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A New Erdem Dress for The Duchess at Heads Together Event

Posted by admin 
· January 17, 2017 
· 107 Comments

Kate opted for a new dress by Erdem for today’s Heads Together engagement.Kate Middleton Erdem

The event was at London’s Institute of Contemporary Arts. From Simon Perry’s People story:

At a briefing at London’s Institute of Contemporary Arts on Tuesday, the royal trio outlined their plans and hopes for Heads Together, the foundation of their campaign to shine a light on mental health issues.

©ROTA / i-Images / Polaris

More from Heads Together:

The Duke and Duchess of Cambridge and Prince Harry today kicked off the next phase of Heads Together as the campaign intensifies its efforts to create millions of conversations around mental health in 2017.

Heads Together is the London Marathon Charity of the Year; the organization is fielding a team of more than 500 runners in the April 23rd race.  Below, the Duke and Duchess with Prince Harry and two Heads Together runners.Kensington Palace

Adele Roberts of BBC Radio shared this photo of Kate speaking with Channel 5 news presenter Sian Williams. Both Ms. Roberts and Ms. Williams plan to run the Marathon.Adele Roberts, BBC Radio @AdeleRoberts

From Heads Together:

As the Charity of the Year for the 2017 Virgin Money London Marathon, we want to focus on tackling stigma and changing the conversation on mental health. We want 2017 to be the year of the mental health marathon! To help get the country talking about mental health Their Royal Highnesses are opening up the Heads Together campaign to organisations to become supporters.

All three royals took to the podium at today’s function.Heads Together @Heads_Together

From The Evening Standard’s story:

Prince William, the Duchess of Cambridge and Prince Harry today united to stop people suffering in silence and urge everyone to talk about their mental health.

They called on people not to “keep quiet and carry on” – but to open up to a friend or family member about the mental challenges they face.

The royal trio spoke out about the Heads Together campaign at a briefing just metres from the Virgin Money London Marathon finish line.

Kensington Palace / @KensingtonRoyal

Here is Kate delivering her remarks.

Long and very accomplished speech by Kate today on mental health @heads_together pic.twitter.com/ASsHkzrfgU

— Victoria Murphy (@QueenVicMirror) January 17, 2017

Back to the People story:

The marathon marks the one-year anniversary of Heads Together, and it will cap a series of events designed to foster open discussions about mental health and diminish any stigma associated with it.Heads Together Twitter @Heads_Together

 

Richard Palmer reports the Duke and Duchess, as well as Prince Harry, hoped to run in the Marathon and explains why they are not taking part in the race.

The royal trio would have liked to compete but it was ruled out on the grounds that policing the 26-mile course through the capital would be a security nightmare.

Another facet of the Heads Together campaign is an upcoming documentary on mental health that will air on the BBC in the run-up to the Marathon. Prince Harry, The Duchess, and the Duke are all taking part in the production. More from People:

The royal trio are set to take part in a documentary for the BBC leading up to the London Marathon in April, according to reports Friday.

The royals are working with presenter Nick Knowles, who told The Sun, “I’m working on a mental health documentary with the young royals, which should come out around the time of the marathon

Now to what Kate wore for today’s engagement.Kate Middleton Erdem Evita

The Duchess was in the ‘Evita’ dress from Erdem’s prefall 2016 collection. We show it below as it looked when in stock at Forward.Forward / James Whatling

The dress is a classic sheath silhouette, with a fitted bodice and waist, concealed zipper and vent at the back hem.Kate Middleton Duchess Cambridge Erdem Evita

The material makes the piece; it is matelassé, providing a textured background that adds dimension while also serving as the perfect backdrop for the multicolored flowers sprayed across the garment.©Butterworth / Splash News

The fiber content of the dress is 87% polyester / 13% polyamide; that second textile is used in a substantial amount of athletic wear, it has the wicking characteristic that keeps moisture away from the skin. The dress is lined in 100% silk, and it was made in Portugal. Here is a closer look at the material.©Stephen Lock/i-Images/Polaris

Erdem describes the print as Black Lily Collage. Forward also refers to the fabric as black, but Net-a-Porter describes it as navy. Hmmmm; I shall email for clarification to see if the piece really came in two colors or if perhaps there was a typo or miscommunication. Originally priced at $1876, the dress most recently sold for $713.

Here is a bit of Erdem’s description of his pre-fall collection:

ERDEM’s Pre-Fall 2016 woman is sitting for a portrait. She is a woman who belongs to many periods. What she brings of herself to the canvas is a beguiling strength and a rogue complexity, at contrast with the fragile prettiness of her picture. But it’s in the attitude of how she wears it (and what she brings of herself) that her true beauty lies.

The designer is clearly one of the Duchess’s favorites. Here is a quick rundown of the many Erdem pieces Kate has worn: on the left you see the two dresses worn in Canada during the 2011 North American tour (l-Cecile, r-Jacquenta); the bespoke silvery-grey embroidered dress for Trooping the Colour piece 2012, the modified version of the Meryl dress worn in Singapore on the 2012 Tour; and on the far right, the Sophia dress, worn for a 2013 school visit to Manchester.Duchess Cambridge Kate Middleton Erdem Dresses

We harken back to this Vogue review of the designer’s spring 2012 collection, for it is as relevant today as it was when I first used it in a 2012 post and I believe it explains one of the reasons the Duchess is fond of the brand:

Then, of course, there is the social backdrop he completely understands. In England—and maybe in the world—there are few designers of Erdem’s generation who think about the clothes that will be appropriate for weddings, christenings, bar mitzvahs, garden parties, and formal banquets. That’s clearly why the Duchess of Cambridge, a carefully appropriate dresser, has taken to his neatly fitted, knee-length dresses with elbow-length sleeves.

