The Duchess was in a mix of new pieces (new to us, anyway!) for a visit to Stockwell Gardens Nursery & Preschool in London this morning.
The school is part of LEYF, London Early Years Foundation, a network of 39 nurseries across London.
This visit was initially planned as part of the mini-tour Kate did last week when launching 5 Big Questions, her UK-wide survey on early childhood. You may remember that last week the Duchess kicked off the Survey during a visit to MiniBrum at the Birmingham Science Museum on the 21st, along with visits to the Ely and Careau Children’s Centre in Cardiff and HMP Send Prison (the post on these two events is here) on the 22nd. Today’s engagement was initially scheduled as part of the launch events, but it had to be canceled because of bad weather.
This school is home to the LEYF Early Years Chef Academy, which offers “the first specialist qualification for chefs either working or keen to work with children up to the age of eight.” 
Below, the Duchess meeting trainee chefs Luke Nelson-Neil and Rouchelle Scott-Ashby. 
More from The Daily Mirror:
The trio chatted about food nutrition for children and when they started discussing particular foods Mr Nelson-Neil joked about beetroots saying “I still can’t get them to eat it.”
The duchess, who is the mother of three young children, Prince George, Princess Charlotte and Prince Louis, said: “Mine absolutely love it – it’s one of those things until you try it you don’t know.”
Kate’s visit was scheduled in the morning so she could highlight the importance of a good breakfast.
More from Verity Bowman’s Telegraph story:
As she added bowls of fruit to a trolley laden with cereals and milk before wheeling it into a classroom during a visit to a social enterprise-run nursery and pre-school in Stockwell, south London, the Duchess said: “It’s great to visit places like this where communities come together to support one another.
Breakfast is served!
Kate making one of her funny faces.
And another. 
More from The Daily Mail piece:
Kate poured out cereal for Lucy and her classmates, asking them to say ‘Stop’ when there was enough in their bowls, and later she turned to a plate of orange, banana, grape and papaya segments, asking ‘What do you think of the fruit? What’s your favourite?’
High fives after breakfast.
And time for fun with some of the other children having fun with a water play pit. 
During today’s visit, it was revealed that more than 100,000 people have already filled out the 5 Big Questions. Below, the Duchess as she was leaving the school.
We return to The Telegraph’s piece:
Following the royal visit, LEYF chief executive June O’Sullivan said: “You can’t capture just how important the early years are.
“There’s a raft of research that shows if you invest in them when they’re little, if you give them the right kind of nurture, if you give them the time to speak, learn, listen and concentrate – and opportunities of personal development – then they actually grow into really capable, successful human beings.”
Now for our look at what Kate wore for today’s school visit. 
Kate’s sweater is by Sézane, the brand’s ‘Tulio’ jumper ($125) in merino wool with a lace collar.
The product page describes the sweater as having “fancy plastron and lace on the front,” which sent me to the Google Machine so I could learn what a “plastron” is. The term is defined as “an ornamental front of a woman’s bodice or shirt consisting of colorful material with lace or embroidery, fashionable in the late 19th century,” which certainly describes the sweater. Here is a closer look at that section of the garment. 
Thank you to AAA on Twitter for sharing the sweater ID. The Duchess’s coat and jeans have not yet been identified. Thoughts on today’s look from Tamara Abraham writing in The Telegraph:
But on a visit to a preschool in south London on Wednesday morning, the Duchess of Cambridge made the case for an alternative shade in a new petrol blue coat.
Petrol blue, the slightly darker, green-inflected sibling of classic blue, is a favourite in the world of interiors (Inchyra Blue and Hague Blue have both long been popular Farrow & Ball shades), but a relatively unsung hero in fashion.
It was a look that was polished, yet comfortable enough to engage with small children – and despite joining the youngsters for a meal and some ‘messy play’, Kate was able to keep her cream top pristine.
One more image from today. 
VIDEOS:
Heads Together posted a one-minute recap of today’s engagement.
“The 5 key questions that are being asked are raising the broader issues. They open up a conversation, and that’s really what we need is a national conversation.” June Macdonald, CEO LEYF Nurseries.
Answer our #5BigQuestions on the early years now.
— Heads Together (@heads_together) January 29, 2020
ITN’s Royal Family Channel offers about two minutes of content in this video.
