The Duchess debuted a new suit by Catherine Walker for today’s visit to The Netherlands.
Above and below you see Kate with King Willem-Alexander at Villa Eikenhorst, the royal family’s official residence. More from Richard Palmer’s story for The Express:
Kate, 34, began a day of engagements in The Hague and Rotterdam by going for lunch with the King at the Villa Eikenhorst, a 1980s mansion where the monarch lives with his Argentine-born wife Queen Maxima and their three daughters on a wooded estate six miles from the centre of The Hague.
This was an important visit for the Duchess, her first solo overseas trip. (A visit to Malta by Kate was planned in 2014, but canceled because of her illness when expecting Charlotte.)
Today’s engagements come as Britain continues working on terms for its exit from the European Union. While the trip is said to have been planned months before the EU referendum, the timing is such that Kate follows in the steps of British PM Theresa May, who was in Holland yesterday. More from a story by Gordon Rayner in The Telegraph:
If Britain is engaged in a pre-Brexit charm offensive with EU nations, it will have few ambassadors as effective as the Duchess of Cambridge.
The Netherlands is one of Britain’s biggest trading partners, with £68 billion of goods crossing the North Sea every year, but has not received a visit from a senior member of the Royal family for three years.
Kate’s first stop following lunch with the King was at the Mauritshuis Gallery/Museum.
Video Kate arrives at the Mauritshuis gallery in The Hague pic.twitter.com/fvoyJsNopu
— Victoria Murphy (@QueenVicMirror) October 11, 2016
Her primary goal at the Museum was viewing an exhibition featuring works from The Royal Collection.
More via the Museum’s newsletter:
The visit is planned to coincide with the exhibition At Home in Holland: Vermeer and his contemporaries from the Royal Collection, which includes 22 important genre paintings from her family’s collection. The Duchess of Cambridge, who took a degree in art history at the University of St Andrews, is familiar with the collection of the Mauritshuis.
Kate is with Emilie Gordenker, one of two Museum Directors. 
The Duchess and Ms. Gordenker in front of The Girl with the Pearl Earring by Johannes Vermeer, part of the Museum’s permanent collection. We’ll hear more about the Duchess and this painting in just a bit.
Ms. Gordenker’s comments about Kate’s reaction to the artwork via The Telegraph:
“The Duchess seemed to particularly enjoy seeing The Goldfinch, by Carel Fabritius, but she asked a lot of questions about the presentation of the paintings, because although she is familiar with a lot of the Queen’s paintings she has never seen them in this setting before, which gives them a different context.”
Below, Kate studying The Goldfinch. 
Kate spent time with children having a painting lesson as part of an art workshop at the Mauritshuis. 
This event must have been enjoyable for the Duchess: an art class at an art museum with children, very much in keeping with some of Kate’s interests.
Greeting crowds outside the Museum.
More from Gordon Rayner’s Telegraph article:
She delighted crowds outside the art gallery by going on an impromptu walkabout, shaking every hand that was offered, though declining requests for selfies.
The Duchess then headed to the British Ambassador’s residence for a meeting & discussion about “tackling addiction and mental health issues across generations within the family” according to Kensington Palace.
Kate takes her seat for a round table discussion about mental health in the British Ambassador’s residence #RoyalVisitNL pic.twitter.com/xoX1EilCqc
— Victoria Murphy (@QueenVicMirror) October 11, 2016
Representatives from two of Kate’s patronages, the Anna Freud Centre and Action on Addiction, took part in the discussion, as did professionals from the Trimbos Institute, the Netherlands Institute of Mental Health and Addiction.
Kate’s final stop was at Bouwkeet Makers Spaces, an experimental project offering communal working space.
More from The Evening Standard:
… a new charity-funded project designed to keep youths off the streets by teaching them manufacturing, maintenance and repair skills.
The project, housed in a formerly derelict post office covering 1,000 square metres, uses an American idea – Makers Spaces are usually places where people pay to use machinery – and is trying to develop it into a scheme to combat high rates of crime and unemployment in the area.
Kensington Palace
From Victoria Murphy’s story in The Daily Mirror:
Kate chatted to the teens in a woollen class at the Bouwkeet workshop project for teenagers in a deprived area of Rotterdam.
There was quite a crowd outside the building eager to see Kate.
Now to what Kate wore for the day’s engagements, a bespoke skirt suit by Catherine Walker.
The jacket features a fitted bodice with a wide collar, large self-covered buttons, a peplum waist, and a wide belt.
We have had quite a few comments about the fit of Kate’s jacket and the bumps beneath the fabric.
I think what we are seeing is the outline of Kate’s undergarments, not any kind of body armor. Regardless of the cause, the fit on a garment of this caliber should be such that we don’t notice little bumps and bubbles, the puckers and pulling we’re seeing today.
Kate has proved herself fond of oversized collars. Below left, a Catherine Walker piece worn St. Patrick’s Day 2015, and on the right, a bespoke Alexander McQueen maternity piece with a Peter Pan collar that we first saw at Trooping the Colour 2013. (With thanks to Madeline for her comment sharing that a Peter Pan collar should be rounded, not pointed.)
The jacket also has notched sleeves that flare at the cuff.
The pencil skirt has an interesting design, you can see seam details at the hip just below the hem of the jacket. I would love to see the skirt without the jacket.
Several noted the similarity in design between today’s suit and the Luisa Spagnoli worn in New Zealand in 2014. (As well as for an Air Cadets photo in 2015 and at the University of St. Andrews in 2011.)
The suit has elegant lines, and it is crafted in a shade of blue that is very flattering on the Duchess. Unfortunately the wrinkles on both pieces were a distraction, particularly on the front of the skirt at the hips and on the upper arms. I’m not sure precisely what fabric was used for the suit, in some photos it looked like a silk/wool blend, or it may have been a wool crepe or Venetian wool. Kate took commercial flights to and from The Netherlands, so she had been wearing the suit for some time before her arrival at Villa Eikenhorst; I’m not sure there was a way to avoid the wrinkles. (Short of wearing a different garment in material less prone to wrinkle.)
UPDATE: According to Erin Hill’s story in People the suit is made of wool crepe. 
Overall Kate looked lovely: she was appropriately dressed for the day’s appointments and the wrinkles were a distraction, not a fashion disaster. Something you would rather not see with garments of this quality, but certainly nothing sending a negative message of any kind or interfering with Kate’s ability to do her job.
The Duchess accessorized with familiar pieces, including her Gianvito Rossi suede pumps. We show them at Net-a-Porter where they are available in a dwindling assortment of sizes ($675); My Theresa also has the shoes in stock in a mix of sizes ($675).
The Duchess carried her Nina Clutch, still available at LK Bennett online: the bag is $325 on the US/CAN site and £185 on the UK/INTL site.
Kate wore the pearl earrings that we first saw in Canada.
This is the pair that Anna of My Small Obsessions believed to be on loan from the Queen, previously worn by HM, as well as Sophie, Countess of Wessex.
It turns out Anna was correct, reporters received verification today from Kensington Palace that Kate was wearing the pair loaned by the Queen. Great work by Anna!
Finally confirmation those earrings are indeed on loan from HM The Queen, since 2012 I tried to confirm this pic.twitter.com/aJX1jSyWz0
— Kate&Sophie Blogs (@AnnieElizabethN) October 11, 2016
From Gordon Rayner’s Telegraph story:
The secret of a successful royal visit lies in the planning, and the Duchess of Cambridge showed a superb eye for detail on her first solo foreign trip.
Knowing she would be shown Johannes Vermeer’s celebrated Girl With A Pearl Earring at an art gallery in the Netherlands, the Duchess borrowed the Queen’s own treasured pearl earrings for the day to provide the perfect photo opportunity.
A better look at Kate’s chignon.
We have had several questions asking why Queen Máxima was not at lunch, she is in Argentina.