Below left, we saw the first of several Allie coat appearances in Hamilton New Zealand in April of 2014; in March of 2015 Kate wore the Darla dress for a private visit to The Goring Hotel; that October we saw her step out in a tiered gown; for the annual Commonwealth Day service in 2016 the Duchess wore a bespoke grey coat; in October of last year Kate wore a pink and navy coat by the designer, and then we have today’s Evita dress.© As Shown

Not shown: the custom version of the Tigan jacket worn to the Hannah Gillingham wedding in April 2012.

Kate accessorized with her trusty Mulberry Bayswater wallet clutch.Kate Mulberry Bayswater Marron Conch Clutch Heads Together Jan 17 2017 with Erdem Evita dress.

She also wore her Tod’s Leather Fringe Buckle Pumps.Tod's / James Whatling

She also wore her Gold Disc Button Earrings by Oscar de la Renta© /Oscar d ela Renta

Kate’s hair was down and styled in loose curls.©Stefan Wermuth/WPA Rota/Nunn Syndication/Polaris

This was a good frock for the Duchess; the cut and color of the dress suited her well. It was a sleek, elegant look.

LINKAGE:

  • The Heads Together website is here; its Facebook page is here; the charity’s Twitter feed is here, and its Instagram feed here; the full text of each royal’s remarks may be read here
  • The Institute of Contemporary Arts website is here; its Facebook page is here; its Twitter feed is here and Instagram page here 
  • The Virgin Money London Marathon website is here; the Facebook page is here, and Twitter feed here
  • The Daily Mail’s story is here; The Evening Standard’s story about today’s event is here; Victoria Murphy’s story for The Mirror is here
  • The Daily Mirror’s fashion story is here; Simon Perry’s People story is here; PopSugar’s oversized galleries are here and here
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Categories : Clothing, Dresses, Hairstyles, Handbags, Shoes
Tags : Duchess Cambridge Erdem Evita, Duchess Cambridge fashion, Duchess cambridge style, Duchess Catherine Erdem black lily, Duchess Kate Evita dress, Duchess Kate fashion, Duchess Kate Oscar de la Renta Earrings, Duke Duchess Harry Heads Together, Kate Evita Dress, Kate Gold Disc Button Earrings OdlR, Kate leather fringe buckle Tods, Kate Middleton Black Lily Collage, Kate Middleton fashion blog, Kate Middleton flowered dress, Kate Middleton news, Kate Middleton photos, Kate Middleton Style blog, Kate Middleton Tod's pumps, Kate Mulberry Bayswater wallet clutch, Kate Oscar de la Renta Pearl Gold Disc Button Earrings, Kate Tod's Loafers, Kate William Harry Heads Together, Kate William Harry London Marathon, pictures Kate Middleton Erdem dress, pictures Kate William Harry Heads Together, What Kate Wore blog
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Comments

  1. Susan says:
    January 24, 2017 at 9:39 am

    Kate’s purse and shoes may pull from a lesser color in her dress, but I wonder if the choice is meant to reflect and coordinate with William’s tie?

    Reply
  2. Lavender says:
    January 20, 2017 at 5:32 pm

    I love the print on the dress but hate those shoes with it. The dress is thin & summery, the shoes are for wearing with tweeds; they would look wonderful with the long brown tweed coat Kate wore one Christmas Day. The lovely burgundy suede shoes to go with the bag? I think not, because there’s so much going on in the dress that it would take from it, shoes should complement rather than take away from it. Burgundy seemed wrong, I had to go back & search hard for the wee bit of burgundy. I would have liked a black or blue or yellow bag, maybe with matching shoes, or with a black shoe to keep the statement at the dress (busy flowers).
    I have realised that Kate doesn’t like ‘dress/office’ trousers, something else I think she dislikes is ‘barely black’ tights, they are hugely popular in Britain & would have been amazing with this dress (assuming the dress really is black) & a lot of things Kate wears, but sadly she never wears them.
    It is strange that the front of the dress looks the same on Kate as on the stock-model photo – but the model’s rear view is completely different. Not only are the mismatched flowers different on Kate’s bottom but there are 2 other mismatched areas, coming down from the waist between the side/centre – I assume these are darts. Like others, I thought an expensive designer dress would be better – it is like saying something is ‘professional’ – a high standard is expected.

    Reply
  3. preppyhippy says:
    January 20, 2017 at 12:47 pm

    Perfect! Now that’s the Kate we know and love! Look at her gorgeous hair! Accessories on point too!

    Reply
  4. Debbie says:
    January 20, 2017 at 8:40 am

    Wow Wow Wow! Absolutely gorgeous! What wouldn’t I give to be able to own that dress. Her hair is absolutely incredible…honestly if I didn’t adore Kate I would have to hate her 🙂 she is just stunning.

    Reply
  5. MeLaNie says:
    January 19, 2017 at 10:25 pm

    I am obsessed with these shoes! Must find (a cheaper) RepliKate!

    Reply
  6. pca says:
    January 19, 2017 at 10:26 am

    What a wonderful dress on her. And her hair looks great – as someone else mentioned, the part is off to the side a bit more and I really think it suits her.

    I’m not fond of the shoes and clutch with this – either in color and in the case of the shoes, style (think about the shoe in solid black, better, but still wouldn’t go well). If you have to really look for a color to see if the accessories match, it probably isn’t meant to be. I would have liked to see black pumps/bag. Or – even tho I generally am one of those who think that shoes/bag/belt should all match – perhaps a yellow clutch may have added a bit of pop.

