Here are some photos of the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge today in Islamabad. Their first official event after the arrival last night was to visit with girls at the Islamabad Model College for Girls. It seemed to be a primary school/elementary school by the looks of the girls’ ages. I’m glad they are doing something to highlight girls’ education in Pakistan.
For this first event, Kate wore a classic kurta by Maheen Khan, a local Pakistani designer. She’s wearing a lot of blue, like always – it’s her signature color. I actually… love this on Kate? I love embroidered tunics and I love this kind of neckline. It’s super-flattering on someone slim like Kate and this shade of blue really pops with her coloring. I genuinely hope she repeats this when she’s back in the UK. And look, she’s wearing FLATS!
After that event, Kate and William met with Pakistan’s prime minister Imran Khan, who was close friends with Princess Diana. Diana was also close friends with Khan’s ex-wife, Jemima Goldsmith (or as she was known then, Jemima Khan). Finally, Kate wore some green!! The green tunic is by Catherine Walker and the trousers are by Maheen Khan. Scarf by Satrangi.
Photos courtesy of Getty.
Love the colors and LOVE the earrings! Now that THAT’S crystal clear…. can she connect with people and do some humanitarian work? Because that matters MUCH more than pretty clothes and accessories.
Agreed. I can’t take my eyes off of either outfit-gorgeous-but it’s the work she does that matters.
Mixed reviews of Meghan’s clothing choices in Africa (and entirely too much talk about them, IMO), but she deserves an A+ for her sincerity and dedication during her time there. I feel she really connected with Africans in a way that would be difficult for the typical Royal. That, I think, is her secret weapon.
love Meghan humanitarian projects, Shes sincere.
She really looks great in jewel colours, doesn’t she? Looking at her in the green, she looks like the sports reporter on the news breakfast show I watch – the lady in question was wearing the same colour this morning.
She always does you just don’t want to see it . You are biased and btw nobody cares for what a bunch of people say on a site that barely anybody reads ( I will stop from this minute on) the important thing is that people in England and UK ( their country) love them.
You know that there are some people here from the UK, right?
And if she is doing humanitarian work in general KP is keeping it pretty quiet.
Most people in the UK are completely indifferent to them, actually.
Would you like to point us in the direction of this amazing humanitarian work she’s been doing that we’ve been ignoring?
I’m British, and no we bloody don’t!
And stop speaking for us, it’s incredibly obnoxious.
This visit isn’t about humanitarian work. It’s specifically to interact with Pakistanis and promote Pakistan’s culture and diversity, and also reinforce the historic ties between Pakistan and the UK. the purpose and agenda of any royal tour is not set by the BRF but by the FCO.
We Pakistanis do care about the fashion. We are happy to see the royals interacting with our culture and paying homage to it through fashion. Sartorial diplomacy is a real thing and the response here has been overwhelmingly positive. We WANT to see dukes and duchesses dressed up in pretty clothes and accessories-that’s part of their job and their appeal.
I’m glad you posted, I just learned a thing or two. : )
Thank you 🙂
Thank you, Geane, for your informative post! Glad to have you among us here.
I found your comment interesting, thanks Geane. BTW, I always care about fashion!! I loved her outfits here, absolutely loved them. For years every post here was about Waity-Katie, then work-shy Katie, and it feels sometimes like we can’t even say the woman looks fantastic without putting a huge disclaimer first. I feel she has come a long way, and while I do wish she would do more, I also think she’s navigated relentless scrutiny pretty well, and seems down to earth and friendly in her dealings with others, never haughty.
The GREEN! Gorgeous!!! That color lights up her face.
(It is a buttony eleganza extravaganza, but I’m forgiving it with that color.)
I have to say she is KILLING IT on the fashion front! She looks incredible in both outfits. Hats off!
I really like the first outfit. The second outfit I like the top but not the white pants with it maybe if the pants were matching or innards different color than white.
Same here. The white pants looks like an after thought to a green coat dress. I wonder if all her outfits are going to be like this.
I really love this green outfit but on second glance, it looks a bit masculine to me? Like she is doing her usual theme dressing but picked Pakistani traditionally menswear this time? I love it either way. Maybe someone who knows better can correct/inform me.
