For her first solo engagement since Princess Charlotte was born 4 months ago Kate wore Ralph Lauren.
©SplashNews.com
The Duchess was visiting the Anna Freud Centre, a charity specializing in children’s mental health. The Centre’s name may sound familiar; more from Rebecca English’s story in The Daily Mail:
Anna Freud was the sixth and last child of the legendary Sigmund Freud, and followed her father into the field of psychoanalysis. In fact some consider her to be one of the founders of psychoanalytic child psychology.
In 1952 she founded The Hampstead Clinic, the first child psychoanalytic centre for observational research, teaching and learning. After her death in 1982 it was renamed the Anna Freud Centre.
Simon Perry, People Magazine Instagram (@SPerryPeopleMag)
The Centre concentrates on mental health challenges children and young people face, using a holistic approach to the issue. The Centre has a Community Campus, where ” experts in mental health, neuroscience and education” work with children and families to find news ways of dealing with mental health care. The Centre is expanding that Campus, with plans to house all of its efforts there, including its training efforts, teaching more than 3,000 professionals a year. Below, Kate looking at a model of the planned expansion; back to The Daily Mail:
After a private briefing on how the charity is working to cut mental health problems in children and young people, she was shown plans for the new Campus and asked questions about it to Jonathan Robinson, Campus project lead and architect Mark Rowe, partner at Penoyre and Prasaad.
Looking at the architects’ model, Kate said: ‘It’s quite a unique approach.’ She asked: ‘Have you had any problems in terms of planning or have you been very well supported?’
©Chris Jackson/WPA Rota/Nunn Syndication/Polaris
A rendering for the new Centre of Excellence.
Anna Freud
Below you see Kate at the school’s interactive learning centre; the school is in a temporary site until the new Centre can be completed. It will “be at the heart” of the new complex.
Richard Palmer, The Express/Kensington Palace
As many readers already know, Kate has a deep interest in children’s mental health issues. According to the Palace the Duchess will continue her focus on the issue; more from The Telegraph.
The Duchess wants to play a part in the open discussion around the emotional and mental wellbeing of children.
She is particularly interested in supporting early intervention programmes that tackle complex social issues, especially those that provide support to vulnerable families or children to build their resilience to cope with life’s challenges from an early age.
The Duchess appeared relaxed, enjoying herself with the students and staff.
BOTH IMAGES: Chris Jackson/Pool/Nunn Syndication/POLARIS
For today’s engagement Kate wore a Ralph Lauren Black Label dress, the brand’s ‘Austin’ silk shirtdress.
Farfetch
The frock is described as the “quintessential shirtdress, this houndstooth-patterned silk style flares at the skirt for a supremely flattering fit.” More design elements on the Austin:
- dress and lining are 100% silk
- a sleek patent leather belt
- concealed front button placket with mother of pearl buttons
- barrel cuffs on the long sleeves
The dress comes in two lengths. Kate wore the longer length, shown below left. This dress is available at multi-brand retailer Farfetch, where it is still available in sizes 6 & 8 (£1146). The shorter version is offered at Ralph Lauren’s US website, available in all sizes ($1595) and on the UK website (£1245) in limited sizing.
Farfetch/Ralph Lauren
Kate accessorized with her Stuart Weitzman ‘Power’ pumps and Mulberry ‘Bayswater’ clutch.
Splash News/Splash News
Here you have a better look at the heels and clutch; our photo shows a leather style, while Kate’s is suede.
Stuart Weitzman/Mulberry
Unfortunately the black suede pumps Kate wears are sold out everywhere but at Russell and Bromley in the UK. If fond of the style, it is still offered in black patent and adobe at Nordstrom and black patent at Amazon; the heels also come in ‘Fire Quasar’ (there’s a color name!) at Stuart Weitzman, where they are 50% off, $178; oops, this color sold out while writing the post!
Nordstrom/Stuart Weitzman
We saw Kate bring back her favored Annoushka pearl drop earrings.
©James Whatling/Splash News
The Pearl drops are available at Annoushka; they were worn on Kate’s Kiki McDonough Yellow Gold/Diamond Hoops.
Kiki McDonough/Annoushka
The Duchess as she leaves with a hug for Michael Samuels, who is Chair of the charity’s Board of Trustees.
©Chris Jackson/WPA Rota/Nunn Syndication/Polaris
Below you see Mr. Samuel with his wife, Julia Samuel, arriving for Prince George’s christening; Ms. Samuel is one of George’s godparents. She was a close friend of the late Diana, Princess of Wales. On the far right is Hugh Grosvenor, another of the Prince’s godparents.
UPDATE: We have a number of comments about Kate’s ring(s) when she was leaving…here is a closeup photo when she is just steps away from the car. On previous occasions we have seen Kate’s engagement ring ‘swing around,’ and the stones aren’t visible as they are on the inside of her finger/hand. Perhaps this is what people are referencing.
UPDATE #2: I forgot to mention that today was the s/s 2016 Ralph Lauren spring runway show at Fashion Week.
Ralph Lauren
From a very quick glance at pictures it seems there is a lot to like, with plenty of light, floaty, feminine pieces, as well as the designer’s usual nautical and prep references, executed with elegance and élan. There are some paratrooper-style pants I wasn’t crazy about, and some dresses with cutouts that didn’t seem fabulous, but overall it looks like a stellar collection. You can watch the entire show on Periscope here, you will need to sit through about 8-10 minutes of people arriving and being seated before the show begins. I thought it worth the wait, but others may prefer to see photos of the collection. They are available several places, including here at Vogue.
We leave this portion of the post with ITN’s video of today’s engagement.
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Also today, word about a new engagement: in late October Kate, William and Harry will attend the premiere of the new James Bond film, SPECTRE.
007.com / Sony Pictures
This is 2015’s Royal Film Performance, a benefit for the Cinema and Television Benevolent Fund. The movie stars Daniel Craig as James Bond, it is his fourth time in the role.