    Reply
  7. Fliss says:
    January 19, 2017 at 4:01 am

    I love how excited everyone gets on this site when Kate gets it right. It really shows how we are all rooting for her.

    This is a wonderful look. The dress is fabulous and I absolutely love the colours and fabric. It would also work well with opaque tights and black suede shoes. I would like to see her carry a different style of handbag too. She has speech notes and could use a top handle bag to keep them in.

    Reply
  8. Stephanie Lish says:
    January 18, 2017 at 9:38 pm

    After taking a second look at the photos I think I’m going to have to disagree with everyone criticizing the choice of shoes. Color-wise they couldn’t be more perfect and the rather pointed toe mitigates any “loafer effect” the fringe imparts. I think all the full-length photos show this choice to be “spot on” for such a daytime event. Admittedly though the dress could be great for evening paired with a strappy black stiletto.

    Reply
    • Cass says:
      January 19, 2017 at 9:15 am

      colourwise I agree they are perfect. I just find them a heavy contrast to the light weight dress.

      Reply
      • Stephanie Lish says:
        January 19, 2017 at 11:47 am

        I’m wondering if the effect when seen in person might not be a bit different than from the photos. After seein a photo of the fabric close up I think perhaps it may have heavier feel visually when actually viewed in person.

        Reply
    • KJM says:
      January 19, 2017 at 3:08 pm

      I agree, I like the shoes with the dress. And I actually also like that the clutch is a nice complement in a different shade rather than looking like they are a matching set.

      Reply
  9. Annie says:
    January 18, 2017 at 6:56 pm

    Wow, she looks great! I really like the dress, it fits beautifully. I wasn’t sure if the shoes really matched, but it’s growing on me.

    The only thing about the dress that puzzles me slightly is the print by the waist. The print was clearly carefully designed to fit on the dress, with specific sections for the skirt, bodice, and sleeves (ignoring the execrable flower placement on the derriere). So I can’t quite understand why they made that funny little line just above the waist – it has a line of flowers, then a bit of blank space before the flowers pick up again. Until I saw the close-up shots, I thought it was a fold or another seam or something. I wonder why there’s a break in the flower pattern there? There is an obvious line at the waist seam, so I don’t think they meant it to look like a belt/waist section. It was clearly intentional since it’s so noticeable, I just can’t figure out why, from a design standpoint.

    Reply
    • Bonnie says:
      January 19, 2017 at 10:32 am

      The black line at the waist confuses me also. But let’s be very glad that it is actually at the waist and not several inches above, which is also a confusing choice the Duchess often makes.

      Reply
    • Caitlin says:
      January 19, 2017 at 12:01 pm

      Zooming in, to me, it looks like a seam. I think it functions to nip in the waist a bit. In my opinion this is a great design choice and is one of the reasons I think this dress looks so good on her. Sheath style dresses tend to look boxy and this prevents that from happening.

      Reply
  10. Curious says:
    January 18, 2017 at 6:11 pm

    Loooooooove the hair. So happy with the dress too! A welcome breath of multicolored air 🙂

    Reply
  11. Margaret says:
    January 18, 2017 at 3:58 pm

    Wow – Kate looks wonderful here. Love the dress – the fit and style suit her to perfection and the pattern and colours are wonderful for Kate. Contrary to many other opinions, I love the shoes and bag with the outfit. The colour works and the style of the shoe doesn’t seem too heavy to me – in my opinion the shoes balance the dress well and while black or navy would have worked perfectly well I like the interest this colour brings to Kate’s overall look. As for her hair – it looks fabulous. Great work Kate.

    Reply
  12. Cindy says:
    January 18, 2017 at 3:37 pm

    Agree with all…love this look, but again with the posture. Throw those shoulders back, DoC! I would love to see this dress with yellow (yes, yellow) even if it was pale yellow, shoes. Now that would pop!

    Reply
    • Stephanie Lish says:
      January 19, 2017 at 11:52 am

      Her posture is fine. Human bodies are not perfect-I don’t believe that “throwing her shoulders back” will achieve what you perceive to be “poor posture”.

      NOTE: Quick admin edit

      Reply
      • Cindy says:
        January 19, 2017 at 2:08 pm

        Being tall like the duchess, I know the challenge of doing meet and greets where the majority of people are shorter than you. One naturally leans down a bit to make eye contact and it can give the appearance of poor posture. There are a few techniques to offset this slouched look and I was merely suggesting one.

        Reply
      • Bonnie says:
        January 19, 2017 at 6:54 pm

        I have a friend who is a professional ballerina. She has the most perfect posture I’ve ever seen. She tells me this is not achieved by throwing the shoulders back, but rather by lifting the body from the waist. Try standing in front of a mirror and doing this. The results are magical. Now the challenge is to constantly remind myself to do it!

        Reply
  13. Caitlin says:
    January 18, 2017 at 2:04 pm

    Everything is perfection … until you get to the shoes. I think a chunky heel can still work with this dress, but the loafer style does not complement the femininity of this dress. In my opinion, these shoes should be reserved for pants. I think burgundy was just the right color to pull from this dress in her clutch and shoes – it’s a bit of color without standing out too much (like the yellow or blue would have done). Her hair is bouncy, glossy, and beautiful. I really like the way the earrings mimic the blossoming flowers in her dress – I would really like a pair for myself!

    Reply
  14. Kristen says:
    January 18, 2017 at 11:07 am

    This is a beautiful outfit! Love the dress- the shape, colors, print. I appreciate the quote that you included from Vogue. My first thought when I saw this look was “oh, this would make a great dress for church!” 🙂
    Also, the shoes are my most favorite of the Duchess’s, so I’m glad she chose to wear them.
    I’m usually one who thinks that her hair should be up on most occasions, but I think it looks beautiful here. Not sure if she got it colored darker, or if it’s just the lighting in the photos, but it looks really pretty!

