Best Tour Dress
Our first poll asks you to vote for Kate's 'Best Tour Dress'. First up, we have the bespoke blue fitted dress by Jenny Packham worn on the first day of the tour. It's a beautifully crafted garment with gathered shoulders, a belt, and detailing at the collar and back. It was a stunning arrival look for the Duchess - elegant, sophisticated and an all round favourite judging by feedback on the blog and social media. This is the result of Kate's great relationship with the designer which began shortly after the royal wedding. We're accustomed to seeing sweeping, sequin gowns from Jenny Packham and seeing her move away from her signature styles in the creation of several of Kate's pieces. Will it win your vote in the poll?
On the second day of the tour, the Duchess chose a red and white McQueen dress for a day of engagements in Vancouver. It's a customised version of a Resort 2017 style with long sleeves and a tiered skirt. The dress received mixed reviews on the day with many suggesting the style of the collar and buttons wasn't complimentary to the designer of the dress.
I grappled with the inclusion of Kate's Preen dress as it's an evening look. As there was only one evening event during the tour it seemed best to include it in this category. You all know how much I adore this dress; for me it harkened back to the style of old Hollywood stars such as Grace Kelly, and red is such a fantastic look for Kate. The Finella Satin Midi Dress is crafted from heavyweight satin and has a classic fit-and-flare silhouette that's elevated with a wide asymmetric hemline, front pleated wrap, and box pleats at the skirt. It marked the first time Kate wore British brand Preen by Thornton Bregazzi, and I suspect it won't be the last.
The Duchess chose green Dolce & Gabbana for engagements in Kelowna. The brand is becoming something of a favourite of Kate's and it was refreshing to see her trying a style without lace (in fact, HRH's penchant for lace was notably absent during the tour). Kate wore the brand's Pocket Watch Dress, customised without the pocket watch detail. The bottle-green dress features gold-toned buttons down the front, a bow-tie collar, and a ruffled trim along the sleeve seals.
Finally, for the children's party at Government House Kate wore the SEE BY CHLOÉ Pointelle-knit cotton-blend dress. It marked the debut of another new brand for the Duchess; the French fashion house's label SEE by Chloé is aimed at younger customers. The choice of dress proved polarizing due to its colour; many felt ivory wasn't an ideal choice for a children's party. I'm in the minority on this one - I very much liked the dress on the day and taking a second look it has further grown on me.
Best Tour Coat
For our second poll, we're asking you to vote for Kate's 'Best Tour Coat'. First up, we have a royal repeat - Kate's Hobbs London Persephone Trench Coat. The pine green coat has always been popular and it's not difficult to see why; it's a beautiful colour with cut and sew design, raw edges, traditional storm flap and epaulette detailing. It proved the perfect match for the shoes/accessories Kate had worn with her green Dolce & Gabbana dress earlier that day and for the evening's event. I think most were pleased to see it again.
The Duchess chose a red coat by Venezeulan-American fashion designer Carolina Herrera - a new designer for HRH - for engagements in Whitehorse. The double-breasted red coat features a peter pan collar and is made of a double-faced wool and cashmere mix blend. I'm a huge fan of Carolina Herrera's designs and I very much hope to see Kate wearing the label in the future, however, the coat isn't up there with the other options for me; the fit and silhouette doesn't quite work for me. Do you like it? Will it get your vote?
It was bespoke Catherine Walker for the Farewell to Canada. The cream coat was a lovely choice for the departure and offered the quality design and tailoring we've come to expect from the brand. Catherine Walker was a firm favourite of Diana's, and following her passing in 2010, the brand has continued to win over notable clients and produce beautiful pieces.
I'm very much looking forward to seeing your choices!
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Over the past couple of days, Kensington Palace has announced several engagements for the Duke and Duchess, with next week promising to be a busy and interesting one. On Monday, 10 October William, Kate and Harry will celebrate World Mental Health Day with a special Heads Together event at the London Eye. The theme of WMHD 2017 is the value of psychological and mental first aid for all - an issue the Palace say the royals will explore with Heads Together. Below, we see the Cambridges marking World Mental Health Day last year at an event hosted by charity Mind.
As previously announced, Kate will undertake her first solo overseas visit on Tuesday, 11 October when she will spend the day in the Netherlands carrying out a variety of engagements.
William and Kate will spend Friday, 14 October in Manchester. The couple's first stop is a visit to the National Football Museum, housed in Manchester's iconic Urbis building. The Duke and Duchess will first attend a reception with young Mancunians who are making a difference to their communities. They will then take a tour of the museum, which aims to explain to fans and non-fans alike how and why football has become ‘the people’s game'.
