for Monday’s events: the color red holds deep symbolism in Māori culture. More from Maori.com, a site “operated by Maori Tourism Limited, a 100% New Zealand-owned company dedicated to the promotion of Maori culture, business and tourism in Aotearoa New Zealand.”

The colours black, red and while feature strongly in Maori art. The colour red is a symbol of mana (prestige, power, status) and is therefore often used in the decoration of important items such as the buildings and structures around a marae (courtyard where formal greetings and discussions take place) and waka (canoes).

A very brief explanation of the color’s significance from IBM’s small business blog.

The Maori believe red to be a powerful, sacred color.

I suspect this had at least some measure of influence with Kate’s sartorial selection for Monday.

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Next, a tidbit about how designers for the Duchess were selected. Kate’s wardrobe for this trip appears to have been given a higher level of attention than on previous tours: Lynley Bilby reports in the New Zealand Herald that stylists flew to New Zealand to pull pieces for Kate’s approval.

Stylists from Kensington Palace flew to New Zealand to look at the wares of leading fashion designers.

Showroom 22 director Murray Bevan said palace stylists discreetly visited some of the country’s best-known labels to add to the stylish travelling wardrobe of the Duchess of Cambridge. Some of the garments plucked off rails and taken back to England included Karen Walker, Trelise Cooper and World.

On previous tours I believe designers have sent pieces directly to Kensington Palace, either when requested or completely unsolicited. You can see our posts about Trelise Cooper by clicking here and also here, our World coverage is here, and our Karen Walker profile is here. Back to Ms. Bilby’s story:

World chief executive Denise L’Estrange-Corbet indicated she had made confidential arrangements when contacted yesterday. “I can’t say anything,” she said.

“Not a word.”

Now to something we managed to get posted in a timely manner on Facebook, but were too slow in getting into the blog. We’re talking about New Zealand jewelers TORY & KO. being asked to send pieces to Kensington Palace for approval, as items Kate might wear. Kirstin (the KO of TORY and KO) was exceptionally helpful in sending photos and information about the exciting news.

Below, two of the four items, these earrings are from the Pretty Collection.

More from Fairfaz NZ News:

Wellington-based Tory & Ko Jewellers, founded by Victoria Taylor and business partner Kirstin O’Brien, have been asked to supply four pieces of jewellery for the Duchess of Cambridge to wear on the royal tour, which starts tomorrow.

“We couldn’t be more excited, and more humbled, by the selection,” O’Brien said.

Taylor said her sister, Rebecca Taylor, a fashion designer in New York who has previously dressed the duchess, recommended Tory & Ko.

Some readers will recall the Rebecca Taylor outfit Kate wore in April of 2012.

We also wrote about TORY & KO in that post. Back to the Fairfax Media story:

“They liked what they saw, and we’ve been emailing back and forth with her staff. They were very specific in their choices,” O’Brien said.

The duchess – or her staff – chose two pairs of earrings from Tory & Ko’s “Pretty Collection”, another pair of pearl and diamond white gold earrings, and a matching pearl necklace with diamond keepers.

These are the ‘Bespoke Collection’ pieces:

It would be wonderful to see the Duchess occasionally sporting jewelry and accessory items from local designers.

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Two final items: the first is the Wellington weather forecast.

The second is the schedule for tomorrow.

• Travel from Wellington (which is on New Zealand’s North Island), to Blenheim, located on the South Island
• 10.45am / 6:45pm EDT / 3:45pm PDT –  The Duke and Duchess will drive from Woodbourne Royal New Zealand Air Force Base to Seymour Square in Blenheim.
• 11am / 7pm EDT /4pm PDT – Attend wreath laying ceremony in Blenheim, where Kate and William will also spend time with some of the WWII veterans at the event, along with those serving in more recent conflicts
• 11:30am / 7:30pm EDT / 4:30pm PDT – Public walk through Seymour Square
• 1:15pm / 9:15pm EDT / 6:15pm PDT – Begin visit at Omaka Aviation Heritage Center
  • tour Knights of the Sky exhibit with Sir Peter Jackson, seeing his collection of WWI aircraft and artifacts (many may better know Mr. Jackson as the man behind The Lord of the Rings trilogy and its prequel, The Hobbit Trilogy)
  • weather permitting there may also be a display of classic aircraft
• Evening:  Prince William meets with the Prime Minister and the Leader of the Opposition 
• Attend State Reception at Government House hosted by Governor General

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We leave you with two magazine/newspaper covers, the first is Hello!.

The second is from the Daily Mail.

NEXT EVENTS:

Wednesday, April 9: Tonight’s engagement is with the Royal New Zealand Plunket Society, a group more commonly known simply as “Plunket” in New Zealand. Dedicated to supporting healthy families, the organization offers health care and assistance to new mothers, fathers and their babies. There will be a group of new mums and babies at the event, it is hoped Prince George will also attend and enjoy his first “playdate”.

Thursday, April 10:

• 10.45am: The Duke and Duchess will drive from Woodbourne Royal New Zealand Air Force Base to Seymour Square in Blenheim.
  11am (best opportunities): Public wreath laying ceremony at Blenheim War Memorial and Clock Tower in Seymour Square.
  11.30am (best opportunities): Public walk through Seymour Square.
  1.15pm (best opportunities): Flying Day at Omaka Aviation Heritage Centre with Sir Peter Jackson. This is a free event the public can attend.
  The State Reception at Government House will take place tonight.11:30am / 7:30pm EDT / 4:30pm PDT: Attend wreath laying ceremony in Blenheim, where Kate and William will also spend time with some of the WWII veterans at the event, along with those serving in more recent conflicts & visit to Seymour Square
• The next event is at the Omaka Aviation Heritage Center
  • tour Knights of the Sky exhibit with Sir Peter Jackson, seeing his collection of WWI aircraft and artifacts (many may better know Mr. Jackson as the man behind The Lord of the Rings trilogy and its prequel, The Hobbit Trilogy)
  • weather permitting there may also be a display of classic aircraft
• Evening:  Prince William meets with the Prime Minister and the Leader of the Opposition 
• Attend State Reception at Government House hosted by Governor General

LINKAGE:

• our New Zealand Royal Tour Guide is here
• the official Duke and Duchess of Cambridge website has its story/photos up from Monday’s arrival
• New Zealand’s Fairfax Media offers their picks for Kate’s Tour Wardrobe in this story
• MSN’s Style UK site suggests 15 Australian and New Zealand labels for Kate
• Victoria Murphy looks at memorable moments from the Cambridge’s two previous tours in this story
• in today’s Daily Mail Rebecca English has a look at the Plunket event tonight/tomorrow (depending on time zone)