Via The Telegraph
More from The Telegraph:
The countdown can finally begin: the team behind the upcoming James Bond film, Spectre, has announced today that the world premiere will take place on Monday October 26. The screening will be a royal gala, with the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge and Prince Harry among the first to see the film. For the first time ever, the film will open at UK cinemas on the same night.
Joining the royals at the high-profile event will be the film’s leading actors Daniel Craig, Christoph Waltz, Léa Seydoux, Ben Whishaw, Naomie Harris, David Bautista, Monica Bellucci and Ralph Fiennes
Many will remember the Duke and Duchess attending 2013’s Royal Film Performance, featuring Mandela: Long Walk to Freedom.
PA Wire/Splash News
The Duchess wore her Roland Mouret ‘Lombard’ gown, previously seen for a private dinner in May of 2012. (This dress is the ready-to-wear version of Kate’s gown.)
The CTBF
In announcing the engagement Kensington Palace used a photo of William, Kate and Harry at the Sun Military Awards in December of 2011.
Kensington Palace Twitter (@KensingtonRoyal)
The Duke and Duchess also attended the premiere of War Horse in 2012, when Kate wore the black lace ‘Amoret’ gown by Temperley London.
Weir/ Weir Photos / Splash News
We can expect to see a glittering red carpet at this event, and a party frock equal to the occasion.
NEXT ENGAGEMENT: Kate, William and Harry attend the Rugby World Cup opening ceremony tomorrow (Friday, September 18) at 6:45pm London time, that’s 1:45pm EDT / 10:45am PDT. This is the ‘pre-show’ for the opening ceremony, it starts at 7pm. Following the festivities the trio are expected to watch England take on Fiji in the tournament’s first match; that game begins at 8pm locally, 3pm EDT/Noon PDT.
NOTE A gentle reminder about our focus here at WKW: while not always successful, we try to remain focused on what Kate wears. We stay away from posting/commenting on Kate’s weight (unless it specifically relates to how a garment fits, something is too big, too small, etc.), steer clear of speculation about her state of mind or marriage, and generally try to avoid *too* much discussion of hair and makeup. I have become a little loose on this front recently; knowing the general interest in Kate’s haircut, I included photos of the new look in last week’s post. This topic has actually been fine: it very much relates to the dialogue when worn in specific styles relative to an outfit. It’s not become the sole focus of posts and/or comments, so if everyone is fine with it having a somewhat bigger role than in years past, so am I. (Truth be told, I very much enjoyed learning a few things about pre- and post-natal hair issues the past few weeks!)
It’s a fine line we tread as a community and the lack of new engagements over the summer contributed to my being somewhat lax regarding comments. I want to mention it because we’re seeing more comments related to Kate’s weight, state of mind, makeup and other topics. Many of them are founded in genuine concern about the Duchess’s health and well-being; I respect those sentiments, but these issues are not a focus of the site. Some comments I am able to do a very quick edit on, while others cannot be published because they have little or nothing to do with what Kate is wearing. And as always, comments insulting Kate, fellow readers, or the community as a whole are immediately deleted.
I apologize if things have edged closer to areas we generally avoid. Additionally, we are blessed with an abundance of new readers joining us and the change of seasons is always a good time to welcome them and share a bit of background on preferred practices. Do let me know if you have any questions or concerns, Susan@WhatKateWore.com is the best way to get in touch. More than anything, thanks to everyone who contributes and make the WKW environment a nice place to visit.
LINKAGE:
- Visit the Anna Freud Centre’s website here, follow the Centre on Facebook, if interested in donating click here
- The Daily Mail’s story and robust photo gallery may be seen here, The Telegraph’s story (with a video) is here
- The Mirror’s live blog is here, the paper’s story and photo gallery are here
- The Cinema and Television Benevolent Fund website is here, the organization’s Facebook page is here, and Twitter feed is here
- The Express has a nifty piece looking back at 67 Years of Royal Premieres
- Speaking of Kate’s hair, Getty has some nifty photos of the ‘ of Cambridge’s Hairstyles over the Years’
Getty Images (Click photo to see Kate’s Hairstyles over the Years)
I liked Kate’s look – the dress is fresh and chic looking. The pattern is great – I found it interesting to see a houndstooth pattern used with such a light material as silk – I would normally think of it being used in weightier and heavier fabrics. She looks fashionable without being too fashion forward in my opinion. Not sure about Kate’s new hair style yet. She always looks lovely but I feel the bangs are quite heavy looking around her face.
I usually love Kate’s style but she’s had a few misses and this is one of them. I do not like shirt dresses on anyone. I’ve tried them on before and they are rather shapeless and sacky with the end looking unfinished which is the “shirt part.” Like the designer wasn’t sure if they were making a dress and then switched their minds and made it a shirt.
I also doubt she weighs her hems. She’s had several instances with the wind flying up like this one due to the high slit in the front which just makes the dress look awkward. I’ve always wanted her to try dress pants and blazers to break out of her flouncy dresses, it would be way more comfortable for her when she does events with kids.
I would love to see her in pants too! I think she’d look great in a wide leg pant, actually much like the way the blue Reiss coat is styled in the photos from the more recent posting.
I LOVE THE BANGS
She looks like she is wearing a bangs toupee.
“Bangs toupee” … Too funny!!!!! 🙂
Ralph Lauren always shows understated elegance and I like this dress. Kate is always well put together and perfectly groomed. That said, I do find this look to be boring. If Kate had worn red shoes and a red clutch purse, then the outfit would rise to another level. She owns red shoes and clutch, as when she was in Canada, on Canada Day, she wore the country’s colours of red and white, with a white dress, red shoes and purse and a hat with red maple leaves. I do so wish she would be more daring in her fashion.
The bangs/fringe just give her another thing to push off her face, which she is often doing. I love it when Kate wears here hair in an updo, or low chignon. Personally I feel her hair is too long for her position and her age. A shorter, more professional hair style would be my wish for her.