William and Kate will spend Friday, 14 October in Manchester. The couple's first stop is a visit to the National Football Museum, housed in Manchester's iconic Urbis building. The Duke and Duchess will first attend a reception with young Mancunians who are making a difference to their communities. They will then take a tour of the museum, which aims to explain to fans and non-fans alike how and why football has become ‘the people’s game'.
More from the press release:
'Next, the Duke and Duchess will arrive at Manchester Town Hall, and attend a ceremony at the Cenotaph to lay commemorative paving stones honouring Manchester's six Victoria Cross recipients as part of the First World War Centenary campaign. The Duke and Duchess will then visit the National Graphene Institute at the University of Manchester. They will see the University's world leading research facilities and applied technology before visiting the site of the new Manchester Engineering Campus Development (MECD) currently under development, where they will help to seal a time capsule within the building's foundations. The new development aims to build on the city's science and engineering heritage by providing world-class academic facilities.'
The day will conclude with a visit to Francis House, a hospice which provides care for children and young adults with life-limiting conditions. The hospice was opened in 1991 by Diana, Princess of Wales, and is this year celebrating its 25th anniversary. William and Kate will meet families and volunteers, and officially open Francis House's new Lodge facilities.
We will see you shortly with the remaining tour polls. :)
Looking at the Jenny Packham Blue dress from the arrival in Canada, it looks very similar to the cream and black laced dress that Kate wore in France a few months ago. Any chance they're the same designer?
ReplyDeleteIt was on Twitter that it was confirmed that the dress in France was by Jenny Packham
DeletePamela, I read somewhere that Jenny Packham did take credit for the lace dress in France. Would explain the silhouette similarities and excellent fit. cc
DeleteYes. That has already been confirmed.
DeleteYes Pamela,I think someone commented on the post on the day Kate arrived in Canada that Jenny Packham had indeed confirmed that both dresses were their design
DeleteI think another blog (or was it this one?) confirmed the cream & black lace dress was a bespoke piece from Jenny Packham as well, they are very similar in design.
DeleteYup, JP confirmed the lace dress as hers. I kept thinking that her new one looked like an old one at first, but I didn`t know which until that came out.
DeleteExcellent post! Next week will definitely be interesting!
ReplyDeleteIt will be the becoming of Catherine as a full Royal and we will see her in an array of events
Thank you very much for your hard work Charlotte, could we have another poll on the gowns we imagined for her, maybe later. Although it would be very difficult to choose.
ReplyDeleteI look forward to the Heads together engagement, KP promised speeches, also in the original press released for the visit in the Netherlands, it was written she is gonna host a meeting so I expect her to stand up and say something. Shall see!
Regarding William, let's hope he is gonna read his briefing notes about Francia House, visiting a football museum in Manchester comes handy after being critised for not attending FA meetings.:)
The meeting is a round table meeting of her charities and a Dutch charity similar to hers. There will probably be discussion on how each charity approaches the issues in different countries. I would not imagine her speaking at this event.
DeleteThis was tricky because I loved, loved, loved the Jenny Packham and Preen in equal measure! Plumped for JP in the end as I had spent all of that Saturday just waiting for the arrival and seeing the Cambridge family together made it extra special. Really good news about next week's engagements - I thought they might go to ground for a month!!
ReplyDeleteI voted for the blue Jenny Packham dress and the Catherine Walker cream coat.
ReplyDeleteI am very much looking forward to your coverage of the next engagements. Thanks Charlotte!
Same here Mellie :)
DeleteAnd here, Mellie and Cherie :), but as I couldn't make up my mind about the dress I voted for two - blue JP and red Preen. I found it impossible to choose one!
DeleteI really enjoyed seeing Kate on this recent tour because she looked stunning on every day. Although, I have to say that without a doubt, my favourite look was the red Preen dress. It was simply perfect on her and it was also a slight departure from her usual style. The length, the neckline, everything just worked so beautifully. My second favourite look was her arrival outfit, the blue Jenny Packham dress, I remember seeing it and thinking "This will be hard to beat" but alas, the duchess did top that indeed :)
ReplyDeleteI also loved the cream coat she wore for the departure. I really hope to see it again perhaps with burgundy accessories. That coat was so elegant.
Love from Avee in SA
Choosing a favorite dress was difficult. I voted for the blue Jenny Packham because I was so wowed by it, but I also loved the red Preen. Both were spectacular.
