A Royal Fashion Jury: We Rate Our 6 Favourite ‘Kate On Tour’ Looks

Fashion Jury: We Rate Our 6 Favourite 'Kate On Tour' Looks

The-Best-Looks-From-Kate-Mi

by Katherine Ormerod |
Published on

The Best Looks From Kate Middleton, Duchess Of Cambridge, On Tour In Australia and New Zealand

*The Duchess of Cambridge in a Range of Her Tour Outfits [Getty]

Now the Cambridge family is well on their way back to Blighty’s shores, we can take stock on the truly important matter at hand: namely how well did Kate Middleton work her New Zealand and Australia Tour Wardrobe? As every little detail, accessory and accoutrement was bound to be picked over by the world’s press, the pressure was always on to wow the crowds.

Before the tour commenced there was much talk of the Queen exerting her influence on the DoC’s fashion choices with demands for longer hemlines and a more regal attitude mooted. Indeed the evidence does suggest that K-Middy may have taken this advice on board as many of her ensembles – especially the Catherine Walker outfits – were traditional in every sense. However, that doesn’t mean that K-Middy wasn’t true to her own style signatures. From her high street choices (LK Bennett and Hobbs) to her wedges (in and out of the sand) to her penchant for recycling (that Rebecca Taylor suit and the Roksanda frock), Kate has played her tour wardrobe by her own rules.

For the full Grazia run down on the Duchess’ tour wardrobe scroll down to read out Senior Fashion News & Features Editor, Katherine Ormerod’s Fashion Jury verdict…..

  1. Catherine Walker for the arrival in NZ

The Duchess of Cambridge wearing Catherine Walker

As Kate emerged down under wearing a stiff, buttoned up coat in pillar box red, the critics were sharp. Some said she looked like an air stewardess (the jet backdrop certainly didn’t help) while others commented that the look was aging for a woman in her early thirties. Both lines of argument are not entirely untrue – but you have to remember the context. This was the moment that the British monarchy landed in the Commonwealth country and it was important that the regal tone was set. The combination of all those buttons and the brooch was however ill-advised.

  1. Zimmerman dress for a trip to the beach

The Duchess of Cambridge wearing Zimmerman

When Kate lets things go a little looser she looks more accessible, beautiful and young. This pretty broderie anglaise frock by Zimmerman also had the benefit of hailing from Aussie shores – Kate wore surprisingly little from Australian designers, taking the opportunity instead to promote Brit based talent from Rokanda Illincic to Erdem. The Stuart Weitzman espadrille wedges rose eyebrows in the sand, but every girl needs a good leg lengthener in the sunshine.*

  1. A printed DvF wrap dress for the Blue Mountains

The Duchess of Cambridge wearing Diane Von Furstenberg

This ‘Patrice’ classic Diane Von Furstenberg wrap dress reported sold out a mere 8 minutes after Kate stepped out wearing it – the Kate effect in action. Again there’s nothing revolutionary about her look, but it's appropriate and timeless, no wonder Middy is such a fan. The navy wedges were another safe choice, it would have been more interesting if she had mixed it up a bit more with a harder shoe option.

  1. Roksanda Illincic dress for arrival in Sydney

The Duchess of Cambridge Wearing Roksanda Illincic

Kate has gone for a plethora of strong pigments during the tour – in a way that very much evokes the Queen’s tendency to wear head to toe strong colour. This sunshine yellow number by Roksanda Illincic, complete with white colour block inserts is a great combination of regal and London-style chic. The square neckline would have suited a necklace with a shorter chain – something which sat on the collarbone.

  1. An Alexander McQueen coat for church

The Duchess of Cambridge Wearing Alexander McQueen

This beautiful grey-blue hue is an ultra chic choice for the Duchess. Here we can certainly see the new regal rules in action - the longer hemline and austere cut empahsises Kate's svelte figure and the hat tones in well. Where Kate could really make some more style noise is with her accessories. When you go this plain with your wardrobe, you need the accoutrements to do the talking.

  1. LK Bennett's floral dress for Easter day

The Duchess of Cambridge wearing LK Bennett

'Cut Price Kate' has earned a reputation for making high street work at even the most formal of occasions. This pretty floral fitted dress from LK Bennett certainly doesn't look out of place in her tour wardrobe. Indeed you could never say that Kate doesn't have a signature look. It would have been great to see her experiment with seperates - skirts and blouses a la Michelle Obama or even - shock horror - some trousers. While her silhouette is immediately distinguishable, every look does somewhat blend into each other.

See ALL of Kate's looks in the gallery below and let us know which gets your vote...

