Week in Review: The Duchess of Cambridge, 30 October-5 November

Here's what Catherine wore from 30 October-5 November:

1. a) Visiting the UNICEF aid center in Copenhagen with William and the Crown Prince and Crown Princess of Denmark, wearing an LK Bennett coat (b) cinched with a Reiss belt, along with Stuart Weitzman boots, her gold leaf earrings, her gold charm bracelet, and a most unfortunate construction hat (c, feel free to play "caption this"). Great coat, this one, and a very elegant appearance. 

Photos: Reuters/Daily Mail/LK Bennett

Week in Review: The Duchess of Cambridge, 25 September-1 October

Here's what Catherine wore from 25 September-1 October:

1. Opening a new children's cancer care center at the Royal Marsden Hospital, 29 September in Amanda Wakeley with her trusty LK Bennett Sledges and Natalie handbag. I hope you like this dress, apparently she bought the £450 frock in this oatmeal and gunmetal and black. I'm a fan, it's safely elegant and what have you - hard to go wrong. It's like a bowl of oatmeal: trusty and sturdy, but definitely ready for some accoutrements...you gotta have some raisins or something in there. Apples, granola, you get my drift. I like the dress though, and am in total agreement with HRH here that this is the sort of thing you buy in bulk.

Can we agree that the star of this visit  is Prince William, though? This dude showed up on no sleep after working one of his 24 hour shifts saving lives and such and then spent 2 1/2 hours at the hospital with the wifey. You know, as you do.

What a stud, am I right?

Also, Kate spent some time this week at the National Portrait Gallery, dressed all in black. I guess all that red from last week was enough to tide her over for a while?

Photos: Hello/Getty Images/Daylife/Amanda Wakeley/Bauer Griffin/Zimbio

Week in Review: The Duchess of Cambridge, 24-30 July

Here's what Catherine wore from 24-30 July:

1. a) and b) Attending the pre-wedding cocktail party for Zara Phillips and Mike Tindall, 29 July in green Diane von Furstenberg repeated from Los Angeles.
2. a) At Zara and Mike's wedding, 30 July in a DAY Birger et Mikkelsen gold coat repeated from two weddings past (most notably Laura Parker Bowles' wedding in 2006) with the infamous LK Bennett shoes and clutch, b) a new hat from Gina Foster Millinery and the same diamond earrings she wore in the evening on Canada Day, and c) a repeated Collette Dinnigan lace dress underneath (picture from a previous appearance). A somewhat boring week for those of us that prefer shiny new things, but a classy move from the Duchess. She definitely did her best to let the bride be the star of the weekend.

Photos: Chris Jackson/Getty Images/Daily Mail/Reuters/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, 3 July - 9 July, Part 1

Here's the last installment of Kate's North American trip wardrobe, now on to the next:

 1. Attending a morning prayer service and visiting Quebec City on day 4 of the trip, 3 July, a) on Kate and b) from Erdem, worn with her LK Bennett nude heels, nude clutch and sapphire/diamond earrings.

2. Finish up in Quebec and arriving on Prince Edward Island, 3 July, a) the Joseph dress on its own, b) with a jacket (see the tweed in c), d) the LK Bennett clutch.

Fact: Erdem makes things that are not blue lace dresses. I thought I'd tell you, just in case you didn't know. I'm a little bit flabbergasted that the "Frugal Duchess" bought two such similar dresses from the same pricey designer! I like this one much better (not navy, not so much lace, blue for Quebec), so I'm left with regrets that she'd switched up the first frock of the trip. I have no regrets on outfit 2, though - as soon as she added the pink tweed jacket, I fell in love! A perfect princess outfit, but still fresh. The waist on the dress and the length of the jacket are a match made in heaven. So far, my favorite outfit of the trip.

3. Visiting Province House in Charlottestown, 4 July, a) and b) from Alexander McQueen, worn with navy pumps and her diamond/sapphire earrings.

4. Watching William practice water landings in a Sea King, 4 July, a) and b) a ponytail shot. Then racing dragon boats (c) in a Nike windbreaker, boat shoes and skinny jeans, and pulling a Grace van Cutsem (d), in black wedge slingbacks.

The McQueen is jaunty in a sort of old-timey croquet way, like she could have borrowed her inspiration from something the Queen Mother would have worn for sport in her day. Fitting for a visit to Prince Edward Island, land of Anne of Green Gables. It's much better in movement, hence the second shot there, because it needs a little more shape and a little more attitude (which might be why I like it better on Sarah Jessica Parker - and you know how I feel about navy). She made a good hair choice for a windy, rainy day with her ponytail, and I don't have much to say about the sportswear - other than I am ashamed of Prince William for busting out those nasty trainers again (and am very, very sad for the person that had to clean them up), and I wish they would have worn the Canada jerseys they were given for the dragon boat race. They broke the rules! Should've been festive and gone for it, kids.

5. Arriving in Yellowknife for the next leg of the tour in the navy trench and navy heels, 4 July.

After careful consideration, and in spite of my Kate-spawned animosity towards navy blue, I have decided that I need that trench. I promise to wear it in a fashion that will make it easy for you to tell that I've not gone stripper underneath without a squint and a prayer.