5 News has more than 17 minutes of video in this piece.
LINKAGE:
- Learn more about the LEYF Early Years Chef Academies by clicking here
- Rebecca English’s Daily Mail article is here; The Daily Mirror’s story from Russell Myers is here; Verity Bowman’s article for The Telegraph is here; The Evening Standard’s piece is here;
- The Telegraph’s fashion column by Tamara Abraham is here; Simon Perry’s People story is here; Danielle Stacey’s piece for Hello is here; Town & Country’s gallery is here; Just Jared’s gallery is here
Love the coat and yes i want it not a fan of the rest of the outfit.The jumper and the pants are a tad tight for working with kids and the boots are boring but kate always looks so joyful and at ease with children and young people.
I adore the color and fit of the coat but the jeans are way too skinny and that silouette throws off the look. Boots are ok,
Thank you Sue for your lovely note. I received the Kate calendar today. I too hope for an early Spring!
Take care and be well!
This is a great outfit. I love the whole look. Aquatalia makes such awesome shoes for Russell Bromley, it kills me that they don’t ship to the U.S. or Canada. They don’t have the same styles at the Aquatalia store in NYC or even on their website. With the occasional exception for a pair of wedges, I try and keep my heels under 55 mm or 2 inches since I walk everywhere.
Agree. I have been wearing Aquatalia for years and noticed that the styles changed (and prices jumped) when the company was sold by it’s Montreal, Canada owner to a US based company. As well, the sizing became inconsistent.
The ones sold at Russell Bromley look to be more like the Aquatalias that were made before the company was sold. I would love a pair of the boots that Kate is wearing.. just the right heel for running around the city.
I seem to be in the minority here, but I only loved this look up until she removed her beautiful blue coat. Then I saw those skinny jeans with the pretty sweater. It might be just the way the photos appear, but to me those black jeans are so form fitting they look like black tights or a black leotard. I think a trouser type pant or perhaps a looser jean in a heavier material would have balanced out the sweater better.
NOTE: admin edit
All in all, a polished, professional yet casual look. I love Kate’s hair. The earrings. And best of all, the coat. What a beautiful shade of blue! This is one of my all-time favorite colors, which I would call “peacock blue.”
On a side note: It’s also nice that the coat was not buttoned up all the way to top. I don’t ever remember seeing Kate in an unbuttoned coat before.
Hugo Boss had a coat in their collection with that color a few years ago…thank you for your excellent work Susan!
I could never pull off long coats like Kate does.
Beautiful colour.
I like the skinny pants.
The sweater needed to be a touch longer.
Altogether, it’s a lovely outfit.
Her smile says it all!!
I would have liked to see her hair back because she was serving food…
Gosh, what a beautiful color. Like the blue Catherine Walker (?) she wore in Norway, but deeper and richer. J’adore.
And the SWEETEST engagement – the big grin when she’s rolling the breakfast trolley into the room is one of my favorite photos of her in a long while. I’m so glad she’s found a way to do something she clearly loves so much.
Only quibble that IMO this sweater felt a bit dainty w the jeans/boots. Other than that, I liked the ‘unstudiedness’ of this outfit. It felt like something anyone would just throw on for such a casual occasion. To me, this shows growing confidence.
Speaking of which, IMO Kate seems increasingly to have come into her own in recent engagements. She’s so much more relaxed and love that 500-watt smile. She comes off very natural and I’m sure those she engages with truly feel ‘seen.’
Hm, I am not as in love with the coat as others. I do love the color–if not necessarily in conjunction with cream and black (a patterned scarf might have helped tie things together)–but the straight up-and-down cut seems awkward. It has the bizarre effect of making the Duchess look thick around the middle, which of course she isn’t in the slightest. Maybe it would have been better if she’d worn it closed? But I think I would still want some shaping in the cut.
I agree. The structure and length of the coat aren’t working for me with the rest of the outfit. I’d love to see the coat again with a different outfit because it’s a lovely piece, just not styled this way. I really wish she’d worn her Sentaler wrap coat from the Canadian tour (or bought another in purple). Something shorter and a bit less formal would have looked better. Still, it was a lovely color and overall she looked very relaxed and happy.
I really like the trousers/jeans. Any ID on those?