Gallery

Kate Middleton Style - Best Dresses & Outfits

1 Kate Middleton style green coat1 of 29

1 Kate Middleton style green coat

2 Kate Middleton style wimbledon 2014 dress2 of 29

2 Kate Middleton style wimbledon 2014 dress

Kate Middleton at the mens singles final of the Wimbledon Championships - July 6, 2014

3 Kate Middleton style pink dress3 of 29

3 Kate Middleton style pink dress

Kate Middleton visits an M-PACT Plus Counselling programme - July 1, 2014

4 Kate Middleton style anzac day coat4 of 29

4 Kate Middleton style anzac day coat

Kate Middleton at the ANZAC Day commemorative service - April 25, 2014

5 Kate Middleton style d day blue coat5 of 29

5 Kate Middleton style d day blue coat

Kate Middleton at a service during the D-Day 70 Commemorations - June 6, 2014

5 Kate Middleton style military outfit6 of 29

5 Kate Middleton style military outfit

Kate Middleton during an official visit to Bletchley Park - June 18, 2014

6 Kate Middleton style prince george jeans7 of 29

6 Kate Middleton style prince george jeans

Kate Middleton and Prince George of Cambridge at the Royal Charity Polo - June 15, 2014

7 Kate Middleton style white black dress8 of 29

7 Kate Middleton style white black dress

Kate Middleton at the Ben Ainslie Racing America's Cup Launch Event - June 10, 2014

8 Kate Middleton style jonathan saunders9 of 29

8 Kate Middleton style jonathan saunders

The Duchess of Cambridge wearing Jonathan Saunders in Scotland - 29th May 2014

9 Kate Middleton style hobbs10 of 29

9 Kate Middleton style hobbs

The Duchess of Cambridge in Hobbs at Ayers Rock - 22 April 2014

10 Kate Middleton style lela rose dress11 of 29

10 Kate Middleton style lela rose dress

The Duchess of Cambridge in Lela Rose in Canberra - 24 April 2014

11 Kate Middleton style pink dress alexander mcqueen12 of 29

11 Kate Middleton style pink dress alexander mcqueen

The Duchess of Cambridge in Alexander McQueen at Adelaide - 23 April 2014

12 Kate Middleton style green dress13 of 29

12 Kate Middleton style green dress

The Duchess of Cambridge in Catherine Walker in Canberra - 24 April 2014

13 Kate Middleton style yellow dress sydney14 of 29

13 Kate Middleton style yellow dress sydney

The Duchess of Cambridge at Taronga Zoo in Sydney - 20 April 2014

14 Kate Middleton style grey dress15 of 29

14 Kate Middleton style grey dress

The Duchess of Cambridge in Roksanda Ilincic in Uluru - 22 April 2014

17 Kate Middleton style white dress manley beach16 of 29

17 Kate Middleton style white dress manley beach

The Duchess of Cambridge in Zimmerman at Manley Beach - 20 April 2014

15 Kate Middleton style alexander mcqueen17 of 29

15 Kate Middleton style alexander mcqueen

The Duchess of Cambridge in Alexander McQueen at Easter service, Ausralia - 20 April 2014

16 Kate Middleton style white blue dress l k bennett18 of 29

16 Kate Middleton style white blue dress l k bennett

The Duchess of Cambridge in L.K. Bennett at Amberley Air Base - 19 April 2014

18 Kate Middleton style red outfit19 of 29

18 Kate Middleton style red outfit

The Duchess of Cambridge in Christchurch, New Zealand - 14 April 2014

19 Kate Middleton style yellow dress roksanda ilincic20 of 29

19 Kate Middleton style yellow dress roksanda ilincic

The Duchess of Cambridge in Roksanda Ilincic arriving in Sydney, Australia - 16 April 2014

20 Kate Middleton style prince george rebecca taylor21 of 29

20 Kate Middleton style prince george rebecca taylor

The Duchess of Cambridge in Rebecca Taylor leaving New Zealand - 16 April 2014

21 Kate Middleton style diane von furstenberg22 of 29

21 Kate Middleton style diane von furstenberg

The Duchess of Cambridge in Diane Von Furstenberg in Blue Mountains, Australia - 17 April 2014

22 Kate Middleton style zara new zealand23 of 29

22 Kate Middleton style zara new zealand

The Duchess of Cambridge in Zara wine tasting in New Zealand - 13 April 2014

23 Kate Middleton style jonathan saunders24 of 29

23 Kate Middleton style jonathan saunders

The Duchess of Cambridge in Jonathan Saunders at rugby in Dunedin, New Zealand - 13 April 2014

24 Kate Middleton style erdem green coat25 of 29

24 Kate Middleton style erdem green coat

The Duchess of Cambridge in Erdem at Avanti Drome in Hamilton, New Zealand - 12 April 2014

25 Kate Middleton style emilia wickstead blue dress26 of 29

25 Kate Middleton style emilia wickstead blue dress

The Duchess of Cambridge in Emilia Wickstead at Dunedin - 13 April 2014

26 Kate Middleton style zara27 of 29

26 Kate Middleton style zara

The Duchess of Cambridge in Zara and J Brand at Auckland harbour, New Zealand - 11 April 2014

27 Kate Middleton style jenny packham new zealand28 of 29

27 Kate Middleton style jenny packham new zealand

The Duchess of Cambridge in Jenny Packham at State Dinner, New Zealand - 10 April 2014

27 Kate Middleton style prince george tory burch29 of 29

27 Kate Middleton style prince george tory burch

The Duchess of Cambridge in Tory Burch in Wellington, New Zealand - 9 April 2014

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