ReplyDeleteAlso, I don't think I said this during the tour, but I really enjoyed all of Catherine's casual looks. It was such a relief that she didn't go with the old "uniform"!
So great that our favourite royals are back out and about so soon again. I'm having withdrawals already!
ReplyDeleteWell the red Preen and the Catherine Walker Cream Coat got my vote. As much as I loved her arrival outfit, nothing can top that beautiful cocktail dress. Looking forward to the upcoming week. Lots of activity for the Cambridges.
ReplyDeleteCharlotte, this is my first opportunity to thank you so much for the immense amount of thought and effort you put into the Canadian tour posts and in fact into all the postings . I very much enjoy the blog, so interesting and informative. I love having the background and history of the event or place as well as the Royal news.
ReplyDeleteAbout the tour. I am not Canadian so had no idea that the situation regarding the Canadian First Nation was so political and tricky at present. Thank you to the Canadian commentators, who explained the situation. With that in mind I thought that the Royals negotiated that minefield with great dignity and aplomb - not the slightest hint of a diplomatic crisis. Not at all easy to achieve . Well done.
The Indian tour was characterised by colour; the Canadian tour by immense distances on a daily basis and it is that which altered the feel of the latest tour. In addition it was a tour about ordinary people and superb scenery, which altered the type of clothing choices. While I absolutely love the glamour of evening events with the gowns and glitter I do not think this tour was about that. Chris Jackson released a lot of scenic shots from the tour on his twitter feed - beautiful and inspiring.
It was wonderful to see the Royal children and how they are developing and a good opportunity for them to begin to become accustomed to the life before them. And as much as we would have liked to see more of the party, perhaps it was inappropriate for the faces and names of the children of Canada's military to be blazoned across the world's media.
For my vote in the polls the first and last look were the best, such elegance and dignity.
Once again thank you Charlotte for the place of quiet enjoyment.
Alimai, I was thinking just that about the children's party. The photos where takein in the beginning of the party, focussing on William, Kate and the children. It was never meant to include the other families so much. Privacy, personal wishes of the families.. we will not know. We have never seen this (now) royal quartet snub anyone before, :so why now.. just bad reporting. They were simply being considerate. Love it.
DeleteVery nicely said, Alimai.
Deletealimal
DeleteWhat a lovely post. I agree with so much of what you have side. Ali
They don't snub people 23:00, you are right. They were just being considerate like you said.
DeleteMust have been one of the hardest decisions in recent time, between the blue Jenny Packham and the red Preen! Why would you do this to us!
ReplyDeleteThanks for the new post! I voted for the Red and WHITE McQueen, it's different and I line it. I also voted for the cream Catherine Walker. I like the look on her.
ReplyDeleteI can't wait for her solo away day! I think she'll be in show stoppers the whole day! I also can't wait for her Will and Harry's engagement. I love those 3 together.
Are you doing a poll on Kate's best hair Charlotte?? She had plenty of different styles this tour.
I thought the same thing:) As I was voting I thought her hair was so striking & varied during the whole
DeleteTour, such that it was it's own statement each time! :) I'm guessing we will also vote on the more casual outdoorsy outfits, as there were so many? Look at me just casually making more work for you Dear Charlotte! :) Just ideas, no biggies! xo
With the blue arrival dress and red cocktail dress neck and neck in the poll when I voted, we can probably agree to "if not this then that" as a choice. As Charlotte points out, putting an evening dress with a day dress--especially THAT evening dress--makes the choice a bit of a dilemma.
ReplyDeleteThe coats (and afterwards the shoes, jewels and hair) are easier as there's little pulling in two directions there. Except perhaps between love/hate on the skinnies and wedges.
Ha!:) xo
DeleteGreat! We don't have long to wait before we see the dashing duo out and about again! Can't wait for next week. Hopefully, they can decompress a bit this week at Anmer. Maybe William has to work at the Air Ambulance this week.
ReplyDeletePoor William, I'm not sure that would serve as decompression, as he's been more open that it's emotionally taxing to be part of a Trauma Team.... :(
DeleteBecca,
DeleteIt is. And as someone said, William had put in a couple of shifts right before the visit. Couple that with the delicacy and tension of the political climate they walked into and, yeh, I can understand some fatigue. Add in Jet lag and two small children and I say he handled everything nicely.
Tough choice. I liked everything, except the red coat.
ReplyDeleteSame here, Lella, the silhouette and fit of the
DeleteCarolina Herrera coat wasn't right, so that was my least favorite.
My votes... JP (arrival) and CW (departure). No contest IMO. :)
ReplyDeleteHard choices fashion-wise here.
