We're back with one of our most enjoyable annual activities - our end of year polls. 2016 was quite a year for the Duchess sartorially; we saw a plethora of new designers debuted, a continued mix of designer and high street, and of course tried and trusted staple styles and silhouettes. Tonight we're asking you to vote for Kate's Best Coat and Gown of 2016. One caveat: as with previous years we are excluding items worn during the tours of India/Bhutan and Canada as we held post-tour polls on both occasions. You can view Poll results for India/Bhutan here and results for the Canada tour here. We will include a summary of all the year's most loved looks in our 'Kate Fashion Awards' post when all the winners are in.
Best Coat
We know the Duchess loves her coats, and what a stellar collection she has! For our first category we're taking a look back at the coats sported by HRH in 2016. We have an interesting mix this year, with everything from warm winter coats to bespoke pieces created for royal events. For Kate's first engagement of 2016 she marked the 75th anniversary of the RAF Air Cadets with a service at St Clement Danes in London. The Duchess' choice of attire for the day? Her bespoke cornflower blue belted Alexander McQueen coat. It marked the third outing for the garment previously worn in Blenheim, New Zealand during the royal tour 2014, and chosen two months later for 70th anniversary D-Day commemorations in Normandy.
For the RAF Disbandment Parade in Anglelsey, Kate brought back her L.K. Bennett Ami Coat first debuted during a UNICEF visit to Copenhagen in 2011. The wool/nylon piece features a high collar, front slit pockets, and originally came with a belt.
Kate's green Sportmax coat makes a double appearance in this year's polls. In February, the Countess of Stathearn wore it for a day of engagements in Scotland.
And just yesterday Kate selected it again for Sunday service at St Mary's on the Sandringham estate. The Long Belted Coat is made of green virgin wool and comes from the Sportmax Autumn/Winter 2015 Collection. It features a V neckline and two deep side pockets.
For engagements in London, focused on suicide prevention efforts Kate brought back one of her least popular coats - the Erdem Allie. Once again, this item has had multiple outings. The Duchess first wore it in New Zealand during the royal tour (you might recall Kate told a member of the crowd she liked it but William thought it was "a bit bright"). Kate chose it again for the start of the Tour de France in July 2014. The grass-green, knee-length coat features a tab-detailed waist, and true to form, the designer used his love of floral prints - this time on the silk lining.
We saw another Erdem creation for the Commonwealth Service in March. The bespoke grey coat is based on styles from the designer's Pre-Fall 2015 Collection with lace effect and silk lining.
The Duchess also brought back her blue M Missoni tweed coat for the opening of a new EACH charity shop in Holt. The Duchess bought the light blue coat several years ago at Bicester village. The collarless, knit bouclé piece features fringe trim and is from the Autumn/Winter 2010 Collection.
The Duchess looked lovely in her Michael Kors indigo twill jacquard swing coat for a visit to the Magic Garden at Hampton Court Palace. Kate debuted the piece on Anzac Day for the final stop of the Australia tour in 2014, and I have to say I much preferred it the second time around. It's a gorgeous garment.
Kate donned her vibrant green Catherine Walker coat dress for her first appearance at the Chelsea Flower Show. I have to say, I cannot get on board with this one; I suspect it's the zipper, and high neck. For some reason the top portion reminds me of a light jacket one might wear to the gym. The vivid grass-green colour was a nice choice for the flower show though.
Something tells me this one is going to prove popular... HRH was effortlessly regal at the National Service of Thanksgiving in a bespoke Catherine Walker mist blue, wool crepe coat dress with white lace embellishment all the way down the front. It was a sublime choice for the occasion - a timeless classic in my opinion and one I very much hope to see again.
An elegant Kate chose the bespoke cream McQueen coat dress she wore for Princess Charlotte's christening during Trooping the Colour. It's a beautifully tailored, understated garment now steeped in royal history - not only was it worn for Charlotte's christening but also the Cambridges' first Trooping appearance as a family of four.