Kate is wearing various on trend styles of traditional Pakistani womenswear- salwar kameez and churidar. It is not menswear….. and yes she will probably continue wearing these styles because they are culturally respectful to the country and South Asians. I really do wonder sometimes why Americans don’t have culturally diverse friend groups.
?? What an odd statement. Many of us do have culturally diverse friend groups.
And why assume everyone on here is from the US, when we’ve had posters from all over on these royal threads for years.
@guest. In the USA most people have a culturally diverse group of friends but in the USA (especially Florida) you become “Americanized” very quickly. This is just the way it is as Florida is one of the “truer” melting pots.
However, I considered all the poster on CB friends. CB is a VERY culturally diverse place. Therefore, CB is my culturally diverse friends group. I have learned more about just about everything on CB because this is a worldwide site with world class posters.
You must remember only 30% of Americans have passports and their view of the world is very limited, many have not travelled out of their states!
I am a naturalized American and very fortunate to be here and I tell friends that visit every state is like going to a different country, the sites, the laws, the people it’s wonderful and no wonder a lot of the rural area folk are not interested in travel.
The country is just so vast and there is just so much to see and I have been fortunate to have travelled the globe too but I love it here!
And I must finish with this I absolutely adore Kate and she will eventually become a wonderful queen.
Green and white are the national colors of Pakistan, so she undoubtedly wore the combination with that in mind.
Kate is wearing the Pakistani Flag colours in this outfit. Not an after thought at all. I do love seeing the excitement and positivity from Pakistanis on social media. It’s so uplifting.
Thank you, Guest, for sharing your knowledge! I am plenty diverse, but I certainly dont know everything about everyone, and in my head I just always associated the shorter jacket style with menswear–wrongly! I apologize if my ignorance offended you or others.
Good things can happen when kate stops using carole as her stylist.
It looks to me like she’s wearing a coat dress over trousers.
You made a good point. The green really does look like one of her usual coat dresses. I think that she will be wearing these pieces again some time next year. So while the clothes respect tradition, they can also be teworn in the UK (probably minus the pants).
She definitely looks like that, and I’m sure we will see that coat repeated in the UK as a coatdress without the trousers.
The blue outfit is good, but the other one is a catherine walker designer doing what they think Pakistani clothes should look like and it seems like cosplay. You can see the difference with a local Pakistani designer and how it’s more authentic than a coatdress kind of outfit.
I’m just glad to see the designer receiving credit. That blue outfit is lovely and I’d wear it in a heartbeat. (With different flats, haha!)
YES! It feels like she had a coat dress made for another time, then thought she’d throw a pair of cigarette trousers under and call it a day. While I like the green a lot, it doesn’t seem to jell as an outfit. At all. And what in the holy-shoulder-pad-hell are those things jetting out over her shoulders?? It looks like something that should be on a Star Trek outfit.
I LOVE the blue outfit: the embroidery, the neckline, all of it just “flows” on her beautifully. And I LOVE that she’s wearing flats (even if they are nude lol).
Because she is wearing a a coat dress over trousers. But that’s fine.
Buttons, buttons, buttons…….gah
It may look like a coat dress but it’s a sherwani-style jacket. Sherwani is traditional menswear in Pakistan-what Will is wearing today. So it’s been designed to evoke the sherwani and can probably be worn as a coat dress later on. Women wear such jackets too so
The pants are not an after thought-we wear different kids of pants and trousers under our shirts (kurtas/kameezes). She could get away with bare legs because she’s a foreigner and nobody would bat an eye but her wardrobe has clearly been well thought out and she’s making an effort to be respectful. The pants are white because green and white are the colours of the Pakistan flag.
@Geane, Thank you for the fashion clarifications.
Thank you for this detailed comment! I’ve seen sherwanis, but didn’t know the name.
The khameez was one of the first seamed garments – folks had to get good enough at weaving to make fabric that didn’t fall apart when it was cut into. The oldest version was basically two rectangles (front and back center panels) and then two diagonally cut rectangles, with one half of each flipped to be wider at the bottom hemline, as the sides. Plus sleeves. They still make this style.
