The Duchess of Cambridge's Daytime Fashion Part 6: December 2011 - March 2012

[Smush]

Originally Posted by KittyAtlanta

Eeeek! Those skinny legs in those ugly, motorcycle moll "shooties" is a new low. The dress looks like...nothing.

The hair looks dull and brittle. Seems to look good only when it is freshly glazed.

Next thing will be maternity speculation because of the semi-empire waist on this little girl dress. What is she thinking???

Sorry gang. She's going the wrong way for me.

I have to agree. She looks terrible.
Wrong dress/skirt/coat... whatever that thing is...
wrong length and definitely wrong color. And these shoes (which I like) to this outfit wrong again!
It looks like she got this outfit from her grandmother but didn't fit in at all.
And her hair is nothing new, like always.

[IloveCP]

I like the coat.It's lovely.The only thing I don't like is the shoes.

[dbarn67]

There's really nothing wrong with the dress/coat dress thing IMO. She looks nice in brown. It's just that right on the heals of her last appearance in brown I'd have thought she would have picked another color. I do wish it was longer though.

[Queen Penelope]

Originally Posted by muriel

Oh dear, it appears the Duchess has committed some cardinal sin. Perhaps a lot of the posters here would be happier if she turned herself into a vacuous ingenue who dressed according to the latest edition of Vogue?

There are definately posters who will always find something to complain about in regards to her clothes, hair, anything.

I thought the outfit was fine. I liked it. Appropriate for the occasion and looked comfortable. People looked happy to see her and she looked happy to be there.

[Kataryn]

HM wears colourful dresses and coats in order to be seen in a crowd. The Duchess of Cambridge could do likewise for the same purpose because she, too, should be visible on official occasions. That she wears demure colours tells me at least that she doesn't want to attract attention through her clothes and I can understand that. She is the latest, even though a senior, member of the family and she obviously sees her duty in being a "supporting actor" ähhhh, member of The Firm. Thus her clothing in the Uk and her different choice of colours when abroad. My guess is that we'll see quite some colourful dresses during their tour to Singapore etc.

When in time she is a mother of an heir either apparent or presumptive and HMs jubilee is over and everything is back to normal, then we will seea more flamboyant duchess.

[Duke of Marmalade]

She should have learned from the Canada scenario, the dress flying around is not a good thing at all, let alone such a short dress.
http://i.dailymail.co.uk/i/pix/2012/...21_306x557.jpg

[Baroness of Books]

Originally Posted by Frelinghighness

Thank you for expressing what I've been thinking too. This coat dress doesn't look like it fits properly, it looks like the waist is off and is too short. And, the fabric looks cheap to me too.
As you say, clothes that look like good quality don't cost a fortune, and they could be worn again....
With a brooch!

The problem with Kate wearing a brooch is that it would be difficult to see with her hair and the busyness of the pattern.

[Tilla]

You have a good taste, Jacknch!

[Daria_S]

I definitely don't like her footwear today. I think the dress would have been better in a solid color (the green shown on the site is lovely). However, I think the printed version is good when one is working with kids and paint. If something falls on you, it won't be too obvious because of the print. I think overall, she looks nice. Her smile is her best feature, and she appears to be genuinely enjoying herself.

[Elly C]

I don't have a problem with the dark colours Kate seems to favour, particularly as its still winter in the UK & we tend to leave our brighter colours for the sping & summer :)
I also quite like the printed fabric and I think the boots look good.
It wouldn't be one of my favourite outfits, but I think it is far from a disaster.
I'm looking forward to seeing Kate turn up for an official engagement in a trouser suit which quite a few of the European Royals do.

[LadyGabrielle]

I wonder if she is trying to dress this way so that the media and people can't say she is too over dressed or her outfits are too expensive. I think her outfits have been simple and subdued. Hardly any color and very minimal. Maybe for a reason? Maybe so the focus is not on her so much? If that makes sense.

[Lumutqueen]

Well the dress was in the sale, I think this is her only outfit that has been. As for not talking about it, the majority of news stories are running with headlines about her clothes. Twitter is full of people praising what Kate wore and not what she did today. Take this thread for instance, almost 3 pages of comments on one outfit and her current events thread has just over a page and a half. Catherine can be minimal, spend little and still wear bright colours - ordinary people everyday manage so if she wanted Catherine could as well. Catherine is a public figure, she needs to be seen. Blacks, browns, dark reds are just going to blend in

[XeniaCasaraghi]

:snore: So let's add up the complaints now.
Hair is always down
The always constant "don't like her dress"
Make up
Looks skinny
And now the new "she shouldn't wear dark colors"

I wonder what the next round of "If Kate were my Barbie doll" will bring us.
I have shoes like what Kate wore; I am actually happy to see something different on her feet besides the black heels. When I first saw the dress I thought it was ugly, but I admit it is growing on me though it is still not my favorite look of hers. I haven't seen many pictures, but some have said her dress flew up again....why hasn't she been putting weights in them?

[MARG]

Originally Posted by LadyGabrielle

I wonder if she is trying to dress this way so that the media and people can't say she is too over dressed or her outfits are too expensive. I think her outfits have been simple and subdued. Hardly any color and very minimal. Maybe for a reason? Maybe so the focus is not on her so much? If that makes sense.

But that is the problem. The focus is on her. No one would be there at that time and in that place if they had not come to see Catherine. And if they came to see Catherine they would have had a hard time unless she was close up as neutrals fade into the background.

Catherine can dress "fashionably" when she is not "on duty" but when she is she is there to be seen. She is the centre of attention and that is why she is there. She is raising the awareness of her patronage and so people come to see her!

IMO her dress was too short and flying skirts are never in style. As to her overall "look"? She looks like a little brown wren.

[XeniaCasaraghi]

Ok I've seen more pictures of today's outfit and it is still growing on me the more I see it. I think it is a cute look, still not her best but definitely not bad to look at. I also think the shoes give it a unique touch and make the look less boring.

She should have learned from the Canada scenario, the dress flying around is not a good thing at all, let alone such a short dress.
http://i.dailymail.co.uk/i/pix/2012/...21_306x557.jpg

Is that as high as her dress got? If so does it not flying higher mean she did have some kind of weights in it?

[PrincessofEurope]

The dress is nice but not one of her best looks - i do like the fact she continues to stick to what she knows and likes by using affordable clothing.

Was never a fan of the those ankle boots from the first engagement. Personally i prefer the classic elegant court shoe combination.

On this occassion her hair would have been better caught back - it was a windy day and she was working lots with kids

[NoorMeansLight]

Apart from looking cheap, this dress-coat looks sooo conservative and 50's... Not my cup of tea.

[KittyAtlanta]

I don't think the dress looks cheap. Actually, to me, it is one of the better inexpensive items she has worn.

I understand younger women liking the shooties. I like shooties, too, with trousers. The look when worn with skirts/dresses is somewhat tawdry. Kate is not a girl any longer. She is a woman with an important job. I just wish she would dress like one.

Be aware that Kate is not the only royal female who needs to stop wearing girl's clothing, especially the short skirts. I'm not talking BRF, but Maxima, Victoria, etc.

[agami.pearl]

I quite like this dress, but on Kate looks boring, colors are bland. Cut is nice, but skirt is too short (especially visible when she was bending down) and caused the problems with strong wind (in my opinion she should know after incident in Canada how to cope with wind and clothes). Don't like the shoes, only focused her skinny legs. Hair and make-up as usual, I've stopped to believe that she will ever change it.

[HRHHermione]

Short skirt? It was just above the knee. I would hardly call that dress short or girlish.