I had forgotten about the red Canada Day courts. I wonder why we’ve never seen those shoes before or since?
Oh, that’s right! She’s stuck to basic black and nude shoes since then. :/
You are so right about the red shoes! It would have made an enormous difference in her overall appearance.
I’m a little curious about your comment about the length of her hair. I’ve never heard before that women of a certain status or age should have short hair. Is that something that’s specific to your country or area? Admittedly, I’m not very fashion-forward, so maybe I’ve just completely missed this. 🙂
It honestly doesn’t seem very long to me, it’s only to the middle of her back. I really love the beautiful chignons she wears too – I can never make mine look so nice!
Annie, I only just saw your question asking me about my comment concerning the length of Kate’s hair. You say that you’ve never heard before that women of a certain age should have short hair. Well, this is a very broad generalization, but often long hair is associated with school girls, or celebrities who are into the glam look. Again generalizing, I find that female lawyers, doctors, accountants and other professionals, often go for a different look than long flowing hair. Kate’s hair is beautiful and healthy, but when she is “working” she is frequently seen pushing her hair off her face. This is distracting and must be a nuisance for her. Therefore a more controlled hairstyle, that gets her hair off her face, would be good…in my opinion. That is why I love her hair is a chignon. It is more elegant and therefore more professional looking. She doesn’t have to have really short hair, just hair that is not constantly covering her very pretty face. The new bangs just struck me as something more to be pushing off her face. BTW I live in Canada and my thoughts about hair are not cultural. I guess I find tidy hair to be an asset.
Whilst I like most of what Catherine wears, this is not the first time we have seen extra expanse of thigh, dresses blowing up to reveal huge expanse of legs, extra. Why can’t Catherine take notice of The Queen and other senior female members of the Royal Family, and have her hems weighted. I appreciate that with silk it would be difficult, but I cannot believe for one moment that Catherine didn’t realise that when she walked, especially as she has quite a long stride that the dress would fall open to reveal extra flesh.
I think that in a quite roundabout way if the Queen is displeased, it will get back to Catherine’s staff. The Queen does not like wedges and they have disappeared completely from Catherine’s wardrobe.
Caroline, there’s no reliable evidence that the Queen doesn’t like wedges or has told the Duchess not to wear them. If she hadn’t worn them recently it’s probably because they are summer shoes and she has been on maternity leave this summer. The Countess of Wessex has worn wedges and after 16 years in the family I am sure she would know if they were considered inappropriate.
I have no doubt that she’s been weighting her hems from the beginning. It’s something she would have been advised on years ago, and it’s simply not credible that she hasn’t been doing it. In fact, there have been a couple of occasions when weights were actually visible in her hems.
Unfortunately, weights are not proof against strong winds, especially when the fabric is flimsy. Moreover, this particular wardrobe mishap was not a result of a skirt blowing up in breeze but rather of the dress design; it has an opening in the front of the skirt. That could have been dealt with not with weights but with a few stitches or perhaps snaps or buttons.
I’m not sure we know for a fact that the Queen doesn’t like wedges. Claims that she doesn’t have appeared in less than reliable sources, and of course there’s no been no Palace announcement on the subject. Wedges and platforms were actually popular in the 40’s when the Queen was a young woman — the former were cheap to make in wartime conditions and afterwards, when clothing and shoes were still rationed — and I believe I’ve seen an old picture of her wearing a pair.
With all due respect, how do we know that HM doesn’t like wedges? I really doubt that she cares one way or the other, so long as the Duchess is supporting a charity and not making headlines the way Diana and Charles did during the War of the Wales’.
I don’t think that they have disappeared from her wardrobe at all—she wore several during the last tour of Australia, and I suspect we will see more during the Rugby world cup (not tonight but while watching events).
Quite frankly, Princess Anne (love her BTW) showed a LOT more leg back in her heyday than Catherine ever dreamed of doing.
Love the houndstooth! Perfect for early fall. Who cares about the slit? Those perv’s over at the Daily Mail will use anything to objectify/sexualize her. It’s obnoxious! And gross.
I said it on the last post, and unfortunately I have to say it again – those bangs are not my favorite. I think they might look better styled with a side part, but maybe Kate is trying to be more modern? I simply think the two pictures of her where the bangs take center stage are not her best look. I will say though – the makeup looks perfect as always!
Overall – a great look! So excited to see something new!!
Brooke! You summed up my thoughts regarding the Daily Mail perfectly. The problem is not a flash of upper thigh, it’s the media’s relentless quest to objectify/sexualize her.
Thanks Brenda! Besides – a slip of Kate’s thighs really only served one purpose for me – #thighgoals 😉
I loved her outfit. It was very professional but not boring. Ralph Lauren always had shirt dresses in their range (i own a few and i wear them alot, especially the ones with a fuller skirt i find them very feminine). The price of the garment is reflected in the lightness of the fabric which i thought makes all the difference in how it floated. Even though i would never spend so much money on a dress like this, having worn Ralph Lauren for many years now and having bought some garments from their more expansive Black Label line (on sale of course!) i can verify that the quality of this label compared to their recently renamed Polo range (previously Blue label) is definitely superior.
My every day winter uniform is mainly RL: either jodpurs, matched with cashmere jumpers (both Black Label like her purple jumper and POLO), or shirts and a hacking jacket/balzer with riding boots. Or wool/cashmere dresses, fitted (like the green turtleneck she owns) or flared. And i can say with certainty the cashmere jumpers from Black Label fell a lot more luxurious the Polo ones. Mind you i recently stocked up on some cable knit cashmere jumpers from the brand only to find out the their Black label ones have become very expensive and i don’t think I’ll be buying anymore even on sale. I’d better take good care of the ones i already have!
I don’t care for her fringe/bangs. They distract from her beautiful face.