ReplyDeleteI loved the blue Packham dress- it was most elegant, regal and beautifully styled - highlighting the five years difference from Kate's first Canadian arrival - a more casual youthful look in the same colour.
(And no Erdam this time - a surprise.)
The Macqueen didn't work for me although the elements, including the tiered skirt were interesting.
I voted for the red evening look - it was simply fabulous. Although it demanded evening shoes - not suede, and diamond earrings to go with the diamond brooch.
The green dress was fine in my eyes- I thought the flare of the skirt picked up the style of the dress Diana wore in British Columbia and I like that shade of green on Kate.
I was also in the minority on the cream dress - I didn't love it but thought it was perfect for a princess around little ones - why be another mum in trousers? Little girls especially (and their mummies) want to see a princess look like one.
On coats, I voted for the Walker - beautifully made although it did nothing for the maple leaf brooch - but am surprised it was so much more popular than the Herrera. Although I would have preferred British or Canadian designers on a tour - I like this red coat and especially (and unusually for Kate) the styling with hair and original shoes. The Walker on the other hand, wasn't well served with neutral courts. The same was true for the attractive green coat.
Overall, I thought it was a nice fashion tour with a couple of major new looks. Looking forward to the coming engagements.
I agree with you about the cream dress at the children's party. If a little girl could dream up a modern princess at a garden party, she'd have worn what Kate wore. And Kate pulled it off just fine.
DeleteIt is always interesting to see the poll results. For as far apart as we seem sometimes on our opinions of Kate's choices, the results usually show just how much we do actually agree!!! Hard to choose between the Jenny Packham and the Preen....both beautiful and Kate looked stunning.
ReplyDeleteLovely photo of Diana....makes me want to see Kate in a tartan! cc
lol, I know, 18:52. What a surprise. The majority of us actually agree at the polls.
DeleteMy favorite coat was the one with the ribbed sleeves! Surprised you didn't include it.
ReplyDeleteHello,
DeleteThe Sentaler piece will be included in the Casual/Daywear poll.
Ah, I see. Thank you for all your effort in producing this blog. I enjoy reading it very much!
DeleteI have been looking forward to the after-tour polls! I usually have a hard time choosing what to vote for, but not this time.
ReplyDeleteIn the dress category, the blue Jenny Packham was a no-brainer choice for me. Even though I also liked the red Preen dress by itself, I felt the whole outfit wasn't styled as well as the arrival outlet. I think this mostly had to do with the earrings. With the blue Jenny Packham outfit, I had absolutely no quibbles about any part of the outfit, so it got my vote! This was the only look that wowed me during the entire tour.
As for the coats, my favorite was the cream Catherine Walker. But I can't say I was blown away by it the way I was by the Duchess' look the day she and her family arrived in Canada.
It all came down to styling for me too. I voted the same way. JP and CW. Impeccably designed and tailored garments.
DeleteNot even a contest in my eyes - the blue Jenny Packham arrival outfit is one of my all-time favourite looks for the Duchess! It was such a great colour on her, and by golly she wore it with panache! Soigné and regal and a lovely nod to Canada with the maple leaves in the hat. I also voted for the Catherine Walker cream coat.
ReplyDeleteOh Charlotte!!
ReplyDeleteI loved all of Kate's looks on this tour. The Blue Jenny Packham dress was so stunning, but then I loved the Preen dress.... plus the SEE BY CHLOE dress she wore to the children's party. Kate looks amazing in everything. It's just so hard to choose!
I wish, I could've seen them in Vancouver (we live an hour away stateside). However I'm almost 9 months pregnant with a 3 year old and it just wouldn't have worked out. My daughter, Laina is Prince Georges age and was due on July 22. Those two together would have a blast. Not to mention getting into trouble and giving security several heart attacks!
Thank you Charlotte for your hard work!
Rachel Chavez, Bellingham, Washington USA
Rachel,
DeleteCongratulations and here's hoping for a quick, easy and safe delivery and for Laina welcoming her new sister or brother and being the very best "mommy' helper". Wise choice to stay put at home also.
I have an uncle in Bellingham. I was going to coax him to go see William and Kate. He would have looked at me the way the rest of my family looks at me when I mention William and Kate. And yes, I did briefly entertain the idea of a flight up there "to visit".
I been looking to the pools hmm its hard to be choosing this time i love she wearing these time
ReplyDeletepreen red dress was good and her up do was great i love the coats too but im mind blowing outfit when she arrive in Canada hmm i love the royal tour Canada whole engagement looking forward with next week engagements and next week polls
She did do a lovely job for most of her outfits, but I still have to say, whoever her go to person is for "stylists" she needs to switch. She also still needs to switch hair stylists... both clothes and hair are looking better, but she needs to be working with people who already know their business...Her hair and clothes people are lagging a bit:):) time to switch up.
