2011 in Review: The Duchess of Cambridge

Best of the Year

Boom! The late entry wins the game at the buzzer! Yeah, I lurve it. The dress is just divine, I think this is the most flattering thing she wore the whole year. Like so many of you noted, I have some reservations about the necklace (I'd take the ruby flower deals off, that's too wee and twee for my tastes), but: she wore it. And what did I say about that? Step 1: put the diamonds on. Step 2: do other things. Here's hoping for a blingy new year!

Runners Up

I love a killer shoe and I love purple - these are not secrets well kept. Therefore, the very first Kate appearance of the year must make my list of runners up. Nods also go to what I found to be two of her most young, fresh, and feminine takes on the old school jacket and dress/skirt combo, the blue and black and the crochet look (which I know some of you will very much disagree with me on). At the time of the big tour, I favored her lilac Roksanda Ilicnic dress, but fickle me has now switched my affections to the twirly purple McQueen. The pink Jenny Packham was actually going to be my #1 until the black velvet slinked in at the buzzer because, well, I love a sparkly "Look at me!" number. I just do. Sue me.

And then there's the wedding gown. The wedding gown is in here simply because I recognize that it would be ludicrous not to include it, though I still agree with my first impressions. Thus, I include my favorite view: the train, which is and was perfection.

Worst of the Year

Nobody has a perfect year, alas. I thought about the Salmon Stella, which is probably the only thing I'd call an actual hot mess for the Duchess' whole year, and I thought about a couple of the entirely oatmeal ones - seriously, contrast is your friend - but I'm giving my title to the Alexander McQueen outfit worn to visit the aftermath of the riots. And that actually has nothing to do with how the thing looks (though I do stand by my initial assessment, which was: work it or go home).

No, this is about public relations. Katemania dictates that everything she wears will be analyzed to death and just a hair beyond that, and there's nothing she can do to stop it. It's a monster, and it's coming for all of us. But the newest Duchess on the block is a careful player in the sartorial game. She's done her best to restrain the debate over her outfits...except for this one. Debuting a pricey ensemble on this particular occasion was a misstep. I don't care if it personally offended you or not (it didn't bother me), but it was a rare PR mistake, and for that, I hereby dub it the Worst of the Year.

Which outfits make your best and worst lists for Catherine in 2011?

Photos: Daylife/Getty Images/Hello/AP

Week in Review: The Duchess of Cambridge, 6-12 November

Here's what Catherine wore from 6-12 November:

1. a) Attending a dinner for the National Memorial Arboretum Appeal, 10 November, in a custom version of this (b) Jenny Packham gown and (c) a pair of earrings which have been identified as silver with "crystal paste stones" by Beaut Jewellery who supplied this design to Jenny Packham. I won't lie and say I wasn't disappointed to learn she didn't have a new set of diamonds in her jewel box, but they sparkled on video nevertheless, and they're a great Deco-esque design. As for the toga dress, I think it's great but I wish she'd done her hair up (it was only sort of half up on the one side) because I think there's too much going on with the flutter sleeve and the asymmetrical neckline plus all the hair. In other words: an utterly typical assessment from one who is permanently on Team Updo.
2. a) At a meeting for the Prince's Charities Forum, 11 November, in a b) blazer from Zara. Basic wool blazer with an interesting detail: I like it. Can't really make out what she had on underneath, though.

Outside our regular time frame, but no doubt this is fresh on everyone's minds:

1. At the Remembrance Sunday ceremony at the Cenotaph with fellow royal family members (top row includes the Duchess of Cornwall, the Countess of Wessex and Princess Anne's husband Vice Admiral Tim Laurence; bottom row is Princess Alexandra of Kent and the Duke and Duchess of Gloucester), 13 November, wearing a Diane von Furstenberg coat and Jane Corbett hat. Not a huge fan of the forward tilt on Kate's hat or of Sophie's choice to repeat the flamboyant gray hat she wore to Monaco's royal wedding for this particular event; however, it doesn't matter. That's just not what this event is about. 

Members of the royal family that lay wreaths at the Cenotaph. (Front: the Queen and the Duke of Edinburgh. Second: the Duke of York and the Princess Royal. Third: the Duke of Cambridge and the Prince of Wales. Fourth: the Duke of Kent and the Earl of Wessex.)