Also today, a new engagement added to Kate’s Calendar.
- Tuesday, October 18: Kate and William attend a reception hosted by HM and Prince Philip at Buckingham Palace. The event honors Team GB and ParalympicsGB medal winners from the 2016 Rio Olympic Games and Paralympic Games. Others expected to attend include Prince Harry, Prince Andrew, Princess Eugenie and Princess Anne.
And don’t forget to vote in our earring poll!
UPDATES:
- Emilie Gordenker, the Museum Director seen in several photos, is wearing a dress by Roksanda Ilincic. It is the designer’s Turlin Flounce Sleeve Midi Dress. Our thanks to Laura on Twitter for the dress info.
It looks like the UFO sweater worn by the Duchess in Canada has been identified. Sue B Style says Kate was wearing Jigsaw’s ‘Katherine’ cashmere sweater. The piece is 100% cashmere, semi-sheer, and also sold out.
LINKAGE:
- The Royal House of The Netherlands website is here; the King’s bio & other info is here; King Willem-Alexander and Queen Máxima’s official Facebook page is here
- The Mauritshuis Museum English-language website is here; the Museum’s Facebook page is here; its Instagram feed is here and Twitter page here
- The Royal Collection’s information on the exhibit may be seen here
- The Bouwkeet website is here; its Facebook page here and Twitter account here
- The City of the Hague website is here; its Facebook page is here and Twitter feed here
- Charities:
- The Action on Addiction website is here; the charity’s Facebook page is here and Twitter feed here
- The Anna Freud Centre website is here; the organization’s Facebook page is here & its Twitter feed is here
- The Trimbos Institute website is here & Twitter account here
- Media Coverage:
- The Daily Mail’s photo-laden story is here;The Mirror’s live blog is here; The Express story is here; The Telegraph story is here
- Simon Perry’s People story is here; PopSugar’s gallery is here; The Fug Girls’ stort & gallery of oversized images is here
I loved the entire look and thought the Duchess carried herself with such grace. Like many others have stated, I just wished the fabric hadn’t wrinkled so much. However, I did find it considerate of the Duchess to go wearing her event outfit that way she and her staff could forgo the bags and other necessities for a wardrobe change.
I do have to add that the Museum Director’s outfit was fantastic. Just a great choice especially for one in such a creative/artistic field. Do you happen to have the details on the yellow suede shoes she wore? I kind of love them.
I wish her suit had not wrinkled but she flew in it and it did. How considerate of her to arrive ready for the event rather than wear a more comfortable flight outfit, have people deal with her bags, and require a dressing room- she is preforming her role with grace. She is rising to duty and doing so beautifully. I loved seeing her in a new color and the earrings were perfect. Bravo!
I do not think this was the best color choice for the season. Such a pale color is better suited for Warner months especially as others have mentioned with light toned accessories.
The wrinkles are a distraction for sure, so many fabric choices that would have not wrinkled could have been used.
Cut of the suit is appropriate for this event. The sleeves, large buttons, peplum and belt are nice details but almost a bit too much for my specific style. One major detail done well is better than 4.
A classic updo worked well for travel and those earrings were the star of the outfit.
It was OK but could have been better. I prefer when she paired her navy blazer with the blue sheath dress during pre Olympic events for daytime professional attire.
the museum director was better dressed.
I was wondering if you could sometimes comment about when/if the Duchess is wearing hose/tights? It seems sometimes she does, sometimes she doesn’t, but it’s hard to tell from the photos at times. I know a lot of women who still are trying to figure out when/if to wear “pantyhose.” Love this site! I come here often, just don’t comment much. Thanks, and keep up the great work!
In theory, this suit should’ve worked well for the Duchess’ first solo overseas engagement…a pretty, peplum style we’ve seen her in many times. But I think the skirt looked too big on Catherine, and wish it had been a more tapered, “pencil” silhouette. That, and perhaps a darker color, might have helped combat the wrinkles, which were understandable and should’ve been considered in planning for this event. Not sure what to say about the visible lumps and bumps in the back of the jacket…undergarments?
Love those Gianvito Rossi pumps, though, and think the pearl earrings were a perfect choice!
Thank you for posting the information about the Museum Director’s dress! It caught my eye right away.
This look right here is why Kate is amazing!
The color and shape of this suit was so lovely, I especially loved that detail on the cuffs.
A winner for me 🙂
I think Kate more and more looks like a true princess on duty. It’s a good change, IMHO.
I begin to wonder if Kate really has a heightened interest in fashion after all. Yes, it’s always politely appropriate and oftentimes she looks very lovely, but I don’t see any real passion for fashion as, for example, it seemed the case with Princess Diana. With regards to the royal family I would even guess they very much approve of that, too.
I agree, she strikes me as someone who like most of us love to look good, enjoy both old and new styles, but who does not appear to me to be terribly focused on it beyond that. I have several friends in the fashion industry and their level of interest and focus on details and knowing all the latest is polar opposite of mine. I also have a sister who is not in the industry but whom loves fashion and she takes all the magazines, knows all the designer names, always knows and visits the newest shop, she also is constantly swapping out her wardrobe. I have half that level of interest, I think Kate is not the type to devour the latest mag or fashion news.
I think a lovely ponytail would have helped this outfit so much and added the bit of whimsy we were all looking for. I also agree with other posters who suggested a grey shoe and clutch would have worked better. These are perhaps my least favorite shoes that she owns.
Possibly would a bun have worked instead of the hairstyle she had?
I think one has to consider that she really has an agenda and a somewhat political agency as well when she chooses many of her outfits.I don’t know, what her exact agenda as an ambassador for this trip was, but it surely played a role.This look is professional in a no nonsense way but the colour signals a soft, ladylike gentility that works for her role as member of the royal family.The cut and accessories are conservative but not in an off putting way. She looks lovely. The designer she wears is British which makes sense as well.Particularly now after the brexit she can push the British fashion industry in continental Europe. I think she did a good job. And just by the way: this chignon is beautifully arranged and looks good on her in my opinion.
NOTE: Quick admin edit
…cooled down after “brexit”…I meant to say
BerlinLondon I think you have made some very good points about some of the thought behind her outfit. Plus we know that it is in general a style of “suit she likes”. There has been lot of discussion about her “suit”, and yes it is a jacket and skirt but to my eye it is much closer to a dress. Some might have preferred a different style of professional “dress” but it looked wonderful on her and did the job. I did love the museum directors dress, which is fabulous and maybe Kate will venture into that type of professional dress for more of her engagements over the years or maybe not:):)
According to the Telegraph: “…the main purpose of the Duchess’s visit was to promote an exhibition at the Mauritshuis museum in The Hague of Dutch paintings from the Royal Collection.”
For those who want more info, the full article can be found here: http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/2016/10/11/duchess-of-cambridge-meets-dutch-king-on-day-of-soft-diplomacy-o/
Sorry, I hate it. I hate the fit (pulling in places, seems baggy in others), I hate the color (baby blue reads, well, baby), I hate the presentation (wrinkly and bumpy), and I hate the elements of the suit (matchy oversized buttons, rounded collar, matchy wide belt, overdone peplum). Good earrings though! (I’m grappling for something good to say about this).
I am actually surprised nobody mentioned the belt haha, when I first saw the pics I thought to myself ‘ people are gonna say that belt is too wide’ and of course I knew the wrinkle comments were coming. pity that you could see her undergarments so much on the back, and it seemed like her bra is so low in the back!
I personally love the outfit, I understand the hairdo, she is there for a whole day of engagement, plus flying time… I would want my hair up and out of the way, and it looks so polished, i really love her hair up. I think the colour was lovely, reminds me of that Angelina Jolie suit that she wore when she met the queen.
I really like the belt also:)
I wish Kate had been in Ms. Gordenker’s outfit instead! Not a big fan of this look – the wrinkles and it is overall a bit matronly for reasons others have stated. But that other dress with the colour inside the sleeves was much more fun, but still professional looking. Though I wish it had a true boat neck rather than the square.