ReplyDelete05:23,
DeleteAmen, and Amen and Amen. What you said, I have been saying for years. Not to belittle Natasha or Amanda, but Kate needs a stylist and hairdresser of more training, expertise and experience. A higher caliber of skill to fit the level of the job. The pages of history are turning and Kate is on almost every one of them AND she needs to look her very best. This is not the place for amateurs.
Anon 23:11. I would not call either Natasha or Amand amateurs. That is a slap in t be da de to these two very talented people. You might not line them but Katecwould not have them on staff if she did not respect their choices
DeleteI will again nominate Clnton Kelly as the stylist, formerly of "What Not to Wear!" I nominated him a couple years ago when the subject of a stylist was discussed.
DeleteDespite the re-cycled DM story picked up by others, Ms. Archer is listed as a personal assistant, not a stylist. She looks things up, picks up and delivers clothes, and may add her two cents worth, but she is not a professional stylist-she attended no universities or schools majoring in design or any related subject. She has no previous work experience as a stylist.
DeleteI think Kate primarily decides what Kate wears.
Like it or not, Natasher Archer was lauded as Kate's stylist, not only in the DM, but in two articles in the Telegraph, and an article in Vanity
DeleteFair.
Thank you for that clarification Anon 227. I tend to agree with you that Kate is the decision maker on what she wears. There are many instances where most of the commenters really like her choice of garments, but something seems just a little off, and that is usually the styling/fit/accessories. An experienced, professional stylist Could really give input in that area, if Kate so chooses. Especially as she ramps up her number of engagements in the future.
DeleteAnon @ 02:27,
DeleteGranted Natasha has no formal training as a stylist. We all know that I think. It is VERY obvious to some. But she, through many articles in various papers, has been called Kate's "stylist". Even some of the vendors Kate uses have mentioned working with Natasha on Kate's clothing. Maybe once she's married she'll stay at home as a full time mom. Otherwise, she and her fiance, Chris Jackson, a Royal photographer are entrenched in Kate's inner circle. I don't care for Natasha's "styling" at all, but Chris's photos are amazing and some of the best in the business, IMO. And, he is certainly very handsome.
16:39,
DeleteI disagree. Natasha started out as a personal assistant and along the way added stylist to her duties. Amanda used to cut William and Harry's hair when they were children. I think it is a convenience more than anything else, and nostalgia for William. Now, with Natasha engaged to Chris Jackson, how could Kate get a real stylist and ask Natasha to just be a personal assistant again. I don't think Kate had much choice in the matter of the hiring of Natasha or Amanda to be quite honest.
Those stories seem to have one root source and were probably recycled from a continuing saga that seems to attract readers. Compare some of the identical phrases and sentences
Deletethat appear from story to story currently and to the stories from the past.It is
not new information.
That interview with the vender-Still sounds like stories from Natasha, not an independent source. She was hired as a PA. She carries suitcases and returns borrowed/approval items-we have objective corroboration for that. She likely looks up
and orders items on the internet.All PA activities. We have no real varification that her status has" officially "(a word in the current stories, obviously to make it sound like new info) changed from PA to stylist.Most of those stories add at the end that Kate makes the final
decisions-the most believable part of the story.
By the way, a number of commenters praise her pre-wedding styling over her current choices. Where was Natasha then? The idea that Kate all of a sudden stopped choosing her own clothes is ridiculous. It makes no sense. If she chooses to throw us a curve from time to time, I think that is a deliberate choice on her part. Perhaps she chooses to play down the fashion aspect to allow more attention for her work.
Agree about the impression Chris Jackson gives. They are a cute couple.