For Order of the Garter, it was a sartorial ace for Kate who wore a bespoke red Catherine Walker coat dress for the day's ceremonies. This is another example of styling completely changing the look of a piece and breathing new life into it. The lightweight wool garment features three-quarter length sleeves, princess seaming, and Kate's favoured fit-and-flare style.
For her first visit to Northern Ireland since a pre-wedding engagement, Baroness Carrickfergus dug deep into her closet for a coat she's had for over a decade - The gold brocade coat by Day Birger et Mikkelsen is from their Resort 2006 Collection. The Duchess first wore it in May 2006 for the wedding of the Duchess of Cornwall's daughter, Laura Parker Bowles, who married former model Harry Lopes at St Cyriac's Church in Wiltshire. It's been worn several times since, most notably at Zara Philipps' wedding in 2011 and the Paralympic Opening Ceremony in 2012.
In France, Kate wore the M Missoni Long Snake Stitch Coat. Made in Italy, the coat features front button closure and patch pockets. It is described: "Silver metallic threads shimmer within the monochromatic hues defining a textured A-line coat that's visually shaped with an angled zigzag pattern."
For an 'away day' in Manchester comprising several engagements, Kate was stylish in another bespoke Erdem coat. The plaid coat is based on a design from the Resort 2016 Collection. I thought the mix of hues; from the soft shade of pink to the specs of white against the darker background worked beautifully.
Kate wore her Mulberry Paddington Coat for unannounced engagements at a women's prison and the Nelson Charity Trust in November. The coat "is designed in a fresh sky-blue hue for fall. Classically tailored, this slightly loose style has been cut in Italy from a luxurious wool-blend with a tactile touch of mohair - guaranteed to keep you warm without weighing you down. It's fully lined to slip on easily".
It was the Temperley London Callas Coat for the Festival of Remembrance at the Royal Albert Hall. The elegant £995 coat features a beautiful floral diamond jacquard fabric. More from the product description: "Beautiful knee-length coat made from a lightweight black floral diamond jacquard fabric. Boat neckline with 6 Temperley buttons to close up the front. Nipped in waist with soft gathering at the waistline. Seamed stitched detail on collar and button placket."
Kate repeated her black DVF Lio for a sombre Remembrance Sunday.
Kate wore her black velvet trim Alexander McQueen at the memorial service for the Duke of Westminster.
And for Christmas Day service, the Duchess freshened up her much-loved Hobbs Celeste coat with a stole from ASOS. The chestnut brown, double wool crepe coat features leather stud fastening and cuff straps. A lovely seasonal choice!
Looking over the collection of coats Kate wore in 2016. We've looked at nineteen coats and I believe just five were new or previously unseen items in her wardrobe. By my calculation that means 74% of coats worn in 2016 (not including pieces worn on tour) were repeats. It's interesting to observe how differently Kate styled many of them for their repeated public wears. As always, there's so much to love. I'm torn between several myself including the blue Catherine Walker for the National Service of Thanksgiving, the red Catherine Walker and of course the Michael Kors... So much to choose from. Which one got your vote? :)
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For our second category, we're looking at gowns worn by the Duchess in 2016! As those who read regularly know, I love nothing more than a gown appearance (only second to a tiara). We have five possibilities for this poll beginning with the Saloni Mary Flocked Chiffon dress Kate wore for a pre-tour reception at Kensington Palace.
Kate looked fantastic in the floor-length royal blue Roland Mouret Nansen Gown for SportsAid's anniversary dinner. The gown features the label's signature darts and panels providing a flattering silhouette with a nipped waistline and svelte contours. The cut-out shoulders give the graceful style a modern edge. I love this gown - the fit, the colour, the off-the-shoulder detailing. A particularly memorable look for HRH.
