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The Duchess Mixes Old & New for London Engagements

Posted by admin 
· September 15, 2020 
· 69 Comments

The Cambridges have returned to London from Anmer Hall, their country home. Today they carried out several engagements in London.

The Duke and Duchess wanted to hear firsthand the ways local communities have faced the challenges created by lockdown over the last six months and also “shine a light on individuals who have gone above and beyond to help others during this extraordinary time” per a Kensington Palace news release. 

Their first stop was the London Bridge Jobcentre. 

More from The Telegraph’s story by Hannah Furness: 

At the Jobcentre, they met Afef Ben Khaled, who lost her job in a commercial bank in May when her contract was not renewed.  

When the duchess asked her:  “Are a lot of your colleagues who were made redundant at the same time as you, are they finding themselves in the same situation?” Miss Khaled replied:  “Another colleague of mine who was made redundant thought they [employer] are using the Covid-19 as an excuse. Sorry to be direct with you, but this is the reality.” 

The Duchess speaking with job seekers.

A quick video from Roya Nikkhah of The Sunday Times. 

The Duke and Duchess of Cambridge have been carrying out engagements in London today, starting with a visit to the London Bridge Job Centre to hear about the challenges of unemployment and job hunting during #coronavirus pic.twitter.com/vnRibh10TK

— Roya Nikkhah (@RoyaNikkhah) September 15, 2020


 

Afef Ben Khaled said after the visit that “For me, it’s so important that the Duke and Duchess come and hear about what is going on and hear what is happening in their country. People are going through difficulties. It was important to be frank and tell them life is not great for everyone. We’re not all living in castles, some people are really struggling, with their mental health too.”

More on the visit from The Express: 

They spoke to community engagement manager for Keltbray, Lloyd Graham, who told them how the construction company is involved in the demolition of some local buildings for the redevelopment of the Elephant and Castle area.

William said: “The children, especially Louis would love to come and watch that, to see the diggers, they love it.”

But Kate added: “Don’t forget Charlotte! She’d love it too.

The pair then traveled to the East London Mosque and London Muslim Centre in Whitechapel. 

The royals met volunteers who have been helping by delivering hot meals, medication, and hygiene packs to vulnerable members of the community.

Financial Support for some of this work is provided by the National Emergencies Trust; William is the patron of that organization.

Kensington Palace notes that in addition to delivering those critical supplies, “the team have also been providing befriending calls to the isolated, vulnerable and elderly and critical counselling, including supporting women affected by domestic violence.”

We return to The Telegraph’s coverage: 

The mosque’s senior Imam Mohamed Mahoud brought up the issue of mental health – championed by the couple through their Heads together campaign – and said afterwards: “I highlighted the issue of people increasingly needing support with their mental health – the Muslim community as well as the rest of the UK who have been horrifically affected by the pandemic in terms of losing jobs and livelihoods.” 

He added that the visit by the royal couple had real importance for East London’s Muslims: “It’s an incredibly significant visit.”  

The final engagement was at the renowned Beigel Bake Bakery. Rebecca English reports in her Daily Mail story that “As the couple arrived, the employees cheered in delight.” 

More from Rebecca’s story: 

‘We are so excited to come to your famous shop,’ William told Amnon Cohen, 70, one of the co-founders, who started it with his late brother, Asher Cohen.

‘We’ve been here 41 years, thank you for coming,’ Mr Cohen told him proudly.

The couple were slightly muffled through their masks but waved at the ladies behind the shop counter, Fiona McVeagh, 64, who has worked there for 33 years, and Dalia Urbanik, 43, who has been there for 16.

‘We are so happy to see you,’ shouted Fiona.

More on the impact of the pandemic on the bakery from The Scotland Herald. 

Mr Cohen said later: “We had to furlough our staff. Fortunately we were later able to slowly expand our hours again and are now open 24 hours again. It’s steady, we are serving. But it’s not like it was before. It’s definitely quieter.”

Elias said the business had been helped by the fact that they had already started working on a home delivery app and have been working with a food donation programme, Feast, to distribute unsold bagels.

Prince William asked what made the bakery’s bagels so good, and also asked if they had any problems with their supply chain during the lockdown.

The Duke and Duchess were then shown how the bagels are made.

Having a look at how everything goes together, with thanks to Rebecca English for her photos.

The royals then tried making some.

Both were given big pieces of dough weighing roughly 7 pounds to be kneaded into round balls.  That ball should then make about 30 bagels.

More from Emily Nash in her Hello! story. 

