Kate in Eponine London for Best Beginnings Speech

Kate brought back her Eponine London skirt suit for today’s Heads Together engagement.

Above, Best Beginnings Founder and CEO Alison Baum welcomes Kate to the Royal College Of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists in London where today’s function was held. The event was the launch of the ‘Out of the Blue’ film series created by Best Beginnings, one of eight Heads Together partner charities.

The films are designed to “raise awareness of maternal mental health challenges.” 

More about the film series from Rebecca English’s Daily Mail column:

The film series was created by Best Beginnings to explore the range of mental health issues that can affect mothers such as anxiety and low moods, as well as the more severe forms of depression

The films are also aimed to help fathers and other family members understand what new mothers go through and how they can be supported more effectively.

Kate was scheduled to address the group; she started her remarks with a reference to yesterday’s terrorist attack before she focused on the new film series.

“Before I begin, I know you would all want to join me in sending our thoughts and prayers to all those sadly affected by yesterday’s terrible attack in Westminster. We will be thinking of all the families, as we discuss the important issues we’re here to talk about.”

Video: First half of Kate’s speech @bestbeginnings today pic.twitter.com/0IDFWAHAfJ

— Rebecca English (@RE_DailyMail) March 23, 2017

The educational films address the many changes and challenges that occur with pregnancy and parenting. Kate spoke candidly about some of the emotions she experienced as a new mother.

Personally, becoming a mother has been such a rewarding and wonderful experience.  However, at times it has also been a huge challenge- even for me who has support at home that most mothers do not. 

And yet there is no rule book, no right or wrong – you just have to make it up and do the very best you can to care for your family.  For many mothers, myself included, this can, at times lead to lack of confidence and feelings of ignorance.

Response to Kate’s speech was positive. Below you see reaction from Richard Palmer of The Daily Express.

And from another royal correspondent, Rebecca English of The Daily Mail.

After the formal presentation, Kate took part in a support group session with new mothers and fathers.

Video: Kate says hi to Teegan-Mia, two @bestbeginnings pic.twitter.com/PJLw6zMB8b — Rebecca English (@RE_DailyMail) March 23, 2017

Today’s engagement is timed to coincide with Mother’s Day in the UK this weekend (aka Mothering Sunday).

Now for our look at what Kate wore for today’s engagement.

The Duchess was in a familiar skirt suit by Eponine London.

The suit was first worn to a teen mentoring engagement last March. The top features a boat neck with belt detailing at the front, while the skirt has box pleats and side tabs. The garments are constructed of a cotton/viscose blend in a pattern designed to evoke a mod 1960s look. Below, photos from last year’s post better show the suit’s details.

Eponine specializes in made-to-measure designs inspired by mid-century styles. Below, three looks from the a/w 2016 collection.

Today we saw Kate in a familiar pair of heels, her Gianvito Rossi Gianvito 105 Suede Pumps ($675) in the ‘praline’ colorway. The style is still available in limited sizes at multi-brand retailer My Theresa.  (If interested in the shoes, today is the last day My Theresa is offering free shipping on all orders.)

Kate carried her Nina handbag by LK Bennett. The hard-sided clutch is still offered on the UK website (£195, about $245), but no longer available on the US/CAN site.

Kate wore her Kiki McDonough Pink Morganite Drops.

 In 2016 the Duchess accessorized with her black suede Gianvito 105 pumps and ‘Muse’ clutch by Stuart Weitzman from Russell and Bromley.

This is the second Eponine style we have seen the Duchess wear. In January Kate wore Eponine for her first engagements of 2017.

If interested in the label, there is a nifty interview with Eponine founder and CEO Jet Shenkman on the Amsterdam Fashion Week website. (I used Google translate to read the piece.) 

There was some concern today’s engagement might be canceled in the wake of yesterday’s events. Not because of safety concerns, but because so many public safety personnel are dealing with the ongoing investigation. Fortunately, things were able to proceed as planned.

You can watch it here.

Watch The Duchess of Cambridge speak at the launch of the @BestBeginnings ‘Out of the Blue’ film series, with @Heads_Together pic.twitter.com/1mMupReocK

— Kensington Palace (@KensingtonRoyal) March 23, 2017

An item of note for those in the New York City area.

• The Royal Oak Foundation is sponsoring what I know will be a fab lecture by Eleri Lynn, curator of the Diana: Her Fashion Story exhibit at Kensington Palace. The lecture is next Wednesday, the 29th. The topic isn’t limited to the Diana exhibit; its official title is Fashioning a Reign: 400 Years of Royal Court Dress. Ms. Lynn is the curator of the Royal Ceremonial Dress Collection for Historic Royal Palaces, overseeing a collection of more than 10,000 items dating back to the Tudor era. The New York lecture is co-sponsored by the Royal Oak Foundation and Historic Royal Palaces. 

Many readers are familiar with the Thought/Quote of the Day signs at London tube stations. I thought I’d sign off with three from today as shared on Twitter by Oval Station.

LINKAGE:

• Learn more about Best Beginnings at the organization’s website, or by following the charity on Facebook, or on Twitter
• The Heads Together home page is here; the group’s Facebook page is here; the Twitter feed is here and Instagram page here
• The full text of Kate’s speech may be seen here
• Richard Palmer’s story for The Express may be seen here; Rebecca English’s Daily Mail piece is here; The Sun’s story is here
• PopSugar’s gallery is here; the Fug Girls piece is here