Just 24 hours after she was criticised for not wearing black at the BAFTAs, the Duchess of Cambridge opted for a printed monochrome gown for the launch of the Commonwealth Fashion Exchange last night at Buckingham Palace.
Both Kate and her co-host, Prince Edward’s wife Sophie, Countess of Wessex, chose to wear black dresses, in a move that may have been them subtly signalling their support for Times Up, albeit a day late. The Duchess of Cambridge wore an elegant floral-printed gown by Erdem, while Sophie chose a simple shift dress with a red trim.
A-listers attending the BAFTAs on Sunday dressed in black to show their solidarity with the #MeToo movement, which was launched in the wake of the Harvey Weinstein scandal. The initiative was launched at the Golden Globes in January, where the overwhelming majority of stars chose to wear a black gown.
However, royal protocol dictates that black should only really be worn for sombre occasions, such as funerals, while the monarchy is also not supposed to show any political leanings. As a result, many speculated that the Duchess may choose not to wear black on Sunday, which she didn’t, instead choosing a dark green Jenny Packham gown.
Actress Frances McDormand, who won the BAFTA for Best Actress for Three Billboards Outside Ebbing, Missouri, also eschewed the dress code, saying in her speech ‘I have a little trouble with compliance, but I want you to know I stand in full solidarity with my sisters tonight in black.’
The Commonwealth Fashion Exchange hopes to use fashion as a common language to help people understand what the modern commonwealth looks like today. Other attendees at the Buckingham Palace reception included Anna Wintour, Edward Enninful, Livia Firth, Adwoa Aboah and Naomi Campbell.