As the Duke put the finishing touches to his dough ball, Elias Cohen, whose father Amnon founded the bakery in 1974, said: “Not bad. I think Kate wins!”

“We’ll go with that,” replied the future king, laughing as he placed his dough on a tray for shaping. “The usual story.”

As they continued to work on the dough, the Duchess laughed: “Just wait until you see the aftermath! I had beginner’s luck. They are getting worse!”

Roya Nikkhah of The Sunday Times shared a video on Twitter. 

William and Kate also visited @BeigelBake in Brick Lane, east London, to try their hand at bagel making, while hearing how the 24hr bakery, which had to reduce opening hours during #coronavirusuk has helped the local community through food donations and deliveries pic.twitter.com/Xrsv82gBSD

— Roya Nikkhah (@RoyaNikkhah) September 15, 2020

The individual bagels are then created. 

The Daily Mirror reports: 

After impressing with their rolling skills, Fiona joked: “You’re after my job!”

She later said: “They are pretty good, especially her. She’d clearly knows how to bake.”

Those are placed into a larger container to be boiled.

A quick video from Emily Andrews of The Daily Mail. 

William & Kate finished at the Beigel Bake Brick Lane Bakery where they tried their hand at bagel making & heard how the famous shop had reduced hours but still helped the local community through food delivery #royals pic.twitter.com/UsyxijwXph

— Emily Andrews (@byEmilyAndrews) September 15, 2020

A look at the Duke and Duchess as they were leaving the bakery. 

After the visit, “a tearful Amnon said the royal visit was the ‘proudest moment of my life'” according to The Evening Standard’s story. 

Now for our look at what Kate wore for the day’s engagements. 

She brought back the Calla Dress by Beulah London (£550, $721). 100% silk with a cotton collar, the piece features a shirt dress silhouette with a concealed front placket, A-line skirt, and slender back tie.

The Duchess elected to tie the belt in front.

We first saw the dress worn during a May video call kicking off Mental Health Awareness Week in May. 

Kate debuted a new pair of shoes today. They look like they are by Ralph Lauren, the retailers’ Celia style ($675). 

The Celia is a classic point-toe pump in calfskin with a 4.1″ heel. Thank you to Middleton Maven for this shoe ID. 

Kate brought back a handbag we first noted during the final day of the Poland/Germany tour, an Anya Hindmarch clutch. Below left you see it as used today; on the right, the bag when the Duchess carried it in Germany in July 2017.

It is made of lizard skin, measure roughly 6″ x 10″, and has goldtone hardware. A ‘thank you’ to Lady Parky and Valerie Nijssen for their help refreshing my memory on the handbag.  

Kate also sported a new pair of earrings by Missoma. It looks like she was wearing the Rhodochrosite Gold Mini Pyramid Charm Hoops ($110).

They are 18ct Gold Vermeil on Sterling Silver with Rhodochrosite, described as featuring a “crystal that radiates love, compassion and all-around good vibes.” Many thanks to Regal RepliKate and Courtney Flower on Twitter for their earring ID! 

Kate has worn Missoma before, during the Pakistan tour last November. 

That style was the London-based jeweler’s Zenyu chandelier hoops ($149.). 

Kate wore the Amaia Kids mask we have seen previously. 

Our standard reminder this isn’t a place for a debate on face mask policies.  The couple adhered to the current UK policy on all three engagements today.   

VIDEOS: 

Here is the Royal Family Channel’s video from the Jobcentre visit. 

 
And from the Mosque engagement.

Along with coverage of the Bakery visit. 

 

LINKAGE:

  • The Telegraph’s story by Hannah Furness is here; Rebecca English’s Daily Mail piece is here; The Evening Standard’s coverage is here;  The Daily Mirror’s article from Russell Myers is here; The Express article is here
  • Simon Perry’s People story is here; A PopSugar gallery is here; 
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Categories : Clothing, Dresses, Handbags, Jewelry, Repeats, Shoes
Tags : Duchess Cambridge Amaia Kids facemask face mask, Duchess Cambridge Beigel Bites, Duchess Cambridge Ralph Lauren pumps, Duchess Cambridge return to engagements, Duchess Cambridge style blog, Duchess Cambridge style pictures, Duchess Kate Calla Dress, Duchess Kate East London Mosque, Duchess Kate fashion photos, Duchess Kate flowered face mask, Duchess Kate Missoma Pyramid Mini Charm Earrings, Duke Duchess London Job Center, Duke Duchess London Muslim Centre, Duke Duchess make bagels, Kate Middleton Beulah London Calla, Kate Middleton fashion blog, Kate Middleton making bagels, Kate Middleton Ralph Lauren Celia pumps, Kate Middleton Rhodochrosite Gold Mini Pyramid Charm Hoops earrings, Kate Middleton style, pictures Kate Middleton wardrobe, What Kate Wore blog
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Comments