Khameez is the root of the French word, chemise, meaning shirt or blouse. Before that, it was all saris (which are still gorgeous and always will be) or togas or like animal hide caveman outfits. 😉
Hi! I love that you are here.
Thank you for explaining the clothing. I love so much about the clothes, smiles, and other things seen. I can’t wait to see more in the days to come- especially if it includes children. Children seem to bring out the best in most of us!
As an aside, I wish this group was as diverse as it claims to be and generous with their first thoughts.
Kate’s clothes are lovely and colorful, and that’s about the only good thing I can say about this tour so far. I’m seeing lots of pretty clothes but very little connection with people. The itinerary that was posted looks very thin on engagements.
I know many royal watchers only care about fashion. That was one of the biggest complaints on here about the SA tour.
I think this tour will be billed as a success if:
1. No security issues
2. No diplomatic issues
3. No flashing issues
Engagement with the people is no something of importance for the Cambridges.
As long as Kate looks pretty and William William’s then it will be spinned as the future king and queen representing Britain like hoe royalty should.
You are right. I’m seeing very little interest in what they are doing. It’s all about clothes and the Diana connection. But as many have said, the bar is set low for Will and Kate. They only have to show up, pretend to listen, and look “regal”.
@KittyCat: How you qualify a royal tour as successful varies from person to person, I suppose. This is a fashion post. There’s plenty of coverage of the causes they are championing on other sites, if you’d like to go and have a read. As a British person (of South Asian origin) I like my royals to be understated, diplomatic and not pull too much attention towards themselves and away from the causes they are highlighting. I cringe a lot of times reading about the Sussexes with their PDA on official tours and the constant self referencing. To each their own.
I like the blue kurta.
Now after the shallow runway fashion commentary, where’s the substance in their visit? They always seem so hollow.
@Evil Owl
That could be it. Or, you could harbor more prejudices than you realize and are grasping at straws to disparage Meghan and Harry by any means necessary.
Haha! William is …hoe royalty…! Snort!
Yes I am a child – sue me!
William’s comments to the people/kids he’s meeting are SO lame… I know he’s supposed to be “neutral” in his comments, but my God! HOW is he to be a King when all he can respond with are inane comments??
Someone said they were a fan of his mother; his response: “I was a big fan of hers, too!” WTF?? lololol. Nice William, so eloquent!
@StepUp: Or maybe, just maybe I have no such diabolical intentions and just find the Cambridges more to my personal taste? We’re allowed to have different preferences of what’s appealing to us and what’s not, you know?
Jan, did you want him to get emotional and cry? Maybe saying “I was a big fan of hers too” is the best way for him to respond without getting choked up.
My cousins lost my aunt when they were similar ages to William and Harry and they can’t talk about her much publicly if they aren’t prepared, because they get upset by a wave of grief.
@Evil Owl, there’s a difference between saying, “I find the Cambridges more suited to my personal tastes,” and saying, “I find the Cambridges more suited to my personal tastes, as opposed to the Sussexes, who I find cringeworthy due to their (relatively nonexistent) PDA and self-referencing.” There’s also a difference between saying, “I prefer the Cambridges,” and saying, “I prefer the Cambridges because they’re understated and diplomatic,” thereby implying that the Sussexs aren’t, for whatever reason.
I think a lot of people are more interested in the Cambridges, but the implications you’re making here about the Sussexes in the process speak volumes about where you’re at wrt your intentions.
@KittyCat: If laugher is your best response to someone with a differing opinion, then I wish you a big bag full of laughs as you interact with the different people of this world.
PDA at work is unprofessional & distracting. I wouldn’t want to walk into a conference room and watch 2 of my married colleagues clinging on to each other as the rest of us go about our jobs. Pretty sure you’d be snarking about it too if it happened at your workplace.
@A: yes that is my personal opinion about what appeals to me and what doesn’t appeal to me. And I have expressed them both. As everyone does here on all BRF posts all the time. Only difference is that I hardly see people getting so aggressive & defensive when it is Kate on the receiving end of much harsher criticism.