For the EACH gala at Houghton Hall we saw the return of the much-loved gown Kate wore for her first evening engagement as HRH the Duchess of Cambridge. The rose pink Sequin and Bead Embellished Gown by Jenny Packham proved a huge hit with readers for its second outing too. It's a beautiful shimmering piece with a sprinkling of crystal and bead embellishments. The updo fully showed it off on the evening too.
We saw a brand debut for the premiere of A Street Cat Named Bob. Self-Portrait has been the go-to label for celebrities and fashionistas in recent years owing to their always-stunning collection of feminine, whimsical and intricately detailed dresses. Kate chose the brand's Pleated Crochet Dress from the Resort 2016 Collection. The Victorian inspired design features a crochet bodice and long sleeves, a grosgrain band defines and flatters your waist, before falling to a pleated maxi skirt spliced with a leg-baring split.
Last but not least, a sparkling Duchess teamed the Cambridge Lovers Knot Tiara and the Queen's jewels with her bespoke red cap-sleeve Jenny Packham gown. First worn at a state banquet in 2015 it was our first opportunity to get a proper look at the dress. It has a very 'princessy' feel to it and true to form Packham added her signature shimmering effect detail to complete the gown.
A nice selection, quite varied in terms of style, colour and formality too. Both Packham designs are simply divine; she is truly the queen of evening wear and her designs work wonderfully on Kate. I also adored the modernity and tailoring of the Mouret gown. Do let us know which one wins your vote and why in the comments section :)
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We leave you with a very brief video from Westminster Abbey's Twitter Feed. The bells rang to mark the 35th birthday of HRH the Duchess of Cambridge today! I hope Kate had a splendid day with her loved ones!
The Abbey bells are ringing to mark the birthday of HRH The Duchess of Cambridge. pic.twitter.com/DxYqVzz73g— Westminster Abbey (@wabbey) January 9, 2017
We'll see the Duchess for her first engagements of 2017 on Wednesday when she visits the Anna Freud National Centre for Children and Families, including the centre's Early Years Parenting Unit (EYPU) to learn more about their work with families who have children under five years old. The Cambridges will then pay a visit to a Child Bereavement UK Centre in Stratford, as the London centre marks its one year anniversary.
Thanks for the new post! I didn't expect the polls so soon after the review posts. I voted for the lite blue Catherine Walker and the blue Roland Dress. It gowns were so hard to chose from, I loved them all. The coats were hard to chose from but in a different way. I didn't want to vote for a previously wore coat. But with 74% previously worn that is hard!
ReplyDeleteI didn't want to vote for repeat coats either, all her new coats were stylish, which made choosing only one next to impossible!
DeleteI chose them all. love every single one.
ReplyDeleteWhat fun. Thank you Charlotte. :)
ReplyDeleteWhat a sweet, sweet honor for Kate's birthday.
That is amazing. So thoughtful and special. What a proclamation of support. ❤🎂🎉🇬🇧🔔
What a beautiful collection of coats the Duchess owns...it was quite hard to choose! I didn't realise she'd worn/repeated so many coats this year!
ReplyDeleteMy overall favourite would have to be the mist blue Catherine Walker - absolutely stunning! You were right in thinking it would be popular, Charlotte :) I also liked the grey lace Erdem and the M Missoni she wore in France. The Mulberry Paddington coat looks so warm and cosy, I love its colour and texture.
The gowns were a bit hard to choose as well. I definitely don't like the Saloni...and I liked the first wear of the sequined rose pink Jenny P, the 2nd time, not so much. So the winner is the Roland Mouret Nansen gown! The modern cut is exquisite and really flattered the Duchess. The colour is fab too. I'd like to see Kate wear more of his designs in the future.
Thanks for the polls Charlotte! It was great to look back at the tour poll results, I look forward to the 'Kate Fashion Awards' post. The Westminster Abbey bells ringing for Kate's birthday were a sweet touch, hope she had a good day too :)
I voted for Kate's Catherine walker mist blue coat dress. It is so beautiful and delicate with the lace overlay. And for me hands down she looked absolutely stunning in the Roland mouret nansen gown. Thanks Charlotte for doing these fun polls.
