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The Princess in Purple & Your Favorite Wimbledon Looks

The Princess in Purple & Your Favorite Wimbledon Looks

Hello, and welcome to a post with a poll on the Princess’s Wimbledon style and a look at designs she has worn in purple.

After seeing the Princess in a purple dress at Wimbledon, many of us tried to recall other instances where she has worn that color.

I thought it would be an excellent exercise to see just how frequently or rarely the Princess has chosen purple designs. It turns out she has not selected this color as often as I thought she had. We begin with the Issa dress worn in Canada in July 2011

The occasion was a concert on Ottawa’s Parliament Hill to celebrate Canada Day.

The Duchess of Cambridge’s dress featured a deep vee-neck, horizontal and vertical gathers at the front, a fitted waist, long sleeves, and a concealed back zipper.

She accessorized with her bespoke Anya Hindmarch ‘Maud’ clutch (£485) in black silk and her black Prada pumps. The Duchess wore deco-style diamond earrings and a matching bracelet believed to be a wedding gift from then-Prince Charles. She also wore the late Queen’s diamond Maple Leaf brooch.

In April 2016, the Duchess of Cambridge wore a purple half-Kira when receiving a ceremonial welcome in Bhutan. A woman’s Kira (also spelled Kera) is an ankle-length dress that is a traditional Bhutanese look.

The Duchess and Queen Jetsun Pema. Her wool cape was by Paul and Joe.

The Duchess did not wear a full Kira or dress but a skirt. The purple and teal fabric for the piece was sourced and woven in Bhutan by noted artisan Kelzang Wangmo.

She wore LK Bennett’s ‘Floret’ heels ($375) with Lavender Amethyst & Diamond Earrings (£4900) by Kiki McDonough.  

In February 2017, the Duchess debuted a suit by Oscar de la Renta when attending a health writer’s conference with Prince William.

The skirt suit was from the label’s Fall 2015 collection. Made in stretch wool boucle, the tailored jacket had a fitted bodice with a pleated, flared hem. The full skirt was constructed of the same material; it featured box pleats and a hidden back zipper. The Duchess accessorized with her Mulberry Bayswater Wallet Clutch, Gianvito 105 Black Suede Pumps ($795), and her Mappin & Webb Empress earrings.

The Duchess repeated the look in January 2019 for an engagement at the Royal Opera House.

On that occasion, she wore black patent Rupert Sanderson pumps, carried her black Aspinal Midi Mayfair bag ($865), and had on her Asprey Woodland Oak Leaf earrings ($12500).

The Duchess wore the suit for the third time when formally opening the EACH (East Anglia’s Childen’s Hospices) Nook Hospice.

The Duchess wore her Gianvito Rossi Piper Suede Pumps ($795) and Catherine Zoraida ‘Fern hoop’ earrings ($181). She also carried a clutch from the Aspinal/Beulah London handbag collaboration; a portion of the profits were donated to the UN’s Blue Heart Campaign Against Human Trafficking.

Below, a look at the three different engagements. Initially, I wasn’t planning to include this in the post because the color looks more magenta than purple, but in certain light (particularly the January 2019 engagement), the color seemed close enough for inclusion. The brand’s name for the color was “ultraviolet.”

In March 2019, the Duchess wore a Gucci blouse in a color called ‘pale violet orchid.’ 

The engagement was at a children’s center.

The  Gucci Silk Crepe Pussy Bow Blouse blouse was 100% silk satin georgette. It featured a loose silhouette, covered buttons on the back, a high collar with bow, and a straight hem. The Duchess wore her blouse with the buttons to the front (“backward” per product descriptions).

We saw another shade of purple in September 2021 when the Duke and Duchess were in Northern Ireland.

The separates were by Emilia Wickstead. The double-breasted Dida Jacket and slim-cut Gus Trousers were created in a custom color for the Duchess.

The Duchess repeated the styles in November of last year for an early childhood symposium.

In 2021, the Duchess wore her Emmy London Josie Block Heel Pumps ($595) in navy and carried a navy Jaeger handbag. In 2023, she wore her navy suede Gianvito 105 pumps ($795) in navy suede. 

The Princess wore a close-to-purple design, believed to be by Emilia Wickstead, during welcoming ceremonies for the South Africa State Visit in November 2022.

The midi-length design featured a fitted bodice, peaked lapels, an applied waistband, and a pleated skirt. The Princess wore Queen Alexandra’s Three Feathers Brooch for the first time and the Collingwood Pearl Drop earrings. Her hat appeared to be a Sean Barrett design. Her other accessories were all in the burgundy family: her Gianvito 105 Pumps in Bordeaux suede, Mulberry Bayswater clutch, and UFO gloves.

