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!

Prince Charles had a go in 2017

And Harry & Meghan visited Croke Park. I don't think he actually hit the ball but I think that was on one of his defensive-with-the-press days according to one of the photographers so he declined. But still, the RF have been coming over to Ireland a fair bit in recent years so its not exactly unprecedented.

Tbh there wasn't a huge amount of coverage. A polite bit on the news but waaaaay after Coronavirus. I live in one of the places they visited and I honestly didn't realize they were coming until the day before.

It's very much along the lines of when someone like Maxima visits. Polite attention but thats it.

But people do like William and Kate as people, there's no issue there. I have a friend who lives in London who was Whatsapping me all excited that they were coming to my home town and I think my response of "I was planning on going into town today so that's annoying" didn't go down too well. But I'm bemused at the thought I was expected to be excited about it. The only thing I was interested to see was the frocks tbh.

I don't get the emotion about Camillas boots. They look perfectly appropriate to me. Maybe she has varicose veins or the skin tone on her legs is uneven. I know mine is! I have weird dark patches on my shins where I keep walking into the dishwasher door. I have to wear Vichy Dermablend body makeup on them in the summer - fake tan does f*ck all.

@N0tfinished when you say the first royal to play hurling, do you mean Charles last year in Kilkenny!? He whacked it back lack a natural.

Did William have a go as well?

Actually it was 2017 when Charles went to Kilkenny. Time does march on so it does. Wow. Thought it was last year.

@AudacityOfHope your post calling Kate dim and then in the next paragraph reprimanding others for being unpleasant was a doozy of a post. A few other posters called you on that and you defended your own right to be unpleasant whilst still trying to moderate the thread! Wow

Let's give Camilla a break re her boots. She's in her 70s. They're perfectly fine - it's awful cold wintry weather and they're probably really comfortable. And she obviously likes wearing them.

I stand corrected on the hurling!

The Camilla boots thing is a light hearted joke. Obviously. 🙄

To be honest, I'm a bit jealous of Camilla and her boots. I'm blessed with legs like a farmhouse kitchen table so long boots generally don't fit my calves, sob. If I could find a pair that I liked and that fitted I'd probably wear them all the time too

Camilla's boots are grand. Leave her alone.
If you're feet are killing you it shows on your face.
Her boots are comfortable so she can smile.
As a Diana fan I never thought I'd be defending Camilla.

Being frugal and thrifty should be celebrated by the RF, I think. Two obvious examples of this:

● Camilla wearing the same boots all the time

● Meghan not having her clothes tailored, accepting that off the peg clothes will not be a perfect fit, but are good enough.

I think both these examples should be actively celebrated and encouraged, especially from Meghan who's finances are being so closely scrutinised.

I've said this before but I don't think they need to be thrifty as such. They are extremely wealthy in their own right and they're out there in the public eye etc. So designer wear seems perfectly reasonable to me and certainly I love to see Kate and Meghan decked out in some of their fabulous gowns etc (more bling would be nice though...!).

Where it does become problematic is the multiple items that are almost identical and each is worn only once. So, two expensive designer gowns that aren't the same - fine. 10 identical green coats, each one a designer one and each one worn no more than once every 5 years... then I have a problem with it. And it's not because supposedly we pay but because I think that kind of conspicuous consumption isn't a good look on anyone in the 21st century.

I have bought the same shoes in different colours in the past. In each case, it was because I loved the shoes, they were a price I considered acceptable and sure enough, I wore all of them all of the time. That's very different to what happens with Kate's similar but hardly worn coats and coat dresses.

I don't get any sense that she's a prima donna on this stuff - and certainly we've seen her in public and private wearing loads of high street - so I have to believe there's a reason. For all we know it's considered extremely rude as a royal to turn up wearing the same coat for two similar events (for example). I don't know. But it looks weird from where I'm standing.

I agree @BlingLoving - in the ecologically-aware world now, it's pretty obscene to wear an item once - or even twice. I find it very odd when the Royals are praised for "re-wears".

It's not just about the money/taxpayers etc. It's just quite vulgar in times of austerity & when we understand the impact of fashion on the environment.

I think Kate played a savvy game in some ways, combining high street with designer pieces. And on state duties, a certain formal look is required, so that can't be helped.

But I think the European royals have got it right & things will change when the Queen goes.

TheYearOfTheDog

*@AudacityOfHopeyour post calling Kate dim and then in the next paragraph reprimanding others for being unpleasant was a doozy of a post. A few other posters called you on that and you defended your own right to be unpleasant whilst still trying to moderate the thread! Wow

I agree. There are none so blind etc comes to mind. And yes, it is perfectly correct to attract the attention of those who are guilty of this. Due to the frequent declarations of “frock love”, I think it is felt a lot of the other less lovely comments fly under the radar.

I agree. There are none so blind etc comes to mind. And yes, it is perfectly correct to attract the attention of those who are guilty of this. Due to the frequent declarations of “frock love”, I think it is felt a lot of the other less lovely comments fly under the radar.

My highlighted response. Unable to highlight the post referenced.

I tend to give people a pass with their shoes.

I mean when they have a really good shoe game (Meghan, the York girls) I will oooooh and aaaaaaah like mad BUT I don't judge people when they aren't really into shoes that much and stick to tried and tested respectable pumps or boots.

Camilla isn't really a shoe person. She wore those nude pumps for literally years but they did look comfy. And in the winter she's glued to those black boots. But hey, it's fine.

Same with Kate. She's got a gazillion pairs of shoes but they're all essentially the same shoe in different colours, regardless of the designer. I don't get too het up over it.

My Twitter account has had fun with the return of Meghan and I'm sure someone from here has been posting

Meghan not having her clothes tailored, accepting that off the peg clothes will not be a perfect fit, but are good enough

Tbh that just makes me think she’s borrowing the clothes

@QueenOfTheAndals 🙌👏

This not a fashion related post... but I just think this might be one of my favourite ever pictures of W&K! Taken in Ireland during the week and posted on the KP Instagram 🥰

I'm going to a black tie 'do' tonight with DH - it's for a club he's a member of and I will know no one else there, DH may know one or two perhaps, I don't normally wear makeup or heels or even dresses, there may be a photographer there to take a few pics for the club magazine but certainly no one taking any specifically of me. I am a tubby 49 year old sahm, and I am panicking about control pants and doing my makeup although no one else will really care what I look like, and it occurred to me the other day how Kate/Meghan must feel every single day stepping out into that level of scrutiny. I know this is not news at all but lord I take my hat off to them (and everyone in the public eye really) for the inner strength that must take! (I shall largely be relying on gin for strength)

@Gooseysgirl That’s a lovely picture. I know that belted coat was a bit marmite but I like it (I may have a similar one ).

@iknowimcoming You will look great, I’m sure! I know what you mean though. There have been times when I know I’ve been looking distinctly suboptimal and I find myself feeling very relieved that actually, the only person who cares is me and I’m not about to get papped and stuck into the Sidebar of Shame!

Oh that's a lovely picture of W&K !

it occurred to me the other day how Kate/Meghan must feel every single day stepping out into that level of scrutiny. I know this is not news at all but lord I take my hat off to them (and everyone in the public eye really) for the inner strength that must take

I love event dressing! It’s the casual look that befuddles me. If you’re used to it, it can be a real
pleasure

Gorgeous picture of W&K on Howth Head, in Howth a suburb in Dublin.
They look so happy together.
I do so hope that those Rose rumours were unfounded.