ReplyDeleteI voted for the cream McQueen coat dress. Paired with that wonderful hat and updo, I thought Kate looked magnificent. It was one of her best daytime looks.
ReplyDeleteThe Jenny Packham blush dress got my vote, although the Roland Mouret was a close second. I voted for this dress because of how stunning Kate looked in it when she wore it in 2011. It's the most beautiful she has ever looked, in my opinion. This second wearing wasn't as dramatic, and the photos weren't great, but the dress will always be one of my all-time favorites.
"The Abbey bells are ringing to mark the birthday of HRH The Duchess of Cambridge."
ReplyDelete--
Is this the first BD it rung in honor of her BD? The last time I knew it rung was for their wedding. Is that not some recognition? I wonder what it means in historical perspective.
It appears that certain royals' birthdays, including Kate's, are observed in this way every year. This link explains times when the bells are rung: http://www.westminster-abbey.org/our-history/abbey-bells. This link lists the events that were commemorated last year: http://www.westminster-abbey.org/events/2017-bell-ringing-days
DeleteIt appears that the honor goes to Queen Elizabeth and Prince Philip, their four children, William, his children, and Camilla and Kate--presumably because they are married to the first and second in line to the throne.
Thank you Becky. I will follow the link and know more about it.
DeleteThank you Becky! very informative links. - Caroline
DeleteThanks Becky. That is nice to know that. Westminster Abbey has played such a significant role in Royal history so that makes it even more special.
DeleteIt may be a little off-topic, but I'd like to cast my vote for sweet baby Charlotte in her navy blue coat on Christmas Day. She is absolutely adorable!
ReplyDeleteI voted for the M Missoni Long Snake Stitch Coat (and wouldn't that look fantastic with yesterday's grey hat!) and the royal blue Roland Mouret Nansen Gown. Great look with the earring and sandals.
ReplyDeleteI was torn between the M Missoni and the grey Erdem. Loved that they were a little different than the usual . . .
Delete@royalfan So did I! Thought this was a super combo; the coat was super. Really stylish, gorgeous pattern and yet understated as the occasion required. Pillbox hat was perfect match! Whole look was perfection!
DeleteHope, the grey Erdem was my second choice. :) Yes, a little different...
DeleteMrs D, I went with the M Missoni for exactly that reason; I saw a wow factor to it, yet is was understated at the same time. And I would really like to see Kate wear the grey hat with it ... or with the Erdem.
Me too Royalfan, Missoni & Mouret. So beautiful, so classy.
DeleteThanks for the Abbey bells, Charlotte. Really cool. I wonder if Kate heard them? And her parents! What a moment. It must have reminded her of her wedding. The polls are more impossible than usual for me. I am leaning toward the red CW. but then I see the black McQueen and that marvelous chapeau from the memorial, the Michael Kors, so beautifully tailored. It finally dawned on me why some are missing- you divided them into home/tour.
ReplyDeleteOh what I would give for the Cornflower McQueen coat and the Red Packham gown. They are easily two of my favorite things the duchess has ever worn. Both so timeless and stunning. Why am I not a princess?!
ReplyDeleteVoila'. Princess N from USA. There you go. 👑🏰🎀
DeleteSo hard to choose among the coats. Some I have loved before, and some new ones catch my eye. The different seasons make a difference, too, since some of these are summer coat dresses and some are warm winter coats. I ended up voting for one of each.
ReplyDeleteKate, I hope you will do a poll on hats, or maybe a Kate Loves Hats or even Kate Loves Black Hats, because she has several of those black chapeaus. The hats tend to distract me from the coats, and I am rather fascinated with the way she (and her mother) wear them in different ways for different occasions.
Unlike everyone else, I really liked Pippa's hat, and thought it went well with her coat. She is so slim, but she looked very happy at Sandringham with her intended gent.
