Royal style: the Duel of the Duchesses

[QueenOfTheAndals]

Previous thread

What will tomorrow bring for Kate? Does her love for green know no end?

And Thursday night sees the return of Meghan! I know she can be polarising so let's stick to just discussing her clothes rather than the intricacies of Megxit. There's plenty of other threads to do that!

Wow @florascotia now we know where Erdem gets his inspiration!

As I said, the excuses being made for the past few days of bitching about Kate would be funny if it wasn't so sad.

You best police the post that just appeared saying she dresses badly. Quick! Sirens on!

Sorry Kate but CPV got to this dress before you did...

(Do I need to add "light-hearted"?)

It looks like Meghan did wear the white skirt and top under the camel coat yesterday. I just saw a photo of her on Istagram and she was wearing the three straps shoes. It looks nice on her, the sleeves on the top are very nice. I bought a similar top a few months ago and returned it. I looked like a rugby player in it!

Queen I was just about to post that same photo!! More green, maybe the royal ladies of Europe have got a WhatsApp group and are sharing style ideas!

That green dress is a bit much on anyone, but I do like the little ankle boots, they give it a more modern feel.

I like her earrings too, from what you can see in a little picture.

Thank you, queen. On the subject of costume history, Kate has the ideal slender late 1920s figure. Of course, it might not be to her taste, but she'd look great in styles like this:
evadress-patterns.myshopify.com/collections/1920s/products/1929-evening-frock-e20-6633

She also looked good in the petunia-coloured 1940s-inspired frock mentioned on this thread earlier today. Many 1930s and 1940s styles feature a narrow silhouette but with interesting details.

Don't want to lower the tone, but Kate's figure is the epitome of the well-bred Englishwoman of the 1928-1948 era, memorably summed up to me by a respected museum curator I had the very good fortune to talk to:
"The Englishwoman is so refined/She has no front and no behind."

That really was true of 1930s and early 1940s fashions. Think Wallis Simpson (not English, but ...) as a good example.

I had that Zara blazer until I stupidly packed it in a suitcase with a bottle of red wine. The inevitable ensued and the blazer was binned...
Noooo!

spudlet
Re the leather waistcoat and snipers.
It did cross my mind that some nut job might take a pot shot.
They haven't gone away you know.
Thankfully they are back in UK safe and sound.

@beanaseireann Oh blimey, I know the nut-jobs are still out there. My own family has felt the effects of some of our closer to home nut jobs, unfortunately.

I’d just forgotten how close they were to the border that day and I hadn’t considered that aspect of her outfit. I did worry that someone might have a crack at them out there too - glad none of our fears came to pass.

@horsemad snap! I have been into London today for hair appointment [because extra af as my teens tell me] and spent most of the time looking at dresses as going to a wedding in april.

I find shift dresses work well or I have the black knee length stella dress - the version of the dress Meghan wore to her evening do in white. But obviously wouldn't wear black to a wedding.

I like bling am booby and do find dresses so hard. I will let you know if I find anything though.

I do think the criticism of Kate's clothes can get a bit much (and I join in) god, I would be mortified if anyone critiqued my clothes in the way we forensically examine their wardrobes. But I don't think Kate would actually care that much as I maintain she just isn't that interested in fashion.

And Meghan if you are reading, please go to a few weddings soon so us short waisted ladies can get some inspo please.

Also hot gossip from my hairdresser is MM won't be back in the UK for a loooong time after she leaves next week.

That blue dress on Kate is probably one of my favourite looks on her - she looks incredible there. Also love her in that Chanel dress with a cute shoes and handbag.
Not keen on Megs' skirt today (yesterday) it really does look like a towel. And the Mathilde oh my God what are you doing love

This was just advertised to me on IG - maybe that's what Kate uses??

Gosh, I've had a busy day so have not had time to MN. Seems it's been an eventful day on here.

To those who feel that Kate is targeted on these threads, I really disagree. I think some of us aren't keen on some of her style choices - like the frills and ruffles she's favouring at the moment - but I think most of us on here think she's a huge asset to the RF. Lots of comments about how smiley and engaged she is, and how much effort she puts into her causes.

And it's perfectly possible to be interested in both fashion and 'serious things'.

I don't think Kate is targeted as such but I do think comments about her weight and the "seems dim" comment do for me cross the critique the clothes not the wearer line. I also think that for a few posters she can't win - e.g. frequent comments that she dress too old but when she wears a different skirt shape it's too girly, she too wedded to skinny jeans but when she wears cropped wide legs they are monstrosities. She also seems to get more stick for the literal dressing than anyone else but they do it. Meghan's Fiji dress was hailed as a triumph by most but Kate is patronising when she does it. But that is the problem she faces - you can't please everyone.

I think calling Kate dim is a bit unnecessary. People would freak if the same was said about Meghan. But I hate the constant comparison between the two. And here I am doing it.

I suspect Kate would happily spend her life in sweaty betty or outdoor clothes watching her children play matches, with the odd nice outfit for kitchen suppers

I think MM struggles with getting a good fit and should enlist a good seamstress who can adjust the fit. It never looks quite right.

I don't think Kate means to be patronising, though I'll leave the final word on that to Irish posters as I don't want to speak for them. Like I said upthread I find her commitment to literal dressing amusing/endearing. And Meghan's Fijian blue dress was a one-off, she didn't wear variations of that shade on every day of the tour!

But I stand by my statement that wearing a local designer is a much better way to honour your host country - take the Zimmerman dress Kate wore in Australia for example, or Meghan wearing Outland denim.

I guess it is also the constant criticism about the number of green coats that Kate owns. I mean, most of us once we reach a certain age know what style and colours suit us. I know I suit navy and have a couple of nice £££ navy coats but I am not going to live with those coats forever, I want new stuff too!

But this is why the whole RF model doesn't work. They need to be way more self funding and they I would feel happier commenting on their expenditure on clothes. Both Meghan and Kate have made some $$$ mistakes.

That Erdem on Mathilde is an abomination

Whattheother2catsprefer

I don't think Kate is targeted as such but I do think comments about her weight and the "seems dim" comment do for me cross the critique the clothes not the wearer line.

They do. I know the difference as do others who object.

I guess it is also the constant criticism about the number of green coats that Kate owns. I mean, most of us once we reach a certain age know what style and colours suit us. I know I suit navy and have a couple of nice £££ navy coats but I am not going to live with those coats forever, I want new stuff too!

Most of the green coat criticism was pretty light Hearted but I don't think there is anything wrong in pointing out that Kate has 10 plus (I think we are at) pretty similar green coats lots of which have only been worn once. No one expects her to wear the same coat forever but it is getting a bit ridiculous....especially when William is championing the environment.