    Reply
  15. Mallory says:
    January 18, 2017 at 11:04 am

    This is the Kate I have missed. Her hair is beautiful, bouncy hair is back! And the fresh print yet classic cut and neckline are just what I’ve been waiting so long to see return.Her makeup is on point; however, the shoes don’t go with the dress. I would’ve loved to see a suede light blue or periwinkle shoe…even navy would’ve looked better.

    Reply
  16. Mary G says:
    January 18, 2017 at 10:30 am

    I keep looking at the placement of the print, which is really interesting. At the waist it is especially noticeable . . . Just the plain blue that almost suggests separates or a belt. Then again on the arms, the underside is plain. (Sorry, don’t know how to describe!) So different than a print dress presented by most retailers as opposed to this high-end designer. It must require really careful tailoring to get the print positioned properly.

    Reply
    • Cathy C says:
      January 18, 2017 at 2:27 pm

      I agree. Even more noticeable is the misplacement of two blue flowers on her backside. I really wish they had taken the time to match the print better in the back! That view is just as important as the front!

      Reply
      • Bonnie says:
        January 18, 2017 at 6:14 pm

        I disagree Mary G., that the print is positioned correctly and agree with Cathy C., that it is mismatched on the back. I sew and matching the print is vital in my books. To see a dress costing almost $2,000 being mismatched in the back…well the design house should be ashamed of themselves.

        Reply
      • Stephanie Lish says:
        January 18, 2017 at 8:13 pm

        I find the larger break in the print at the waistline to be a bit disconcerting and agree also about the placement of those two blue flowers on the back…but all in all a lovely dress!

        Reply
      • Mary G. says:
        January 18, 2017 at 11:09 pm

        I didn’t notice the misplacement — I was just really intrigued by the care taken in the placement and the way the print was a part of the design — rather than it just being a dress that happened to be made of a print fabric.

        Reply
        • Stephanie Lish says:
          January 19, 2017 at 11:38 am

          If you look at the back of the dress on the model the placement of the print on the back is rather artful.

          Reply
          • Cathy C says:
            January 20, 2017 at 8:34 am

            Unfortunately even the seam on the model isn’t matched, although I do agree it isn’t nearly as egregious as the one seen on the Dutchess. As for the lack of print at the waist, that is most certainly a design element of the dress, and allows for the waist to be highlighted without need for a belt. It provides for a visually interesting silhouette.

            Reply
  17. Sara says:
    January 18, 2017 at 9:34 am

    …and Kate is probably thinking, “What do these people want from my life?? They said they they’re sick of my stiletto court shoes so I wear clunky pumps and then they say I should have worn stilettos! Agh!!”

    Reply
  18. Ellen says:
    January 18, 2017 at 9:34 am

    Kate looks totally adorable! I like everything in her outfit. This year begins really nicely:)

    Reply
  19. Cass says:
    January 18, 2017 at 9:17 am

    Love this look! The dress is modern and fun, but also elegant.

    The shoes are a little clunky for this dress (even though I love them)

    Her hair and makeup!!! A+++++

    Reply
  20. Lindsey says:
    January 18, 2017 at 8:19 am

    This is a great look for the Duchess. First of all – her hair. So shiny and voluminous! It looks fantastic. The dress is beautiful. I love the pop of color in winter and the fit is spot on. I am really glad she chose these shoes. Even though the fringe and buckle makes them feel a bit like a loafer (which I think is why so many feel they don’t ‘go’ with the dress), I am just glad that she chose something with COLOR for a change. Yay for no nude/black/navy/gray!

    Reply
  21. Jana says:
    January 18, 2017 at 7:23 am

    Gorgeous… and I love the shift in eye makeup, a slight cat eye and less eyeliner on her lower lid which is a lighter look all around but still foxy. Two thumbs up!!!

    Reply
  22. monalisa says:
    January 18, 2017 at 5:47 am

    Whoops, also meant to comment on the makeup. She has lightened the eye contouring/lining considerably. No eyeliner on lower lid. Looks 100% better. Now if she would only put a bit of colour on her lips – there are ways to wear colour on thinner lips that make them look fuller. Any good makeup artist could help.

    Reply
    • Becky says:
      January 18, 2017 at 9:48 am

      I didn’t notice the lack of eyeliner on her lower lids, but thought her makeup looked good today. I went back and looked and you are right, it makes her look younger and “lighter” for lack of a better word.

      Reply
    • Courtney J. says:
      January 18, 2017 at 8:20 pm

      Yes, this would’ve been a perfect opportunity to wear a sheer (since she doesn’t wear strong lip colors) burgundy or reddish lipstick. I’m still waiting for the day/night when Kate wears a beautiful matte bright pink or retro red lip – like at an event with a tiara, that would be amazing! Even though her lips aren’t full, those colors would really look pretty on her!!!

      Reply
  23. monalisa says:
    January 18, 2017 at 5:41 am

    Finally! Erdem sheaths fit her perfectly – she should wear them more often. Even the high waist works here; probably because it was designed that way rather than played around with after the fact. Love the pattern and the colours. Her hair is so gorgeous that I can’t complain about it being too busy against the pattern. Must say I didn’t even notice the earrings but much better than anything dangly which would have been too much with the hair and pattern. I liked the shape and colour of the shoes – the studier shape offsets the more delicate pattern. Love the heel, much more interesting than her standard pump. I don’t like the double fringe which does make the shoes a little heavier and less sophisticated than they should be. But thank god the nude pumps are gone at least for one day. A real hit for the first time in months.