Finally I have decided on a moniker. It is not my name, and has no royal connotation, but it is one I happen to like. Patricia subsumes Anonymous, which I loved for so long, and my temporary use of Fact Checker. I might refer to that one again in text, but it is unwieldy and doesn't cover my scattered comments on various subjects. Anonymous did. I never became type cast and never want to be!
Obviously I meant Charlotte in my suggestion, rather than Kate!
DeleteGood choice of a moniker, Patricia! A poll or post on Kate's hats would be nice :)
DeleteBeautiful post Charlotte! So hard to choose! Thank you for including the short video of the bells ringing to mark the Duchess' birthday. So beautiful...I love their sound.
ReplyDeleteI had a hard time choosing for I loved most of her coats. Eventually, I settled on the Erdam worn in Manchester for it worked so well with the occasion and I supposed it wouldn't be as popular as some. But the Walker that is leading is beautiful - and I thought the Erdam and the Missoni she wore for ceremonial occasion both worked very well. The black McQueen is lovely - showing what can be done to make a black coat interesting and Kate looked particularly polished in it. Almost all the other coats were good too.
ReplyDeleteMy least favourites ironically are the two green ones by Erdam and Walker - which is odd because I think green is potentially a good colour on Kate with her eyes. But the only green I've loved on her was the gown she worn when first pregnant. The Erdam has always seemed skimpy to me and the Walker just not an easy shade of green to wear - on anyone.
For the gowns, I think the Mouret has to be a clear winner - even from before her marriage, Kate has always worn these simple gowns in bold colours successfully. I love the blush Packham to start with but these last photos do it less justice. It is still lovely though. The red Packham was perfect for the Chinese visit and has a beautiful flow. The poor Saloni is really outclassed - it isn't really for evening - but worked well when it was worn.
Having a peal rung for your birthday is such a lovely thing.
Just ask your local ringers, Julia,
DeleteWell, I do have an important birthday approaching this year but the number is rather overwhelming!
DeleteVery interesting about the Cambridge Surprise Method. The greatest peal I ever heard was at York Minster early one December. It went on for hours and touched the soul. Sadly, the ringers are having a great difficulties there - this isn't the place but perhaps you've seen. If not, here's a link.
https://www.theguardian.com/uk-news/2016/oct/19/how-york-minster-campanologists-sacking-blew-the-lid-off-bitter-dispute
Like Charlotte I love the ice blue Walker, the Kohrs and the red Walker. The only other that I really like is the bespoke Erdem plaid coat. I voted for the red Walker because the whole look was on freaking point. I loved her hair, loved that the shoes weren't nude or black, and adore that she wore her wedding earrings. This is one of my favorite coat dress looks of hers ever.
ReplyDeleteFor the evening gowns I chose the blue Mouret Nanson. I love the red Packham but she had worn it before and the Mouret speaks to me. It is young, sassy and fun but totally appropriate. I want the earrings she wore with the dress. Those are SPECTACULAR! I sincerely hope we see the dress again. Soon. With an updo. Maybe long sapphire and diamond earrings with a kicky necklace.
I did like the blue flocked Saloni. I know it was more divisive but I thought it worked well on Kate. I would also love to see this reworn, also with an updo and sparkly earrings. I can't wait to see what everyone else thinks!
I do love those earrings with the Mouret gown, I wonder if we'll see them again with the necklace it matches with.
DeleteAhhhh, the Catherine Walker with the lace - I was scrolling down the choices and there was INSTANT knowing: THAT´s the one for me! Catherine Walker has been one of my favourite designers ever since Diana´s days!! So sad that both are not with us anymore...
ReplyDeleteAnd the Roland Mouret Nansen.. so chic, yet sexy and elegant, plus it sets out her body to PERFECTION. I love her Jenny Packham that she´s worn back in 2011 shortly after the marriage, as well, but the Roland Mouret kind of hits every nail - with a simple colour, no beads and pearls - just with a simple and ever so perfect style.