This may be a repeat, but I have not seen it come through. No matter who is calling the shots on clothing and accessories as well as hair, I think Kate needs to hire someone to officially help her with clothing. Even if you love all her personal choices, or her choices done with others help, with her increasing workload she is going to need someone who presents her with some excellent choices, she says yes or no and is set to go. She is not going to have time to think about all the details that go into all the clothing and jewelry choices she has to make year in and year out over the next 50 years. There are plenty of misses in my opinion that an actual experienced stylist would not make. Do stylists even the best blow it on occasion, yes, but much less frequently than those of us busy with children, in-laws, a job etc. all of which will take up more and more of Kate's time as the years go by.ali
DeleteAmen and Amen Ali,
DeleteThat is what I have been saying for years. The caliber of stylist and hair care needs to match the caliber of Kate's position and activities. It isn't rocket science to discern that. As I said, the pages of history are turning and she is on most every one them. She needs to represent her very best for many reasons. Even today, Rebecca English, in the Daily Mail, her lead, bold print headline was about what Kate wore today, and that is often done with other publications. Even within almost every news article, even The York Post, and various business publications even, Kate's sartorial choices are always mentioned. So, it is very important. Plus, looking your very best to meet and greet and attend events pays respect to those things. Keeping Kate looking the very best she can look in her Royal role is a job for highly qualified people, not the current team, as personable as they may be. IMO.
California girl
Charlotte, thank you for all the hard work & effort you put into the blog! It's my go to for everything Kate related :)
ReplyDeleteThe red Preen dress was a stunner, but nothing beats the bespoke blue Jenny Packham she wore on arrival: total class!
The cream CW coat was just as classy & gets my vote for best coat.
On another note, Wills didn't do too shabby on the fashion front either, I especially liked his blue suede shoes! Any chance of a mini-poll of his choices from the tour? ;)
Looking forward to the upcoming engagements & rest of the polls.
Kiwi Gal x
Kiwi Gal as in Australian?
DeleteKiwi as in from New Zealand :)
DeleteI think you meant New Zealand, 00:42
DeleteKiwi is the bird of New Zealand as far as I know.
DeleteLike others it was difficult to choose from the arrival outfit and the lovely red dress. I decided on the red dress. The coat was much easier the Catherine walker won hands down for me it was classic and I very much hope we see her wearing it for future engagements.
ReplyDeleteLooking back at the tour and referring to some comments from generally supportive sights on William at times seeming tired and not himself. I know what I am about to say is conjecture but generally based on some facts.
He himself has admitted on how much he has been affected emotionally by his air ambulance work. It is known that he did at least a 3 day stint in the week prior to the week they left he was spotted on one mission on the Wednesday and the press reported he was working at the start of that week On the Friday He & Kate had a day visit to the school in Luton. Kate then did no duties in the week leading to departure whereas I think William did one on the Monday but more importantly on the Thursday undertook a very High profile speech to open a major Cites conference being held I think in Johannesburg. This speech was beamed live to several major cities and then recorded to others. He is passionate about conservation and the killing of wild animals for various reasons and this speech will have taken up a considerable time in preparation not the best of timing prior to an overseas tour and he may well have been somewhat tired before he set off and neither of them had time to adjust to the time difference on arrival. Quite often one manages for a day but then it hits you There were also elements of this tour which will also have required considerable care as one false word or action when visiting the indigenous communities could have caused problems. William will have been very aware of this as will Kate.
Overall I felt the tour was different but successful I was not impressed with the overall programme in Vancouver it was a pity they could not find time to include a visit to the Children's Hospice and Hospital in the city I noticed the flowers given to Kate on walkabouts were sent to the Hospice a picture appeared on twitter of the children & staff with the flowers a nice gesture but how much better if a visit had been made. The rest of the tour was varied & I thought the final departure day in Victoria was very much a Cambridge planned day .
I expect William will have spent some time with the Air ambulance this week prior to their engagements next week. It is good to see them both back to public duties so quickly. I do hope Kate is more positive and we hear her speak more. She needs to be more assertive there have been signs that she is more confident and as reported recently she has made more observations herself and not left William to do all the talking. When looking at some videos that does appear to be the case.
I look forward to the very varied engagements they are undertaking next week.
Very interesting, and well researched, Mary! My only issue would be the part about the children's hospice. Of course it goes without saying that visiting a children's hospice is one of the most mportant and gratifying things a royal can do, or anybody for that matter. But Vancouver is a very large city with many many places of need, that it must have been hard to narrow down exactly what they wanted to focus on for this particular trip. Diana's first and foremost focus was always on visiting sick children, and of course the Cambridges will engage in that also throughout their lives, but on this particular trip they had other things on their plate. I like how they focus on mental health, but are interested in other worthy causes also. Here in the states there is a lot of push to overhaul the mental health system too. It is quite dysfunctional , and a lot of work is needed.
DeleteI was a bit confused about the phrasing in your reference to Catherine Walker being a favorite of Princess Diana's. I'm guessing when you say "after her passing in 2010," you're referring to Ms. Walker?
ReplyDeleteI'm in the minority here but my favorite was the green D&G dress. The color was amazing on her and I loved the details.
