Why it’s time to give Duchess Kate a fashion break
Tuesday 23rd August 2011, 10:00AM BST.
The most influential person in fashion at the moment has to be the Duchess of Cambridge writes fashion and shopping blogger Emma Iannarilli.
She has just been voted one of Vanity Fair’s best dressed women of 2011, she is Hello magazine’s No 1 new fashion star of the year, and everything she wears turns to fashion gold.
But there seems to be a new sport of Kate-bashing, by fashion critics, by designers and by websites.
Boring, frumpy, not edgy enough to wear McQueen, too much eye make-up, those horrible tights – these are just some of the insults that have been directed at Kate.
So now I’m here to defend the Duchess and say – let’s give Kate a break!
The main problem seems to be the old adage that ‘you can’t please all of the people all of the time.’ The glossy fashion press – people like Vogue editor Alexandra Shulman and Grazia’s Paula Reed – want Kate to be an ambassador for British Designers. They see Kate showcasing British Design at every opportunity.
The problem is that Kate would constantly be wearing outfits that are expensive, and therefore inaccessible, for the majority of the British public.
So instead, Kate has cleverly chosen key British designers to showcase – notably Sarah Burton for McQueen and Amanda Wakeley – but has mixed in some more affordable pieces from the British High Street.
This has been very popular with the buying public, who made High Street pieces like the Reiss ‘Shola’ dress – worn by the Duchess to meet the Obamas – an instant sell-out, and has also paid dividends for stores like Whistles, LK Bennett, Hobbs and Zara.
But it has led Vivienne Westwood, the grand doyenne of British fashion to label Kate ‘ordinary’, saying she wants her to be ‘extraordinary’.
Kate has also been criticised for recycling outfits from her wardrobe. For instance, the Duchess recently wore a coat to the wedding of Zara Philips that she had worn to two previous weddings.
Even Kelly Osbourne waded into this argument, saying Kate should give away her clothes after she has worn them and wear something new every time she appears in public.
Yet most people wear their clothes over and over again, especially if they are as beautiful and well made as the clothes Kate wears.
To most, Kate just appears to be sensible in re-wearing her clothes, rather than a spendthrift and spending money for the sake of spending.
It seems Kate is just an easy target. People seem to forget she has a job to do, and that she dresses accordingly.
She is not Lady Gaga, or Cheryl Cole, or Victoria Beckham. She wisely seems to be trying to avoid the clothes-horse tag that was used to deride Diana, Princess of Wales.
Kate always appears elegant, occasion-appropriate and well groomed, but without appearing fashion crazy. She is not a fashion-plate, she is a Duchess.
I recently defended Kate’s fashion sense on Radio WM. As I left the studio I was approached by the female security guard. ‘I agree with you’ she said, ‘she always looks lovely.’
And I think I will leave that as the last word.
Business Awards
Book a Business Awards table
Join our celebrations of the region's best in business on Thursday March 22 - book your table now
Lifestyle
Interactive Dining Out map
Hundreds of reviews by the Express & Star and Shropshire Star's teams to help you decide where to eat.
entertainment
All the film reviews
Before you plan a trip to the pictures, get our critics' verdicts on all the latest movie releases
OUR NEW APP
Get the new E&S app
Download the Express & Star’s new app to your iPad or iPhone to get one week of access to our digital newspapers absolutely FREE.
expressandstar.com
Popular sections
Useful links
I totally agree with your article!! Thank you! After all she is a duchess and is so classy no matter what she wears and she should recycle her clothes as this sets a good example…….. Well done Catherine
Report abuse
Excellent article. I think the Duchess is the perfect ambassador for the UK and for British fashion. She may be a member of the Royal family and our future Queen but currently she is the wife of an RAF pilot. She dresses appropriately, and very elegantly, for every occasion. When she is the Queen then she can have a new outfit for every event. I am sure if she only wore expensive designer clothes and gave away her clothes after one outing, critics would have something to say about it.
I also think she is doing a stunning job. I certainly don’t envy her being thrown into the limelight simply because of the man she fell in love with.