The Princess has worn lilac and lavender designs, including the Alexander McQueen gown worn in Los Angeles in 2011 and again in 2021 at the Earthshot Awards. There is also the Emilia Wickstead dress worn in Germany in 2017. and then again for a 2018 mental health summit. But they are not purple.

This brings us to the Princess’s Wimbledon appearance in a purple Safiyaa dress. 

The Safiyaa Cecilia Dress name for this dress color is “lilac.” The A-line midi dress has structured sleeves, an applied waistband, and gathers across the bodice.

As you can see, purple has not played a significant role in the Princess’s wardrobe. 

UPDATE 7:30 PM JULY 26: Here are three additional dresses I did not include in the post because I did not think they fit the “purple” description. In a comment, Cam asked about the LK Bennett Dee Crepe Shift Dress worn to an Early Years function in June 2021. In the center, the LK Bennett Madison seen in June 2022 for engagements in Cambridgeshire. On the right, the Marie-Louise Midi Dress by Faithfull the Brand worn when the Duchess helped plant the garden at The Nook Hospice.

It is great to have your input in the comments and via email because you never know what I’ll forget and leave out! The designs shown above weren’t included because they were not strong purple pieces, much like the Alexander McQueen gown and Emilia Wickstead dress shown just above the Wimbledon Safiyaa dress. 

One dress I should have included that is definitely in the purple family: the Prabal Gurung worn in Singapore on the first leg of the 2012 Jubilee Tour. Thank you to Janet on Facebook for her comment mentioning this one.

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And now for our poll on the Princess’s Wimbledon outfits. Because we’re looking at a total of 25 ensembles, I have divided the poll into three sections. The first is on repeated styles, and the second and third are on new designs. Next week, we’ll take the top two from each category and do one final vote. 

We’ll begin with Wimbledon ensembles that were repeated looks. From left to right, you see the Alexander McQueen sailor-style knit dress, the Joseph Vanessa Dress and Nessie Tweed Jacket, the cream Zimmermann Roamer Day Dress, the Jonathan Saunders Evelyn Dress, the yellow and white custom version of Roksanda Ilincic’s Ryedale Dress, the green Dolce and Gabbana dress, the polka dot Alessandra Rich skirt paired with the oft-worn One-Button Blazer by Smythe, the azure blue Alessandra Rich Pleated Embellished Silk Crepe de Chine dress (initially worn in early June), and the yellow Roksanda Ilincic customized Brigitte Dress.

Here is the poll. 

And now for our first batch of new looks worn to Wimbledon. From left to right, the white Temperley London Moraiah Dress, the red LK Bennett Cayla dress, the Alexander McQueen Obsessions Print dress, the Dolce & Gabbana black and white polka dot dress, Catherine Walker’s Wildflowers Print dress, the Jenny Packham ivory Tennis Ball dress, the yellow Dolce and Gabbana dress, and Suzannah London’s white Flippy Wiggle Dress. 

And now, the poll. 

And now, our final group of dresses. On the left, the Emilia Wickstead light blue dress, the green Emilia Wickstead Denver Dress, Beulah London’s Ahana Dress in blush, Alessandra Rich navy and white polka dot dress, Balmain’s minty green Two-Tone Crepe Blazer and UFO pleated skirt, the Self-Portrait Boucle Collared Chiffon Midi Dress in lime, Roland Mouret’s green Ruffle-Detail Asymmetrical Midi Dress, and the Safiyaa lilac Cecilia Dress.  

And here is the poll. 

 

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Sue V

Monday 12th of August 2024

As well as lilac or lavender I think the descriptions need to be broadened to include ‘jacaranda’. I have always mentally categorised the June 21 Early years (although it’s a paper version) and July 2017 as such. One of my favourite shades in the botanical kingdom. Like a lot of us, I had forgotten just how much Catherine has worn from that colour spectrum.

So difficult to choose in the three polls especially as the first two include a lot of faves. I have to be honest and say that poll no.3 is the least inspiring - they are all from the later years when those interminable long, mid-calf or longer dresses were so prevalent. Half of them need a new lease of life with some inches cut off!

Poll no. 1: so unfair having to choose between the McQueen sailor dress and what William apparently called a banana (the Ryedale by Roksanda Illic). The final yellow with its dramatic bow an honourable third.

Poll no. 2: The Moraiah hands down, closely followed by the white Flippy. The Wildflower as a respectable third.

