Kate Down Under...the fashion verdict so far...

[susannahmoodie]

Changed my username when I changed my password but am a regular...

Thought we could enjoy a (shallow and lighthearted, yes) analysis of Kate's antipodean wardrobe choices?

I'm finding it all a bit matchy matchy so far, all the colour blocking reminds me of the queen herself.

Would like to see we in more trousers other than the skinny navy jeans + Breton combo which has been done to death.

Ok, but are you really saying that the future Queen of England is the wrong person to be wearing someone's clothes?

Kate could, in theory, chose to wear anything in the whole world. The designer who will say, actually I am not going to dress her, is going to be very rare.

I like the green coat, but I don't think the colour particularly suits her. She looks better in a darker or teal green.

Agree wit
H Japanese that (sorry dry) those cuffed shoes are awful and if I were her I wouldn't wear flats (except maybe on the beach-but then sand in shoes is a problem?)

In saying that I admit I have a pair of the sledge lk court shoes, in a few colours too as they are incredibly comfortable, and the some of the high street stuff she's worn I have owned before she wore it so I obviously also having boring style like her.
Wish I looked as good as she does though!

Of course designers care who wears their clothes. The reputations damage can be huge. Who can forget Daniella Westbrook in head-to-toe Burberry? It took them a long time to claw their way back from that, and you'll note the check is very sparse in the collections now.

Likewise I think Tom Ford put an embargo on Victoria Beckham being sent/lent his clothes back in the boob-job/hair extension days.

That being said, I don't think many designers would turn down the 'Kate effect'.

Ali, the designer of one of the dreses she has worn didn't want to be named. It says so in this article and at leats one other I have read.

Clearly not all designers want their products to be associated with her. Now I am making an assumption here, but I'm guessing it's because she doesn't fit with their brand.

The reason why the designer who made the yellow broaderie anglaise dress hasn't been named is that from what I've read, it was made by the woman who's in charge of the Queen's wardrobe/her dressmaker.

In fact, the same woman, Angela Kelly (I think) also made Kate a similar dress a while ago.

I wonder why she doesn't want to be named. She could set something up if she was. Maybe it's part of her contract, no idea.

I'd be surprised if the other designers are even asked if they want to be named.

I also read an article saying that yellow dress was made for Kate to her own design (probably by Angela Kelly as suggested)

Not wanting to be named may be because she needs to grow her business slowly and the explosion in interest (and sales to every royal groupie) could mean she is unable to meet her orders. As many businesses fail because they grow too fast as grow too slow.

Or it might be because she is appalled at the thought of Kate in her clothes . Not everybody wants that image for their clothing.

I just saw a pic of the green coat outfit. It's Australia, she must've been boiling surely? They've had months to plan this trip, who would think a coat was a good idea?

Oh gawd, the shoes, the shoes. I read on the DM a comment that said Kate has short legs and a long body plus her legs are bandy without heels which explains why she does the leg lengthening with the nude shoes and wears heels so much. Blow me down, I think that's true, she looked small without heels in the pic where she wore flats- Will is actually a lot taller than her in bare feet so I reckon she has a big hang up about it as it's always high waisted and high heels to give the impression of being tall and leggy. Actually it's a very clever trick and I tried it myself- it really works wonders. Most people wouldn't even notice that she's not really supermodel shape so I wish she'd just relax about it as the wedges look really tacky with skinny jeans- she'd look lovely going more laid back and less barbie doll. Prince Harry's girlfriend is apparently very natural and dresses much less self consciously, I think she will be a breath of fresh air as am getting a bit bored of the same old from Kate.

And the eyeliner needs to change, too hard.

Autumn in Canberra can be quite chilly.

Yeah but it wasn't

Harry's GF is even more of a fashion disaster.

I like Cressida! She doesn't give a flying crap - oh to be that young and carefree

As for Kate - while she is definitely not what I would call fashionable, I like her current style much better than her Sloaney years. But I admit to having a sweet spot for her - I can't help comparing her to Princess Letizia of Spain who is just a walking disaster. Kate seems so sweet and smiley in comparison.

I think the eyeliner is tattooed on

What makes you think Letizia is a disaster? I think she is very cool. Apart from being scarily thin, but then I fear that is the lot of princesses.

She is sour faced, has been caught been rude to people and behaving poorly in official acts too many times, and tries too hard to look like a teenager. All of this IMO, of course

Letizia was being held up as a paragon of fashion further up the thread

Must say that I find the level of vitriol towards Kate and her clothes displayed in places on this thread to be very strange. It is fun to see what she's wearing but they are only clothes!

Loved the blue coat she wore today, that shape with a flared skirt balances her shoulders and she looked great.

Ha ha! I hadn't read the whole thread. God, not my opinion at all. I do like Princess Mary, though.

I think overall she's looked good - appropriate which is probably the main thing.

The shoes and the eyeliner - well, she clearly likes them and that's what counts

off duty

She looks fab there!