There are fashion fans the world over who follow and purchase her high street choices, you just have to look at facebook to see the various pages and positive comments. Every girl no matter what age likes to feel like a Princess occasionally and she seems to be making that possible. Rock on Kate – remember the people who matter LOVE you!!
I agree with the old adage ‘if you don’t have something good to say don’t say anything at all’
Report abuse
I think she always looks lovely. She is right to be mindful of what her Mother in Law went through – as she could never please everyone either, please herself and wear what she wants to, as we all do!
Report abuse
I’ve said before that Catherine can’t win for losing. No matter what she wears, she will be thoroughly dissected in the press. And who does Kelly Osborne think she is anyway? If I had a daughter or grand daughter I think I would prefer that she emulate the Duchess of Cambridge over Ms Osborne any day. I’ve also said before that I think it’s a good idea to forgo wearing anything by Ms Westwood unless one would care to look as out of place and strange as Eugenie did at William’s wedding. And the Duchess of Cambridge is a great role model not only for British fashion but for young girls everywhere. You were entirely correct when you said that she is wearing high end clothing that showcases good British designers but also clothing that “regular people” can also buy and wear. Here’s a thought: Why don’t we all leave Catherine alone? Let her wear whatever she wants, whenever she wants. She’s a big girl and can fend for herself.
Report abuse
Kate always looks wonderful! How refreshing that a member of the royal family is wearing her outfits more than once. Most of us do. Most photos of Kate occur when she is doing her job, which, if I’m not mistaken, is Duchess, not fashion model or Hollywood celebrity. Yes, please, give her a break. She is performing her role beautifully.
Report abuse
Ummmmmmmmm——once I got to “Obama’s” I stopped reading—I can give a “break” to Kate but I won’t give a break to a writer who doesn’t know how to make a “plural” in print!
The problem is, when I got to “Obama’s”, which should read “Obamas”, I thought “this writer has no credibility with me as she doesn’t know grammar”. If she doesn’t know basic grammar, than she must not have too many brains…I’m not a writer by trade…but I expect those who are writers to at least be “average” at what they do. If you want us to read the whole article, then learn how to write.
Report abuse
I’m sorry a single apostrophe offended you so. I write my articles at one in the morning when my baby is sleeping, usually feeling very tired myself, and occasionally make mistakes that I don’t pick up. Hardly an offence. Incidentally, I am not a writer by trade either, I don’t get paid for this – it is a hobby that I started to help me recover some self-esteem after suffering from severe post natel depression which had forced me to leave my last employment.
As for brains, I have two degrees, including one in politics, and speak two additional languages. Occasionally slip up with an apostrophe, but you can’t have everything!
Regards
Report abuse
Way to defend yourself !!! Some people are just so petty. I, for one, certainly enjoyed reading your article and think you did an excellent job of getting your point across. HRH, the Duchess of Cambridge, always looks lovely and well put together. She is in a difficult place, if she wears new clothes at every event, she will be seen as wasteful and greedy by the general public. And, as your article states, if she wears an outfit more than once, she is seen as ordinary and boring. The duchess is neither of those ! She is beautiful and a breath of fresh air for, not only Great Britain and the royal family, but also for the entire world!
Report abuse
Rude and uncalled for. Mistakes happen, I read both the Telegraph and the Guardian websites and see mistakes all the time, it doesn’t take away from my enjoyment of reading.
Emma may have made a small mistake, but I would rather read this article with the wrong use of an apostrophe, than a million snide comments from you.
Keep on writing Emma – always interesting to read!
Incidentally – why did you use quotation marks around a conversation you had in your head? Just a thought…
Report abuse
Ben– my comment is not rude and uncalled for. The piece asks for comments and I made some. The use of
apostrophes for plurals is more and more
common. When your English teacher corrected you, I doubt you thought her rude. You probably just thought she was doing her job. I am a reader and I am doing the same by making comments when invited.
Report abuse
Yes, but the way you made that comment was extremely rude. If my English teacher had said I didn’t have too many brains after making a simple, common mistake I certainly would’ve thought her rude…and a lot more besides.