Poll no. 3: oh, if I must! Wickstead Denver and Rich polka dot, if only because the v-neck and ruffled collar add some character. I recall that was a really hot Finals day.

Zell

Sunday 11th of August 2024

This Wonderful post features one of the most Gorgeous and intriguing colors of all: Purple!

I'm definitely an enthusiastic fan of just about any color that the Princess wears, (with a particular fondness for red, bright yellow and all shades of blue and pink), but there's just something really special about Catherine in purple! I wish she might consider wearing more purple, going forward. She looks absolutely amazing in it!

Purple, of course, has long been considered a Royal color, because the dye used to make it (which came from snails) was so costly that only the very wealthiest people could afford clothes of purple cloth:

https://www.history.com/news/why-is-purple-considered-the-color-of-royalty

When the first human-made purple dye was invented, in 1856, people went mad for it, with many a gorgeous Victorian gown made up in the newly invented color of "Mauveine," a very lively hue of purple.

https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mauveine

In addition to being the first color ever invented as a dye, purple is also the color least seen in nature.

Purple is also a very symbolic for many of piety, as well as other unique qualities.

https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Purple

Catherine's purple outfits are stunning, but I also love the softer shades of the lilac and violet dresses she has worn.

However, those delicate shades of very light purple, while extremely lovely, don't often have the same impactful look, for me, as her bright purple and deep purple looks do.

That is why I was so excited to see Catherine in a vivid purple dress for this Summer's Wimbledon men's champion ceremonies. She couldn't have chosen a better color to showcase her emerging vitality. Also, she really stood out in that purple dress. It was a Great choice!

To choose one favorite outfit in this fascinating color is very difficult for me, but if I had to, *aside from her Wimbledon purple dress), it would be the Emilia Wickstead pantsuit. Catherine looks so dynamic in it!

I also adore the "Gucci Silk Crepe Pussy Bow Blouse blouse of silk satin georgette." It is so soft and feminine in design, with a softer purple, yet it is also a stand-out.

I love all of Catherine's purple outfits, as stated. She is every inch the princess in them, but her down to earth warmth always shines through, too.

(I also think that the Prabal Gurung dress is a Fabulous addition; there's no other way to put it)!

Wimbledon Looks, My Favorites:

1. The Jonathan Saunders Green/Aqua Evelyn Dress is my favorite in the 1st category because it is lovely dress in and of itself. However, the printed pattern makes it first choice for me! The green/Aqua colors remind me of Wimbledon grass tennis courts, and the bits of white in the pattern are, of course, evocative of tennis balls. The colors are also very refreshing for a hot and sunny Summer day!

2. The yellow Dolce and Gabbana dress is So Happily Bright yellow that I cannot resist it's zestful beauty! Bright yellow is yet another color that Catherine soars in, as it is a color that really compliments her brunette loveliness, while also communicating her positive energy.

3. The Safiyaa lilac Cecilia Dress is clearly a poll favorite and no doubt, a sentimental favorite, because we are all so very happy that the Princess made it to Wimbledon this year!!! Having said that, it is also a beautiful dress in a stunning color. I think I wrote, in the WKW post, about this dress, the purple has an undertone of pink, to my eyes, which gives this purple a very pretty and sparkling liveliness. Catherine looks utterly Beautiful in this color and the dress is interesting in how it is designed. I would love it, no matter what, but seeing Catherine wearing this dress, This Summer - has been Truly Very Special! 💜

Susan

Tuesday 30th of July 2024

Prabal Gurung for the win! I'm sad that we'll likely never see it repeated.

Laurel

Sunday 28th of July 2024

For another purple dress, how about the one she wore in the first photos of baby Prince George -- Catherine, William, baby George, and the dog, sitting down on the lawn. Photo by Michael Middleton.

Bonnie

Sunday 28th of July 2024

@Laurel, I just looked that one up. Yes, it does look purple, although the site describes it as magenta.

NancyRHM

Sunday 28th of July 2024

Well, my choices ended up near the bottom of each poll haha. But it doesn't matter, they're all lovely.

When I see a photo from the past, I very often remember the event and where she was in her royal journey at the time. For example, when I think of Catherine at Wimbledon, I always think of the Temperley London White Moriah (sp?). It's just such a fun dress, so pretty and playful. I believe it was her very first Wimbledon, so she was a newlywed and a baby Duchess, and life was so carefree compared to all that has happened since. But she has been lovely through it all, and will be an amazing Queen one day.

Best wishes to the Princess from across the pond!

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