I think the dress is perfect for this kind of occasion: business-like but still feminine and NOT one of her heavy coats. It’s nice to see her in a lighter weight fabric. I agree with others that the height of the front slit was surprising, but not offensive to me.
While I like the concept of the bangs, the execution is not working for me here. They feel so heavy and almost unstyled. I like that she’s trying to change things up a bit (whether out of preference or need doesn’t matter), but the overall look could use some improvement. It’s not quite there yet.
Alison, I completely agree with you on the bangs. It’s the execution of them that has gone wrong. They look to be blown under too much. They need to be lift off the face at the roots and feathered out a bit.
Yes, I think what I loved most about the outfit is that it wasn’t a heavy coat! Totally agree – business like but still feminine. I thought this was a great look for her.
Wow, I had to read the comments to even notice the slit in the dress. I actually thought the dress itself was much more reserved than some of Kate’s other pieces because it’s so much longer (and she even bought the longer version), which you can see in the shot of her sitting down talking to kids. I have to say the price shocked me though, I had no idea Ralph Lauren was THAT expensive considering her black blazer from the line is only around $600. This particular dress, while nice, just does not sit on the same level as a dress from Jenny Packham or even Temperley (of which I’m not a big fan) to me. But ah well, Kate looked good in it, and at least she can afford it!
I don’t know what to say about the bangs. They make her look different. Not worse, not better, just different. It’s nice to see Kate mix it up with her hairstyles but I wouldn’t be a fan of this becoming a permanent look. But I still think they look good.
I am so excited to see the Cambridges and Harry at the Spectre premiere. I’m having a hard time not dancing around my room in excitement! My favourite royals with some of my favourite actors watching the movie I’m most looking forward to this year…ahhh!
Two designers she could try are Elie Saab and Ralph & Russo. Ralph & Russo is British so would be ideal and their work is beautiful.
Did Kate not wear stockings today? If she did then I need to get these because they look incredibly natural!
Thank goodness I wasn’t the only wondering about the exact same thing. If she was wearing stocking I’ve never seen ones so natural in my life!
Suzanne, I was thinking the same thing. If those are stockings, I would wear them, and everyone one this blog knows what I think of pantyhose.
I love the fit of the dress but not the print. Just a little too bustle since the print is small scale. I think the proportions of the garment are perfect.
On the fence about the new hair cut but I like that she tried something new (again), reminds me it is time to freshen up my own hair for fall.
All together, I think it was a well done look, nothing over the top or too surprising. Looking forward to the movie premier where she will hopefully bring out a beautiful formal dress and more royal jewels.
She looks quite lovely today. She looks ready to take on the world.
I love the fringe on her; it accentuates her lovely face. It is at a slight side part so one side is slightly heavier. However, I will say this, we are human beings and we are not perfectly equal. This applies to our hair too; one side may have more hair than the other side.
I’ve always found it quite odd that makeup and hair were not discussed here. For me, I was raised traditionally where fashion wasn’t just about the clothes one wore, but about how one dressed oneself. This included the way one did one’s hair, one’s makeup and which accessories one chose. That’s what “fashion” was to debutantes back in my grandmother’s day and I was taught by my grandmother on how to dress. Kate’s makeup barely shifts so I don’t mind that but I love reading about the hair!
Actually, hair and make-up have been discussed here a fair amount. I’ve often commented on when I think a hairstyle has complemented (or not) an outfit. I certainly agree that the way one does one’s hair and make-up is a part of one’s overall look, so I think this subject falls within our purview here.
Apropos of good sites on which to see new collections, as they are shown during the various Fashion Weeks and later, I really prefer Style.com. It’s a cleaner, neater site than Vogue’s, which I always find annoying for a variety of reasons.
For years Style.com was my go-to site, a much cleaner interface and larger photos. Unfortunately it no longer exists, it’s been absorbed by Vogue. Conde Nast (owner of both) *has* updated the Vogue site, but I still miss Style’s, especially during at fashion weeks. 🙁
Hmm, I hadn’t realized there was no difference now. I looked at the Style.com site this morning, to check out the Ralph Lauren collection (thumbs down on the red, white, and blue nautical theme) and it was more than adequate. I haven’t bothered with Vogue for that sort of purpose for ages, but Vogue sends me sites involving fashion (i.e., “The Best Front-Row Looks at Fashion Week!”) that drive me crazy, they’re so poorly organized. I had simply assumed everything else they were doing was as bad.
I have been an avid reader for over three years and I LOVE your site. I tell everyone about how great it is! I absolutely stand with you in your high quality and high integrity posts. I would be fine if you wanted to comment on hair and makeup in the professional way that you talk about Kate’s clothes. I feel like Kate would be really proud of this site because you are respectful of her and highlight her charitable organizations. Thank you for all.your hard work!
I like this dress on her, but I am a little surprised by the slit in the front. I thought that wasn’t allowed for her once she became a duchess?
There’s no “allowed” and “not allowed”. Only the tabloids try to pretend otherwise.
She dressed inappropriately here. She should not wear dresses with a slit in them, fact. Royal protocol dictates that she should wear dresses below the knee not above and heels no more than 3 inches.
The shirt dresses aren’t my favorite on anyways, not my favorite look of hers. Maybe because I just don’t like button down shirts myself? Looking forward to seeing what she pulls out for the premiere!
I love this blog and I thank you so much for all your work on it. I love that you include so much historical and cultural background in the posts…it’s not just about what Kate wears, even though that’s the focus and raison d’être of the blog. But I also love that it’s not another tabloid or gossip site…all too many of those out there! I know that must take a lot of work to moderate the comments; thank you. Keep up the good work and know that this reader enjoys every post, and the comments too.
First time for me to comment. Amy, I so agree with everything you say. There are way too many of those and I seriously doubt a lot of it is true. While I’m interested in the British Royalty what I want to know is history and fashion, which this website tastefully provides. I also love reading the comments — people are refreshingly honest and say whether they like or dislike something. Too many websites thinks that everything she wears is perfect and I have to respectfully disagree. I’m glad that those who comment here say that they don’t like something but also usually explain why they do not. I’ve learned a thing or two about fashion from them as well.