    Reply
  24. Olivia says:
    January 18, 2017 at 4:09 am

    Best dress winter ever! Love it! It’s very her too with the yellow and blue. I must have a repliKate of it.

    Reply
    • Liana says:
      January 18, 2017 at 9:48 am

      I feel the same way! Please let us know if you happen to find a good repliKate.

      Reply
  25. Courtney J. says:
    January 18, 2017 at 1:49 am

    Could her hair BE ANY MORE PERFECT??? Wow. Looks like James Pryce’s work.

    I love the dress. While the burgundy Gianvito Rossi heels probably would’ve looked better, this is a beautiful look.

    Reply
  26. Sherrie says:
    January 18, 2017 at 1:02 am

    Love this dress! Interesting fabric, pattern and colors. I think a clutch in the yellow from the dress, the citrine earrings and some strappy black shoes could have worked well.

    Reply
  27. Alora says:
    January 18, 2017 at 12:52 am

    All lovely items but not together. The shoes and I love them were muted out. Her hair was just lovely. The dress I’d wear but I think the whole look could have been saved and ramped up a notch by black hose instead of nude. I wouldn’t gaze back at this ensemble passing it on the street. It was lovely. No wow

    Reply
  28. Patty says:
    January 18, 2017 at 12:04 am

    The hair is back!! Yay! It looks healthy & full. I will agree with everyone that the shoes are “heavy” but I must disagree as them being too heavy for the dress. The close up of the material almost looks quilted to me. I think this dress could handle the heavier shoe.

    Reply
  29. Donna says:
    January 17, 2017 at 11:59 pm

    Gorgeous dress and the Duchess looks stunning in it. I love the texture and the way the print is arranged on the fabric. The fit is superb and I love the shorter length and slim fitting long sleeves.

    Also love those shoes but I agree with those that feel they just don’t “go” with that dress, but, she looks simply wonderful!

    Reply
  30. Brooke says:
    January 17, 2017 at 11:19 pm

    Love, love love the hair! Sheer perfection! The dress is beautiful and fits perfectly.

    Reply
  31. Bonnie says:
    January 17, 2017 at 11:07 pm

    I’m not as fond of this dress as others seem to be. I will, however, admit that it is more youthful than many Kate has worn and the fit is certainly better than many we have seen of late.

    Kate seems to often miss the mark with her accessories. While there is a slight hint of burgundy in the print of the dress, for the most part, one sees yellow and blue flowers. Photos taken at a distance don’t even show the burgundy and for that reason the shoes and purse do not work. Also, while I like the chunky heel, for this dress I think a navy court shoe would have gone best. I wish she would wear chunky heels with winter coats and tweedy style skirts and suits, but wear a lighter shoe with a lighter dress.

    While many rave about Kate’s hair today, I’d say it looks heavy and drags her down. I personally wish she’d lop a few inches off for a more upbeat look.

    Reply
  32. Anastasia says:
    January 17, 2017 at 10:34 pm

    While I loved the look- it’s fresh and fashion-forward without looking “too” done, I especially loved her hair and makeup today. It made her look so fresh and young! This entire look reminded me of Kate circa 2011, 2012. I hope she repeats this makeup look in future! It seems to suit her much more than what she has been wearing on recent occasions.

    Reply
  33. Sa says:
    January 17, 2017 at 10:27 pm

    The Duchess is back! What a relief to see her rocking in a lovely ensemble and those hair. ..wow! I love the look it’s perfect for me. Looking at some of her recent choices I was wondering what happened to Kate’s fashion sense but I think with two toddlers and responsibilities she might actually be going through tough times. But this look just made up for everything.

    Reply
  34. lawgirlNYC says:
    January 17, 2017 at 10:11 pm

    I like the dress, but the pattern makes it look a bit like a belly roll, which the DoC clearly does not have. It’s the band of small flowers just around the middle. The pattern and fabric is pretty though.

    The hair and smoky eye are great.

    The earrings are not good. I bought a similar pair circa 1989 when I got my first job b/c ‘grown up’ = Nancy Reagan dressing, or some such reason.

    I wish she’d ditch the clutch.

    NOTE: Quick admin edit

    Reply
  35. rosetwig says:
    January 17, 2017 at 9:39 pm

    Finally! A dress that takes advantage of her figure, not so high-waisted or covered by long and unflattering full skirts. Lovely dress!

    Reply
  36. Margo, Thrift at Home says:
    January 17, 2017 at 9:11 pm

    I just love those shoes, but I don’t think they go with the dress – the burgundy in the dress is too subtle for the shoes and bag to pick up. The safe choice would have been black pumps, but I think a nice medium grey would have worked, too, and been less expected.

    Reply
    • Katie says:
      January 17, 2017 at 10:49 pm

      I completely agree. I LOVE these shoes and am excited she is experimenting with some block heels. (Recall also the JCrew pair from Canada.) That said, the Tod’s don’t flatter this dress. The shoes have a retro-feel that the bold print on this dress lacks. A stiletto, or perhaps a solid black blocked heel pump without adornments, would have been a better choice.

      Reply
    • Sara says:
      January 18, 2017 at 4:26 am

      Yep. I had to look two or three times until I found the burgundy that I KNEW must be there. I applaud the attempt to pick out a secondary color, but I think the burgundy was perhaps a tertiary color.

      Having said that, I believe that if Kate was trying not to go matchy-matchy, burgundy was the best accessorizing color. The alternatives would have been yellow or pale blue, neither of which would have been appropriate for bag and shoes in mid-winter.

      I love those shoes, but after reading other comments here, I agree that the heels were clunky and her Rossis would have been better. Maybe they were at the shoe repair shop…

      Bottom line – I love the dress, absolutely love it, especially in contrast to what preceded it in the past few appearances. Love the material, love the cut. Lovely.