  1. Larissa says:
    October 11, 2020 at 9:05 am

    That was a lot of different engagements to have to dress appropriately for: first you are meeting people struggling with unemployment, so something too high fashion is out of the question; then visiting a mosque, where it would be disrespectful to show a lot of skin; then heading to a bakery and having a go in the kitchen. I think Kate’s choice was absolutely appropriate for all of three. The midi/tea-length dresses that are in style right now have sometimes been described as reminiscent of the depression era, which is not a dissimilar situation many people find themselves in now. The fitted sleeves were ideal for baking. The fit and colours of this dress make it one of Kate’s nicer dresses in this style, IMO. I am, however, not crazy about the shoes as they don’t really seem to go with any part of the outfit. Something in a cream tone that brought out the lighter hue of the dress could have been great!

    I love Beigel Bake, I always make an effort to go there when I find myself on Brick Lane. How lovely to see Will and Kate pay them a visit, the employees and founder really seemed to feel the appreciation. 🙂

    Reply
  2. Shannon says:
    September 24, 2020 at 11:42 am

    I don’t like midi floral frumpy dresses kate seems to own alot of them!I also don’t like the colour of the shoes or the fit her mask is pretty though and her hair.

    Reply
  3. Jack Bing says:
    September 23, 2020 at 7:06 am

    I admire that Kate has worn the same mask for every engagement since it became necessary to wear one. It shows that you don’t need a different bespoke mask to coordinate with every outfit, which I have noticed some European Royals doing.

    Reply
  4. Laura says:
    September 20, 2020 at 6:46 pm

    It is so nice to see Kate and William out and about. I’m sure it means so much to small, local businesses when they visit, or when individuals are recognized for their non-profit work. I wish someone Royal would show up at my workplace in fancy clothes to tell me I was doing a good job! Positive reinforcement 🙂

    I think Kate’s dress is gorgeous, although I know other people are tired of these long-sleeved, button-front midi dresses. She certainly owns a lot of them! That being said, I think this Beulah dress stands out from the crowd of (many) other midis because it fits like a dream, and has gorgeous, sharp details like the contrasting red and white, the beautiful lace cuffs and the pointed collar. I DO wish Kate had worn her hair up 1) so we could see the collar detail better and 2) because she was working with food, but that’s a very minor quibble. Kate is tall and lean, and I think a midi length dress suits her and looks very elegant.

    I defer to other people’s opinions about the shoes. Not being a shoe person myself, I have no idea what is or is not a good shoe for a dress.

    Reply
  5. RF Mezzy says:
    September 20, 2020 at 1:08 am

    I think the longer dresses are a sign of respect. She was visiting people who are struggling at the moment and being all fashionable and trendy would be inappropriate, in my view. This dress was just the right amount of “I’m a Royal” combined with “But Not Unsympathetic to Your Plight.” This makes her special and accessible at the same time. I loved all of it — the look, the visits, the regular people being thrilled and appreciative of the opportunity to meet the Duke and Duchess.

    I always wonder what makes her wake up and say, Oh, I need a new pair of shoes, since we know she has hundreds. But then again, we (readers) get tired of the repeated trusty old LKBennetts, etc., don’t we? I can’t even look at her poor feet in those shoes. I don’t know how anyone manages that amount of distortion.

    All in all, a delightful, cheery, uplifting post!

    Reply
    • Laura says:
      September 20, 2020 at 6:49 pm

      I love that description- “I’m a Royal” combined with “But Not Unsympathetic to Your Plight.” It’s a tricky line to walk, but I agree Kate does it well.

      Reply
  6. Amelie says:
    September 18, 2020 at 2:21 pm

    Nice to see the Cambridges out and about again, supporting people and businesses affected by COVID-19. I don’t really know if the dough William or Kate kneaded was actually used if they didn’t actually wash their hands? Hand sanitizer is not enough for food prep, you are supposed to wash your hands with soap so my guess is those balls of dough were discarded after they kneaded them.

    As for Kate’s dress, I really can’t find anything redeeming about it. It’s like a busy chaotic floral wallpaper from head to toe and I didn’t like the little we saw of it in the Zoom call a few months ago. She has so many of these Little House on the Prairie schoolteacher outfits, I really don’t get the appeal. like her earrings though, if there’s one thing I’ve always enjoyed is the Duchess has a good earring game.