I’m surprised the opinions are so divided on this outfit, I thought it was really beautiful. It’s a style she particularly likes, and the blue color and pearl earrings fit the setting perfectly.
I have to disagree with those saying the chignon is aging. It isn’t dated like the short curls that little old ladies have, or puffy 80’s bangs, it’s just a neutral sort of hairstyle that looks nice without getting tangled. I admit I might be biased because I wear my hair in a low bun all the time, but no one thinks I’m older and I even get compliments from random people in the grocery store (even though my hair isn’t beautiful like Kate’s).
She does look a little bit older than usual in many of these pictures, but I don’t think it’s the hair or suit. It’s the tan. She looks normal in the brighter pictures, or in full sun, but the ones where you can see the fresh tan, it does add some age. In the end, of course, she still looks lovely, and I think the outfit is really nice.
I thought it was a lovely outfit too, and there are some fabrics where I think the wrinkles simply show how expensive it is — like silk or linen!
So true about fabric ElizaMo.
Agree, agree, agree about expensive fabric and it is totally acceptable.
If you look at the side by side photos provided above of this dress vs the red Spagnoli, the point made by many holds true. The updo adds years to her appearance. The photos are only a year apart, the dress profiles are nearly identical. The hairdos make all the difference.
Yes! That is an excellent comparison and I agree. I detest the updos.
I’m just gonna say that I love her hair…..
That’s one beautifully tailored suit, but such a shame about the fabric. Alas, there are some things you can only learn about a garment after you’ve sat in it for a one hour flight. I hope she didn’t catch sight of herself in a mirror before going on walkabout, it would be mortifying to carry off being regal once you’d suffered such a spate of wrinkles. Kudos to Kate
Is that a Peter Pan collar? In my book they’re usually rounded at the tips and these are pointed. It strikes me more as a fairly standard jacket collar. I love the way the neckline falls a little low at the throat and the collar tips are slightly exaggerated.
I’m also smitten by the peplum, with its pleats at the back giving fullness but avoiding unsightly bulk thanks to the soft fabric. The depth of the peplum also weights it and keeps it graceful. The seaming on the skirt, especially visible at the back when she leaned into the crowd, is fabulous and the overall fit of the suit is superb.
I have no argument with the nude accessories coming out again; I love all Kate’s Giovanni Rossi shoes, especially since they saved us from the Curse of the Sledges. The earrings are a delightful touch in the context of the iconic Vermeer . The updo is fabulous – do we see the return of the hair net here? – and one day I feel we must learn what product it may be that keeps that sleek shine on the crown and keeps those frizzy ends from unfurling.
My only regret on this post is that various parties attempted to foist politics onto a long-arranged visit as WKW is the place I come to escape such madness out there. At the same time I fully respect this page for placing Kate’s outings in their full context, this is not the fault of admin, but of meddling newspaper barons!
Although no one has mentioned this, I feel the pulling and wrinkling of this suit comes down to the fact that it’s just to small/tight on her. When she sat on the plane or as she walked about the material was forced to stretch to accommodate her movement and she was left with a bunch of wrinkles which are still in place even when she is standing still. That would also explain why there seems to be that strange appearance of undergarments pushing through the back of the jacket. I’m not a seamstress and I have no idea what sort of fabric this suit is made of, but I think the problem is more in the fit than the material. Which leaves me to wonder, time and again, how Kate with her eye for detail, her own unique sense of style ( and yes she does have great style), and all of the resources available to her because of her position, why, why, why :-/ does she have these issues with her clothes. I can get pass the endless nude accessories. I can get along with the odd off season choices of color in her clothes, I have even gotten to like the ever present Nina clutch, but in the rarified world in which the duchess lives, where perfection is not an option but a given how can she have one problem after another with the basic fit of her clothes. Sometimes she almost there but then there is very often just something not right, the waist, neckline, hem… I like her fashion choices for the most part. I understand she has to work with her body type, tall, thin, long waisted but as most of us out here in WKW Land might buy our clothes off the rack at the local store or mall we expect the clothes we wear to fit properly. All without the help of stylists and staff and access to couture fashion labels. Well. I rarely post here although I do follow WKW daily and read and enjoy all the other posts. This will probably be edited down by Admin. because of its length. Thank you
Interesting; I also thought the suit was about 1/2 size too small. Though the overall look was quite lovely. I liked the cuffs on the sleeves – nice detail. The color, style of suit, hair, accessories (I don’t mind the neutral color shoes) were on target.
Interesting. The suit does not look too small at all to me:) Any skirt in that style will pull when you take strides.The only odd tailoring issue I saw was that the lining in the jacket sleeves seemed to be too long. The seaming was wonderful and the matching of the jacket seams to the skirt was very well done.
You make some excellent points. Given that Kate’s clothes are for the most part very expensive and given her access to designers and stylists, you’d think something as basic as a “good fit” would be a no brainer.
Post more often Becka, you make good sense.
What a wonderful lively contribution, Becka, great to hear from you! I can hear your frustration with all the fashion mishaps and agree it can all be very difficult for fashion watchers.
You’ll probably think me very dull but I’m inclined to the view that maybe Kate is only human and her idiosyncrasies are part of the attraction for me. I can’t imagine how a relatively normal young woman can cope with the extraordinary position she finds herself in. The amount of scrutiny she comes under is unimaginable, every second of her timeout meeting the public is recorded in scores of photos so every tiny detail will be much exaggerated. We don’t know how much less obvious some of the apparent flaws might look if we were seeing her first hand.
Also I’m not so sure she has that many people looking out for her style, I can see Hollywood A-listers having larger forces on hand for the red carpet than Kate’s plucky little band of relative amateurs and buddies. I can also imagine her time being pretty well accounted for and that she may not have as much time as she might like for sorting through the endless demand for smart outfits.
We’ve seen various of Kate’s outfits look as if they don’t fit on occasion and with pulls and wrinkles around the bodice, so I continue to wonder if maybe she adds extra layers for warmth at times. The red Mcqueen she wore on the boat all day for the Queen’s Pageant fitted more smoothly when it came out again for the Buckingham Palace reception.
Dear Susan,
If you have a look at Kate bending to shake hands in the DM article you cill clearly see the stitchings at the top of the skirt which are again very much in keeping with the L Spagnoli dress later transformed to a skirt to add length.
Again, thank you for this much enjoyable post…
Kind regards
Sophie
PS- sorry to say that in my very humble opinion, the combination of the suit with this chignon/bun is really ageing her …
Beautiful. Just lovely and so elegant.
Really love the color. Fresh and pretty.
Also something to consider, please, who among us could pass the detailed visual examination of close up photos transmitted via illuminated screens, etc.
Isn’t the better question how it appears in person or photos that she knows are being taken. And after travelling.
And could we please not have close up or e.g. ‘Outline of her undergarments’ photos distributed? Really? Please have some respect.
If there is any lesson that her deportment in public – and by all accounts in private too – provides, it is Dignity.
Let’s all agree on supporting her in kind. She does us.
Omt
If you notice in the interior gallery shot, her suit complements rather than overwhelms or competes with the art and its installation. That is her genius consistently from what we see. She easily could dominate every setting. But she instead defers to her hosts’ environment. That’s grace.
I very much agree with and like your comments, as well several other posts here. Getting hung-up on wrinkles seems petty. Kate looks elegant, polished and dignified. We need to remember the roles that the Royal Family are out in public to perform. When they were in Canada recently, that was to continue the strong association with Canada as a member of the Commonwealth and to forge a better relationship with the First Nations people. In addition bringing Prince George and Princess Charlotte establishes a bond to Canada for those children, and continues a future connection between the Crown and Canada. Kate’s trip to Holland continues a long historical connection between England and Holland–for example:the Spanish Armada when 2 little Protestant countries stood against the attempted attack of the Armada; then there was William and Mary as the monarchs after James II was sent into exile. Clothes have a role to play, but they are not the end all and be all of the Royal family’s job.