ReplyDeleteI love that dress! I like both the original & her version of it and if I could choose one of the dresses she wore for myself, that'd be the one :)
DeleteI loved that one too Anon! In fact, I had a really hard choice this time, as I found it almost impossible to choose between three - the Jenny Packham, the Preen and the D&G.
DeleteI'm not sure whether it was mentioned on the day, but green is one of the colours of the Yukon flag, and I'm really glad that she chose to honour that. I've always loved that Hobbs coat too, so it made the perfect cover-up for me.
I voted for the McQueen and here's why. I've read the comments pertaining to the India tour. It almost seems that the further we veer away from classic Western European wear, the less it is appreciated. The DoC's garments in India were ethnically tinged without being costumes, partly to address the climate and partly in respect to the host community. On her return, I was taken aback at some of the comnentary. I also read and thought about the comments that the Canadian tour was bland. And in some ways it was because Canada is so familiar to us. But again, the heaviest criticism seemed to fall upon the Western boots and the McQueen while the praise was bestowed on what is most familiar that we would want in our own closets, but for our pocketbooks. The JP was perfection in the style, coloring and the tailoring and the Preen was beautiful. But from a design perspective, they are the "uniform" of Western society. It is precisely because the McQueen is unique and pays subtle homage through its designs to the First Nation peoples that were being visited that I like it so much. As with the language of flowers, clothing delivers a message as well. In this instance, I think the McQueen delivers by reflecting while not replicating details of indigenous garb. It says to the people of the First Nation, I see you, you are not invisible to me, and I am here. Not a small message. And reaching out to the First Nation was one of the purposes of the tour. I don't even know if the DoC and her staff realize how powerful a message was delivered. This dress was highly appreciated. And so I voted for it. Plus I really liked it 😂
ReplyDeleteI really liked it too but I also like and appreciate your comment! Well said :)
DeleteI liked the McQueen, but I said it on an earlier thread, the motifs of the pattern in no way reflect any indigenous peoples of the local areas. None. Zero. If anything, it was folk-themed. There is nothing remotely Coast or Interior Salish or Haida or any of the other local First Nations in the design. The dress would not be perceived as reaching out nor would it say anything to indigenous peoples.
DeleteOn the other hand, the Premier of the province, who is visible in some of the photos, showcased several typical indigenous designs in her clothing--some of which she admitted was bespoke and the first time she had a dress made specifically for herself. If anyone has the time to scroll back the design differences will be immediately clear.
If, however, the McQueen was a conscious cowgirl nod rather than an unusual red/white/Canada dress, Vancouver isn't a cowboy town. That might have been better in Kelowna which is ranch as well as wine country.
I begin to agree with the poster who suggested it's time for a professional stylist. Though I can understand a person in Catherine's position being inclination to "be herself" and not "made over" into a role, I'm thinking that before long, friends/amateurs and out-of-step hairdressers will part of Catherine's past.
In spite of the iffy advice she's received, her tendency to stay safe and not always please the style-mavens posting here; Catherine has never drifted into some of the other hideous gaffes committed by other senior royals. Even Diana picked a few outfits that were bad.
Anon 18:50, I looked through some pictures of First Nation fabrics; in fact, the main colors seem to be red, black and white, and there are also circular patterns, so maybe you are right, also if at first sight the style of Canadian aboriginals seems quite different from the dress we are talking about. But your words, "reflecting while not replicating details of indigenous garb" are very acute; if we put together this hint to the First Nation and the hint to the cowgirls as other posters highlighted, we have a rather strong message of unity and reconciliation. A very insightful "Kate thing"!
DeleteI totally respect your opinion Anon, and I've heard other people saying similar things about the McQueen piece. For me, though, the styling of it owed far more to a cowgirl at a line dance than the native culture. Far from being a nod to the First Nation people, I see it as quite the opposite actually.
DeleteYay, our supper sleuth of "Kate things" is back. :)
DeleteShe may have just wanted a red and white dress and liked this one without thinking it was a particular nod to any culture. I have to agree if anything it maybe had a "cowgirl" look to it with the front buttons and scalloped edge across the upper chest, very cowboy shirt style.
DeleteKate has done the "Kate things" for so many events that I definitely think it was a nod to cowgirl and First Nations.
DeleteI thought that Kate was perfection on arrival, the entire family looked just fantastic. They certainly arrived with a bang! While I loved the Preen dress when I first saw it, I think it looks great with the red shoes and I like the evening bag with it also, looking at it again I think that Kate is just too slim to do it justice. So much of her is on show, it would suit someone curvier better. All the other dresses on this tour made more of her figure and the arrival dress was just untouchable, I think.