    Reply
  7. Susan says:
    September 17, 2020 at 7:53 pm

    Second wearing so much prettier! Thankful the dress wasn’t buttoned all the way up and her hair hide the white collar. The shoes are the perfect neutral for the dress. She looked long lean and elegant! I liked the earrings and find them a little unexpected- I’d have not chosen pink w the dress but they work.

    Reply
  8. Stargazer says:
    September 17, 2020 at 5:12 am

    Oh, Kate. I’m so glad to see you in public again, and with William!

    I love the way you are so like us, (well as much as you can be…). Also I like Catherines pretty, but not too bold face masks.

    As opposed to many here, I really like the long dresses on Kate. – I do understand that they require a tall frame and high heels, but if you want to emulate her style, nothing is easier than taking a few inches off the hem of your dress and wear ballerina/white jogging shoes- or other low heals, if you are shorter, inr real life!

    Fashion vise, we have had about 25 years of “miniskirt fashion”, and personally I’m SO tired of that. And also the “high slits” that look SO cheap!
    I prefer Kates dresses, they are also so forgiving.
    I hate the skimpy, short, cheap looking fashion that can only be worn by the overly thin 16 year olds. And it does not suit them.

    Catherine shows us midlife women how to dress, and I like it.

    Kate looks elegant, self contained, and so pretty in the long dresses. I do not understand why people are so against these nice dresses.

    Personally, I’m quite tall, with slim legs and I LOVE Kate’s style, just because it fits me too.
    My dresses are cheap (30-50£), but I have had SO many compliments. It makes me happy!!

    P.S. I DO have knobbly knees, so my dresses are always an inch below the knee, but still I like to emulate Kate’s style. Also I often wear lower heels, but that is just because I have to wear them for 10 hours, instead of her 2-3 hours a day. 🙁

    I just love Kate’s fashion at the moment!

    NOTE: admin edit

    Reply
  9. Allison says:
    September 16, 2020 at 11:32 pm

    It looks like the cuffs on Kate’s dress have been tightened up compared to the model. I like the looser look.

    Reply
    • Melanie says:
      September 17, 2020 at 5:00 am

      I do as well. The tighter cuffs are giving a shrunken look to the whole dress, which is otherwise gorge. The Duchess has such a divine figure for clothes but I still think sometimes she wears her clothes just a touch too close-fitting. She’s so slim, she could wear them just a touch less close and still look like a gazelle.

      Reply
  10. Marie says:
    September 16, 2020 at 11:13 am

    Maybe it’s my mood today, but it made me happy to think of a proud small business owner being visited by Kate and William. I can’t help but wish my own country had a gracious and generous couple like them.

    The dress was a good choice to visit a mosque. It covered everything! I also like it tied in front. It looks fresh and happy.

    Always happy to see new earrings as well!

    Reply
  11. Fliss says:
    September 16, 2020 at 9:38 am

    I love this look!! I like the fabric colour and print and the slimness of the dress with cuffs which add interest. I’m glad Kate has left the collar open which looks relaxed but still smart. I also like the orangy tan shoes; nudes or greys would look dull but this is a slight contrast – I like an orange and red together anyway.
    This is a dress which could have been staid but with the undone collar and slightly clashing shoes, I think Kate has accessorised it well and its one of her best looks. Its nice to see her and William back to work.

    Reply
  12. ElizaMo says:
    September 16, 2020 at 9:35 am

    What a lovely treat to see the Cambridges back at work. I’m so delighted to see Kate that I don’t even mind the return of another floppy tea-dress. This Beulah is looking terrific, it covers all points from a modesty point of view for a different heritage, and is a great colour on her. The deep cuff detailing looks exquisite with a hint of artisan, and the full upper sleeve gives Kate plenty of room to move as she energetically applies herself in the kitchen. And is it my imagination or does the whole dress hang better with the belt tied to the front? Certainly, from seeing the dress full length this time, it’s clear how the flowing silk handles gathers without bulk and flatters the figure.

    Today’s highlight for me has to be the two new additions, firstly the heavenly Ralph Lauren shoes. I will never tire of a beautiful court, and this is a fine example. On Facebook Ann Roehrs astutely pointed out that the tan colour is a break from the black which is so often teamed with red, and which, as a fellow warm colour, works well for an upswitch, especially in an autumnal context. I love the skilful cut of the front to give a slipper-neat toe, the low sweep up to the heel, and the risque stiletto, sheer and wickedly slim, with that neat little curve to the sole of the shoe. Heaven.