When it comes to the choice of the color of the suit, I would add, that it compliments and does not clash with the Dutch national color–orange. The Dutch love to use their national color anywhere and everywhere they can. Suggestions were made that other suit colors, like plum, would have looked great but they would not have harmonized so well with the orange. Kate stood out in the color, but did not overwhelm, and as was mentioned she meshed nicely with King Willem.
I must say that I am getting tired of reading about the continual complaints of her wearing nude colored shoes and purses. That is entirely fashionable to do so–wearing neutral accessories is always appropriate. Sophie the Countess of Wessex wears her nude heels almost all the time and no one seems to criticize her. Another factor here is that when one finds shoes that are comfortable to stand in for hours you choose to keep wearing them. Anyone who has ever had a job where they stand or walk for hours, but are in public all the time, cannot lean on walls or railings or doors, and must be pleasant, smiling, and helpful to the public, will know what I mean. I have just such a job!
It is great fun to look at the clothes and find out the designer labels and to happily read this blog, and I am amazed at the amount of work that is done here! But sometimes the comments from posters are just too negative and nit picky for my liking. And yes I do stop reading them and just read the blog!
Diane and Mary,
You sum up my feelings exactly. I love the site because there are good pictures but more importantly the admin provides context about the events. Over and over again I have been impressed how the Duchess dresses for her audience and event. And I feel she often dresses so people can see her but she doesn’t want to overwhelm others.
I too often read the post and skip the comments,
I was honestly shocked to read all the negative comments. I think she looks absolutely amazing (wrinkles aside).
The color of the suit may not be fall, but it matches the blue in the Girl with the Pearl Earring painting perfectly.
Her hair is gorgeous–feminine and respectful. Why is there such a dread of looking older? Maybe she wanted to look older and more professional because this could well have been her most intimidating engagement yet. (Although I personally don’t see how a beautiful chignon makes one look older than thirty-five….in past centuries women “put their hair up” when they turned eighteen.)
The nude shoes are a sophisticated, on trend look. They allow the suit to be the centerpiece, in addition to being a very sexy look since they lengthen her legs due to the perfect match with her skin tone. Various style blogs I have read (specifically Bridget Raes) teach that a shoe that matches your skin tone is the perfect accessory. I think that navy shoes with this suit would look very dated.
I don’t often post, but I had to do my part to counter all the negative comments about what is a beautiful, well-thought out ensemble.
I thought this was a stand-out look for Kate — one of her best. I imagine we may see it again in a less crumpled state.
I completely agree about the shoes! Fashion blogs and magazines are still pushing nude heels for they’re leg-lengthening benefits and ability to go with everything, but every time Duchess Catherine wears them, everyone complains! And yes! Navy shoes with a light blue suit – if she’d actually done that, so many would have said the look screamed 80s.
I’m not seeing the color matching. The blue headdress in “Girl With A Pearl Earring” is more of a cerulean shade. Maybe the problem is my computer monitor, but Kate’s suit doesn’t look blue to me at all — it looks lilac.
@Jamie
As someone who is older myself, I don’t understand the dread of looking older either. I guess most commenters here are younger but you will get there sooner than you think lol. It just comes across like it is seen as such a horrible thing.
Kate dresses very “young” in her casual clothing but she appears to be going for a more formal and professional look for these occasions. Especially her first solo trip abroad. I think it’s perfectly appropriate.
I love your comment about the “dread of looking older.” I totally agree! I think she looks professional, poised, and lovely. She’s dressed like an adult.
It’s laughable, imagine this outfit on the Queen or the Duchess of Cornwall…no way! Maybe certain features (like the cloth covered buttons) but not the outfit as a whole. The outfit may not be to someone’s personal taste, and it may not be the most chic or on-trend choice (who cares!), but she is certainly appropriately dressed for someone in her age and position.
While I think the color is beautiful, I feel like the color is wearing the Duchess and doesn’t suit her skin tone. When comparing the side by side photos with the red suit, my eyes are drawn to Kate’s face in the red outfit but all I see is the blue suit. I feel this color on her makes you see the suit, not her. However, she looks classy and appropriate as always. I would also love to see her mix up her shoes even a little, something like this d’Orsay pump would be perfect for her. https://www.jcrew.com/womens_category/shoes/pumpsandheels/PRDOVR~E0795/E0795.jsp?color_name=ASHEN%20BROWN&styles=E0795-BR6440
I know the Duchess likes her high heels. But, I am in a profession in which business suits are still the norm, and while I would wear heels with a suit, I would never, ever wear stilettos with a suit. It is thought to make the look much less professional. So while the look isn’t bad for a Duchess going to an art gallery, the stilettos with business suit jumps out as odd nonetheless. In other words, the heel is just too skinny.
But this is not quite the standard business suit and she is not working as a typical professional, accountant, attorney etc. I think the shoe style works well.
I agree! She can get away with it; a stiletto just still looks odder with any kind of suit than with a dress.
One thing to think about regarding her color choice is Vermeer’s well-known use of blue. Can’t help but think that it was deliberate on her part.
http://www.essentialvermeer.com/palette/palette_ultramarine.html#.V_4279ArLnA
Also, as to color – keep in mind that she needs to be seen. She seems to be following after the Queen in her choice of bright colors.
I think she looked lovely! Polished and elegant. Okay, there were wrinkles. Big deal. I see the point others were making, and hopefully her stylist will read this blog and learn something. But to me, everything about her looked regal and human – wrinkles and all.
I love your comment! Fashion problems happen. The Duchess is a human being and not everything she wears is going to be perfect. The color is beautiful on her and the accessories don’t overwhelm her or the outfit. I am sure what everyone in the Netherlands saw is a polished and elegant young woman who expressed great happiness in everyone she met. And probably some of them noticed the thoughtful gesture of wearing pearl earrings in homage to Vermeer.
Completely agree that the wrinkles are no big deal. Whenever Kate wears a tailored suit/coat/dress, there are negative comments about its fit. Realistically, I wouldn’t expect tailored clothes not to pull, pucker, or wrinkle unless they are magic. She is bending, reaching, sitting, walking, no piece of clothing is going to look perfect in every photo even if it’s been finely tailored.
Oh what a lovely thread to find — a group of us who can live with a few creases, especially when Kate is looking so lovely!
Well she is so pretty that anything looks decent on her. I wish she had chosen a suit in a different color though. It’s October! There is a picture from Pippa’s book tour all those years ago and she is in a dark purply/plum dress with black patent heels and her black Modalu handbag. Simple yet stunning. This suit in plum with black accessories would have been so pretty! Darker fabric might not have shown wrinkles as much either. (I also love the black belt and buttons on the Spagnoli vs the colored ones on this suit).
I also feel a slightly different up do would have looked less matronly. That jacket has so much going on a simple bun might have looked nice.
I always love to see a new outfit though! And still major props to her for walking all day in those heels!
I think she looks lovely. Despite the season, I think the color was a nice choice for the occasion and her accessories paired well enough. Her hairstyle was polished, but certainly the most matronly aspect of the look. One thing that strikes me though is just how many comments there are about the wrinkles. It is obviously a natural fiber fabric and even ones that are underlined and lined, as a high-end garment would be, are prone to some wrinkling. The way to avoid wrinkles altogether is to wear polyester, which is typically considered lower-quality, compared to wool or silk.
This, too, is a terminology post, not a criticism of any specific post or person.
Kate’s fashion choices are often referred to as “matronly” which always sounds off key to me, and a bit, well, sexist.
The primary definition of matron is a married woman, usually a mother, of dignity and social position. That’s exactly who Kate is. It has a secondary definition, which is pejorative, meaning middle-aged/unfashionable/overweight. The second definition seems to be the one used here, minus overweight.
