Royal Style: We Love the Boldness, Bring it on!

[Maireas]

Well style mavens, that last thread went quickly! Let's hope we get more royal fashion to analyse. I think we need some tiara action, though.

What on earth is unlikeable about long, well groomed hair?!

I liked Catherine's outfit, I love a Dior "New Look" moment. I think she would have been better wearing contrasting colours rather than colour blocking, perhaps a black dress/skirt to make the jacket stand out.

What on earth is unlikeable about long, well groomed hair?!

Kate’s hair is too long, too childish and is starting to look silly. I don’t subscribe to
the idea that women should cut their hair as they age, but I also think waist length hair in coils on a middle aged woman looks rather daft.

I think Buckingham Palace opens to the public this week - so perhaps they don't want to put on a big banquet so close.

There's ongoing refurbishment/restoration at Buckingham Palace.

But that is an ageist attitude, shorter hair for older women seems to be exactly what you subscribe to. I don't really understand why you think it's "childish" looking - that description is inherently ageist. 43 is hardly old and there are plenty of women in public life of a similar age and considerably older with hair that long. Here's an article full of them, including JLo, SJP, Nicole Kidman, Demi Moore, Naomi Campbell, Julia Roberts, Helen Mirren. They look lovely and so does Catherine, imo.

https://www.vogue.co.uk/beauty/article/long-hair-over-50s

I’m almost 10 years older than Kate and I have long hair. But it’s not waist length and it’s not styled into ringlets. I’d look daft, and I think hers is verging that way.

I dislike long hair on older people when it is thin, strait and limp. But Catherine's is beautiful. Though I would call it waves not ringlets.

Andie MacDowell has waist length ringlets, she doesn't look childish or daft. She looks like a natural beauty aging well.

I like the outfit today.

I don't understand why you are talking about ringlets - all I see is gentle waves. Many of us have hair that forms waves naturally.

No! That's really ageist. She has beautiful hair, why should she have it cut?

Yes quite, her hair looks nothing like "ringlets". And plenty of women have naturally tightly curled hair. Are they "childish" if they wear it long past 40 ?

And Catherine's hair isn't down to her waist either!

This sums up exactly what I think. I really dislike the floaty or lacy skirt with a structured jacket combination. It may well be fashionable but I still don’t like it. And I don’t think that colour suits her colouring. I think she looks best in richer, darker colours.

I find this topic rather upsetting!
should I now cut my hair?
its a very outdated idea and frankly ageist to boot !
I thought style and beauty was a more friendly place.

I know. It's not about age, is it? We often include older women in our style comments. There's no "should" about anything, really!

I'm 10ish years older than Kate my hair is currently half way down my back, it's so plentiful that every hairdresser I have ever used has commented on how thick it is (my individual hairs are fine but so numerous that the effect is of a very thick/full head of hair). I'll have it cut when I get fed up of it long then grow it again when I've had enough of it being short. My Nan's hair didn't thin, my Mum's hasn't and mine is not noticeably thinner at 50 odd than it was at 20 odd. I don't do anything special to it - I have infrequent cuts, I wash it with cheap and cheerful shampoo, I rarely use any other 'product' on it and mostly leave to it air dry. I'm sure if I had a hairdresser on tap and all the fancy lotions and potions it would be so 'big' people would assume it wasn't natural but it is.

I’m sorry to moan on your thread @Maireasbut honestly those sorts of comments seem to be beyond normal criticism of hairstyles or clothing and more pointed and unkind!
particularly as Catherine has just had cancer and for some women loosing hair is one of the most upsetting experience.

It sounds gorgeous, @GetDressedYouMerryGentlemen ! I'm quite jealous!

You could be describing me there too! ❤️

It many ways it's the worst of both worlds because it's fine and flyway but also thick and very straight - it's almost un-styleable it won't hold any curl /shape so I have learned over the years that it is some variety of bob or a pixie cut.

As tween in the 80's I so wanted a flicky fringe as per every cover of Jackie magazine but all the product in the world couldn't hold it.

Maybe you don't have the rest of it to carry it off? 🤷‍♀️

I hear you about Jackie magazine! 😃
My hair is 1a. Seriously, absolutely poker straight. I always wanted hair that would go wavy or flick, but no. All my life, dead straight! 😟 I did not know how to deal with my children having 3b hair.....

I like the cut of the Dior suit as it harks back to the New Look but I wish it was a different colour. That shade of pink just blends in with her skin tone.

Her hair looks fine to me. Would an updo have been better? Maybe, but clearly she wanted to wear it down. Perhaps she's saving the intricate updo for the banquet!

I don't normally like Kate's outfits/styling but I thought her suit & hat were a lovely fit & suited her proportions. Colour wasn't perfect but it's the nicest outfit I've seen for ages on her, she looked fab!

I like the cut of the Dior suit as it harks back to the New Look but I wish it was a different colour. That shade of pink just blends in with her skin tone.

I love the cut, so happy to see it that I can forgive the shade!

I'm similar! I'm mid 50s with long, black wavy hair. I get it cut every 18 months - 2 years into a very short bob and then let it grow out again. Been doing this since I was 18! Wash it a couple of times a week with something bog standard from the supermarket and avoid hairdryers, otherwise I end up a bit Diana Ross!

Yes, me too, I thought it looked very sophisticated.