    My one small proviso is the 4.1-inch height of the heel, in close up it becomes clear what a strain the style puts on the human foot. At least Kate didn’t have to do a full work shift in them. The new earrings are the second new arrival, an unusual combination of gold with pink crystal, in keeping with tan shoes and red dress, very clever. The clutch is perfect, smart, unobtrusive, and wonderfully well recalled by Lady Parky and Valerie.

    Reply
    • Karen says:
      September 17, 2020 at 1:25 am

      You are a shoe poet!

      Reply
      • ElizaMo says:
        September 17, 2020 at 5:39 pm

        I may just have a shoe problem. I’ve been accused of being the only woman who buys the shoes and looks for the outfit to go with them afterwards! #Imelda

        Reply
        • admin says:
          September 17, 2020 at 5:44 pm

          This made me laugh aloud! 🙂

          Reply
          • ElizaMo says:
            September 17, 2020 at 7:13 pm

            Just happy to brighten your day 😊

            Reply
        • Liana says:
          September 17, 2020 at 10:22 pm

          Well, not the only one! My best friend builds her outfits around her shoes and I never thought about doing it that way before we had that discussion. 😉

          Reply
          • ElizaMo says:
            September 18, 2020 at 9:09 am

            Lol

            Reply
        • Bonnie says:
          September 18, 2020 at 1:30 am

          I have a huge problem getting shoes to fit right. On my right foot I have a bunion that goes out sideways and on my left foot I have one that creates a bump on top. So if I find a shoe that suits one foot, it doesn’t feel right on the other. Therefore I can’t select a dress and expect to find a shoe that coordinates with it. So for a special occasion, I search for a comfortable, but dressy shoe and then find a dress that looks good with it.

          Reply
    • Julie L says:
      September 17, 2020 at 12:52 pm

      I agree w/ your shoe/heel concerns. As a nurse I’ve seen too many young women requiring foot surgery and/or low back issues from heels. As for the red dress, I noticed immediately how well it matched her apron at the bakery. Good planning as I’m sure it was intentional. It’s also a flattering, cheery color.

      Reply
      • ElizaMo says:
        September 17, 2020 at 5:42 pm

        True, that’s reasonable coordination with the work apron 👍 I’m afraid the strain on feet here reminded me of the tremendous impact on the feet of ballet dancers. Eye-watering.

        Reply
  13. Meghan says:
    September 16, 2020 at 8:19 am

    I really like this dress. I remember when she wore it back in May, I HATED it. Now that I’ve seen it fully on Kate, I like it. However I feel like she should have gone with a different color shoe because these made her look washed out. But overall, great job Kate!!

    Reply
    • KJM says:
      September 16, 2020 at 10:14 am

      It’s the open button at the top, it changes the look completely (for the better).

      Reply
      • Jenn says:
        September 17, 2020 at 1:16 am

        Also that her hair is mostly covering the white collar which I just abhor. I like it much better as a dress rather than a Zoom call top.

        Reply
  14. Michelle says:
    September 16, 2020 at 7:13 am

    She looks lovely.
    I also was going to comment that it does not appear the mask fits her. It looks that the elastic is quite stretched from the fabric around the ear and you can see how it pinches a bit against her cheekbones. It it cute but I am wondering if it is a bit uncomfortable?

    Reply
  15. Sue says:
    September 16, 2020 at 4:43 am

    The best thing about this post is that Catherine and William were out and about together, it’s been far too long. Minor quibble, but I wish the hair (which looked terrific) had been in a pony tail, at least, at the bakery.

    I remember not liking what we could see of Catherine the first time she wore the dress and also not being keen on the dress generally when seeing the website pice: far too much going on with the collar, almost let of mutton sleeves, etc. At least this time it is not buttoned all the way up!!
    Like several posters I cannot wait for this style phase to be banished but am not too optimistic.

    We all know the Duchess is sadly not a shoe person but these, while elegant looking with anything else, are a definite flop with the dress – colour, style just do not go or add anything.

    Reply
    • KateM says:
      September 16, 2020 at 10:22 pm

      My first thought was why she didn’t have her hair up and/or in a hairnet to be working on dough for public consumption

      Reply
      • SaraF says:
        September 17, 2020 at 8:55 am

        My guess is that the dough was dumped for hygiene reasons.

        Reply
        • admin says:
          September 17, 2020 at 3:32 pm

          I was curious and looked up the guidance from the government’s Food Standards Agency for commercial kitchens. It says that when preparing or handling food, staff should “keep hair tied back and wear a suitable head covering, e.g. hat or hair net,” so arguably everyone should have worn a hair net or cap….? In the photos, I did not see anyone wearing a hat or cap. This is the site I looked at most extensively. https://www.food.gov.uk/business-guidance/personal-hygiene

          Reply
      • hrhdhd says:
        September 17, 2020 at 10:17 am

        The shop isn’t going to sell Duke and Duchess donuts.