Was she wearing stockings? It didn’t look like it in the pictures but I know she generally wears a natural color to where it doesn’t look like it. I sure wish that they sold her brand here in the US (in stores nationwide, rather than having to pay large shipping costs). At any rate, her legs looked great. Does anyone have any suggestions on stockings here that could compare?
As for the dress, I liked it. I’m generally not a big fan of black and white but after seeing the Duchess and Queen Letizia use the colors a lot in their outfits, it is making me rethink it. I had thought it was boring but they certainly don’t make it look boring. The only issue I really had is that I am one who feels slits are more for floor length dresses so I wasn’t crazy about this. Small slits are fine but I thought this was too much for this dress.
Unfortunately, I do not care for her bangs. They look one length and I think layers would suit her much better or grow them out to how she had them before. She’s one of the lucky ones who can tie her hair completely back without needing something to frame her face.
All for now. Thank you again for this site.
Pretty Polly are very good and have a US website.
I generally like shirtdresses but just can’t feel much about this one…Houndtooth usually works better on a thicker material to reflect the texture, IMHO.
As for the new bang, I am not sure where the turnoff is…
Anyway, it’s nice to see her back to the public eyes. 🙂 has been a while…
Hey ladies,
I am a longtime reader and this is my first time commenting! First I’d like to thank you Susan for the tremendous amount of quality work you put into this blog and to the WKWers who leave interesting and instructive comments about fashion.
I love this print (and actually just discovered it was called hound’s tooth! In French we call it “pied de poule” which translates to hen’s foot), it’s stylish and professional at the same time, and I like the cut of the garment. Sadly shirt-dresses never seem to work for me (but then I am a lot shorter and plumper than Kate so there you have it). The length is perfectly appropriate in my opinion, but I agree with others that there should have been one or two extra stitches to prevent the front from opening that much, especially with such a light fabric. I was surprised to see her wear silk with no jacket or coat at this time of year, the English weather can always take you by surprise 🙂
Just a quick comment about Kate’s hair, I’m not a fan of the bangs/fringe either, not this last week anyway (I kinda liked her hair at Wimbledon). The side part makes the right fringe too thick, and it looks like a bump floating over the longer locks. I guess we just have to wait for it to grow!
Thank you for joining in the commenting fun; I’d not heard the pattern’s name in French, I like pied de poul! 🙂
I appreciate that your blog is just about Kate’s fashion. It’s nice to read something that is not speculating about every pound the royals gain or lose, or the state of their marriages. I just like to see what Kate is wearing and what she is up to! 🙂
So nice to see Kate out and about again. She looks marvelous, the dress is a winner in my opinion, excellent choice of length and accessories. Her hair is darling, a lovely change, and in my opinion makes her look younger and “softer”. Absolutely charming.
I loved the look, that dress is great. I recently got a few shirt dresses thinking they’d be prefect for fall. Guess I was right :D. And I don’t want to sound offensive or rude but her breasts look amazing haha. Idk if it’s the dress or the baby but you cannot not notice them on these pictures.
I love the hounds tooth—so appropriate and on trend for fall. Also am pleased to see her wearing a dress instead of a coat. I like that she left the top button undone, so it wasn’t too matronly (this is a quibble I have had with several of her dresses—too “buttoned up” to the throat). The shoes and clutch went well with the overall look, and the styling was fine although I do wish she had worn a bracelet or watch.
Do not love the bangs—they look too heavy and I feel like they need to be blended better. Overall look was professional and age appropriate and the tiny glimpse of leg when she stepped forward was a non-event in my book.
It is interesting to see everyone else’s perspective—I find the shirtwaist (this length and cut) to be very flattering on the Duchess.
She is actually wearing her Cartier watch, but it is obscured by her sleeve in most of the pictures :).
I’m hoping some UK readers (or frequent travelers) will be able to help me out with this one…
I will be IN LONDON (omg yay) for the Spectre premiere that Kate will be attending (I actually had been watching carefully as her appearances were announced since I was determined to get an in-person Kate sighting on this trip).
I was wondering if anyone has any tips about the best way to go about getting a glimpse of her at the premiere? Does anyone have any details about timing, security, how early to arrive in order to get a good view? How about what it’s generally like camping out/lining up to get a glimpse of a royal at work? Anything at all would be appreciated! I’m sure it’s going to be a major red carpet since it’s a huge film (and thus I’ll be competing with James Bond fans). I’ve never tried to visit a red carpet of any kind before, so any and all tips would be appreciated!
And of course I’ll be watching this site closely as the time nears, in hopes that Kate will have another appearance around the same time that will be less crowded 🙂 Would much rather camp out with a few hundred Kate fans than compete for space with a zillion Bond fans!
How fun for you!! I can send you an email in a few days with what little info I have to share about timing and security. 🙂
Thank you so much! Should I email you so you have my address or can you view it as admin from my comment?
Hello again! Could you email Susan@WhatKateWore.com? That will be a better reminder for me. 🙂
Hounds tooth – happy hounds tooth…..and in s.i.l.k. I prefer this length and love the flow. Thanks for your blog reminders….operative word being “your” – this is always a breath of fresh air. Thank you.
My observation is that she bought this dress in a size too big. I am looking specifically at the length of the sleeves, the location of the shoulder seam and the number of pleats at the waist from her belt. Perhaps she’ll have this dress taken in for the next time she wears it.
Yes, I quite agree, it seems the dress was purchased quite large, maybe she had worn after the birth of Princess Charlotte?
I don’t quite agree on the hair. It looks heavy and distracting. She has a lovely face, so wondering what the bangs are doing? Is it motherly fashion?
Thanks for all your work on this site and for keeping the comments section respectful. I also admire your refusal to use intrusive paparazzi photos. I don’t mind hair or make up discussions.