Presumably you hate all the on-the-job PDA between Charles and Camilla, Felipe and Letizia, Maxima and Willem-Alexander, Mary and Frederik, Marie and Joachim.
Many other royal couples show PDA on the job. W&K are once again the exception not the rule.
“Kate on the receiving end of much harsher criticism”. I’ll go with the laughter too, only ROTFL
@Evil Owl, I think you should reread my comment. Your personal opinion is your own, but if you’re going to justify it in a certain way, then I think you should be prepared for people who will push back and challenge your justifications and the presumptions they’re based on. When you say something like, “Meghan and Harry display too much PDA and they’re clinging on each other and I don’t like it,” then I don’t think it’s aggressive or defensive of anyone to challenge you on exactly what you mean by that and what is informing your perceptions on your end. As I stated, it’s your implications that speak volumes here.
@evil owl you can’t say anything even remotely critical of Meg and Harry on this site without being attacked so dont take it personally.
Yeah, I think part of the issue is that different tours can serve different purposes, so people might need to adjust their expectations a bit. This tour was always going to be different than Harry and Meghan’s trip. The FO requested it as a way to show Pakistan that it’s invested in the country’s future, and based on a lot of the tweets in the tour hashtag, it seems like the Pakistanis are eager to show off their beautiful country, their hospitality, their culture, and to prove to the world it is a safe place to visit. I think the aim of this tour won’t be to give speeches or to focus solely on issues Pakistan is still struggling with (which could be perceived as lectures, given the history, here) but to give Pakistan a PR boost after almost a decade of western media portraying it as a backwards terrorist haven.
@Jadedone, I understand what you mean but to say “you can’t say anything even remotely critical of Meg and Harry on this site without being attacked so don’t take it personally” is not quite 100% the truth. Both Kaiser and CB themselves have come down on both Meghan & Harry on many occasions (especially regarding Meghan’s fashion choices and Harry’s paranoia of the press). IMHO, what CB does not want is a cyberspace screaming match between fellow posters on the threads involving the BRF.
@Jadeone – disagree. People always say that this site is biased against Kate, and that may be generally true, but you can see that most of these comments are praising Kate (like…REALLY praising her…..) and that there is considerable pushback against any criticism. Someone commented that this was a fashion show and it devolved into a fight about how much traditional Pakistani clothes cost (with the implication that Kate does not spend a lot on clothes).
@baytampabay I was actually referring to the commenters on this website not the authors, sorry if that’s wasn’t clear.
@becks1 I wasn’t referencing Kate, I was saying that any comment about Meg and Harry that is even slightly negative gets very hostile responses even when the negative comment was justified or totally minor. I find that people are VERY protective of them and as such tend to be very defensive when ever someone says something non complementary…..see evil owls innocuous comment and the comments she got for simply stating her opinion.
@Jadeedone I do agree that there is a defensiveness around H&M, I think most of us are willing to admit that (I know I am guilty of it at times myself.) But, I do think its interesting when someone praises W&K for being more “understated” and “not pulling attention” because that feeds into the idea that Kate knows her place, she doesn’t put a foot wrong, etc, as opposed to Meghan who craves the spotlight and loves attention. So I think that’s why some responded the way they did (but, I do think some of the comments were a little over the top in response.)
In general though, the comments on this site are as anti-Will and Kate as some imply (on these types of threads at least) and there is still strong pushback to most criticism of them. You can see it on these threads alone.
They already prepared the way by setting low expectations with events by saying ahead of time how every move would have to be so carefully coordinated for security.
@EVIL OWL
Sorry my first reaction is to laugh at you comments.
My second reaction is to say everyone is entitled to their opinion.
My third reaction is what is your issue with pda? Like girl or guy or they please.
Just so you know, security concerns are totally valid. I’m Pakistani and we are thrilled about such a high level visit and many of us were surprised that it was actually happening. Just a few years ago such a visit was unthinkable because of terrorism, which has cost us hundreds of thousands of lives over the past decade. Now international cricket teams are gradually starting to visit Pakistan to play (a big deal for a cricket-mad country). We want this visit to go off without a hitch so whatever security measures they have to take (including secrecy) are fair game. It’s difficult to imagine unless you’ve been living with the scourge of terrorist threats like we have.