Photos: Paul Rogers/Daily Mail/Just Jared/British Monarchy Flickr/Zara/Getty Images/Daylife

Week in Review: The Duchess of Cambridge, 3 July - 9 July, Part 4

We last left off with William and Kate departing Canada for Los Angeles, and now we return for some royal Hollywood fun:

1. Arriving in Los Angeles, 8 July, a) on Kate, and b) from Roksanda Ilincic, worn with peach-ish shoes and her LK Bennett clutch.

2. Attending a reception, 8 July, a) and b) on Kate, and c) the front, d) the back of the dress from Diane von Furstenberg, carrying a leopard print clutch by DVF and in nude shoes.

The lavender...please. You know I love it. Shape, interest, perfection. (Everybody's calling it blue or blue/gray? Looks lavender as originally reported to me!) The green...that's a different story. I should love it, given how I always stand by the sidelines with my rainbow pom-poms in hand, rooting for some color. But I really really don't. DVF dresses are supposed to be magical curve-creating machines, but this one looks like an oversized sweatshirt re-cut into a dress.

3. Polo for their charitable foundation at the Santa Barbara Polo and Racquet Club, 9 July, a) on Kate, b) from Jenny Packham, c) a close up on the hand-painted dress design, d) new shoes from LK Bennett, the Sliver shoe.

Wasn't sure how I felt about the general sleeve area, but I'm going with: LOVE IT. And not just because of the dress, but because of the way they blew through the red carpet (so awesomely un-Hollywood) and because of Polo Wills, which is right up there with Cowboy Wills in my affections. And hey: the LK Bennett Sledge shoes have been given a much-needed rest! New nude heels, and - sit down for this one - no pantyhose. (As we all breathe a collective sigh of relief that she's not an open-toe stockings-wearer.) I also love it because, when asked what she was wearing, Kate said: "I'm sure you know by now." See, I told you I like my Kate a little bit sassy.

4. a) At the BAFTA Brits to Watch event, 9 July, with b) earrings borrowed from the Queen, c) Jimmy Choo shoes and d) a diamond bracelet and Jimmy Choo clutch.

It really is a very pretty dress. It's lilac, and it's McQueen, and it's twirly. The shoes are positively Vegas-worthy, pure sparkle. There's borrowed bling and bling that's all her own. And it keeps fully in line with the right strategy: nothing special for Hollywood, one is not a starlet. And yet I really wanted an honest-to-gawd hairdo for a change. Go ahead, fine, stick me in the pillory if you must! I wanted something show-stopping. I tweeted that I knew I shouldn't get my hopes up, and I was right. But I'm always cheering for the greatest amount of fabulous humanly possible (especially when the Queen's earrings are involved!), that's just me. Et toi?

Photos: Just Jared/Net-a-porter/XclusivePix/Daily Mail/Polyvore/Matches/Lionel Hahn/PA

Week in Review: The Duchess of Cambridge, 3 - 9 July, Part 3

(Previously, on Kate n' Wills Take North America....) And now we've arrived at the end of the Canada trip, and the moment we've all been waiting for: the cowboy hats. Canadian Judgement Day, coming up:

1. Arrival in Calgary, 7 July, a) on Kate with the ubiquitous LK Bennett nude heels and LK Bennett clutch, b) from Jenny Packham, and c) and d) the problem with the thing.

Yellow! Girly! Sort of a wee Fifties flair with a dash of schoolgirl thrown in just for kicks! You know I love it. Sadly, though, I do think this highlights one of the reasons Kate should just get a dresser already. I mean, we know she's a DIY girl, but one can't help but think things might have turned out better if there'd been someone on wind forecast watch, standing by with a pencil skirt with an extra lead-weighted hem and a hair tie, just in case. For not only did Kate come perilously close to a Marilyn moment, she also was so busy taking care of her hair and her skirt that she and Wills did not put on the cowboy hats they were given at the famous White Hatting ceremony. A disappointment for the crowd, the photographers, and enough of a faux pas that their press secretary had to clarify that they weren't snubbing anyone. All was forgiven in the end, because Kate gave a 6-year-old girl with Stage 4 cancer and a dream of meeting a real princess a big hug (TEARS), and then this happened....