        Reply
        • hrhdhd says:
          September 17, 2020 at 10:17 am

          *bagels

          (Probably won’t sell donuts either.)

          Reply
  16. Rebecca says:
    September 16, 2020 at 4:26 am

    Ugh!! Another ultra-long prairie dress. The striped sleeves and the red and white all over pattern have the unfortunate effect of making the dress look Christmas-themed. The whole outfit reads rather costume-like, instead of giving off the chic, retro vibe Kate was likely going for.

    It is just such an odd look next to William in his suit jacket, as Kate should logically be dressed business casual as well. I desperately miss her fitted, sophisticated, and (yes!) ~knee-length~ outfits of days gone by!

    Reply
    • Bonnie says:
      September 16, 2020 at 1:30 pm

      Rebecca, you call them ultra-long prairie dresses and ElizaMo calls them floppy tea dresses. Both are good descriptions. I’m wondering if we are seeing an abundance of this style, as they are being worn for sheer comfort. We all know that short skirts and fitted dresses mean restricted movement and a need for caution when bending or sitting.

      Events around the pandemic have not been formal. For the longest time we only saw Kate on video chats from her country home. So no coat dresses would have been considered. The sheaths have been exchanged for dresses that are relaxed in their look and their easy feel. Perhaps once the world gets back to normal activities and Kate returns to events held in churches, meeting with dignitaries and such, her wardrobe will move out of the prairie, granny, floppy tea dress look.

      Reply
      • Rebecca says:
        September 17, 2020 at 3:16 am

        Hi Bonnie! As usual, I love your comments and observations 🙂 The comfort aspect of this outfit was one of my first thoughts too, but then I am baffled as to why she would pair this dress with 4.1 inch heels? Perhaps the comfort of the dress and the pain of the heels cancel each other out 😉 Kate certainly has feet of steel as far as I can tell.

        You make a good point about the loveliness of the flowing silk in your other comment, which is something I hadn’t fully appreciated before you pointed it out! I also think her hair and skin are looking fabulous these days.

        Reply
        • Bonnie says:
          September 17, 2020 at 9:33 am

          I hear you Rebecca about the 4.1 inch heels. If I were looking to be comfortable, then flat shoes would be my first goto idea. I couldn’t walk from the stove to the fridge in my kitchen in those shoes, never mind wear them for several engagements. Kate has always loved stilettos and I do have concerns about the condition of her feet as she ages. When I see photos of Diana, I note that she usually wore tiny heels not over 2 inches. At 5ft.,10in she likely didn’t want to tower over Prince Charles. I always thought Diana’s shoes were darling and looked comfortable.

          Reply
          • Rebecca says:
            September 17, 2020 at 5:23 pm

            Same here! I cringe in imagined pain just at the sight of some of her stilettos! Of course she looks fabulous in them, but as you said, there are consequences down the line for lots of people. The 2 inch heels seem much kinder!

            Reply
          • hrhdhd says:
            September 17, 2020 at 5:33 pm

            Here’s an interesting article about how Diana’s heels and hemlines went up after her divorce:
            https://www.dailymail.co.uk/femail/article-4790652/The-highs-lows-Diana-s-marriage-heels.html

            Reply
            • admin says:
              September 17, 2020 at 5:44 pm

              Thank you for the link! 🙂

              Reply
            • Bonnie says:
              September 17, 2020 at 8:17 pm

              hrhdhd, Thanks for a fascinating article. Although I loved Diana’s two inch heels, I celebrate that as she became more liberated, she chose higher heels, so as to be taller than the men. During the pandemic I’ve worn running shoes, Birkenstocks and sandals. When the world opens up again and there is a place to wear “big girl” shoes, my feet might rebel, as I wear heels…never more than two inches.

              Reply
  17. Jenn Black says:
    September 16, 2020 at 1:26 am

    I really love the dress, florals are very popular right now. It is a hard color to find the perfect shoe, earlier it would have been great with a white shoe but now it’s tricky to make a good match. I think navy would have been nice to make a patriotic color story with a navy bag or belt. I like the dress better with the collar open.

    The earrings are unexpected, very understated and financially respectful. I love her floral mask and mixing of prints. I was expecting pearls but these worked as well and Kate always likes a charm hoop.

    Nice to see them back in London and back to doing in person engagements, I know that brings hope and helps bring attention to the needs of many.