All the major embassies in Islamabad including the British High Commission are located in a high-security, fortified area of the capital called the diplomatic enclave where even citizens cannot enter without proper identification. The security of all expats and diplomats is taken very seriously because we cannot afford any mishaps. We would expect nothing less for the most high profile and high level royal visit we have had since 2006.
@Geane thank you for clarifying, it’s always nice to hear from someone living in the country who explain the (hopefully) positive impacts this visit can have for the people of Pakistan
@Geane, that’s interesting, please post more of your insights over the nexts days of the tour!
Thank you Elisa, Jadedone and Linda. Happy to share the Pakistani perspective and I’m glad it’s useful!
Lexa is absolutely spot on. The purpose of this visit has been clear from the start-this is a massive opportunity for Pakistan to demonstrate to the world that we are safe to visit, we are moving forward and we welcome everyone to come and see for themselves. Our global image has been awful for the past decade so unless you are Pakistani, you have no idea how much this visit means to us. Will’s speech at the event tonight also referenced the country’s sacrifices and hardships.
And yes-Kate dressing up and making a statement through her fashion is part of what royals are expected to do and it’s part of their job. Pakistanis are excited to see what she’s going to wear and touched by the thought that has gone into the outfits and how the royals are interacting with and paying homage to our culture through their dressing. It would frankly be considered insulting if she didn’t dress up and play the part of royalty and the royals who came before her, including Diana and the Queen, did the same.
I am willing to copy-paste this answer every time a commenter makes a comparison to the SA tour. They are apples and oranges. The purpose of this visit is clear and it is completely different. There is plenty of engagement and interaction with Pakistanis going on and that is the stated purpose of the trip.
@Geane thank you for your insights and sharing info about your home with us! I’m learning a lot from you.
Thank you Enn, happy to hear it.
In that case Geane, I really hope this tour is a win for your country and opens everyone’s eyes to the fact that Pakistan has moved into the 21st century and has become a vibrant, exciting and safe place to visit.
Thanks for all your information on Pakistan too, it’s been interesting and fun to read.
nm
Exactly this.
Posted under the wrong message earlier, sorry. @KittyCat: If laugher is your best response to someone with a differing opinion, then I wish you a big bag full of laughs as you interact with the different people of this world.
PDA at work is unprofessional & distracting. I wouldn’t want to walk into a conference room and watch 2 of my married colleagues clinging on to each other as the rest of us go about our jobs. Pretty sure you’d be snarking about it too if it happened at your workplace.
@Valiantly Varnished
Please read Geane’s response above who is Pakistani to get a sense of what this visit means to Pakistani’s.
Um, they sat down to play games with school children, they met with wildlife conservationists and again sat down with children, they met with numerous dignitaries, and went to a big reception. On their first day. I think they are doing just fine on the engagement factor. And they look amazing and have done an excellent job balancing British and Pakistani style with flair. Not a miss, in my opinion, other than I would have replaced the nude heels with gold with the deplaning outfit, but I respect the DoC’s preference for subtle shoes.
@Becks1 agreed. Personally I’m not a fan of the monarchy (except for the gossip 🙂 ) so I dont tend to be personally invested. I understand the need to be protective of Meg and Harry bc some media has been SO ridiculous towards them.
I don’t even mind the buttons, because they’re not pulling too much focus from the overall look.
Honestly? These are two of the nicest pieces I think I’ve seen Kate wear. I really love that shade of blue – it’s one of my all time favorites.
Agreed but I wish she’d pull back her hair 🙁
I’m surprised she doesn’t more often because she always looks nice with a ponytail, or updo.
Yes!I love the blue outfit,LOVE that she’s wearing flats too!
In the blue outfit she would have been especially stunning if her hair would have been in a loose updo.
Also she looks great wearing slacks underneath the dresses,but agree that the green outfit looks like a basic Kate coat dress with slacks added as an afterthought,but overall very nice!Love the (scarf/sari-sorry I’m just not sure the appropriate name for it.)