2. a) Reception at the Calgary Stampede, 7 July, in b) an Alice by Temperley top, jeans, and brown boots.

3. a) Opening the Stampede, 8 July, in Temperley London (b - the "Rodeo" top, natch) and jeans.

It's full-on Cambridge Cowboy Chic! Yeehaw, y'all! I watched the live stream of some of reception, and the whole thing was completely hilarious. I had no idea Canada had its very own Texas. Anyway, the kids do Western well, no? I think they win the prize for best rodeo royal appearance, wouldn't you say? Most especially Cowboy Wills, who looked right at home rocking the hands-on-hips stance. Let me know when Temperley starts opening mass boutiques in the south-central U.S., I'll buy some stock or something.

 4. a) and b) At the Calgary Zoo and departing Canada, 8 July, in Catherine Walker and sporting c) the Queen's Maple Leaf Brooch with her nude clutch and those nude LK Bennett shoes once again.

Red, finally! And the Queen's brooch worn the right way! Kate went out with a bang, didn't she? She looks fab in red, and this is princess perfect. I'm especially loving the wee flair at the bottom, and the sleeve length.

And with that, William and Catherine said goodbye to Canada. Next stop: Los Angeles! (Stay tuned for the one and only black tie event of the trip!)


Photos: Chris Jackson/Getty Images/Reuters/Daylife/AP Photo/Alice Temperley/Jenny Packham

Week in Review: The Duchess of Cambridge, 5-11 June

Here's what Catherine wore from 5-11 June:

1. Out shopping, 9 June. Oh! A serious color, you know I love that.
2. More shopping, 9 June. Two shopping outfits on the same day...that's the life, my friends. Where can I sign up for that? Harry, call me.
3. Attending the ARK Gala, 9 June, a) on Kate, b) from Jenny Packham and shoes from LK Bennett. She also carried a Prada clutch and wore Links of London earrings. Similar dresses have been worn on Gossip Girl and by Dita von Teese (of all the people you never thought Kate would be lumped in with...). Everybody was gushing over this one; personally, I found it very encouraging. I'm choosing to consider this a baby step into magpie territory: start small, just some sparkle on the gown, and before you know it, she'll be piling on the diamonds. Right? (Just nod and smile. If I'm wrong, I'd prefer to let the disappointment set in gradually over the years.) I am also choosing to consider this a step into serious shoe territory: pink with bows? Yes, please! Let's bring these babies out again with a shorter skirt so they can really shine.
4. Trooping the Colour, 11 June, a) on Kate, and b) the coat from Alexander McQueen. The hat is from Philip Treacy, and is a black version of the one Queen Sonja wore to Kate's wedding (talk about another person you never thought you'd lump Kate's style in with). I was totally bored when I saw her in the carriage; the coat just looked like a plain cream suit, and the hat is weird. I was all prepped to take another neutral nap. But I can't hate now, because she wore McQueen, and it does have the potential for fierceness. I'm not sure she's quite there yet (like I said, she's still missing the riding crop...), but once again I am encouraged.
5. Attending the wedding of Sam Waley-Cohen and Annabell Ballin, 11 June. And for her next trick to make me declare this a good week, Kate pulled out the ultimate illusion: she dressed her sister up like this...and stood next to her. SHAZAM! Kate looks amazing! She could have worn anything, really, so this repeated dress and hat from the morning certainly make the grade. Listen, if you can come up with any shred of logic for the things The Pips has thrown together here...I need to know. Report back in the comments.

Best and Worst of the Week

The sparkly thing wins the week, because, well, hello. Logic tells us that Outfit 2 has to be the worst, because we can't go calling anything in living color bad, nor can we do that for McQueen, and my hands are tied on number 5 because of the magic Fug Pippa trick. So, there you have it. What say you?

(Pssst: before someone asks, week in review posts end on Saturday, that's why the blue number isn't here. Besides, we have to save some color for next week, just in case we need it.)

Photos: Popsugar/Arthur Edwards/Rota/Daily Mail/Jenny Packham/LK Bennett/Getty Images/Daylife/Net-a-porter