They need to talk about the fashion, because frankly, Kate's work isn't substantive enough to talk about it so what else are they going to talk about? I'm interested to see how this continues over the next few weeks because I bet when she attends the BAFTA's, we get info about her clothing.
A misstep in my opinion. You know, she COULD spotlight small designers, or minority designers, or something else worthwhile, thus using fashion explicitly as substance. That outfit with the brown blazer is horrible.
Princess Diana famously used the lack of a fashion accessory (gloves) specifically to draw attention to a cause (people being afraid to touch AIDS patients). Fashion can be used so strategically in a way that brings additional attention to something. It’s unfortunate that her team is unwilling to see this, especially since she’s done it well in the past.
With all the other royal women in the sphere managing with fashion and making an impact at the same time its surprising Kate hasn't. I just read an article on feminegra.com that talked about all the royal women who worked before they became royals, I think thats the difference between Kate and all the other royal women. They have more life experience- and therefore more confidence.
I follow Queen Rania, Queen Letizia, Queen Mary, Princess Sofia of Sweden and they're always dressed nice and the public is also interested in their work. Queen Rania wore a beautiful pink Oscar De La Renta dress yesterday at World Summit Of Children's rights at the vatican and spoke so eloquently. The focus was on both and she is taken more seriously on the global public stage.Was she taken less seriously because she wore a pink dress? I highly doubt it.
Kate has been outlier amongst all other royals- but mainly because I think she picks causes that do not make an impact and she rarely publicly speaks. Her engagements are very limited compared to other global royals and she is not seen as often as the other (Queen Letizia is seen every week). She's been on the global stage for 13 years and maybe has done 10 public speeches the whole time. Even when she's at engagements it seems like she does not want to be there. I read Omid Scobies book and he said it right -Kate has been infantalized. Whether thats because what the royal family wanted or it's Kate's reluctance remains to be known.
Kates' early years project is not a real cause- it tells the public common sense things about children's early years (trauma is bad in the early years- basically). How much of an impact is that going to make? Her sister in law Meghan did more impactful projects in two years as a working royal then Kate has but it was the quality of projects she picked- a cookbook benefitting the Greenfell Tower victims and Smart Works.
The fact that the palace made this statement means Kate wants to be taken seriously but they have to understand it was not the clothes that made the public think of her less seriously- it her projects, limited public engagements and lack of public speaking.
You too can send a belittling, spiteful message to the public by wearing an objectively terrible outfit for the low low cost of…checks notes…nearly $2,000 in new, mismatched pieces!
If the PoW really cared to remove attention from her clothing she would go back to her approach from summer/fall 2023 and just wear a uniform of nondescript, repeated outfits (in that case it was suits).
To me, this leak is blatantly a response to the recent criticism she’s garnered with her Chanel and Zara missteps. It’s yet another example of the Wales family’s laughably horrendous handling of their Very Terrible No Good Year. I have empathy for them as people but it’s pretty astonishing how inept they are at maintaining a courteous, functioning relationship with the public that supports them. They act like the public is insane for wanting them to consistently show up and put in effort, and *yes* part of that effort is sartorial.
Imagine if Amanda wore a floppy brown blazer and ill fitting grey trousers in her Tik Tok videos? It would have an effect on viewership. No one in the world is under the impression that professional presentation doesn’t matter in literally every single industry and now Kate thinks she’s above that? Truly, the Wales family think we’re all idiots. It’s the only through line in their PR since January 2024.
You're right: if they don't want us to talk about her fashion, give us something to talk about. And she doesn't.
But good news for Meghan, according to Chris Ship, the British Media will stop analyzing her wardrobe and what her jewelry costs, right? Because he said what important is what they do, not what they are wearing.
Great points, you're right it's dismissive and as if it's just work means it doesn't matter what I wear or look like. At least she seems to be done with copying Meghan or maybe not if it's about neutrals now.
Not at all. Catherine always looks well dressed. Not everyone will like her outfits. That doesn't matter. And why would you mention Harry's wife. She's no longer relevant in the UK.
I am curious to see what they’re left with if the focus on fashion is no longer talked about.
As a decades-long Royal “follower”, fashion (Diana’s 80s fashion in particular) was my gateway into the discourse.
Without it, I personally think that some of us who have stayed for the intersection of fashion, heritage, history, and frankly hot royal goss will eventually lose interest . 🫖 If the mission is to grab more eyeballs focused on their work, then removing fashion from the equation is ill advised at best.
I've got a feeling Kate's wanting to move away from 'Royal' fashion altogether and just wear what she wants. That pinstripe trouser & jumper outfit is a favourite I like to wear myself; I wonder if she's letting us know that the days of Royals forcing themselves into pastel skirt suits is over?
I hate that they always undermine the power of fashion, specially for Kate! As you mentioned, it is an integral part of her role, one of the best ways she can connect with the public! But I also think this, no comment on the clothing, won’t last long, just like last time
This is the biggest show of personal preference we've seen from her. Very unlike Kate, but obviously, things change when faced with illness. Clear boundaries between the private and public Kate are probably easier to navigate for everyone. Perhaps she's pushing for a more authentic expression in the public sphere, where she had otherwise played her part and kept quiet. A show of personal preferences and "authenticity" never play well for a royal. Such a trap. I feel for her.
She could just rewear what she already has that's British and communicates appropriately given the event. It's fun, sustainable, and God knows she has a massive closet. But new things that don't match each other, or the event, or even flatter? This story buries the Chanel handbag problem, but I'd bet she doesn't turn into Princess Anne, who rewears and works hard. And that leaves the jealous King, Queen and Heir with the same popularity problem.