      Reply
  37. Daisy F says:
    January 17, 2017 at 9:09 pm

    This is like a cooler (weather-wise and attitude-wise) twin of the LK Bennett blue poppies dress and I love it! I hope we’ll get to see it again with shoes and clutch, but it is fab.

    Reply
  38. kate says:
    January 17, 2017 at 9:02 pm

    Beautiful! Fresh, modern, fashion-forward but not trendy. Just a great look.

    Reply
  39. nancy vandyk says:
    January 17, 2017 at 8:56 pm

    WOW! Love this dress. This print was such a nice surprise, hope we see more. And those fab shoes, seemed off with this dress but love them so much dont care

    Reply
    • Courtney J. says:
      January 18, 2017 at 1:37 am

      I agree – doesn’t she have shoes that match this red/burgundy clutch perfectly? Those would’ve looked better, but it’s still an amazing look overall!

      Reply
  40. mocro says:
    January 17, 2017 at 8:52 pm

    Adored the silhouette, shorter length and fit of this dress. Flattering and age-appropriate.

    Like others, the shoes were a miss for me paired with the frothy feel of the print dress. And instead of those Joan Collins-in-Dynasty earrings – I would have loved large-but-lightweight swinging, gold chandelier earrings.

    It’s wonderful that these 3 superstars have banded together to support mental health issues something I’m sure the Palace would have frowned upon a couple of decades ago.

    Reply
    • SG says:
      January 18, 2017 at 2:32 am

      Those earrings are SO 80s. Not a fan.

      Reply
  41. Ceci says:
    January 17, 2017 at 8:28 pm

    I like the dress it’s very flattering. The shoes and bag are not working though, in this case a black or blue shoe and purse would’ve allowed the colors in the dress to shine vs. compete with it.

    Reply
  42. Arlene M. Wilcox says:
    January 17, 2017 at 7:43 pm

    Lovely as always. I know I am in the minority but I would have loved the dress longer.

    Reply
  43. Becky says:
    January 17, 2017 at 7:33 pm

    I like this look in pieces. The dress is gorgeous, her hair looks amazing, and I love those shoes. But because I like the dress is so pretty and detailed, I wish her hair had been at least half back to show it off. I’m also not sure about those shoes with the dress.

    But it’s something different and fresh – finally – so I can’t quibble too much lol.

    Reply
  44. Carol in Atlanta, GA USA says:
    January 17, 2017 at 7:08 pm

    Darling dress, and LOVE those shoes, but they don’t seem to go together. The blue suede pumps worn last week with the Eponine coat dress would’ve worked better, I believe, but that’s just me. Nonetheless, DoC looked GORGEOUS today!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! 🙂

    Reply
    • SG says:
      January 18, 2017 at 2:33 am

      Agreed. I am loathe to complain about her shoes when she is finally wearing a cute pair instead of her boring suede pumps but they really don’t go with this dress at all.

      Reply
  45. SM says:
    January 17, 2017 at 7:05 pm

    WOW. Days like this are why I follow Kate! If you swapped in her burgundy Gianvito Rossi heels this would probably be in the top 5 ever for me, but even with those chunky heels I’ll take this as a giant win. I adore this dress. She looks professional but younger and sexier than she has in those tea length LK Bennetts that have been so frequent recently. Her hair is back to it’s glory days. I think she only occasionally uses professionals for hair and makeup and I have to say that when she does they make it worth her time and effort. She is stunning today and she probably knows it.

    Reply
    • Sheila says:
      January 17, 2017 at 9:35 pm

      Until I read your comment I didn’t realize it, but yes! – the shoes were the only part of this that I wasn’t crazy about, and the burgundy Rossis absolutely would have sent this look into my top-five-ever as wel!

      Reply
    • Audrey says:
      January 17, 2017 at 9:50 pm

      I hadn’t thought about those shoes…I agree! Maybe if she wears it again!!

      Reply
  46. Ashly says:
    January 17, 2017 at 6:17 pm

    A+ look today!!!! I love when she wears Erdem. Always an exciting look, like art work!!! Her hair is fantastic!!!

    Reply
  47. Hilary says:
    January 17, 2017 at 6:08 pm

    Such a relief! The Duchess looks beautiful. This outfit is the sartorial redemption she so badly needed. The dress is beautiful and it FITS! The waist is where it should be! The sleeves are the correct length. The colour is great. The accessories are fantastic. Obviously she reads your blog for advice! Well done, Kate!

    Reply
  48. KateFan says:
    January 17, 2017 at 5:45 pm

    A nice, solid look today. Very Crown Princess Mary! (the dress at least).
    At first I didn’t mind the shoes with the dress (they’re growing on me) but after reading comments here I can see people’s points that the shoes might be a bit heavy for the dress style/lack of coat. I do like the unexpected colour matching though, rather than seeing her standard black pumps again. Agreed that her hair looks straight out of a shampoo commercial and while it is definitely gorgeous and bouncy, I agree it was perhaps a bit much coupled with such a buttoned up, dark dress.
    Looking at the pics, I did notice that the print in the skirt doesn’t match up like it does in the stock pics – I’m wondering has it been altered, and if so, what purpose that would serve?
    Great work admin!

    Reply
  49. Ann Roehrs says:
    January 17, 2017 at 4:43 pm

    Flawless.

    Reply
  50. JL says:
    January 17, 2017 at 4:35 pm

    Amazing hair and makeup and a stunning yet simple dress. Well done to the Duchess! I like the fact that she has gone with burgundy accessories instead of neutrals, to pick out accents in the dress. The shoes are a bit clumpy with the dress but I can live with them.