Hope you don’t mind a correction – Kate’s first engagement after Charlotte’s birth was the America’s Cup in July so this is her second one.
Good heavens, no, I never mind a correction – I’m grateful for those who take the time to let me know I have made an error! Thank you for reminding, I made the appropriate changes. 🙂
The America’s Cup engagement was a joint one with Prince William. Yesterday was the resumption of Catherine’s solo engagements, after Princess Charlotte’s birth.
I think the dress was great choice for the occasion. Gorgeous fabric. Looks like a perfect easy to go to style for a variety of outings. It would work as a staple in my wardrobe. Ali
Have watched the visit on TV throughout the day and thought she looked beautiful—never saw anything except a brief second when the wind blew. I am more the Queen,s generation than Catherine’s, but saw nothing that offended.
Then I was more interested in the mental health of the children she was visiting.
I even love her hair.
It looks like Kate had a little color touchup to her hair as well, it looks phenomenal. She is clearly still enjoying her fuller prenatal hair. (I wish I had mine back!) I have every intention of taking a picture of her hair to my stylist and asking for that color. That being said, I’ll pass on the bangs. I always want to try them too, but I just don’t think they would work for me in the end.
Terrific dress, I love the print, and I would have tacked a few stitches near the bottom as others have mentioned so the flap wouldn’t fly up so high, although Kate sure does have the build to carry it off. England seems like it’s a very windy place, judging by many of the photos from Kate’s engagements. The dress is however a very tasteful length and looks very professional in every other picture, so I hesitate to pass judgement based on one still shot from a very windy-looking walk in.
I can’t say how pleased I am not to read comments on how “black/white” isn’t appropriate colors for a children’s event/charity/function; it is a major misconception in my opinion that people who work with children must dress like a crayola box all the time.
Kate looks great! So happy to see her back out and about 🙂
Interesting that she’s not wearing her engagement ring as she leaves
I noticed but decided it was either twisted around, or she had removed it for an activity.
The stone may just be turned around. Her wedding band is super thin. Front that shot, it’s hard to judge if it’s one or two thin bands.
I’ve often thought the engagement ring looks a bit loose…but she may prefer it that way. I do, but my stone’s not nearly so hefty! 😉
Kate typically wears her sapphire engagement ring, (white gold band) which is encased by a yellow gold wedding band (made from a welsh gold nugget, used for many royal brides) and a thin diamond eternity band in white gold.
The late Princess of Wales frequently did this when visiting with children or carrying her own children. I imagine it keeps the stone from getting snagged on clothing or in the way of interacting with young children.
In regards to the Duchess overall look today, I thought she looked amazing. Cute dress, looked like a fashion model and her new bangs give her a fresh look! I personally would either go a little shorter to do an actual bang, or a little longer for side swept fringe. It’s not a length I’d wear, but she can pull it off! Glad to see her back out!
Where is Kate’s engagement ring in the photo where she is saying goodbye to Michael Samuels. You can see it in all the other pictures of her left hand. Is it possible that she would have turned it inward? Surely a ring that size wouldn’t rotate in on it’s own.
In other pictures of Kate’s ring that I have seen, it often does look just a bit loose. If it is, then likely the heavy (proportionate to the ring overall) setting does rotate to the ‘bottom’, e.g., the underside of her finger. My mother has a very large setting on a narrow band that is a little loose, and hers does the same thing frequently.
Interesting observation. I think Kate puts up with the ‘rotating’ because it fits just so. I’d say the fact it was Diana’s own engagement ring she wanted to save its uniqueness. My curiosity is does she wear it on a full-time basis
It absolutely would rotate. My mom has an aqua ring with diamond surrounds about the same size. It moves around on her hand constantly. Anything above a couple of carats does.
I’ll have to convince my hubby to get me a larger ring so I can better understand the rotating 😉
Lol Hillary!! Yes, you absolutely should 🙂
As a moth to the flame so Kate continues to be drawn to these shirtwaisters and their attendant perils. I fear she is the child of a fashion age which favours style over function, the endless mishaps daily touted by the tabloids
Having said that, I think this dress is an improvement on Kate’s earlier efforts. Thanks to wind-assistance, the lining we have such a clear view of may give the garment more body and it hangs like less of a sack. The skirt cut on the cross varies the monotone check nicely and gives a lovely swing and overall there’s a better defined shape than say the yellow Packham worn in Canada. The skirt also seems weighted enough to prevent dire mishap, though one clip showed Kate yet again desperately clutching the fabric at the back.
I love houndstooth and find it very adaptable though I’m accustomed to seeing it in heavier weight fabrics than flyaway silk. I find it a chic and businesslike choice for Kate, though I think she’s been let down by a revealing front opening which seems to rise so fast every time the wearer encounters obstacles like steps or cars.
I love the smart Weitzmans and the Mulberry clutch is a neat and not an overbearing dark block against the dress. Kate’s fringe looks a lot better with her hair loose and has been well styled for the occasion. Fingers crossed it grows out before too long.
Houndstooth was a Diana pattern. Most notably the red and black suit she wore when famously embracing William and Harry in a huge hug many moons ago. With all the commentary on thigh revealing, wind susceptibility there’s no way Kate was unaware of this dress’ cut and flare. She’s starting to appear rebellious as if it’s a little revenge for conservative knee skimming lengths. I think she’s being tongue in cheek when she chooses her clothes. Your legs all of them ankle to thigh (tongue in cheek) are fabulous KateI Her fringe looks good sometimes not when it sticks straight up in the wind or falling flat around her face. Her usual style looked fabulous and timeless all angles.
I remember that Diana outfit though that was in a more chunky fabric than here and on a fitted outfit. I’m not so sure Kate knew how exposing that front flap would be as the dress looks so demure when she is standing still and all hangs together. At the end of the day it wasn’t the biggest flash of thigh around, just a bit of a surprise, and perhaps made more striking by the length of the skirt.