Who set you up as the authority on punctuation? If you read your comment back you’ll see that it’s not exactly well written.
As for leaving comments – the comments usually relate to the topic, not nit picking. You obviously have a lot of time on your hands if you can leave such a nasty remark for such a small mistake. If your comments can’t be constructive rather than insulting, I suggest you don’t leave them.
Report abuse
I’ll take the blame for this one Sarah as the person that checked this piece before it went online.
So it’s me, not Emma, that doesn’t have “too many brains.” Although that’s probably a good thing – one is quite enough for me…
Report abuse
Totally agree with these replies. “Sarah” is clearly a pedant with far too much time on her hands and a very negative outlook on life. I thought your article, Emma, was extremely well argued and I couldn’t have agreed more with its sentiment. I think Kate always looks fabulous and that she can’t do right for doing wrong. “Sarah” should get a life, or possibly some medication from her doctor if such a petty mistake winds her up so much.
Report abuse
I am a male senior citizen and I think the duchess looks lovely.Her clothes are beautiful and I think she should bbe commended for re-wearing outfits previously been worn.I really like the heels she manages to wear and the clutch bags are so much more appropriate than a large purse. Furthermore, for heavens sake, leave her alone as far as the makeup is concerned. Her hair is lovely and she wears it for the occassion. I believe some of her critics are just plain jealous!
Report abuse
She is definitely play her role as a duchess and a loving and supporting wife wonderfully! All her critics are simply envious of her because she always looks fantastic and dresses perfectly for each occasion. She doesn’t steal the show at another’s wedding. She is absolutely gorgeous! Thank you for this article!!
Report abuse
* she definitely plays (Sorry I didn’t proof read)
Report abuse
The wedding prayer they wrote: the part about “our energy, time, and resources for the good of others” It takes time, energy, and resources to shop for elegant, appropriate clothes and accessories. Nothing I have seen has been frumpy. And if you wore a new outfit everyday, and all designer outfits; the fittings, the energy, to put it altogether would be exhausting. She looks elegant and appropriate. And remember, she cooks for her husband, does most of the housekeeping, keeps a busy official duties schedule, needs time with her family, time to recenter, time for her, and time for William. Can we give her a “wonderful balance in juggling your life so regally” ?
Report abuse
Actually Sarah, it might be a good idea to re-read your own post; grammar and syntax ? people in glass houses etc.
And it’s not really grammar that you were remarking on, but spelling.
And Kate looks great – her clothes are apporpriate for her role.
Report abuse
and even “appropriate” – I too, can hit the wrong keys just as easily as the next person :)
Report abuse
Great article. Really loving Kate’s style – she is a breath of fresh air.
As for Sarah…did you mean to say brain cells? Most of us have one brain, not ‘many brains;, but we may have many brain cells.
Maybe Sarah needs to concentrate less on English punctuation, and more on the English language!
Report abuse
Like Henry Ford (#7) I am a senior citizen who thinks that Kate looks beautiful. She always looks lovely and stylish and smiles broadly. But sadly part of her role in this over-communicated era is to be the object of criticism. I just regret that I am unlikely to live to see her as Queen Consort (for the UK, not Australia). She could revolutionise the image of the British head of state and entourage.
Report abuse
Definitely agree with everything except the Kelly Osbourne comment–she was saying Kate deserves to get a new outfit everyday because of what she’s giving up, and I can’t disagree with that.
Report abuse
I’m still as fascinated with Sarah’s comments as I am with Kate’s wardrobe. (Thanks Jo for pointing out the punctuation aspect)
Why does she think it is “proper grammar” to use the indefinite article “a” which is singular, with the word plural which by definition means “more than one” ?
Is she trying to use the word plural as a noun or an adjective?
Back to Kate’s clothes, whatever she wears, someone will criticise her choice; leave the poor woman alone – she has grace and style and even when wearing a see through outfit at her University charity do, she managed not to look like a tart; few women of a similar age could manage that, I fear.
Report abuse