Do you have a favorite outfit so far? How are you feeling about navy?

Photos: Reuters/Daylife/AP/Daily Mail/Bancroft Media/Michael Dunlea/Just Jared

Week in Review: The Duchess of Cambridge, 12-18 June

Here's what Catherine wore from 12-18 June:

1. Attending Prince Philip's birthday service, 12 June, a) on Kate with Jane Corbett fascinator and LK Bennett shoes, b) the Zara dress underneath, c) the first appearance of the Jane Troughton coat, and d) her earrings.

Some of you said this was a bit of a blue overdose, with the blue brocade coat over the blue dress and topped with a blue fascinator. And while I won't disagree with you on that, I'm not docking her for it. My reasons are threefold: 1) she wore a color, and I'll take it, 2) she's not wearing the coat in exactly the same way she did when she first wore it, and you know how annoyed I get when people repeat the exact same outfit - mixing it up is good for the soul, and 3) she resisted the bridesmaid urge to stick blue shoes with the thing, so we know that she did in fact exercise some Smurf restraint. I threw the earrings in there too; lots of people are suspecting she's wearing a pair that used to belong to Diana - pretty generic earring form to have a definite identification on that, but it's a definite possibility.

2. Prince Philip's birthday dinner, 12 June, a) the best view, b) the full view, behind Zara, c) the dress from Stella McCartney, and d) the dress as worn by Madonna.

THIS IS SO SAD. I mean, she wears something with color and it's shiny and it's Stella Freaking McCartney and it's...this. With all due apologies to Kate's army of admirers, somebody has to call it: we've got her first official Hot Mess on our hands. I'd say we need to give it another outing with better lighting and better photography, but sadly that outing can obviously not be anything involving such strenuous activities as, uh, sitting without this thing getting creased to bugger and back. (Also: I strongly object to the choice of black pumps - court shoes, if you please - with this. Give me a little metallic strappy number and we'll talk.)

3. Garter Day, 13 June, a) on Kate with a Rachel Trevor-Morgan hat, and b) from Katherine Hooker.

I love that she's not just sticking with Philip Treacy as her main hat boyfriend, by the way. Clearly that strategy isn't working out so well for Beatrice and Eugenie, so a little variety is just what the milliner ordered.  With regards to the rest of it, I stand by my original assessment of this outfit: aging? Yes. Timeless/princessish/eminently appropriate? Also yes. Of this week, I'd have to declare this one my favorite.

Do you have a favorite this week?

Photos: Daylife/Getty/Robin Bell/Daily Mail/Katherine Hooker/Zara

Week in Review: The Duchess of Cambridge, 29 May - 4 June

Here's what Catherine wore from 29 May - 4 June:

1. At the Epsom Derby, 4 June, a) on Kate, b) the jacket from Joseph, c) the dress from Reiss, with a Whiteleys beret and LK Bennett shoes and bag. You guys, I was so relieved to see some of you come out in the comments on the Derby post and admit that you weren't in wild head-over-heels swoony sartorial love with this. I thought I was going to be all by my lonesome.

Because while I would never call something like this a disaster, or a fashion don't, this is not the stuff of sartorial excitement. It's a bit harsh, this jacket - a bit mumsy, if you ask me, and I shall never understand how she managed to find a jacket that's too small for her wee frame - and an odd pairing with the froufrou skirt of the dress underneath. And I will admit to a sigh upon realizing that she'd returned to her old standby outfit of dress + jacket. Needs something, needs some pep. Needs just a baby toe stepped out of the Land of Safe.

And so I continue to repeat to myself that this is only like her second appearance as a married lady, and she's still getting her feet under her, and the rumors say she's advertising for servants to include a dresser...perhaps the fabulous is still on the way...perhaps there's more to come...please let there be more to come...excuse me, I've started muttering.
Photos: Reiss/Selfridges/Mirror

Week in Review: The Duchess of Cambridge, 24-30 April

Here's what Catherine wore from 24-30 April:

1. Outside Clarence House, 27 April. Love the cowl neck/blazer combo.
2. Wedding rehearsal at Westminster Abbey, 27 April. Of all the half shots of Kate in cars from this week, this is the only one I'm including. Doesn't it look like she's wearing outfit 6?
3. Last rehearsal and arrival at the Goring Hotel, 28 April. Daily Mail says this dress is Issa.
4. At the wedding, 29 April.
5. Evening wedding party, 29 April.
6. Departing from Buckingham Palace, 30 April, a) on Kate, and b) from Zara. So much better than her usual dress + jacket combos. I think it's the neckline of the jacket that's really making this work.

Best and Worst of the Week

Honestly, I really really liked outfit 6, but sort of felt it would be ludicrous to have that one as best over the wedding dress. Still stand by my original assessment of the gown, though. There's not much to pick from on the bad side, so I'll go with the printed dress that just looked a little messy to me.

Which are your favorites for Kate this week?