Thanks!
What a fantastic and appropriate outfit for a visit to nursery and helping hand out breakfast. She looks fresh and age appropriate and happy and approachable.
Love the booties and the skinny jeans. Minimal accessories for an active engagement.
We’ve all said it a thousand times but clearly this is where she shines.
Absolutely love the coat!!! The sweater is also really nice, heritage/modern mix and unfussy. I’m not a fan of skinny jeans but these work for practicality in this situation. Any other situation, I much prefer the wide leg trousers she has been wearing more of recently.
I really liked her look today. It’s a great version of what stylish Moms wear to school drop off & pickup, with sturdy shoes, and clothing that is easy to move in. I saw someone else mention that the coat buttons don’t look very functional. I wonder if maybe the coat doesn’t actually close & the buttons are just decorative. It looks like a lightweight coat and no one else seemed too bundled up so maybe it wasn’t that cold. It was nice to see her take off a coat an an event.
i think the skinny jeans with the sweater were a great choice because the sweater looks thin and delicate So the fitted jeans and minimal shoes all work well so the sweater and coat stand out. Also, skinny jeans aren’t going to get in her way when kneeling or sitting with the kids. I think more substantial trousers would have overpowered the delicate details of the sweater and been mismatched styles.
Kate’s coat is beautiful and I think the buttons do fasten. The extra buttonhole on the left front at the top and near the bottom of the coat likely fasten to ‘anchor’ buttons hidden inside the right front and help the overlapping layers of fabric sit properly when the coat is buttoned…just thinking out loud 🙂
One row of buttons on the outside of the coat makes for a more streamlined, asymmetrical look than a double breasted style with two rows of buttons.
I love this coat! I hope we ID it soon. This may be the first time that the Duchess has worn an unbuttoned outdoor coat publicly. Ever. The last few engagements have definitely been a sartorial step away from her usual royal attire, and has a tinge of DoS in it. I wonder if it’s a message of support? In any case, I’m very glad that Kate has such big endeavours to promote and we can see so much of her. My only problem with the frequency is what poor Susan must be going through!
I don’t see any messages, hidden or otherwise, in an unbuttoned coat.
The message I see is that she believes her work is important and continues to do it.
Beautiful coat, love the colour. The jumper is gorgeous, feminine and pretty. The lace detail is superb. Not a fan of the skinny jeans.
Is this the first time that we’ve seen the Duchess in Sezane? I have a few of their things and I’m going to be SOOOOOO pleased with myself if I was wearing a label before Kate!
If you’re planning on shopping with them, they have new styles regularly and they give you the heads-up when a new selection is on its way, but they only have very limited stock in everything, so if you want something, you really have to grab it. They do have archive sales, but you can’t rely on finding the piece you want. They have certain styles that they repeat time after time in different fabrics and prints, so if you like a particular shape on yourself, you can usually find it looking completely different.
Hi, Sati, and thank you for sharing the info on Sézane! We believe this is the second time Kate has worn the label, the first being the Marguerite Blouse seen when the couple visited the Lake District last June, a fab ID by CopyKate on eBay. If interested, here is a link to that post, you will have to do a lot of scrolling to get to the relevant part! https://whatkatewore.com/2019/06/11/kate-keeps-it-casual-for-lake-district-engagements/ 🙂
I am very confused about the buttons on this coat. They are far right so should be double-breasted, but there are no buttons in another row. I wish she had buttoned it. It is quite unlike her to leave a coat unbuttoned; in fact, I don’t remember ever seeing her not button up a coat. Katherine Hooker has a single-breasted side-button coat, but I don’t think this is the same although with K. Hooker, you can order in any fabric as bespoke.
I really don’t think the pants are appropriate with the sweater. I’m still hoping for the day she wears a pair of tailored black trousers.
Hasn’t she worn those boots before with the plaid Zara coat?
Lovely event though. She’s so kind to and interested in everyone she meets.
I first thought the booties were those she wore in october 2017, but it turns out they’re different pairs. Why have 2 different pairs of shoes that are so incredibly similar (even when you don’t have to mind your spendings)? And there are many more examples of ‘the same but different’. I rather like a combination of already worn items than new items just echoing previous outfits.