I think Kate looks gorgeous in this blue suit, despite the wrinkles. It’s a tailored, crisp, classic, and grown up look, for an almost 35 year old duchess on an official trip to The Netherlands.
I think it’s fashion forward to wear versions of timeless, classic fashion. One of the things she does best is to mix the timeless and the casual — the beautiful blue outfit she wore to arrive in Canada, and then the cream blazer, top and jeans later on.
Maybe the best example of what I’m trying to say is the Kate Spade dress she wore. The colors were lovely for her, but she chose a label mostly popular with much younger women, and it showed. Even if it was on trend, the trend didn’t work for her. There’s a difference between fashion and style. Kate’s at her best when she combines the two.Fashion is fleeting but style is timeless, and Kate knows her style.
(Except for those prissy clutches.) An outfit may “age” her, but a matron she is.
Couldn’t agree more. There is a huge difference between “Matronly” and “Classic”. The Duchess is never going to, nor should she, wear anything other than classic pieces for engagements of this nature.
Well said! I think we are so bombarded with badly dressed people trying desperately to look half their age (and showing as much skin as possible) that our collective sense of style has been somewhat warped. Kate, by definition, looks her age, as do we all. As for the being “too tightly buttoned up,” I have two responses:
1) Kate is constantly bending over to speak to people. She clearly doesn’t want to risk her top flopping open with the resulting camera phone picture of her breasts showing up in every tabloid!
2) I suspect Kate might be a cold person. I know I am one. I am very rarely without at sweater or jacket. If she gets cold easily then she logically will dress to stay warm. Even in summer, city streets with sky scrapers can be windy and cold,
I have to disagree with you on your definition of “matronly” – I’ve never heard of it being used in that way, and certainly never to suggest weight. I believe that when people use the word to refer to Kate, it is referencing how aging her clothes and hair sometimes are.
This outfit and hairstyle would be appropriate on Carole Middleton, thus making it “matronly” on Kate. Just my two cents.
The Oxford English dictionary online defines matronly as “Characteristic of an older married woman, especially in being staid or rather fat. I don’t think the Duchess is either.
Gorgeous suit! The color is fantastic on her and the peplum gives her a few more curves than she actually has—this is a silhouette that is perfect for her shape. For once, I don’t really mind the collar as I feel she needs to be a little more “buttoned up” for an engagement such as this. As for the wrinkles, it is really hard to dress for business travel unless you do it all the time, which the duchess doesn’t. There is nothing like a commercial flight to ruin a gorgeous outfit. I think her hair was fantastic and I emphatically disagree with those who say it is matronly or aging. Makeup and smile were lovely.
The only quibble I have is that she should have worn some other color clutch and shoes—I was thinking a lovely grey suede would have been good with this outfit and fall season.
It’s not just the wrinkles in the skirt, but also the lining. In several pictures, it looks as if the lining isn’t lying smoothly, but instead pulling at the skirt fabric, especially in the back of the skirt. Which is odd for a custom-made piece.
Love this colour on the Duchess. A quick google of ‘Kate Middleton pastel blue’ reminds me how often she has worn it. One of my favourite looks was the cool blue Alexander McQueen coat dress, I think worn to the Easter service during the 2014 tour (https://whatkatewore.com/2014/04/19/its-alexander-mcqueen-for-easter-in-australia/ – technically, as you say, ‘dove grey’, but with cool blue tones in it).
I think the style of this outfit is stunning, but I think the execution is boring and ages her.
In another colour or pattern (perhaps a solid colour for one piece, matched with a pattern in the other piece), this would have been a real hit for me. In this blue, I find it very “meh”.
I didn’t even notice the wrinkles or areas of poor fitting until others commented on them. I was too busy rolling my eyes in frustration. I don’t know anything about fabric and what would have worked better, but given that the first thing I want to do after a flight is shower and change my clothes, she did well to look as fresh as she did – her hair and make-up obviously fared better than her outfit!
I feel the hair was far too formal for the event. I believe it was designed to allow easy viewing of the earrings (gorgeous), but a beautiful braid or more modern upstyle would have achieved the same, with a more youthful outcome.
Not a failure, but lacking pizzazz and dynamism, I feel.
You mention that Kate looked fresh after her flight. The flight was one hour long. That is not any kind of an ordeal, even flying on a commercial airline, as she did.
You summed up my feelings EXACTLY!
As someone else commented, this suit in a dark plum or burgundy would have been so much netter for October.
And an updo was far, far too formal for these events. You know something is wrong when her hair looks the same for a board meeting as it did for a white-tie state dinner!
I think it’s a beautiful suit on Kate and I like the colour a,though I agree the wrinkles should not be there on a suit of this calibre. I like her shoes, unlike some, I think navy or a darker couour would have been aging and I think the suede of these elevates them.
I do wish she would use a proper handbag – this tiny clutch looks daft with a grown up suit. A beautiful, classic Dior bag or something would look wonderful and surely if she has been on a plane, she could find something to put in a proper bag!
I like her hair up. She doesn’t look old but she is a grown up.
I’m in the minority with my opinion as this may be one of my least favorite outfits Kate has EVER worn. I am not a fan of the collar or the buttons on this outfit and I think it’s so matronly and boring. I think the peplum is a great look for Kate as it gives her nice curves and accentuates her gorgeous figure, but too many elements in this outfit are just so unattractive to me. I also do not like the way this updo looks with this outfit and I think it ages her 15 years! I do understand the need for a very professional and polished look for this type of visit, but I just fine this whole look so unattractive. Her skin and makeup do look amazing though, and I wonder what her skincare routine is?? Does anyone know what she uses?? I know I have read she wears Bobbi Brown makeup, but I’d love to know her skincare secrets!!
Same. I cannot believe how many people like this updo!! On someone so young, for daytime engagements. Just all wrong.
I think the problem lies mostly with the fact that she looks as though she traveled in this outfit. Some of the issues (wrinkling, lining being exposed, poor fit) could have stemmed from the flight or been magnified by it. While a quality garment shouldn’t wrinkle, I think many quality garments would succumb after sitting in a car on the way to the airport, waiting for the plane, sitting on the plane, and then driving to the day’s engagements. I think this suit has great potential and I hope she wears it again so we can see it at its best.
I love her hair. I do not see the matronly hair net which so pleases me.
The earrings are a clever touch.
Perhaps she will style the suit with different accessories in the future, but I won’t hold my breath. These are neither intriguing nor terrible, just safe, which is predictably Kate.
Princess Madeleine of Sweden wearing the same Roksanda dress in pale pink http://kungligamodebloggen.svenskdam.se/madeleines-rosa-klanning/
I think Kate looks beautiful and so very appropriate for the occasion. I love the design and the colour of the suit. Her hair looks elegant and fabulous and the earrings are an apt gesture too. Lovely! Only problem I have is with the shoes and clutch. Firstly, I am bored of these accessories and secondly I just don’t think they go with the outfit. I think perhaps even grey shoes and clutch would have looked good with this.
Very nice. Lovely colour. Suit is formal as this is a business tour. Good choice. Like the belt. Hair lovely as it suits her better.
The wrinkles are a distraction but this outfit FITS the Duchesses’ figure and body. Therefore, she looks wonderful in it despite what one may think of how she or her people styled it. The Kate Spade dress yesterday did not fit. How is it that something as basic as fit is being ignored by her team?
I would respond, how is something as basic as a member of her team having a steamer on hand ignored by them?
Yes, that too.
It was a very nice look and nice day
I´m still thinking that had she worn her aubergine shoes and clutch, the look would have looked better 😀
A classic look on Kate–it reminded me a little of the Jenny Packham she exited the plane wearing in Canada (minus the peplum). I think I would have preferred that dress for today but it was probably too soon after just wearing it. I really like her chignon!