Well said ElizaMo. Didn’t want you to think it was you I disagreed with!
All opinions welcome here 🙂
I disagree – it is simply not true that the Palace dictates what she wears or the length of her hems as some seem to believe. Pictures of Princess Anne from the 1960s show her in skirts that are above knee-length, and the Queen has worn open-toed shoes, flouting another mythical rule.
Therefore she has no need for ‘rebellion’ and I don’t believe for a second that she tries to upset the royal family with her clothes. To attempt it would be childish and pointless.
Houndstooth is actually very on trend for the fall, which is probably the real reason Catherine chose the pattern, as opposed to “copying Diana”.
I’m with you, Marie. I think the tabloids and various other publications without a pipeline to reliable information have a tendency to make many unsupported claims about the Palace’s supposed attitude or dictates on this or that subject involving the Duchess, including her clothes. They so often have nothing factual to print, nothing from a truly reliable source, so they simply fabricate stories.
My impression is that the Duchess has bent over backwards to choose rather “safe” clothing, items very much in keeping with the traditional royal look, the uniform as it were. If she’s made some errors with, for example, too-flimsy fabrics that haven’t withstood a stiff breeze, even weighted, I think those were entirely inadvertent and probably caused her much private embarrassment and many blushes.
But how many such mistakes have there been, out of everything she’s worn since her marriage well over 4 years ago? 4, perhaps? That’s hardly a large number. No, in general, I think her wardrobe choices have been quite decorous and conservative, which would not be the case if she were harboring the subversive heart of a deliberate royal rebel.
The bangs look better on her today than last Sunday, but I still would prefer if she’d do fully sideswept bangs, not parted like this. And I finally remembered who this reminded me of… Cressida Bonas. And she’s like, a Professional Pretty Person and I don’t find the look flattering on even her.
http://img2.timeinc.net/people/i/2015/news/150209/cressida-bonas-1-768.jpg
LOVE the houndstooth shirt dress. Great dress for a professional appearance. Also quite the racy 1st pic you chose :). I WANT HER LEGS. And god love her, I could not engage in the same level of what I call “educated small talk for show” and not want to claw my eyeballs out from boredom.
Overall a great little appearance. Love the short video you added :).
Susan, I just saw your Note about not discussing things beyond the scope of fashion. While I agree with most (weight, marriage, etc), I was surprised to see Hair and Makeup fall in the out of scope area. I really feel that fashion in general encompasses the overall “look” so I never thought twice posting anything about hair especially. I respectfully ask you to reconsider that stance, but I also understand that it’s fair for you to focus on JUST the clothes if you’d like. Thanks for all you do.
I’m sorry, I didn’t realize I hit “update” long before I planned to, arrghhh. 🙁 I think if you read the ‘note’ as it is published now it will be in sync with what you articulated regarding where hair falls in the conversation. 🙂
Thanks, Susan, it does make sense and I appreciate the update :). And I now realize that I *did* sort of make a comment on Kate’s body, guess I figure outright admiration is not the same as speculation or criticism of body shape. Oops!
I like this look very much. It’s crisp and professional but not too stiff and businesslike, so quite suitable for an engagement involving a children’s concern. I’ve had a problematic relationship with shirtdresses over the years, but this one works for me because of the softness and drape of the silk fabric. I’m also pleased to see that the Duchess chose the longer length. It’s simply more elegant.
Both shirtdresses and houndstooth fabrics are very au courant. I looked at black-and-white houndstooth Theory trousers the other day but decided they weren’t for me. However, I own a black-and-white houndstooth jacket that I may give more wear than usual this fall. (I also own a black patent belt that came with a jacket and that I wear with EVERYTHING. Supremely useful, such belts.)
I like the booties (shooties?) on the model and think footwear like that would have ramped up the look in terms of style, but all in all, the outfit works nicely.
I have to agree that not making a bit of an adjustment to the opening in the front of the dress was a mistake. A regular slip would have looked odd when the dress blew up, and slips with slits never quite match up with dress and skirt slits. The best solution might have been to put some stitches into the dress, tacking down the top of the opening for a good 2-3 inches. I’ve had that done with some dresses I own.
In addition, I saw a picture in which the wind was whipping up the Duchess’s new bangs to an extent that made them look almost like rabbit ears. As I said the other day, bangs can be very hard to control.
I think admin has now noted above that the bangs probably result from post -pregnancy probs. It’s possible they’ve been growing out already and maybe we won’t have to wait too long to see Kate’s tresses restored to their abundant best.
Do we know what ring she’s wearing on her left hand? It looks like three rings in twine.
Love hounds tooth, love a shirt dress, wish I had this one in my closet. The first photo shows that she should have added a button or something because it flared open super high on her leg.
I’m not a fan of the fringe on her. Something about bangs with her face makes it look to me like an instant 70s throwback. Especially when compared to how gorgeous she looks without them. To me it looks also like “mom” hair.
Agree with seventies throwback. She is the image of Jaclyn Smith from Charlie’s Angels lol. But I saw a few uncomplimentary shots at the Anna F centre where the fringe was flat about her face. It made her look non-descript. Her hair is her crowning glory and her Achilles heel. Even her gorgeous updos of past will be tricky with this fringe. She should wear earplugs and listen to no one talk about ‘changing it up’ if this is the case.
So happy to see her! I like this dress a lot and think it flatters her tremendously. Watching the video, I was struck by how gracefully it moves with her. Adrienne, Im going to disagree with you about it showing too much leg though. I think that little flash of leg keeps the dress from being mumsy but is still professional looking at the same time.
Not as enthusiastic about the hair. I think the bangs(fringe) looks heavy. Something is wrong with the proportions to me. Maybe they need to be a little longer and more layered. Funny she keeps experimenting with this style but it never quite works imo.