    Reply
  18. Amber says:
    September 15, 2020 at 11:40 pm

    Love the dress and love the shoes – but no so much those shoes with that dress.

    Reply
    • Andie says:
      September 17, 2020 at 6:31 am

      I second this!

      Reply
  19. Victoria says:
    September 15, 2020 at 11:03 pm

    Love the dress – can’t get past those shoes, though! I don’t mind the shoes per se, but the colour seems off with the dress. I think this style of dress looks great on her because she is tall.

    Reply
    • LeeN says:
      September 16, 2020 at 9:03 am

      Oh, thank you for posting this — I thought it was me! The shoe itself looks fine with the dress but I honestly don’t understand the choice because of the color.

      Reply
  20. Christine Muehling says:
    September 15, 2020 at 10:40 pm

    I remember seeing the upper part of this dress months ago when Kate was on a video chat.
    I wondered what the whole length would look like and I really like it on her! The sleeves have
    a lot going on but I think the whole look works well. I don’t think the shoe color is good with this dress. Kate has multiple sand colored suede heels or gray and either would be a good choice.
    Great to see the Cambridges out and about!

    Reply
  21. LMR says:
    September 15, 2020 at 10:00 pm

    I cannot wait for the day Kate exits the long sleeved midi dress phase. It’s gotten so beyond repetitive you can pretty much bet on it. No doubt these dresses are made for tall slim figures like hers, but come on! Some variety would be fun. And I actually LOVE the shoes, they’re a gorgeous color. The only downside is that they’re calfskin. Not sure if there’s such a thing as “faux” calfskin but maybe I can pretend. 🙂

    Reply
  22. KateM says:
    September 15, 2020 at 9:54 pm

    I CANNOT WAIT for this trend of the buttoned-up prissy long floral dress thing is over! Kate must have a closet full of them already. They’re all the same and not so flattering. This red one is cringy with the lace bands on the sleeves eeeeek.
    Other than that yeah love the shoes & her hair looks great! 🙂

    Reply
    • Rebecca says:
      September 16, 2020 at 4:29 am

      Yes, thank you!! I one million percent agree with you. I want to banish all those unsightly floor-length florals from her closet forever!!

      Reply
    • katefanatic says:
      September 16, 2020 at 10:29 am

      Completely agree with you—this trend cannot be over soon enough in my opinion.

      There is soemthing about the print and the prissy frills on the sleeves that looks like a Victorian granny’s flannel nightgown.

      Shoes are great, but not with this dress.

      Reply
  23. Spruha says:
    September 15, 2020 at 8:58 pm

    I’m glad that the people they visit feel comfortable enough to be frank. There’s no point sugarcoating things to people who’ve come specifically to see what the situation is.
    I cannot remember at all Kate wearing this dress before. It’s so distinctive too! I find it quite cheerful, and I’m glad she tied at the belt at the front. The palace clearly has a new social media team; they’ve even made a slick Instagram reel! It’s a great way to boost morale.
    Agree with the other commenters that the shoe color is a slightly strange choice, but I do like the shape.

    Reply
  24. Ann says:
    September 15, 2020 at 8:57 pm

    Love the shoes (perhaps not with the red dress) but can’t help but think they look a little snug. Does anyone else think they look like they’re cutting into her feet?

    Reply
    • GwenP says:
      September 15, 2020 at 9:30 pm

      Yes, looks that way to me too. Not just because they’re so low cut, showing a lot of toe 🙂 but she does look like they’re a half-size too small, aside from that.

      Reply
      • Sue says:
        September 16, 2020 at 4:53 am

        My theory is because she is barefoot. I know people seem to think it is so ‘not’ to wear tights and the style police say it is naff but whenever you see photos of anyone with bare feet and closed shoes the foot looks squashed up, uncomfortable, wrinkled, inelegant, etc, even if shoes are leather-lined rather than not. If the foot were shod in tights it would glide into the shoe and not look wrinkled or squashed and look more elegant. As I say, my theory.

        Reply
        • SaraF says:
          September 17, 2020 at 9:06 am

          I agree with your theory. I have never seen a bare foot in a high-heeled shoe that didn’t look, as you say, squashed, uncomfortable, wrinkled and inelegant.

          Reply
        • JS says:
          September 27, 2020 at 5:12 am

          I’m quite surprised she’s suddenly started going bare-legged at a lot of engagements, given that she almost always followed the much stated “royal protocol” of always wearing tights… Not a good look with those shoes

          Reply
    • ElizaMo says:
      September 16, 2020 at 8:56 am

      I was assuming that was simply the effect of such a high heel, it has to distort the foot at over 4 inches!

