The Duchess brought back a Catherine Walker design for tonight’s ‘Beating Retreat‘ ceremony.
The Duchess brought back a Catherine Walker design for tonight’s ‘Beating Retreat‘ ceremony.
We are back with a few fashion tidbits, as well as our poll asking for your vote on the ensemble Kate wore during the tour that you liked the most.
First, a followup to a topic raised in comments and on social media regarding ‘resort’ collections. This was prompted by references to the Alexander McQueen dress Kate wore for Tuesday’s Team GB reception as coming from the label’s “Resort” collection. (I should more accurately describe the frock as “based on a dress from that collection,” or as “made with fabric used for other pieces in that collection.”)
For decades “resort”collections, also called “cruise collections,” were just what they sound like: upscale clothing and accessories appropriate for warmer climes, purchased by those fortunate enough to be escaping the winter blahs. The collections generally were in-store in October, featuring styles in lighter weight fabrics and brighter color palettes. But as the popularity of ‘fast fashion’ goods offered by H&M, Topshop and Zara has grown, so has shoppers’ appetites for “buy now, wear now” merchandise.
These days pre-spring and pre-fall collections generate far more revenue for fashion houses and retailers than the standard “spring” and “fall” collections do. Pre-collection merchandise is on the selling floor for a longer period of time than items from the spring/summer and autumn/winter collections, and as a rule, markdowns are not taken as quickly for the pre-collections as they are for spring and fall merchandise. The pre-collections provide fresh editorial fodder for fashion sites and magazines, and offer consumers transitional clothing that can usually be worn when it is purchased.
The Alexander McQueen dress the Duchess wore in Canada is modified from a piece in the pre-spring 2017 collection.
Kate wore a new Catherine Walker coat for the annual St. Patrick’s Day event with the Irish Guards.
©James Whatling / Splash News
Because we don’t want to have an overwhelming number of choices when it comes to Kate’s dresses, we are going to separate out those frocks worn on the N. American Tour. The top 3 favorites from this poll will be paired with the top 3 favorites from the ‘non tour dresses’ poll we’ll have up tonight or tomorrow. (As well as the details on what Kate wore New Year’s Eve and an update on her Christmas Eve outfit.)
We begin with the Navy Erdem ‘Cecile’ dress worn for the couple’s arrival in Canada.
The Issa Bird print dress we saw for the youth barbecue event.
The Reiss Nanette dress made its second appearance on Canada Day, we first saw it in one of William and Kate’s engagement photos.
Kate went with another Issa frock for the concert and Fireworks show.
The grey Catherine Walker ‘Kensington’ dress was worn for several functions on July 2nd.
The Duchess chose another piece by Erdem for a non-denominational church service and other activities, his blue lace ‘Jacquenta‘ dress.
The Joseph ‘Vanessa’ dress.
The Malene Birger silk/cotton blend ‘Bullet’ Dress.
Kate introduced another Jenny Packham into the mix, the primrose yellow dress.
In Los Angeles we saw the Roksanda Ilincic.
Also seen on the Tour, Diane von Furstenberg‘s green silk ‘Maja‘ dress.
The handpainted silk Jenny Packham dress seen at the Foundation Polo Challenge in Santa Barbara.
Dresses not shown:
We will have our non-tour dress poll up later tonight or tomorrow. If wondering about the separates worn on the Tour, we’ll have one final apparel poll with suits/separates.