    She really does have the most wonderful bouncy hair! And the slightly darker colour suits her.

    Reply
  51. Susan says:
    January 17, 2017 at 4:06 pm

    This is a fab dress on the Duchess. Nicely done. I probably wouldn’t have chosen those shoes, but I’m not complaining.

    Reply
  52. Chicago says:
    January 17, 2017 at 4:05 pm

    This look is perfect from head to toe. I am particularly impressed with the choice of color for her bag and shoes. It’s unexpected but works so well.

    Reply
  53. katefanatic says:
    January 17, 2017 at 3:58 pm

    There are two rows of “fringe” on the shoes, and the top one is a very matching/complimentary color to the clutch, so I get why she wore them together. At first I didn’t get these colors with the dress, but upon closer inspection there is more burgundy in the print than appears at first glance. She apparently heard those of us championing a non-matchy matchy shoe. I am still not personally a fan of these shoes, as I find them heavy, but they are growing on me.

    The dress is a great silhouette–I love her in sheaths and think she should wear them more often (think of those gorgeous sheath dresses on the first Canada tour). She definitely has the figure to carry them off. I am not a huge lover of prints but this one is better than most by Erdem. My favorite Erdem remains the blue lace sheath of first Canada arrival.

    I can take or leave the earrings—they are just okay for me. Her makeup was gorgeous. While her hair definitely had a lot of lovely bouncy volume, this is one of those times I wish she would have pushed it back behind her shoulders so at not to hide the dress. I also think that some sort of necklace or scarf at the neckline (or a V neckline) would have brought the entire look together.

    Reply
  54. Lauren says:
    January 17, 2017 at 3:54 pm

    I love her hair! This is the best it’s looked in quite some time, in my opinion, and I’m so glad her awful bangs have grown out. I also like the dress quite a bit, and I continue to covet the shoes. However – and I can’t believe I’m saying this – I actually wish she’d put her hair up with this dress. I think it’s just because her (lovely) hair is dark, and the dress is dark, so together they’re a bit much. Plus, her hair covers up the flowers around the neckline.

    Reply
  55. Kate Middleton's Jewelry says:
    January 17, 2017 at 3:46 pm

    I like the look. I love the choice of shoes and clutch, as I thought she’d stick with black pumps and a black clutch.

    Reply
  56. Audrey says:
    January 17, 2017 at 3:46 pm

    Love!
    Love the dress – the print, the txtyre, the length, the fit!
    Love the hair – darker, full, voluminous!
    Love the accessories! While a black (or navy) pump may have been a better choice, I am SO glad she opted for something a bit edgier and unpredictable!
    When I saw the first picture this morning I thought to myself “she’s baaaaaack!” I have been so disappointed in some of her recent choices and I agree with others that she looked comfortable and like she was feeling good in her skin today. 10/10!

    Reply
  57. Carol San Diego Ca. says:
    January 17, 2017 at 3:42 pm

    What a fresh look for the Duchess! Her hair was the prettiest I have seen in a while I love it off to the side a bit more. The pattern of the dress was wonderful and the length perfect for her. The whole outfit was a win for me. So happy her speech went well and their cause for mental health such a positive and important one. So great to see them all together. There is so much they can do.

    Reply
  58. Shannon says:
    January 17, 2017 at 3:30 pm

    Wow, she looks stunning but without outshining the issue she is supporting.

    What really stood out to me was how great her hair looks. I have noticed the last year or so it hasn’t been as shiny or bouncy. But today looked like a draw back to the pre-kids hair. Love!!

    Reply
  59. Nathalie says:
    January 17, 2017 at 3:27 pm

    Great dress, the colour of the clutch is perfect but the shoes are too heavy for the dress. Maybe they are her new favourite shoes and I can totally understand that she wants to wear them a lot 🙂

    Reply
  60. Ali says:
    January 17, 2017 at 3:20 pm

    She looks great. Love everything except the earrings. The shoes and clutch work but not my favorite with the dress.

    Reply
  61. Gwen P says:
    January 17, 2017 at 3:01 pm

    Win win win! All three, the Duchess and both Princes, had a little bit of a Rock Star vibe, modified as becomes royalty. I liked that Kate’s shoes and clutch echoed one of the very sparingly-used colors in the floral print, and loved the above-the-knee hemline. A+.

    Reply
  62. Ags says:
    January 17, 2017 at 2:59 pm

    I unreservedly love this look. The dress is modern and sophisticated, and pumps and clutch really pull it together into a look rather than serving as background noise, which her neutrals so often do. The Hair is also in rare form. It’s been a long time since I have been so enthusiastic about an outfit of hers–well done, Kate!

    Reply
  63. Leah says:
    January 17, 2017 at 2:57 pm

    Love the dress. Perfect silouhette. Great print and texture to the fabric. Yahoo, above the knee! And the hair, just fabulous. Fresh, glamourous appearance.

    Reply
  64. Cat says:
    January 17, 2017 at 2:29 pm

    I’m not sure about the choice of clutch and shoes with this particular dress, but her hair and makeup look FANTASTIC and I like the dress.