      Reply
      • Mk says:
        September 16, 2020 at 9:37 am

        That was my thought too. Also she picked such a high heel because the dress length was so long.

        Reply
  25. GwenP says:
    September 15, 2020 at 8:06 pm

    It must mean SO much to the people they meet, that those people can speak openly about hardship and even mention the possibility of some firms using Covid-19 as an excuse. They are going through a hard time and need to be able to say it. I’m glad they can. I’ve seen the Cambridges welcome people speaking frankly before, and I bet it’s one reason people feel truly warmly towards them and their visits.

    Whenever the Duchess wears her long floral print dresses – which she seems to love, judging by the number of them! – I always start smiling even before I get here and see the comments. I adore them and she’s the perfect model for them, but I also know that I’m both an old hippie from the Granola Era, and that my American tastes might also be more pleased by the prairie look. 😎 But really, I especially like this one because even I get tired of tiers and ruffles, and those seem to be absent here. And I love the sleeves! They add interest, and for her baking tasks, their forearm snugness is much better that something loose would be.

    Shoes seem an odd choice in style, though the color coordinated well with the earrings and the caramel color is very evocative of yummy baked goods.

    Reply
  26. Bonnie says:
    September 15, 2020 at 7:10 pm

    William and Kate spread joy wherever they go. Several people expressed great appreciation for their visit.

    There are elements of Kate’s dress that I like. The silk drapes beautifully and would be lovely to the touch. Red always suits the Duchess and I like the gathering under the bust, that ensures a nice fit. But I do find the dress too busy with its allover print, contrasting collar and overly embellished sleeves. Also I dislike the shoe colour of a dark tan, with red. Kate does own red shoes and black, navy or grey footwear would have looked better. A 4.1 inch heel seems a tad bizarre while working with dough in a bakery. The earrings are lovely, although similar to the shoes, they don’t really coordinate with the red dress.

    Reply
  27. Liz T says:
    September 15, 2020 at 6:53 pm

    Calla and Celia! Love this dress. Wish I pulled off a mask as beautifully as she does!!!

    Reply
  28. Jessica says:
    September 15, 2020 at 6:46 pm

    The pattern is really pretty, but the puff sleeves, the collar, and the smocking together really make this look like something that a younger Charlotte would have worn.

    Reply
  29. Jen says:
    September 15, 2020 at 6:45 pm

    The shoe colour isn’t quite the same, and the style is very different, but reminds my of a caramel toned shoe Camilla wears to daytime events. I wonder if Kate got the idea for Camilla. I had been thinking this mask on Kate looked on the small side. It being marketted for children explains that.

    Reply
    • admin says:
      September 15, 2020 at 7:16 pm

      Amaia sells adult and children’s sizes. I could be wrong but it looks to me like Kate is wearing an adult size, just from the amount of fabric. 😊

      Reply
    • Kathleen says:
      September 16, 2020 at 12:52 pm

      I agree, the mask looks on the small side. The coverage is right but it looks like it’s pulled too tight! I’m surprised there wasn’t a mark on her face from it. I love the pattern though.

      Reply
  30. kathy says:
    September 15, 2020 at 5:37 pm

    Looking lovely as usual. Gorgeous colour and elegant style and cut. Love the sleeve detail and nicely matched with contrasting shoes. The slim, elegant heels are wonderful but then I am a huge fan of heels, they make a statement. Will never give up wearing heels, love them.

    Reply
  31. Sansa Stark says:
    September 15, 2020 at 5:35 pm

    New shoes new shoes new shoes!!!

    I really like this dress! I recall her last Beulah (blue for the NHS anniversary) not being half so flattering, despite the similar design elements (collar, placket). I think the skirt being somewhat slimmer and the interest at the arms improves the silhouette immensely. Fun to get a full look at a dress we had a “preview” of. Very cute, and her hair looks nice.

    Visiting a bagelry sounds like absolute heaven. I was so touched to hear how proud the owners were to have hosted W&K!

    Reply
    • Marguerite says:
      September 17, 2020 at 2:29 am

      I have a lovely MaxMara shirt dress in watermelon red that has a wide tan leather belt. Tan or red shoes or sandals work well with it and I usually choose a tan bag. Tan with red is quite on trend at the moment, but personally, I would have worn red shoes with this dress and pearl earrings. I believe the modest style was chosen out of respect for the members of London’s Muslim community whom they were meeting.

      It was so touching to read about the bagel shop owner’s reaction to the royal visit. How beautiful!

      Reply

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