ReplyDeleteANON @ 18:50, LOVE what you said, and I quote,
ReplyDelete"I think the McQueen delivers by reflecting while not replicating details of indigenous garb". AMEN
"It says to the people of the First Nation, I see you, you are not invisible to me, AND I am here". WOW
"NOT a small message", indeed. I voted for the McQueen for these reasons also, and because I think it is a beautiful dress.
AND, the dress was another "Kate thing" and those always pay extra homage to the events she attends. This one was exceptionally poignant in it's support of the people involved.
About the clothes for India, I thought they were mostly not my favorites, not because they were out of the norm, but because 1.) I don't think they enhanced Kate much at all. 2.) Indian indigenous style can be very colorful and exciting and still be "Kate" and "Duchess". The Taj Mahal dress was a good example.
The blue evening gown, while pretty on Kate, was very much like a mother of the bride gown that can be found almost anywhere. And the other items weren't the best either although Kate always shines through.
In the photo of Kate in the Carolina Herrera coat, it looks like her PPO is wearing a bullet proof vest under her shirt.
ReplyDeleteIt absolutely looks like she has a bullet proof vest.
DeleteI cannot pick!!!!!
ReplyDeleteI am definitely in the minority because I chose the SEE BY CHLOE dress. I chose it mostly because I love white and cream garments. And I thought it was the perfect dress for the occasion. My second choice would have been the Dolce and Gabbana dress. I love the 40's style but thought there were too many details. If the detail at the shoulders had been omitted, and there were no darts on the front of the bodice, it would have been perfect. I love the green as well.
ReplyDeleteI also liked the McQueen dress very much, but the two-tiered skirt just really ruined it for me. I love the pattern, though.
The blue Jenny Packham just didn't bowl me over the way it did everyone else. It was perfect for the occasion and I did like the detail at the back of the collar, but to me the whole look just reminded me of a uniform. The color of the Preen dress is beautiful, but I just don't like asymmetrical design in general, and I didn't like the bunching of fabric across one side of the bodice, and the pleat and fullness of the skirt. I feel like the dress wore Kate rather than Kate wore the dress.
Charlotte, will you have a chance to see Kate in Manchester?
ReplyDeleteI found both the Jenny Packham dress and its hat stunning, and the red Preen dress breathtaking. But I ended up voting for the Cloe sweater dress. It fitted so perfectly and was so appropriate for the party. I tend to look carefully at dressmaker details, fit, and styling when I vote.
ReplyDeleteFor much the same reasons, I voted for the green coat. It has always looked superb on Kate, and it was so appropriate for the environment. Again, I thought it fit best and was tailored and finished best. This means that I voted for two ready to wear garments instead of four bespoke pieces that I thought were striking. It was a matter of both quality construction and subtle appropriateness.
These choices put me very much in the minority, and even surprised me a bit. But after looking at all the outfits carefully, those were the decisions I reached.
The discussion about William is interesting. I did not think he was especially different than usual; he is always rather quiet and dignified. The reports of his interactions with individual people were lovely. He was undoubtedly cautious and maybe privately questioned this assignment. And perhaps as someone speculated he had been very busy and was tired. But I thought he carried out his part of the tour very well indeed.
Catherine - just a thought: might be worth a vote poll on shoes this tour. There was some real variety this time.
ReplyDeleteEureka! Finally I have seen the most clear although discrete hint to the First Nation patterns in MacQueen dress: the center fold of the skirt creates the image of a totem pole with two stylized wings in the top.
ReplyDeleteyep.
DeleteThe arrival look as a whole was so so beautiful, one of the top looks ever for me. The dress allowed for the more complex hat and earring ensemble and still was interesting, so a big win for me.
ReplyDeleteother question, since i am travelling to The Hague on tuesday.. (!!!)... i just don't have a clue what time catherine will arrive at the mauritshuis. and will there be something of a walkabout. i would like to offer nijntje (miffy) plush toys for 'george and charlotte' (i.e. charity) but have no idea of there will be any chance for it or will she just get out of the car, a wave and then inside. same for Rotterdam. where can i find such infos? anybody knows? thank! so excited!
Ok i Just telephoned to the mauritshuis and the british embassady but because of safety concerns, nothing is announced.. i will just have to go there and see for myself!
DeleteLovely work as with every tour and every post Charlotte.
ReplyDeleteI liked all of her outfits but at the bottom of the list was the green dress-thought it a touch matronly and the red evening dress I thought made her look a bit skinny up top.
ReplyDelete