I agree with you on the dress. I love it when her clothes aren’t quite so stern and mature and monochrome. I loved the pattern and the shape and sway of the dress. I think the high neckline and long sleeves balance out the occasional flash of leg. Sometimes she stays in a coat the entire time for events like this…I love that it was a dress! She looked wonderful. As always, her smile is her best accessory – so beautiful.
Yes! My thoughts exactly. Her fringe doesn’t look right at all and I don’t see the point in it.
Being that she is a Duchess, the wife of Prince William, and in line at some point to be Queen, it is absolutely disgraceful to wear a dress with a split that shows her thighs like that.
While the dress would be darling on someone non-royal, it shows a lack of dignity, respect and discretion for her to dress like that. Shame. Have really lost respect for her with this sartorial slap in the face to the prudence that the Monarchy represents. I bet the Queen or someone quite high up in the household who work for the Queen will give her quite a telling down.
They won’t be that direct. But the first thing I thought when I saw the slit was, “The Queen won’t like that.” It’s one thing to have a slit in a long gown, but another in a work dress. I suspect if we see it again, it will have been tacked down.
Really? Princess Diana wore quite a few very revealing dresses in her day, when she was in line to become Queen.
Kate has been shown in pictures in a white bikini for example, that showed way more than her thigh. What’s the difference? Is the issue that she dared to show her thigh (from the wind blowing her dress) at all, or especially at the type of engagement she attended today? Very confused…
As far as the slap in the face to the monarchy, I can think of many things that have happened over the last 30 yrs that are way more insulting than this slit in her dress.
There’s quite a difference between being photographed in a bikini on the beach (or on your own secluded balcony), where it’s normal dress, and flashing your leg practically up to your crotch when you’re on an official, royal, supposedly serious engagement.
And I doubt anything will be said about her dress by the queen, or any of her handlers. It’s not that crucial…
By all accounts the Queen adores the Duchess and feels she and the Duke are excellent representitives for the crown. This couple has given her none of the sleepless nights or drama (annus horribilis) her own children have caused.
I agree…after all the Queen’s been through stemming from the foolish and selfish choices of her own children and other close relatives, I can hardly imagine that a minor leg flash from a well-loved Duchess will even raise an eyebrow. For the Duchess’s sake, I certainly hope not!
I really don’t think that dress looks as expensive as it is. But then I find shirtdresses rarely look exoensive. Its…..fine.
I guess it works since she doesn’t want to be a clotheshorse. But if she doesn’t want her frock to be the story, why oh why won’t she wear a slip underneath???! I’m weary of seeing her upper thighs! (And needless to say, the Daily Mail have several more photos of the slit flapping open.)
I’ve found shirtwaisters to be highly unpredictable and one doesn’t always know quite what they’re going to do until it’s too late and you’re out in public in them.
It’s quite a flash of thigh, but yet again it is so brief in real-life on a video as to be negligible, only magnified by the sophisticated lenses of cameras which catch every nano-second. And then of course used by newspapers as their main picture.
I don’t think a slip would have helped here as the skirt is front opening and would have exposed extra lingerie, but I would agree with others that Kate might be better served by an extra button or two to keep her looking businesslike. It’s just unfortunate that the behaviour of the front slit turns a modest choice into something unintentionally racy.
I also agree, and really wished for just that one extra button. I wouldn’t have minded a slit like that for evening, but for a day event it just looks wrong. At least she did choose the longer dress, although I didn’t find the shorter version *too* short.
I think long bangs like that look nicer when there is not so much difference in the length of the rest of the hair. Cutting more layers in, or shortening overall would help a lot. She’s got great hair, it just always seems too heavy to me unless it’s at least partially up.
I think we also have a take a moment and consider if the problem is the flash of upper thigh or the Daily Mail’s response to it.
I think this is a really good point. Yes, in an ideal world Kate (and every other person in the public eye) would never have a skirt flutter open/up or a neckline slip down when they bend over or an outfit get a tiny bit transparent under bright camera flashes. And yes, clearly people in the public eye can and should take steps to avoid those things happening. I’m not surprised that the Daily Mail and similar sites choose to focus on those split seconds over and over, and that’s of course a big part of the reason public figures should try to avoid these things.
But at the end of the day, no matter how much care you take, these things will happen occasionally. It isn’t actually necessary for the Daily Mail and its ilk to focus on those split-second lapses every time they occur, and the fact that they do says more about them than it does Kate.
Hear, hear! Sorry I can’t get worked up about a flash of thigh, even around children. If this is the kind of thing that the palace gets worked up about, no wonder no one wants to join it.
Really tired of women commenting on other women’s weight. Can’t we just decided to stop doing that?
I wish she would wear a slip more often with flowing skirts or dresses. There’s nothing wrong with showing a little leg but maybe not at a daytime event a children’s cause? Otherwise the dress is gorgeous and looks great on her, wish I could afford it myself!
NOTE: Quick edit by admin
I absolute LOVE (read obsessed with) hounds tooth! So naturally I love today’s look. I think its a fall fashion staple but at the same time can be kind of racy, I guess anything heavily patterned tends to be. I think Kate looked super cute, the cut of the dress was very flattering.I am not nuts about the Farrah bangs, but that’s just me. So glad to see her again, can’t wait for more events!
Its not just you, lol. I don’t think its a very fresh cut on anyone. That heavy round fringe is the hair equivalent of mom jeans.
I like the dress, it’s perfect for the season. I’m a huge fan of black and white on her, and I love long-sleeved dresses.
I wish she had a few safety pins so the slit didn’t go so high. She almost exposing her thighs.
NOTE: Quick admin edit after publishing
Why did you remove that part of my comment? Are we not allowed to say that? Sorry if I missed where you told us not to. I am genuinely concerned, not body snarking at all. It’s all the more confusing since now others are talking about what I said and there’s no context.
That is my error, trying to edit the post and do comments too quickly. I have also updated the post with a quick overview about comments. I apologize for creating any confusion.