Is it common for the Duchess to have Westminster Abbey´s bells ringing for her? That´s quite an honour, right?
Eve I voted the same as you for pretty much the same reasons. Although it was hard to pick a favorite coat had to use a system to decide. Had to base my decision just on the coat, not the whole look, then ruled out repeats. My top choices were the Catherine Walker, The Missoni Snake Stitch and the black McQueen and she looked elegant in all of them. The Catherine Walker was exquisite in its lace work and so it was tops for me. I am hoping there will be a poll about hats, right? The Roland Mouret was hands down the top choice. It did fit her to perfection and the earrings were just the right note. Even though we don't always agree on her styles or choices, we have to agree that she really doesn't take a "bad" picture....she does photograph very well!
DeleteAs for the bells ringing for her....wow, quite fitting and yes an honor indeed!! cc
A gorgeous spectrum of colours and designs with the coats.
ReplyDeleteI was never a fan of the first coat, the Alexander McQueen cornflower blue one. Its just the collar, the belt, the pockets, its too much so i hope she retires that one. I am torn between the Catherine Walker light blue coat, the red Catherine Walker coat, the cream coat she wore for trooping the colour and the chestnut Hobbs coat. Even though most of my favourites were worn previously, they were so beautifully styled on their most recent outings.
I really loved the M Missoni coat she wore in France with the pillbox hat. So gorgeous and regal! I would love that coat for my work days :)
My favourite dress this year was the Roland Mouret. Even though i am obsessed with the sequined Jenny Packham gown, i have to give it to the Roland Mouret simply because it was such a beautiful departure from Kate's usual demure gowns. The cut outs, the silhouette, everything was on point and stunning.
Happy belated birthday to Kate, i hope it was fabulous :)
Lots of love
Avee in SA
Oh it was difficult to pick just one coat. There were several that I could have chosen. The Catherine Walker Green Coat Dress that Kate wore at the Chelsea Flower Show was a standout for me. In the end the Erdem Bespoke Grey Coat was the one I chose. It elicited positive and negative reviews, but I loved it, and the hat!
ReplyDeleteThe Roland Mouret won hands down. What a beautiful gown, and how breathtaking our Duchess looked in it.
I like the green Catherine Walker too Tedi. The color is amazingly vibrant and she lit up wearing it. In the end, my vote went to the velvet trimmed McQueen. I love its elegant vintage feel.
DeleteThe Roland Mouret is going to win hands down for most of us. It was The Showstopper (where's Becca? My capitalizing made me think of her. Hope she's ok ) of 2016. That gorgeous gown just checked off all the boxes.
And, the birthday chimes were just lovely. What a moving moment.
DeleteI voted for the Black McQueen coat and the Rouland Mouret gown too, Erika :). Truly beautiful!!! (But it was hard to choose...)
DeleteGlad to be in good company, Zora :-)
DeleteI'm so torn between the jenny Sequin gown because it's a classic and the new self-portrait because it's so chic and fun! The coat was a no brainer for me. I love the swing style on her. Absolutely flawless. Great post as always!
ReplyDeleteIt was so hard to choose a gown, but that Roland Mouret was just spectacular. Simple, clean, modern. I'm probably one of the few who loves the Self-Portrait gown though. Kate always looks great in white and I loved the high slit and red shoes.
ReplyDeleteEnd of year polls are so fun. What really stuck out to me was the fact that Kate has a wonderful collection of coats. I would love to have any of them in my closet. I have a fascination with coats as well, even though I live in the US southeast which is ironic because we don't get that many cold days where a great coat is needed. But I hate being cold so I guess that explains it.
ReplyDeleteI tried to pick pieces that she has not worn before. I think she has now worn almost every piece from the AUS/NZ tour at least once and a good portion from the first CAN/US tour. My favorites are the
M Missoni coat in France
Roland Mouret Nansen gown
Is the white gown worn to the Natural History Museum that was off the shoulder by a Brazilian designer going to show up in a different poll? I was surprised that it wasn't included in the gown poll.