She looks lovely but this whole look is very reminiscent of what Angelina Jolie wore to meet the queen, right down to the hair.
I loved this look. I thought the color was very pretty and I loved all of the details. I understand where some think it looked a bit staid, but it still fell in the “classic” category for me.
As others have said, I too found the wrinkles from travel unfortunate. I suppose Kate chose a straight skirt because it looked more “businessy” – which it does. But this is one occasion where her favored fit-and-flare silhouette might have served her better. A looser skirt would have lain smooth over her lap on the flight and not shown so many creases during her day.
I love the suit, wrinkling aside. Really like the lavender/light blue shade, and I think the peplum is cute. Also like the strategically placed belt that doesn’t hide the Duchess’s actual waist area (unlike yesterday’s faux-Empire waist look). She’s long-waisted — might as well embrace it with neat belts and nicely fitted clothes.
BUT … I really am starting to hate the “praline” Rossi pumps. I think their overly pointy shape makes the Duchess’s feet look big and gives her a rather severe look. The slightly brownish color means she always wears a tanner, thicker hose with these shoes. Once the world marveled at Kate’s ability to wear sheer hose without the dreaded grandma tan. No more — her photos now often have that exact grandma tan.
Also, pastels and earth toned shoes … no. She obviously puts so much care into her appearance that it boggles the mind that no one’s told her … “You need better shoes.”
Yes, I don’t like the switch to the darker less sheer stockings to match the shoes either. The first time she wore them, I thought she was wearing support hose for some medical reason, then I made the connection to the shoes.
As always, the Duchess looks lovely and elegant. Her hair and selection of earrings are flawless. I hate to be negative, but I agree with others about the suit’s fit and quality. When the Duchess opts for a bespoke suit, one should not see the the lining of the sleeves slipping to the outside or the puckering and pulling of the fabric. While I really like the look for this occasion, I would have expected the garment to meet the Duchess’ high standards. I do think, too, navy or even black shoes and bag would have been a better choice.
I actually like the look overall. It may seem a little old for her but this is quite a major event and so I would imagine she would be expected to dress formally.
My only quibble would be that I think navy accessories would look better. I can’t think now but she must have navy shoes and a clutch?
On the subject of the clutch, I know a few commenters have speculated that it’s to give her hands something to do. The thing is that recently, and especially in today’s pictures, I think it just makes her look more nervous. This really is a criticism of the bag and not of Kate but because it’s such a tiny little thing, when she stands clutching it in front of her she looks a bit huddled up and uncomfortable.
Love the color of this suit, love her hair. Everything else gets a big yawn from me. I feel like she is quickly veering from classic to boring.
I agree. This outfit is borderline boring. She seems to look great in the cream/white palette but the blue colour here just seems too washed out for her.
Wrinkled, ill-fitting, same shoes and clutch, and poor posture is accented again with the odd cut of the shoulder.
Maybe she is just worn out with all the travelling in Canada and back and now another event. There doesn’t seem to be much imagination since her arrival and departure on/off the plane in BC! Those I think were her best looks lately.
“Poor posture?” It actually looks like she’s wearing a back brace to help relieve any cramping, so her posture is actually perfect because she can’t bend well (you can see it in the video.) When she is walking her posture is perfect. It is perfectly acceptable to slope your shoulders a little and lean forward when examining a piece of art or antiquity. I have stopped critiquing her posture as she has become quite well at keeping her back straight with her bum tucked in and shoulder tucked back (proper posture), although whatever she is wearing underneath seems to be impeding tucking her shoulders back a little. Plus, it is exhausting to talk about as even I am guilty of slouching my shoulders.
I still think there was something wrong with the cut of the fabric at the shoulders. She seemed to have the same sort of ill fit in Victoria…I recall she was tugging at the fabric on her right shoulder then.
Agreed – the periwinkle color is pretty, and Kate’s hair looks beautiful. The suit jacket is off somehow, in that the peter pan collar does look matronly/old lady in conjunction with the large buttons. Smaller pearl or metallic buttons would have looked nice. Navy shoes and bag probably would have given the outfit more of a pop.
I really, really do not understand how Kate walks so easily and stands in heels that high (especially without a platform) for prolonged periods of time. I don’t think I have seen Kate trip or stumble, even once. The only thing that happened with one of her shoes was when the heel got stuck in that gate in Ireland. Perhaps she practices, or designers have casts of her feet so that shoes fit her exactly right, or both? As someone commented on a Canada tour post, her shoes always seems to fit perfectly with no spacing or anything.
This outfit is kind of hit and miss for me. On the one hand I really do think th e shape is quite flattering for Catherine as I would classify her as a “straight” body type and I find the oversized collar and belted peplum add curves in the desired places.
As for the color I do like it on her and it did coordinate nicely with the tie of the King, however, it did seem slightly out of season. I also, simply prefer her in jewel tones so kind of think she should just stick to what works.
The things I disliked were the self covered oversized buttons which look both matronly and juvenile but mostly looks outdated (a la 1980s/90s).
Her undergarments also did not work with this outfit. I don’t think she looks quite supported enough if you know what I mean and the bust area looked quite bumpy in both the front and the back.
Finally, as for the wrinkles I find there is a learning curve to dressing for business travel and this is something she probably hasn’t had a ton of experience with. I feel as though an aid could have clued her in and / or found a steamer or some downy wrinkle release.
I was thinking the same thing about undergarments. Too many bumps showing, and a structured bra would have helped give the top the proper shape.
I like the suit and think she looks really lovely.
But the wrinkles, good grief! How disappointing to have a bespoke outfit and the first thing one’s eyes are drawn to is the wrinkles! I am often disappointed with her bespoke Catherine Walker’s..the two featured in the article are good examples of bespoke Catherine Walker’s that I viewed as major flops. That brown ensemble is on my short list of the Duchess’s worst looks ever.
I love her hair styled like this. She looks so polished and very appropriately dressed for the occasions (minus the wrinkles!).
While this is a professional and feminine look, the wrinkles really detract from what must be a quality item of clothing. A well established and respected design house like Catherine Walker, should have used a fabric that didn’t look so crumpled after a flight. In actual fact, flying from London to the Netherlands is just an hour. Business men and women would often fly much longer than that, to attend an out of country meeting and not have the opportunity to change clothing upon arrival. Perhaps a heavier lining was needed in both the jacket and the skirt.
I can’t help but think that the suit would have looked more anchored and enhanced with navy shoes and purse…perhaps a suitable navy purse for a business occasion. Sapphire or tanzanite earrings would also have looked good, although I can understand the nod to the “Girl with the Pearl Earring” painting. Once again, the accessories do not do, what the could do, for this outfit.
I read something on another site that cracked me up. It said, “The Nina clutch is seen so often, it really should have its own blog.”
Nude shoes and clutch AGAIN. Matronly updo AGAIN. Peter Pan-ish collar AGAIN. Blue AGAIN. Need I say more?
I’m with you! It is really disappointing.
I love this outfit as it shows her thoughtfulness of where she is going as well as her favorite art pieces. We can see that she has a fondness for “Girl With A Pearl Earring” by Johannes Vermeer and I certainly don’t blame her; it is a beautiful art piece. She thought about color and accessories thoughtfully with this piece in mind probably; we see the dusky blue in the scarf around the women’s head in the art piece in Kate’s suit and the pearls in both women’s earrings.
I, personally, am not fond of H-line skirts (today known as pencil skirts). I find them a little restricting, but some people pull them off beautifully like Kate. The peplum creates a beautiful interest on her. I would like to know what she is wearing underneath, as it does look like she is a wearing a shirt with heavy boning or possibly the skirt is a dress with heavy boning on top; possibly she is wearing a cincher to help give her back some support. All of the traveling she’s done these past few weeks can put a lot of pressure on the back.
Some commenters on FB have said they think she was wearing a bullet-proof vest underneath or some kind of back brace. It’s impossible to know, though.