    Following up on the Great Claw Clip debate from prior post, Harpers’ Bazaar is on the No Clips side with me 🙂 http://bit.ly/2j56Qmn

    Reply
    • ElizaMo says:
      January 17, 2017 at 4:34 pm

      Great link – thanks! As one who has lived with thick, dark & shiny hair for many a long year I’d just like to say that there have been points of exasperation when the only things that could keep it off my face were those wretched clips; literally nothing else would hold. Cheap never came into it, vision did 😉

      Reply
      • ali says:
        January 17, 2017 at 7:50 pm

        As someone with thick long hair also I have found a number of professional attractive ways to keep my hair back. She could pull it loosely back with a couple of gorgeous combs. She could use the clips but pull the hair over with some pins to cover up the clips. She could use a lovely tortoise shell barrette, there are some great ones from France, She could wear a high or low ponytail with her hair covering the band. As Harpers noted, it took time to curl and style her hair and even doing on her own there are lots of alternatives to the plastic clips:):)

        Reply
        • ElizaMo says:
          January 18, 2017 at 3:45 am

          I’m afraid I’ve opted for short hair all my adult life and so escaped the miseries of finding anything that would hold it in place. It tended to slide out of anything that didn’t grip so hard it could give me a headache. I’m very glad you have found manageable options!

          Reply
          • ali says:
            January 18, 2017 at 11:39 am

            Hee hee, well no doubt with thick long hair one can get a headache from the bands or barrettes:) However she almost always has lots of product in her hair which really helps to keep clips. combs, bands, barrettes from slipping out.

            Reply
  65. Maggie says:
    January 17, 2017 at 2:28 pm

    Kate looks great today. I wouldn’t have thought of those shoes with that dress, but I think it works. It is a bit different and unexpected, but at the same time professional and cheery. Her hair is particularly lovely as well!

    Reply
  66. susan d says:
    January 17, 2017 at 2:25 pm

    I actually love this look. The edgy shoes (for DOC) with a fun textured floral dress ,
    and the clutch purse which may match William’s tie…Adds up to a vibrant look for DOC!

    Reply
  67. ElizaMo says:
    January 17, 2017 at 2:25 pm

    The dress is simply wonderful, I love the print and the fit on Kate, it’s a stellar, classic pick for her I’m impressed she found something so wearable from Erdem as they can be so fussy. This one succeeds in showing a print with an edgy choice of colours on a textured fabric without looking cluttered. The above-the-knee length is perfect.

    I was surprised by the choice of shoes, though, as to keep things classic all over I’d have thought a pair of stiletto courts would have looked better. I find the block heel heavy when Kate is so whippet-thin in that fabulous sheath.

    Her hair appears to have gone back to her earlier days for sheer volume and length; I prefer it shorter and more sleek, but she does still look gorgeous. The statement earrings were a good move, anything smaller would have been lost amid such a sea of curls.

    Reply
    • Faith says:
      January 17, 2017 at 5:48 pm

      ElizaMo, completely agree with your comments regarding the dress. One of her greatest looks ever! Imo, she looks best dressed in this vein. I wonder if her burgandy Gianvito Rossis would have worked with this dress. I agree that a stiletto would have complemented the dress more than the more tailored Tod’s.

      I do love her hair like this especially the richer
      shade. Makes me think James Pryce may be back
      on board. Make up is flawless as well.

      Reply
      • ElizaMo says:
        January 18, 2017 at 3:47 am

        Those Gianvito Rossi’s were my first thought too. Maybe she’ll pull them out for a re-wear of this lovely dress 🙂

        Reply
        • Faith says:
          January 18, 2017 at 10:24 am

          Fingers crossed. The Rossis would put this dress over the top.

          Reply
          • ElizaMo says:
            January 18, 2017 at 1:27 pm

            Agree!! 😀

            Reply
  68. Linda Beutler says:
    January 17, 2017 at 2:19 pm

    Terrific dress. A breath of spring but still seasonally appropriate. That fabric with a full silk lining means it is warm, too. I love that the shoes and bag add a pop of warm color; it would have been easy to play it safe with navy bag and shoes. Green could have worked well too. Love the dress’s styling details, so flattering to the Duchess. This works really well in every possible way!

    Reply
  69. Alyssa says:
    January 17, 2017 at 2:15 pm

    I stinkin’ love EVERYTHING about this outfit. I feel like this is something we would’ve seen before she got married-2012. I love, love, LOVE her hair; I need her to do it this way every day. I love the contrasting accessories that highlight the understated maroon, I love the fit of the dress, I love the slight cat eye…best look in AGES in my opinion. And the confidence radiating from her shows that she knows how fantastic she looks! Her excitement about the issue also shows all over her. Sorry for the use of caps, but I told y’all, this look is in my top-10 *ever*.

    Reply
  70. Alexandra says:
    January 17, 2017 at 2:14 pm

    Such a pretty dress! And I am so glad to see my favourite hair-do is back! Personally, I would have chosen simple, more delicate looking pumps, but I guess she wanted to make a statement. 🙂

    Reply
  71. Katherine says:
    January 17, 2017 at 1:53 pm

    Beautiful look – dress, shoes, clutch, earrings, HAIR!, makeup – she looks lovely and professional.

    Reply
  72. Julie says:
    January 17, 2017 at 1:44 pm

    I liked the dress and always enjoy seeing the three of them together. The shoes and cluch seemed mis-matched in style and color to the lovely dress.

    Reply
    • joan says:
      January 17, 2017 at 4:05 pm

      Maybe the shoes were chosen because the dress looks black OR navy….and they would match/contrast with both colors.

      Reply
    • Katherine says:
      January 18, 2017 at 2:35 pm

      There are wine/burgundy colored flowers on the dress – only a few; I saw one on the back of the dress in one of the photos. Her accessories were a great choice to keep the look from being too matched up with a black or navy shoe/clutch.

      Reply
  73. Anon says:
    January 17, 2017 at 1:42 pm

    I love this dress – fresh and elegant. I thought the shoes brought it down a bit – a mustard coloured pump would have elevated the look and made it a bit more fashion-forward. Otherwise, no complaints! Plus her hair looked lovely.

    Reply

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