Agreed! Nice to see her in flattering colors and no fussy business! Yes, the green is basically a coat dress but it’s a good one 😀
Actually really decent look.
You say you hope she repeats it later. Can someone smart Celebitches explain to me where is the line for cultural appropriation? I thought it had to do with someone with all the power (and I’d think a Royal qualifies) taking the clothing, accessories, dress, of someone from another culture?
thanks for asking, I am also confused …
It is not cultural appropriation when you are trying to be respectful of another culture. As opposed to claiming said culture as your own and not referencing the origins. As a South Asian origin woman, I’m really pleased when people of other cultures wear our beautiful designs and give a boost to our textile industry. This is an official visit to a conservative country and I appreciate that she made the effort and looks good doing it.
Cultural appropriation can be seen in the actions of the Kardashians.
I don’t think that’s the line. How would one know the mind of another person to know whether they’re wearing clothes of another culture respectfully? And unless someone says, “these are my clothes, I invented this look,” how could you even police that?
I apologize if I’m coming off aggressively but cultural appropriation is one of those topics I learn about again and again and forget about almost immediately. I just don’t wear clothes or accessories that originate with different cultures so as to avoid giving offense.
I think intent and presentation make the difference. She looks like a British woman honoring a design of a country she’s visiting. She’s not in costume or pretending to be someone she’s not.
But I could be wrong.
I actually want to rip out the shoulder pads, but everything else is very nice. The ombre held center stage at landing. The embroidery on todays blue outfit is beautiful. And the green outfit she can wear separately; I think that slim cut trousers are more flattering than her jeggings/culottes.
@Betsy: You are not coming off aggressively and that’s very sensitive of you to try and avoid giving offence. Forgive me for the simplistic example but just to try and put it in black and white: If you attended a Pakistani/Indian wedding in a salwar kameez, I think your hosts would be really flattered that you made the effort. If you showed up in that same outfit to a Halloween party or just randomly to an event with zero context, that might be problematic. But most cultures feel proud and pleased if you do it respectfully. My grandmother from India visited me in the UK a few years ago and gave my white co-workers traditional bindis (red dot stickers worn on the forehead) as a baby shower return gift. Some of the ladies wore it to work the next day, and I was quite pleased that they honoured the event they attended and I also knew they weren’t flashing it around like a fashion statement. I think Eliza above summed it up perfectly. It’s about intent and presentation. In this case, Kate appears to be paying homage to her hosts and dressing according to their traditions and customs.
Completely agree with Evil Owl, who expressed it better than I can but just to post what I also wrote on another thread:
Diana is very beloved in Pakistan (she visited thrice in the ’90′s) and she wore shalwar kameezes and traditional attire when she was here. The gesture is still appreciated to this day and she is spoken of fondly. The same goes for Kate – the Pakistani media and social media is full of praise for her attire. We don’t see this as cultural appropriation because we love it when foreigners visit, wear our traditional attire, try to speak our language and enjoy our food and culture.
If Kate had opted to wear trousers and long dresses she would not have been criticised at all but we Pakistanis see this as her going the extra mile to show her respect and appreciation for our culture and trust me, this will be remembered by the public for a long time.
Ok so, my take on this, as a white girl married to an Indian guy (who has thus had to navigate the issue of wearing another culture’s clothes with some regularity) is that: (1) it’s subjective, not all south Asians are the same and it’s very possible one might find something appropriation that another finds flattering homage. People are allowed to have different opinions on it and they do. (2) if your main intent is to make yourself look “exotic,” you are probably veering into appropriation. For me it means I usually wear Indian clothes to family events where everyone in husband’s family is wearing Indian clothes- it is both expected and appreciated in that scenario (where showing up at Diwali party in an American gown would make it look like I think I am too good for their culture or something). I don’t look exotic in that scenario, I just fit in (as much as a white woman can anyway). But I don’t wear Indian clothes in any other circumstances in my day to day American life so that people will know I have this “exotic” connection(this would be super weird to do anyway I think).