Oh my goodness, I want that sweater. That peacock blue coat is gorgeous too and great with Kate’s coloring. I’m really not a fan of the super skinny jeans at all, but they are casual and relaxed enough for a school visit. Slim pants in a tweed fabric would’ve been lovely with that sweater, but that’s just my opinion. I think that Kate is doing great work at the moment. Those kids are never going to forget her visit.
Such a delightful surprise that Kate chose to honour her commitment to the Stockwell engagement today. And too frustrating that no one has yet got the ID on that gorgeous teal coat. It’s a really snappy, well cut number in a colour which suits Kate to a tee.
I like the princesssy frill-and-lace touches on her Sezanne white top, but think it looks better layered under the coat. Alone over skinny jeans it doesn’t seem to hold its own or sit well, and has the appearance of a budget item. This may of course make it admirably in keeping with the workwear of school catering staff and it certainly looks a very comfy outfit overall for kitchen duties.
The R&B boots are neat and finish the outfit off well, and it’s fun that Kate can get another outing for her handy Accessorize Filigree earrings. Her hair is looking stunning, in such great condition and shape with all those glamorous, tumbling waves.
I love this coat. It is simple but stylish and the colour is beautiful. We see Kate in lots of blue, but not often in this particularly shade. I never care for her skinny jeans and find the way they cling and wrinkle as something royal ladies should ovoid….many other ladies also. The top is pretty and merino wool is a favourite of mine. It can be very warm, but not bulky. The booties are wonderful!
Once again, Kate is a big hit with the children and they with her.
I love that beautiful blue coat, the boots and the white sweater. As a teacher for little children with disabilities, I would NEVER wear a $100.00 plus sweater to work with kids, especially if they were eating, lol, but Kate, as usual, emerges immaculate and lovely.
I’m not a huge fan of the skinny jeans with the boots, but not because I think they’re “unroyal” or inappropriate. Kate looks fabulous in them, but somehow they contrast too much with the lacy, old-fashioned delicacy of the sweater, which makes the look a little unbalanced. However…. gorgeous look overall.
Much less a sweater in a light color?! That is the one thing that has me clutching my pearls here.
Loved this look and want to copy it immediately. I wonder if this is the ruffled shirt we saw under something last year that was a UFO?? I love seeing the DoC with children – she’s amazing with them!!
That beautiful coat really elevates this appropriately casual outfit. The color is an inspired choice, since it is a bit unusual and captures your attention. Love the jeans, booties and earrings. I think the sweater is lovely, but having worked with preschoolers for many years, ivory tops are a magnet for paint, jam, sand, mud and all the fun messes little ones make. Brave choice by the Duchess. I am so glad she is emphasizing the importance of the early years with her 5 Big Questions outreach.
Is the coat jigsaw? It looks like this one: https://www.jigsaw-online.com/product/single-breasted-city-coat/J39241_BL170
Hi, Lissi, and thanks for the link! It is very similar to the Jigsaw one, but some of the details that are difficult to see unless you have hi-res images are different. The lapels are different, and there is top-stitching on the Jigsaw pockets Kate’s coat doesn’t have. But it’s a fab repliKate, I’m going to add it to the page. Thank you again, Lissi! 🙂
The Daily Mail has ALOT of photos of Kate in this coat, and while the jigsaw one is close, there are differences. The position of the buttons, for one. And her lapels have button holes too. At the top. Can’t figure this one out!
A comfortable outfit, very accessible looking, and Kate looks very beautiful and gracious indeed.
I don’t remember Kate wearing outdoor coats very much and I am enjoying this “less buttoned up” look. The recent camel coat and today’s teal coat have a certain ease that looks less stuffy and formal. And they also get to come off inside, which has made her look more engaged and present, to my eyes at least. It could be this is my mother’s voice in my head, saying, “Take off your coat and stay for a while!” I understand so much of what the British Royal Family does is image related. Just the fact that a royal shows up and is photographed at an organization brings attention to important causes. So I do enjoy the outdoor coats coming off for programs indoors. The immediate impression is of someone who wants to be there and spend time getting to know the people who are working and attending at the said organization.
As for the outdoor parades, military displays and pageantry events, I always enjoy those meticulously tailored coats that resemble uniforms. I suppose I’m saying I have many thoughts on the Duchess’s many coats!