I wouldn’t say it’s a bulletproof vest. It’s too thin. My dad has a few friends in the force and if you’ve ever seen a bulletproof vest, you would see they have straps and even the thinnest are quite dense and you entirely lose your shape. I’m thinking it’s a back brace; she’s been traveling quite a bit. Every time you go in the air, the pressure puts stress on the back. I’m sure it hurts even more from bending up and down from interacting with her children (my back hurts after my nephew goes home!) I’m sure the brace feels really good!
Bullet-proof vests are too huge and bulky — I totally agree with KateZena that that’s *not* what she’s wearing , not even a thin one! 🙂
Given how many times we see odd lumps and bumps under Kate’s tight-fitting jackets and the like I often wonder if the effect might not be the result of wearing an extra layer for warmth. Anything remotely thermal is unlikely to lie flat.
I love a gorgeous feminine suit too and this is one. I would think she wants to look polished and professional for this occasion and she foes
I meant she does of course-in my other comment.
And I think her hair looks gorgeous.
Pretty suit. It’s clearly a style that she favors and she looks nice. However, If I’d bought such an expensive suit and it creased like that, I’d be really annoyed!
I thought her hair and accessories were nice, if unremarkable.
I do think that she looks better in stronger colors; burgundy, purple, emerald green, red, navy, royal blue, etc. This suit would have flattered her more in any of those colors, rather than the pastel blue.
This skirt shape is very good on her – she’s so slim and it really accentuates her great figure and height.
I thought the Duchess looked beautiful today. I love her hair in an updo , and the suit looks fresh, polished and professional. The wrinkles should/could have been addressed with a small spray bottle of wrinkle releaser, which is readily available online or in stores like Target. I use Downy brand and it works quite well on a wide variety of fabrics. Someone mentioned the possibility of her wearing a bulletproof vest, and while I’m not convinced she is, it is apparent she IS wearing something bulky under her jacket. The color is smashing on the Duchess and I am almost certain that she took into account the palette and tone of the Dutch Masters and the rich surroundings of the museum. The softness of the blue against the paintings made her appear as if she’d almost stepped out of one of them. The only quibble I might have is that perhaps a small handbag would have been a bit more appropriate for a business engagement instead of her little clutch. My opinion might be in the minority but I thought wrinkles aside, that she looked lovely.
Beautiful suit on her. Her overall look lovely but have to agree the color of the shoes and bag was not quite right with this blue. I think the shoes could have even just been a darker shade of beige or tan and worked better. The fabric did wrinkle but I did not find it a distraction and looked like it hung out fairly quickly during the day. With working suits, men’s and women’s, I do not find the normal wrinkling from wearing an issue, just as with linen and many silk suits you accept the wrinkles. Her hair is gorgeous andI do not find it matronly. She might be able to wear a modified French Bun style as an alternative. I do not think wearing it down with this outfit and occasion would have worked. Maybe she should have worn it down and pulled it all the way to the back with two large hair combs anchoring for a softer but more polished look? Not sure. Overall I thought she looked very professional and appeared to hold herself and conduct herself in a polished way.
With Kate’s amazing figure, didn’t think this suit was as matronly as some others and the color was divine on her. Loved a close-up of the pearl earrings as those were my faves from Canada. I know we’re a bit tired of the nude accessories but think they worked well here.
I thought it was interesting that the museum rep wore nude pumps with her navy outfit which was clearly a miss – but she just couldn’t resist following in Kate’s footsteps!
I think the museum director’s shoes are mustard which match the visible lining of her sleeves. I thought it was understated but artsy at the same time. We all have different tastes though.
I never thought of that and of course you’re right. I missed that subtlety and thanks!
I really love the suit except for wrinkling, but I definitely think it needed darker accessories. Not sure if black or navy would be best. The light blue color of the suit does seem a little bit odd for fall as well. But it is a pretty suit. What is she wearing underneath the top? Very strange outline in the jacket in back.
Hair and earrings are lovely, elegant and professional. The wrinkles don’t bother me as much as the way the fabric pulls against her back (undergarments? camisole?). It makes her shoulder blades look too thin. Navy shoes would have elevated the look, along with the larger bag she used to carry on flights (Tod?). The suit looks very much like something Diana would have worn–timeless.
Not a peplum fan. It’s too eighties trying to be something it never will be… MODERN. Kate’s chignon is perfect. Even the jacket and it’s shade of blue ethereal and then my eyes drop to the skirt and my thoughts are the fussy stitching and all for what? To make the duchess shapeless from behind and creased at the front . I don’t care whether the jacket is on or off. The skirt is not doing for her what it should. Lovely shoes. Earrings perfect just that dratted skirt
The material causing all the wrinkles will be interesting to note. Very linen like behaviour tut tut
It’s fine, but I think this style combined with the updo makes her look a lot older than 34….
Closer to 64, IMO.
What has HAPPENED to her?! 🙁
Oh come on, she doesn’t look like she’s in her 60s.
The Peter Pan collar, the peplum, the large self-covered buttons…this is just too matronly an outfit, although rendered in a nice colour.
At some point, I hope Kate and her hairstylist consider different types of updos – this particular style with a bit of volume at the crown of the head and a heavy bun just above the nape of the neck is her go-to version for updos, but it ages her and is used too often. Given her enviable hair, it’s a shame she isn’t more adventurous with her hairstyles.
I thought I was the only one who thought she looked too old! If she’d had her hair half down, it still would have been professional, but would have let her youth shine through appropriately. The suit is gorgeous — the light periwinkle, the peplum, all of it, but it needed to be softened with younger style hair. In ten years she can dress like this, but not now.
Still, the updo is gorgeous, the suit is amazing, the color perfect for her, and the pearl earrings so spot on. She could have had more fun with shoe color/pattern, but we’ve had to all but give up the fight on that one …
I agree with you both, this updo is awful and so aging!
It would be so much softer and prettier, not to mention more youthful, for her to at least wear it half-up.
The updo immediately ruins any outfit for me. It is an appropriate hairstyle for someone her mother’s age attending a formal event, IMHO.
I wonder if Kate’s hair might be very heavy if piled all on top of her head, given how thick and long it is. It might be easier for her to cope with a lower bun like this. The low full style also has a vintage touch which is in keeping with several of her outfits.
Hello! I have a question. How come Kate did not curtsey to King Willem? I am just curious. Thank you for your time.
She’s not his subject.
Apparently she did. But the photos were taken of the handshake that came after the curtsey.
As Bonnie noted, Kate did curtsey. I haven’t licensed any photos showing it, but she did when first greeting him. 🙂
Such a nice ensemble for Kate’s first solo visit overseas! What struck me at first is how professional she looked, I don’t think I have ever felt this way about one of her outfits before, she looked ready for the boardroom really.
This suit is nicely cut and tailored. I particularly enjoyed the jacket, its collar, buttons and pleats. I can’t say much about the skirt, unfortunately, the wrinkles are highly distracting. The seams in the front remind me of the seaming on the red Luisa Spagnoli suit, which also has a peplum jacket, belt, buttons and a peter pan collar. Might this be a new signature style for the Duchess?
These earrings are lovely, really,and a funny tribute to pay to Vermeer. The hairdo is very professionnal and appropriate, but maybe too formal for my taste. The shoes and clutch, well, same old same old.
All in all, an elegant outfit, miles away from yesterday’s flowy & flowery pink number (which had a bit of a night-gown look about it). Looking forward to her next overseas assignment!
I’ve never been a fan of a skirt suit, or anything with a peplum, but I do prefer this to the others she has worn in the past. I think the large buttons and Peter Pan collar soften the look, so it doesn’t look quite so matronly. I also love her hair like this, it looks so elegant and shiny!