Very nice video of the bells ringing in honor of Kate's birthday. I can't imagine what it must feel like knowing that they are ringing specifically for you. I would imagine it is a very big honor indeed.
I love the cream Casasola zip front dress. Absolutely adore it.
DeleteOur own fashionista, Paola
Deletejust loved that cream Casasola.
She said as she tried
to find herself inside
This coat, it needs to be small-a!
With apologies to my favorite Paola.
Bluhare the wall of my room will need to be enlarged! I am far from small-a... I'm rather large-a... so I could use your embroidered limericks for a gown!
Deleteeh Bluhare, too much bresaola...
DeleteBluhare I love it!
DeleteI too love the Casasola & that it rhymes with Paola, clever bluhare :)
DeleteBluhare here you can find another rhyme for Paola https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cylindropuntia_fulgida
DeleteOn the subject of the bells: it is just a rather nice coincidence that there is a method called Cambridge Surprise. It has been rung in various places over the past few years for the Duke and Duchess and their children.
ReplyDeleteNeat, Cecilia. How cool is that. :) If they were at Kensington Palace I think it is close enough that she would have heard them. Hopefully someone planned it that way.
DeleteNice to know Cecilia.
DeleteCoats: favorites in no order:Missoni Tweed, Missoni Snake stitch, Mulberry blue. I love the Walker bespoke blue, but I consider those type of coat dresses in a whole different category from the more standard coats. Not a fan of any of the green coats, especially those bright green ones. Dresses: Packman blush and the Mouret. Least favorite the Saloni Mary Flocked.
ReplyDeleteThe coat - this was hard! I narrowed my choices down first by eliminating coat dresses, such as the Catherine Walker that is currently winning the poll. To me, a coat dress doesn't qualify as a coat, and should be in the dresses category. So then I also eliminated coats previously worn, some of which I love, like the Michael Kors and the black Alexander McQueen, as they have likely been in previous polls. So then I had the new ones to choose from. My top picks are the M Missoni Long Snake Stitch Coat, the bespoke gray Erdem and the bespoke plaid Erdem. Finally I chose the bespoke gray Erdem, as I remember that made the biggest impression on me upon first sight.
ReplyDeleteThe gowns: gosh, I am not your typical female because day wear interests me so much more than evening wear. But I made my choice and I chose the Roland Mouret Nansen gown due to the gorgeous color and the flattering fit. I also like the Self-Portrait crochet gown, but perhaps just not on Kate. I think it overwhelms her slender frame. I never was a huge fan of the red Jenny Packham, although I know others love it.
A few things.
ReplyDeleteFirst of all - how incredible to have Westminster Abbey rings bells on occasion of your birthday.I saw a quote the other day: "An ordinary girl living an extraordinary life." This totally sums up the Duchess for me and probably the reason we're all so fascinated by her.
Next - how impossible to choose a favourite coat. She has such incredible pieces. What I would give to have just one of them in my wardrobe!
Lastly - although many of her gowns are beautiful, I was thinking the other night I wish we'd see her wear some far more glamorous bespoke pieces. She has the access to so much and tends to wear gowns a bit on the boring, safe side. Not trying to be critical and I understand she has to be very careful with her wardrobe. But when I'm trying to live vicariously through her I can't help but wish she'd wear a glamorous Elie Saab piece of something!
I thoroughly enjoyed the review of Kate's coats and gowns from 2016. She has many beautiful coats and I love seeing how she mixes and matches them with different scarfs, hats and gloves. I hope she had a lovely 35th birthday yesterday...how nice that the bells at Westiminster Abbey rang out to celebrate her big day. Thanks for another great post Charlotte.
ReplyDeleteHappy birthday Kate!
ReplyDeleteThanks for your hard work Charlotte.