Perfect look for today. The jeans were a smart choice…a standard trouser would have been too formal for serving breakfast to kiddos! The sweater is so Kate and I love her booties!
One of the UK tabloid papers said it was a Jigsaw coat – maybe the single-breasted City coat? It seems to come in two lengths…..
https://www.jigsaw-online.com/product/luxe-long-city-coat/J39242_GY000
HI, Sue, and thank you for the link! It looks a great deal like the Jigsaw coat, but some of the details are different. 🙁 (The lapels are different, and there is top-stitching on the Jigsaw pockets Kate’s coat doesn’t have.) The Jigsaw piece is a great replikate though! 🙂
Catherine always looks stunning. With that face, figure and really the best hair around how could she not?! That said, the jumper is pretty and I adore it on the model with the very short hair. Why wear a top with intricate detailing and then cover it up with your hair? I think it would have been prettier with her hair in a pony-tail. The skinny jeans are fine as are the booties. Love the colour of the coat.
She hasn’t had a ponytail for a while…..I loved her ponytails!
Great post, thank you. Just a note about the earrings on Amazon, they are bigger than Kate’s. Still very pretty but I thought I’d mention it in case anyone wants the same size and doesn’t scroll through the pics on the listing.
Yes I agree a little bigger than Kate’s but still not too large. However, they seem to be unavailable for now on Amazon. Hopefully they will restock. These are the closest earrings to the originals which are all sold out.
The Duchess really does look good in casual wear for these engagements although I am not a huge fan of the ‘skinnies’, they do always crinkle up. (I wear them myself sometimes and have a similar problem. Almost wonder if ‘proper’ leggings/jeggings would not be a better idea, if the Duchess is really set against tapered jeans?).
I really like the colour of the coat – teal? However, I do think it would have looked better if the length had been a bit shorter, sort of mid-thigh or at any rate a few inches above the knee.
At least one commenter is going to say ‘another coat?!’ – a sentiment I would now agree with………
Susan, you must be wishing for a break in the engagements: half-term in the UK is about three weeks away, so you’ll have some peace then! Take care.
Just love this look, casual skinny jeans are fabulous for this event team teamed with a pretty top. The teal coat is simply stunning.
What a wonderful coat. Teal really freshen the outfit up. Love it.
I love the coat. Can’t wait until we find out what it is. I do like the sweater also, but I think it would look better tucked in. Personally I can’t stand skinny jeans. A nice slim trouser would be my preference here. I think Kate gets a little overwhelmed in the wide leg trousers, and the gaucho style pants should all be burned.
SuzyQ, I totally agree with everything you say about the pants. I don’t care for skinny jeans, wide leg pants or gauchos. Kate has a wonderful dress sense, but she struggles to get pants correct. I still say the ones she wore under the tops while in India, were her best bet.
The pants are a no for me too!
The Duchess is looking great lately! I think all her outfits in her past few engagements have been lovely. I was just wondering Susan, if you are planning on doing some polls for all the different categories of looks Kate wore last year?
Those dreadful jeans / leggings are back… I really wish someone would tell her that they are not attractive on anyone, regardless of their size.
The coat is quite nice – I really like the color.
It’s a good outfit for such an event. Nothing special though.
Hi there! Love your posts, any info on the jacket?
Thank you!
Aiemee
How can such a slim, lovely figured person like the beautiful DOC even find jeans too tight? She’s so slender it’s baffling that silicons goes this small, but find them she does.
That said, I love her in a sweater and jeans. Or anything else really. And her smiles at the children make me smile too.
Sizing, not silicons. Heavens.
I absolutely adore Kate’s blue coat! How modern and unique. She has such a dynamite figure, she can rock those skinny jeans!
Kate looks like a person who has found her calling in life and is genuinely enjoying her engagements and at ease with herself. She really radiates joy!
Thank you for providing the definition of “plastron,” I was about to Google that myself when I saw you had already done it!
Plastron seems a most clumsy name for such a fine feature, something like threadwork would convey more delicacy, I would have thought. I’ve always loved such intricate work with lace, raised edges, and maybe some spoke stitching. I was in heaven a couple of summers ago when it came back into fashion and it was possible to stock up on half a dozen tops of,er, plastron work!!