Royal Style: Bring on the Summer Bling!

[Maireas]

Royal Style: Summer's lease will soon be here, as will summer style, we hope!

She needs to appoint a replacement for Natasha as the only uniform it looks like is a cabin crew uniform!

Yeah, I think it's definitely got that 80s thing going on. Diana had one very similar to the green one, same colour.

I always think the late Duchess of Kent had great style, she often wore interesting outfits. Still wearing Erdem in her 90s.

And far too long!

I fear that the Trooping outfit may be something similar.

I lije the navy she wore today. So much more elegant than the grey and turquoise in those photos @RomainingCalmposted.

I think Kate just isn’t interested in fashion. She finds things that look OK and then she just repeats in different colours.

I love Kate's outfit! Think she looks elegant and smart. She so suits a hat.

I think Kate just isn’t interested in fashion. She finds things that look OK and then she just repeats in different colours.

If that is the case - and I'm sceptical - she should just do what CP Victoria apparently does and delegate outfit selection entirely to a stylist. Forgotten where I saw this, but Victoria isn't interested and prefers to leave all the decisions to her stylist. A good way of minimising the stress.

I think Catherine is interested in fashion. I think her evening wear alone is testament to that. Just because someone is a fairly safe dresser does not necessarily mean that they are not interested. I do wish that she would be a bit more adventurous now and then, but for the most part, I like what she wears. Except for the stilettos. Those I am not fond of.

I’ve often wondered whether Kate cares about fashion and I suspect she does. I’d like to think that out of the public eye she wears some very different outfits.

However I think she cares more about wearing what’s appropriate to her role and the occasion. And cares even more about avoiding unnecessary comments from the press (Is that a new designer? Look at her legs/hemline/bra straps showing! Is that new? We’ve never seen her in XYZ before…). She rarely puts a foot wrong even if it’s all a bit predictable - much like the late Queen.

It must be tough - everything is photographed and analysed and any fashion mistakes aren’t allowed to just disappear. Wear too many new/expensive things and you’re out of touch; rewear lots of clothes and it’s boring. Easier to be ‘safe’ and appropriate for the occasion and hope that some of your wardrobe can be worn again in years to come à la Anne.

I think at present she has 2 limitations - what she wears for events is 'work wear', and she is not always the most senior person there, so often will not be wanting to upstage others.

It will be interesting to see if she relaxes her rules at all when she becomes Queen, or still sticks to the safe 'work' wardrobe.

Yes, I think those are good points, @RomainingCalm and @bluegreygreen .

The late Queen was very predictable style-wise...when she was in her 80s! In her younger years she definitely wore all sorts of styles. If she didn't then there wouldn't be an exhibition or her clothes on at the moment!

And I think Kate does wear plenty of new stuff - all three of the suits pictured above are new rather than repeats - but it would be nice if she mixed it up a bit.

She also has a lot of lovely outfits she wore once and then never again, like the Chanel suit from the trip to Paris several years ago or the Dior she wore last year for the French state visit. I wish she'd dust those off from time to time!

I agree @KiIIingMeDeftly . She is interested in fashion I think, but just picks some odd stuff sometimes . Also Im not a fan of “one in every colour “ dressing.

I think she’s very good at evening dresses though. She has worn some that I have loved but never seen again. I’ll try to add some pics later.

These are some of my favourites. I was looking for a specific one that I cant find third.It was cream and was short on one side. She wore it to a solo event I think. I’ll keep looking

Edited - thought my pics couldnt be seen but here they are!

That pale green satin one is stunning.

Her hair in than low, loose bun was stunning. (Of course she’d be accused of copying Meghan now)

I agree she’s better at evening wear.

The ice blue silky dress was from the Carribbean tour, I think? She also wore a stunning green off-the-shoulder gown and a pink Vampire's Wife that haven't seen the light of day since!

Do you mean this dress @Sidebeforeself? Though it's blue rather than cream
https://www.womanandhome.com/life/royal-news/kate-middleton-icy-blue-mini-dress/

She was attending two services of Remembrance for Australian and New Zealand armed forces who lost their lives in conflicts. Not really an opportunity to “trendy it up” - such services count as the most formal of her daywear events in fact.

As for the streak of coats with contrast white features, since she’s worn a few lately I suspect she Iikes them? There’s another similar one you missed too from the collection. I admit I don’t get the criticism that they are dated. With the exception of the MacQueen, which must be at least three years old since Sarah Burton left MacQueen in 2023, these were all from the designers’ current collections when purchased - so they are up to date styles. Not high-street trendy, but definitely up to date with what’s in style for formal dressing, and no-one high profile wears high street trendy to these events? And designers are harking back to the 1980s-does-the-1930s at the moment (there’s nothing new in fashion…)

This is the MacQueen coat Kate used as a template for yesterday’s outfit by the way. I don’t like the asymmetric hem, but would like to have seen her keep the contrast waist band and triangular inserts.

Thanks, @Serenster . Good points, especially about the nature of her engagements.

I prefer that version, complete with the asymmetric hem! Naturally that wouldn't be appropriate for the Cenotaph but I also prefer the colourway to navy and white and the paler accents add interest.