Royal style and gossip: new year, new thread

[QueenOfTheAndals]

Previous thread.

And let's stick to critiquing the outfits rather than the wearer!

@idabwells
The black & white dress was from India.
I just found a link which was Kate’s best outfits, not just this year!
I loved pretty much everything she wore to Bhutan, India and also a different trip to the Solomon Islands. I feel like Kate can let her hair down when she is further from home.

Next year, I think a US trip is on the cards for M&H.
I’d love to see who Meghan wears. I hope more Oscar de la Renta.

Do the Royals ever go to Italy? I’d love to see them in Italian designers.

It's quite likely that the DofCs new air of ... regalness (?) is linked to the fact she's finished producing babies. Like a woman gone back to an important job after a long maternity leave (except in her case the maternity bit came first, iyswim?)

These first years married to William (and being the DofC) have been taken up with preparing to be pregnant, being pregnant, post pregnancy and preparing to be pregnant again. (I had my eldest 3 DCs within 6 years in my 20s - it does rather define you during that time like it or not!) Now she's not just DofC in name, she'd doing the job and she's doing it well, the timing is perfect (in a sad way obvs) and she knows she can get her teeth into now, uninterrupted.

^
This

Quantumblue i glanced over that site and bookmarked it but daren't look again. I'm still umming and ahhing over the blooming 'sandringham coat' i've fallen in love with!

This is worse than the S&B board which was responsible for costing me £££ in Hobbs, Hourglass and Estee Lauder recently!

Kate looked amazing from Louis christening onwards. That’s when she debuted the Ann Boleyn headband.
She is really enjoying her last baby. Also, Meghan is taking the heat off her. Not great for Meghan, but hopefully things will calm down.

I agree it's a uniform. And she's upped her game post mat leave. But her style personally leaves me cold. Again, I know I'm in the minority here.
Leti's formal looks would suit Kate so well. And CP Mary's. Who after all, are higher up the food chain than her.

That’s when she debuted the Ann Boleyn headband. That's interesting Curly. I didn't realise that.

It's as if she's had this plan of 'after the babies' for a while. I guess you would.

I think she's decided:
super skinny,
very recognisable (like HM with the coat dresses),
very tailored,
very smart,
beyond fashion, a uniform, as pp said,
and
her own signature something.

I think it just gives Catherine the freedom to be "on" and have a clear look that she is very comfortable with and we all recognize. Then she can go home and be herself and be free to dress however she wants. Having a uniform gives her clear boundaries.Paradyning I know a lot of people are not crazy about her choices but they always fit her beautifully and you can easily see how it reduces anxiety about constantly figuring out new outfits if you've already narrowed the scope.

I think the coat dresses are genius. They are simple, they can be one bold colour so she can easily be seen in a crowd by onlookers and security, they are feminine and yet have an element of armour about them as they are modest and buttoned up so she never has to wonder if anyone or a camera is peering down her top.

People like familiarity, we love the visual comfort of the Queen in her own uniform: coat, hat, brooch, handbag, sensible but smart shoes. In Balmoral: corgis, kilt, twin set, pearls, headscarf and country coat. Maybe Catherine is quite comfortable not being exciting but being respected and loved. She seems quite a naturally shy person and yet she has learnt to be very comfortable and charming while doing walkabouts.

HM’s uniform is what she wears now, but in her youth she wore her fair share of glamorous clothes and didn’t just stick to a uniform.

I was surprised at how many of Kate’s outfits, coat dresses aside, I liked in that slide show. I definitely prefer it when she goes for something unusual like the tweedy Erdem or goes a bit retro like that very Jackie O Gucci dress.

Spot on Ida

Wonder whether Harry has lost some of his spark not because of a rift but he’s feeling his brother moving closer to the throne.

also his mum is not around - he made a wistful comment when on tour about how Diana could have been pregnant with him. He’s about to become a father & I think he could be missing that & seeing the press rips his wife to shreds as they did his mum.

I'm going to have to disagree re the headbands, I'm not keen and think especially the one she wore to Louis Christening was awful. It was too big, she was too skinny, I remember reading somewhere that her head was like a Lollypop on a stick, and I can't get that out of my head.

The christening headband reminded me of something the queen mum might've worn!

The headband/headdress does not look good from the back when her hair is loose. It’s okayish if her hair is up. Not a fan, though.

I wonder what happens to Kate's clothes, of which she has masses
Are they given to her? loaned to her? sold at half price?
and then what? does she sell them?

Tatler has revealed its 20 best looks of the year but with the exceptions of a few like Meghan and Cate Blanchett, there's some serious fugliness going on.

Aristocrats feature heavily of course, but some of their outfits are hideous - Mary Charteris was clearly coming from the gym and forgot to remove her sports bra, and what was Alice Naylor-Leyland thinking? Lady Gaga in the photo above her shows how to carry off a huge statement dress with style rather than looking ridiculous.

Re Press, I just hope Harry and co dont read the tabloids

@GaryBaldbiscuit I always imagine Kate has something like !

The Queen keeps abreast of all the papers so I imagine the so-called Fab Four - embarrassing name - will do so too. Is human nature to be curious. I imagine only Kate is feeling reasonably okay about her press coverage.

It’s human

perhaps they read the broadsheets, but no need for tabloids, but i guess they could

Well, given that the tabloids are full of personal speculation about them, I think they will most certainly want to keep up to speed.

Some great outfits from Kate in that link - thank you Curly

I’d imagine they do read the papers or at least their advisors would have to.

Alice Naylor-Leyland (Mrs Alice) is heavily pregnant so she can be forgiven for dressing up like a glittery Pom Pom

I think the coat dresses are genius. They are simple, they can be one bold colour so she can easily be seen in a crowd by onlookers and security, they are feminine and yet have an element of armour about them as they are modest and buttoned up so she never has to wonder if anyone or a camera is peering down her top

Yes I think you're right. And she has a "casual" uniform too - jeans, khaki woollen jumper, cute little cotton blouse peeking underneah. Very boring, very unobjectionable.

She really has twigged over the years what a future Queen needs to look like. Unchanging, reliable, uncontroversial.

IPromiseIWontBeNaughty - ... also his [Harry] mum is not around - he made a wistful comment when on tour about how Diana could have been pregnant with him. He’s about to become a father

Becoming a parent for the first time grows you up fast, and makes you see your past, your present and future in a new light. He'll be missing his mum anew. My own DF died before DD4 was born and as much as i love DH's family I find it hard sometimes, when DHs dad is playing with DD, to think she'll never know her other grandad :(