My favorite was the Sentaler ribbed sleeves coat, but wasn't among the choices, thanks!
ReplyDeleteHi Charlotte! I love your blog and have been following your recaps and updates for several years now. Do you have any idea where the Cambridges might go for their next tour and when? I don't know how you find things out - but I'm sure you always have your ear to the ground!
ReplyDeleteAlso, I loved Kate's grey Erdem coat. I felt the entire ensemble was a smash hit!
Can't wait till tomorrow for her first engagement of the year.
Hi!
ReplyDeleteIt's always fun to see what everyone chooses for the polls. The Michael Khors from the Magic Garden visit was a clear winner for me, I would love to have it in my closet! The silhouette, color, it all worked. I also think if she chooses to wear it again, it could dress up or down - I think it's a versatile piece. I know it's a repeat but I barely remember it from it's last outing.
My second favorite was the red Catherine Walker from the Order of the Garter. Fit & flare is one of my favorite styles because it looks good on most people. I think would have beat out the Michael Khors if she wasn't wearing so much red. Personally, the coat gets a little lost amongst so much of the same color, but if anyone can pull off head to toe red, it's Kate.
The biggest miss for me was the grey Erdem for the Commonwealth Service. It felt very boxy and big, it swallowed her up and the hat certainly didn't help.
As for gowns, who doesn't love a good gown? By far, the Roland Mouret for SportsAid won for me, it was youthful and vibrant while also remaining elegant. The rose pink Jenny Peckham is a very close second for the same reasons, youthful, vibrant and still elegant.
The miss for me here was the blue Salani from the pre-tour reception. The sheer front panel made her look disproportioned and a little old. I'm not a fan of this look.
If 2016 is any indication, we are going to see a lot more fabulous fashion out of Kate as the years go on and I can't wait.
Figures that the one coat(dress) that I didn't care for would be winning. :)
ReplyDeleteMy vote went with the ice blue Walker and Mouret which were well out in front when I chimed in.
ReplyDeleteBut I have to say that my heart pinches a little when I see the Erdem plaid. It takes me down Memory Lane. I had a wool coat very much like it in 1972, but mine also had small touches of orange and fuchsia in the plaid. Dressed up or down, there was nothing that coat didn't match and nowhere that it couldn't go. Because of its stunning colours it was always a joy to wear. It cheered me up all wet-gray winter long.
Even better, I got it in a discount outlet of a high-end retailer. At the time, the original sticker-price rivaled a year's university tuition. However, it served me through university and several more years as a young professional. The discounted price amortized over the time that I wore that beauty cost me about $4 a year!
Oh i love that charlotte. I cant i cant choose. Above tbsm they are. Beautiful
ReplyDeleteI chose the bespoke grey Erdem coat with the lace effect, which I thought was a very pretty effect when I first saw it. I am also one of those who wants to make a difference between a coat worn over a dress and a coat dress. Of course the Catherine Walker coat dress with the lace overlay was extremely attractive and perfect on the Duchess. As for gowns, it was hard for me to choose among them, as I thought the two Jenny Packham dresses were very princessy and so lovely on her, but the Roland Mouret is an outstanding design, so sophisticated, and the color one of my favorites, so I chose that.
ReplyDeleteThank you Charlotte, for all your hard work!
Happy birthday to Catherine with bells!
It was very easy to vote for the following
ReplyDeleteCatherine Walker mist blue, wool crepe coat dress with white lace embellishment
Roland Mouret Nansen Gown for SportsAid's anniversary dinner
I voted for the M Missoni Long Snake Stitch Coat and the Roland Mouret Nansen gown! Both very gorgeous pieces. I think I'm in the minority when it comes to the miat blue Catherine Walker coat dress. I think it looks matronly on her.
ReplyDeletecertainly like your web site however you have to take a look at the spelling on quite a few of your posts.
ReplyDeleteA number of them are rife with spelling problems and I to find it very bothersome to tell the reality however I will certainly come
again again.