Kate Middleton: her choice of going-away outfit will reflect her new status
While most brides leave their wedding reception in the white dress in which they arrived, will Prince William's future wife enter married life in a stylish going-away outfit?
BY ANNA TYZACK | 20 APRIL 2011
While most brides of Kate Middleton's age leave their wedding reception in the white dress in which they arrived, Prince William's future wife will surely enter married life in a stylish going-away outfit. It will be the first ensemble she wears as a member of the Royal family, and commentators expect it to reflect her new status. It also gives her an opportunity to endorse one of Britain's leading designers.
"Her going-away outfit should be grown up, but also reflect her character," says Caroline Smiley, owner of Moloh (moloh.com), the Gloucestershire-based fashion house whose coutured jackets, tweed skirts and metal belts are worn by Kate and her friends. "She's tall, slim and elegant, and tends to wear clothes with a bit of theatre."
Throughout her engagement, Kate been understated in what she has worn, mixing designer labels (often bought heavily discounted from her beloved TK Maxx) with upmarket high street names such as Whistles and Reiss. Come April 29, whether she likes it or not, she will be a style ambassador for Britain. Diana, Princess of Wales affirmed her role as Royal clothes horse in a shocking-pink David Sassoon suit as she left her wedding in 1981. For something equally dramatic, Kate could look to Alexander McQueen - the fashion house widely rumoured to be designing her wedding dress - Alice Temperley or Amanda Wakeley.
According to bridal expert Lucia Silver, who runs Notting Hill boutique The State of Grace (thestateofgrace.com), Kate's choice of going-away outfit is likely to err on the side of caution. "Even if she were to go in the McQueen direction, she would do so because it's beautiful work, not because she's going to wear something radical from one of his catwalk shows. It will be a nod to the fashion industry in a conservative way. I don't think she'll want to get too big for her boots."
So far, the Royal family has been keen for Kate not to follow Diana into the world of fashion. Dresses sent to her by Christian Lacroix and Victoria Beckham have been politely returned by Buckingham Palace. But an outfit from Catherine Walker, one of Diana's favourite fashion houses, could be a good compromise.
Laura Green, of Catherine Walker, suggests a floaty chiffon dress. "These dresses look fresh and young," she says. "Kate often wears a dress coat or short jacket over the top, which would smarten it up." For this, she could call on Katherine Hooker, or opt for a limited-edition tailcoat from Moloh. Meanwhile, designer Lisa Redman (lisaredman.co.uk) suggests a soft-red ensemble. "Perhaps a silk ziberline dress, with a petal-shaped skirt, pockets and defined waist. An embellished cashmere cardigan over her shoulders and heels would finish off the look perfectly," she says.
The safest bet would be a simple but immaculately coutured skirt suit, a traditional part of the going-away armoire since the Thirties. Kate experimented with this look with a red number by Luisa Spagnoli on a walkabout in St Andrews recently, prompting the Huffington Post to write: "Kate Middleton officially entered princess territory today, by stepping out in the ensemble every leading lady must learn to love: the skirt suit." But a suit needn't be stuffy or frumpy, as Grace Kelly demonstrated when she wore a two-piece with matching gloves as she left for her honeymoon in 1956.
Silver would like to see Kate in something Forties or Fifties in style, in a bold colour, but implores her to think carefully about headwear. "I hope more than anything that she doesn't decide to wear a fascinator."
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