Photos: Splash/DailyMail/Zimbio/PacificCoastNews.com/HugoBurnand/royal.gov.uk/PA

Week in Review: Crown Princess Mary, 10-16 April

Here's what Mary wore from 10-16 April:

1. At the final baptism rehearsal, 13 April. Meh. Nothing to see here. See, even Isabella's bored.
2. Christening Vincent and Josephine, 14 April, a) on Mary, and b) shoes and a dress from L.K.Bennett. If you look closely, there are slight differences between Mary's dress and the off-the-rack dress, so she's either customized it, or this is just one hell of a coincidence.
3. Out for a walk with guests, 15 April. Appropriate tourist fare.

Since I'm all about the gratuitous jewel shots lately, I'll leave you with a better look at that delicious sapphire brooch:

Photos: BilledBladet/Svenskdam/LKBennett

Week in Review: Catherine Middleton, 20-26 February

The week's not over  yet, but we have things to discuss. So without further ado, here's what Kate wore from 20-26 February (and I shall add on if necessary):

1.  a) Christening an RNLI lifeboat in Anglesey, 24 February, b) the fascinator, c) the SHOOTIES, and d) the coat from its 2006 appearance at Cheltenham (crafty with the re-cutting, I must say).
2. The trip back to St. Andrews University, 25 February. Update: The suit is from Luisa Spagnoli.
3. Signing the New Zealand earthquake condolence book, 25 February. A double outfit day already! This is Royal Prep 101: Advanced, I guess.

Best and Worst of the Week

All signs point to me hating outfit 1: I mean, it's all neutrals. And SHOOTIES. But...I kind of dig it. I can't believe I'm saying this about something including that footwear, but this is the best of the week for me. I think I've been swayed by the video from this appearance. I thought she was adorable, and I'm not a born Kate fan. Just chatty and happy to be there, none of that stiff trying-too-hard-to-be-regal thing. Also: HAIR UP! (Out of necessity, but still: victory!)

On the other hand, I should adore outfit 2, for it is RED and the belt/jacket flare is giving her pencil-thin physique some curve. Plus, she's working the timeless angle in a suit that she'll be able to recycle, Princess Anne-styles, for decades to come. But...I'm not feeling it. It's aging her too much? Turtlenecks worn like this terrify me because I can't tell if they're dickeys or not? Am I confusing you as much as I'm confusing myself?

And outfit 3, well, I don't know what she was going to wear to such an occasion (no, I do: I'd have preferred a smart navy suit) but this is alright. Except for the hair. Too much wind in one day = worst of the week.

Oh, friends, I don't know. This week is defying all my Laws of Sartorial Splendor. Do chime in and straighten me out.

Photos: Pacificcoastnews.com/Zimbio/AP/Telegraph/Getty/Daily Mail/Rex/Reuters/Daylife

Week in Review: Catherine Middleton, 6-12 February

Here's what Catherine Middleton wore the week of 6-12 February:

1. Lunching with Camilla, 9 February, a) on Kate and b) from Diane von Furstenberg.

I've heard a lot of different opinions on this, ranging from "stylish" to "OMGGTGASASAP!" (Translation: OMG get this girl a stylist ASAP! I speak fluent acronym.) Me? I'm just...bored. Criminally boring, that's my verdict: same old makeup, hair worn down again, yet another dress, yet another jacket thrown on top, same old boots. At this point, I just want to see something different. Anything different will do, even if it's total fug. Et toi, my lovelies?

Photos: Daily Mail/Ikon Pictures

Top 10 Best Royal Wedding Dresses: #3. HRH The Duchess of Cornwall

Camilla Parker-Bowles & HRH The Prince of Wales

April 9, 2005

Sometimes it's all about working with what you have.  Let's be blunt here:  Camilla had neither youth nor great beauty on her side when she married Charles, and comparisons were bound to be made to his last wedding (which featured, of course, a woman who has become iconic for her youth and beauty).  What won me over on Camilla's wedding day was that she didn't attempt to be the second coming of Diana.  She didn't try and go there with the white gown, the train, and the tiara.  She stuck with who she is, and managed to pull off a double wedding dress triumph.

 She enlisted the design help of Robinson Valentine for her 30-years-in-the-making big day.  For the civil service, they created a delicate cream silk chiffon dress and with a detail of woven disks made in Switzerland at the hem.  Over that, she wore an oyster silk basket weave coat featuring herringbone embroidery.  At her lapel, a Prince of Wales feather brooch.  Beige shoes from LK Bennett, a purse from Launer, and headgear from Philip Treacy rounded out the look.

Subtle gold embroidery on the blessing dress.

Later, for the service of blessing, Camilla changed into a porcelain blue silk coat dress with the slightest of trains that was woven with 5 varieties of gold thread.  The effect, intricate yet subtle, made the bride glow in the light of St. George's Chapel.  She wore grey silk shoes and a gold headdress, again from LK Bennett and Philip Treacy, respectively.

If these dresses aren't extraordinary enough on their own, consider this:  Robinson Valentine had only 6 weeks to pull the whole thing off!  Impressive job indeed.  Two fantastically crafted wedding outfits, two major wins.

Click here to see all of the Top 10 dresses!

Photos: Stephen Hird/Reuters/Corbis/ROTA/Anwar Hussein Collection/Getty Images/Tim Graham Picture Library