I will preface this by saying I am only commenting to discuss terminology, which I feel is very important when describing fashion. Here we go:
I disagree pretty strongly with your description of this collar. Peter Pan collars must be rounded, not pointed. And portrait collars generally show a great deal more of the neck, chest, and collarbone, very nearly describable as off-the-shoulder necklines. The Alexander McQueen maternity piece DID have an exaggerated Peter Pan collar, but this suit and your other example do not. I would simply call them pointed collars.
Thank you for the insight, it is appreciated. , I have adjusted some of the wording to reflect your input. 🙂
I think Kate looks lovely as always. I do particularly like this shade of blue, it almost looks lavender in some photos. I also think the earrings and updo was a smart choice. However, I am getting tired of the peplum design.
Kate kind of reminded me of Wallis Simpson with the hair and suit. It aged her a lot. But the suit is beautiful and will look better with different styling.
Ugh, this is a miss for me even more so than the Kate Spade floral dress. It is so, so matronly. I realize that this event was much more “professional” in nature so the suit separates were appropriate but I don’t think the color was right for the time of year and I find the jacket to be overly frilly. The material was also not flattering – in the jacket, it kind of looks like you can see the outlines of her undergarments. If she knew she was flying commercial and going to be in meetings all day, why would she choose an outfit that wrinkled?
I think a more appropriate choice would have been a DVF wrap dress with long sleeves and a collar, maybe in a solid color or muted print, which wouldn’t have wrinkled and would have still been professional. I also find it odd that she carried her tiny Nina clutch (which I love, don’t get me wrong!) with an outfit that is so obviously geared for business and not fun. Maybe it’s a royal thing, maybe it’s because she doesn’t actually need to carry a purse, but a clutch is just such a peculiar choice to me.
Catherine really has this look perfected and I find myself drawn to the same adjectives time and again….elegant, ladylike, polished, lovely…
I dread the quibbles I know Catherine’s outfit will generate….the nude shoes/clutch (again), jewelry, she looks too old, something about her hair, etc. And while I wouldn’t mind an accent color on the shoe and clutch, I find such complaints almost silly, looking at this beautiful young wife and mother representing her country so well.
Except that this is a forum to discuss Kate’s fashion choices. I believe this community does a good job of not making it personal. I don’t know Kate. She could be an angel or a nightmare, who knows? The realist in me thinks she is just a regular person doing a non regular job and, doing a very good job it!
Kate has the opportunity to wear, and be photographed in, many designers and outfits that most of us don’t have access to. I enjoy fashion and I enjoy discussing and learning more. If every post was an uncritical Kate love fest, this forum would get very boring. Again, we are not talking about “Kate.” We are talking about fashion.
Thanks Maggie. Usually, I try to explain when I see comments like this but didn’t have the energy today 🙂
I don’t mind valid criticisms and other have made them myself.
I am tired of the SAME criticisms over and over. (As you can see by the comments, because they were all pointed out). Clearly, Catherine likes her nude shoes, her updos, colors, etc. This is her “uniform” so to speak.
I’m with you: elegant, ladylike, polished, lovely. Plus dignified, even with some wrinkles.
When she dresses this way, she reminds me of First Lady Jackie Kennedy, who was also in her early thirties when JFK was president, and the epitome of fashion and style.
In the early 2000s, I saw an exhibition of Jackie Kennedy’s clothing in Chicago. I purchased the exhibition catalog and yesterday pulled it off my bookshelf after seeing Kate in her Catherine Walker suit. Very reminiscent of Mrs. Kennedy’s style.
Well said. The quibbling is tiresome.
Aside from the fact that the fabric wrinkled quite a bit – I thought the suit was lovely. Kate looked beautiful with her hair up and those lovely earrings borrowed from the Queen. The shoes and clutch were safe and uninspired and do not allow the outfit to really make the statement that it could. Kate either does not wish to elevate her fashion, or does not quite have the confidence yet to do so. That is not said as a criticism, ladies, just an observation. She has such a huge task, married to William, representing the Country, adjusting to Royal life – without a doubt, she is doing a wonderful job. Last thought – looks like she is hitting that darn tanning bed again!! Have a lovely evening, everyone.
I noticed the tan, too! I thought, how could she be so tan after spending a fall week in Canada?
Love the colour, love the style, but am unimpressed by the wrinkles. Whatever the fabric is, the designers at CW should have known better and made this suit out of something that wouldn’t wrinkle so terribly. The only conclusion I can come to is that they did not know where Kate would be wearing it. I appreciate Kate’s habit of buying stuff and then putting it away for later, but when you know you will be sitting on a commercial flight and then will be walking around with a pack of photographers, allow those with the expertise (CW staff) to help you choose an appropriate outfit!
My only other comment is to wonder if Kate is wearing some sort of padded or bullet proof vest under the jacket. If you look at the close up of the back in the photo where she is studying the Goldfinch painting, you can clearly see the outline of something under her jacket, including what looks like a Velcro strap on the lower left side.
I wondered the exact same thing about a possible vest underneath! It’s very visible and has not been in any other ensemble.
I was wondering the same thing about the outline in the back. It could be just the lighting and the fabric that is creating the effect, but it definitely looks like she has a padded vest under the jacket.
Oh my goodness! I see that! What is it? It does look as if she is wearing something bulky underneath.
I love a gorgeous, feminine suit and this CW certainly fits the bill. Between the exquisite periwinkle color and the fabulous details, it is a lovely addition to the duchess’s wardrobe. The wrinkling is unfortunate and does take away from the impeccable design. She must have been a mess by the time she got on her flight home.
Can’t say I’m fond of her updo. It looks fussy from the back with all the convoluted twists and over lapping. I wish her stylist could do something clean, sleek and simple.
The pearl earrings were brilliant.
Beautiful, polished, regal, and youthful with an appropriate level of gravitas. Well done!
Can I ask you a genuine question? (I am not being snarky at all!) But am truly wondering: what is it about this outfit that you find youthful? I think it is so aging but would like to hear why others think differently 🙂
I find the cut youthful – I am a professional woman who is same age as Kate and would wear a suit that cut in a heartbeat. Mind you, I do work in a conservative profession (law). Its very classic yet contemporary. I do find that her updos can look quite dated but this one is simpler than most of hers and I think it looks great with the outfit.
Thank you! I see what you mean.
Sigh. Ladies, this is why you give garments the crush test. Crumple up a corner of a skirt or dress in your hand and let it go. A nicely made fabric will spring back into shape; a wrinkle probe fabric will crush.
It was a nice look in theory, and I loved her hair with the pearl earrings. How sweet of HM to lend/gift them.
My mother taught me the crush test at an early age. Its too bad this outfit wasn’t given the test. I too think jewel tones are more appropriate this time of year. The suits color screams spring to me. I love her hair. I am not a fan of the long curls for more formal occasions. And the nude purse and shoes are also a miss for this time of year. The purse seems like an evening purse to me.
A similar look to her Red Luisa Spagnoli suit. She knows what suits her!
I really like this outfit, thought part of it might be my own personal bias for more structured/tailored looks in my clothing. The color looks amazing on the Duchess, and the loaned earring from the Queen is a lovely add touch. Unfortunately, the one drawback is again the nude heels and clutch. If she would have only paired this outfit with navy heels and clutch, it would have add just a slight pop of color to take this outfit from great to amazing without stepping out her comfort zone all that much. Plus, the navy accessories would have played very nicely with her sapphire engagement ring.
I agree!! I thought about navy as soon as I saw the photos.
Her color decisions, to me at least, rely often on her hosts’ choices. The Director wore navy. Had she also it may have competed. There appears to be deliberate effort and planning in selecting color for her appearances. That must be exhausting for the team! Diplomacy in action.
Is it just coincidence that the suit color is so similar in hue to the tie the King (a fellow royal) wore?
And we feel the ‘gravitas’ of the suit which has been mentioned is also deliberate, in relation to the historicism of the Museum. Brilliant.
I thought the navy would have also brought the light blue shade into a more fall appropriate look.