They need to talk about the fashion, because frankly, Kate's work isn't substantive enough to talk about it so what else are they going to talk about? I'm interested to see how this continues over the next few weeks because I bet when she attends the BAFTA's, we get info about her clothing.
You will. It's a high profile event not a patronage.
A misstep in my opinion. You know, she COULD spotlight small designers, or minority designers, or something else worthwhile, thus using fashion explicitly as substance. That outfit with the brown blazer is horrible.
Catherine will with her Royal Warrants. Also the companies can advertise that she's wearing their clothing.
Princess Diana famously used the lack of a fashion accessory (gloves) specifically to draw attention to a cause (people being afraid to touch AIDS patients). Fashion can be used so strategically in a way that brings additional attention to something. It’s unfortunate that her team is unwilling to see this, especially since she’s done it well in the past.
With all the other royal women in the sphere managing with fashion and making an impact at the same time its surprising Kate hasn't. I just read an article on feminegra.com that talked about all the royal women who worked before they became royals, I think thats the difference between Kate and all the other royal women. They have more life experience- and therefore more confidence.
I follow Queen Rania, Queen Letizia, Queen Mary, Princess Sofia of Sweden and they're always dressed nice and the public is also interested in their work. Queen Rania wore a beautiful pink Oscar De La Renta dress yesterday at World Summit Of Children's rights at the vatican and spoke so eloquently. The focus was on both and she is taken more seriously on the global public stage.Was she taken less seriously because she wore a pink dress? I highly doubt it.
Kate has been outlier amongst all other royals- but mainly because I think she picks causes that do not make an impact and she rarely publicly speaks. Her engagements are very limited compared to other global royals and she is not seen as often as the other (Queen Letizia is seen every week). She's been on the global stage for 13 years and maybe has done 10 public speeches the whole time. Even when she's at engagements it seems like she does not want to be there. I read Omid Scobies book and he said it right -Kate has been infantalized. Whether thats because what the royal family wanted or it's Kate's reluctance remains to be known.
Kates' early years project is not a real cause- it tells the public common sense things about children's early years (trauma is bad in the early years- basically). How much of an impact is that going to make? Her sister in law Meghan did more impactful projects in two years as a working royal then Kate has but it was the quality of projects she picked- a cookbook benefitting the Greenfell Tower victims and Smart Works.
The fact that the palace made this statement means Kate wants to be taken seriously but they have to understand it was not the clothes that made the public think of her less seriously- it her projects, limited public engagements and lack of public speaking.
You too can send a belittling, spiteful message to the public by wearing an objectively terrible outfit for the low low cost of…checks notes…nearly $2,000 in new, mismatched pieces!
If the PoW really cared to remove attention from her clothing she would go back to her approach from summer/fall 2023 and just wear a uniform of nondescript, repeated outfits (in that case it was suits).
To me, this leak is blatantly a response to the recent criticism she’s garnered with her Chanel and Zara missteps. It’s yet another example of the Wales family’s laughably horrendous handling of their Very Terrible No Good Year. I have empathy for them as people but it’s pretty astonishing how inept they are at maintaining a courteous, functioning relationship with the public that supports them. They act like the public is insane for wanting them to consistently show up and put in effort, and *yes* part of that effort is sartorial.
Imagine if Amanda wore a floppy brown blazer and ill fitting grey trousers in her Tik Tok videos? It would have an effect on viewership. No one in the world is under the impression that professional presentation doesn’t matter in literally every single industry and now Kate thinks she’s above that? Truly, the Wales family think we’re all idiots. It’s the only through line in their PR since January 2024.
You're right: if they don't want us to talk about her fashion, give us something to talk about. And she doesn't.
But good news for Meghan, according to Chris Ship, the British Media will stop analyzing her wardrobe and what her jewelry costs, right? Because he said what important is what they do, not what they are wearing.
Great points, you're right it's dismissive and as if it's just work means it doesn't matter what I wear or look like. At least she seems to be done with copying Meghan or maybe not if it's about neutrals now.
Not at all. Catherine always looks well dressed. Not everyone will like her outfits. That doesn't matter. And why would you mention Harry's wife. She's no longer relevant in the UK.
Because it's my opinion. You get yours, I get mine.
I am curious to see what they’re left with if the focus on fashion is no longer talked about.
As a decades-long Royal “follower”, fashion (Diana’s 80s fashion in particular) was my gateway into the discourse.
Without it, I personally think that some of us who have stayed for the intersection of fashion, heritage, history, and frankly hot royal goss will eventually lose interest . 🫖 If the mission is to grab more eyeballs focused on their work, then removing fashion from the equation is ill advised at best.
I've got a feeling Kate's wanting to move away from 'Royal' fashion altogether and just wear what she wants. That pinstripe trouser & jumper outfit is a favourite I like to wear myself; I wonder if she's letting us know that the days of Royals forcing themselves into pastel skirt suits is over?
I hate that they always undermine the power of fashion, specially for Kate! As you mentioned, it is an integral part of her role, one of the best ways she can connect with the public! But I also think this, no comment on the clothing, won’t last long, just like last time
This is the biggest show of personal preference we've seen from her. Very unlike Kate, but obviously, things change when faced with illness. Clear boundaries between the private and public Kate are probably easier to navigate for everyone. Perhaps she's pushing for a more authentic expression in the public sphere, where she had otherwise played her part and kept quiet. A show of personal preferences and "authenticity" never play well for a royal. Such a trap. I feel for her.
She could just rewear what she already has that's British and communicates appropriately given the event. It's fun, sustainable, and God knows she has a massive closet. But new things that don't match each other, or the event, or even flatter? This story buries the Chanel handbag problem, but I'd bet she doesn't turn into Princess Anne, who rewears and works hard. And that leaves the jealous King, Queen and Heir with the same popularity problem.