For Kate, she is expected to honor local designers when on tour so I think it’s appropriate. But that’s just my opinion. Hopefully she consulted some people from Pakistan to help decide what would be best.
The simplest way I’ve had it explained is by thinking of the economics behind the appropriation. If you buy an authentic garment made by the people that garment came from, they benefit from their culture’s beautiful products. But when anthropologie or forever 21 (fill in the blank) sells something “inspired” by the same culture to the masses, that product looses its context and the right of its creators to benefit from its production.
Basically, are the people who made the cultural product benefiting from its sale? And are you aware of at least some of the cultural context so as not to be ignorant (feather-headresses, which were only worn selectively and sacredly worn by white girls)
If not, don’t buy it.
This is a good take. To me, it’s all about *respect* for the culture of origin. But the economics makes it easier to understand/explain. Everyone has a different line for what constitutes respect. Forever 21, (Sub)Urban Outfitters and Vicky’s (not so) Secret are for sure not it.
I do think that Americans who study the music and/or dances/food/art/etc of other cultures in a respectful and thoughtful manner should absolutely continue to do so. That’s not cultural appropriation, in my book.
I’m looking forward to the downfall of the colonizer fetish. You know – Indiana Jones, Banana Republic, all of those restaurants with the banana leaf fans and French food… who names a store “Banana Republic” in the first place?! They should have called it “Gap Jr.”
As an aside, when I was studying African traditional art, I learned that some (many) of the groups who sell masks etc to international collectors make “fake” ones – not precisely right for ceremonial purposes – for the trade. Learning how to try to spot them in museum collections was a lot of fun. 😉
I’d honestly say that the great deal of praise Kate is getting for throwing on a Catherine Walker coat dress over a pair of pants would skirt the “ehhh, let’s examine this closely,” territory here. It isn’t appropriation, but it’s worthwhile to pay attention to the response that this outfit is getting. How is Kate received, as a white woman, wearing not just traditional Pakistani clothing, but also a western designer’s knock off take on said clothing? How would a visibly Pakistani woman in Britain be treated for wearing the same clothing on the streets, going about their daily business? Is the praise that is reserved for Kate and Catherine Walker something that would be showered equally on a South Asian woman or designer for executing the same thing? Or would they be treated differently, as has historically and continues to be the case in Britain and elsewhere today?
Does this mean that Kate shouldn’t wear the salwaar kameez? No, it doesn’t. This is a perfectly acceptable situation to wear one in. She’s visiting a foreign country as a dignitary, and she’s acknowledging her hosts with her attire. She won’t find a better situation for her to wear traditional Pakistani attire, if you ask me. So the problem isn’t with Kate, nor with her intent. The issue is with the response to Kate on the part of the public. Why are we so eager to hype white women w/ their basic takes on the traditional clothing that minorities have been discriminated and disdained for wearing?
I think it’s the shoulder pads in both catherine walker outfits that make people question them. The blue outfit by the actual Pakistani designer is more authentic and just generally a better outfit.
I wondered about this too, especially as our Canadian Prime Minister and his wife got into so much hot water for dressing in Indian fashions when they went to India a couple of years ago. Maybe he crossed a subtle line into “costume” territory, but I do think that line is awfully hard to locate or predict with any precision.
The Trudeaus did cross the line into cosplay while in India, they were OTT. And his history of ‘costumes’ that has come to light clearly demonstrates he has no idea that a line even exists.
William wore something similar to Trudeau at the banquet so are we going to say he was wearing a costume? It was the right wing media who slammed them in India and Modi is a friend of Stephen Harper so it’s no coincidence that the Trudeau’s were criticized in certain circles.
Ahhh, Imran Khan, such a fox in his day. Can still remember when he captained Pakistan to a cricket world cup win. Even now, he makes Will look so uninteresting….
Ahhhhh shit. I googled “Imran Khan 90s” because I would have been far too young to have noticed, but he absolutely was a fox, can confirm haha.
Please, PLEASE don’t take this the wrong way, I swear I mean this with love and affection, but…I know you’re from a certain age demographic here when you say this lol!! What is it with Imran Khan and aunties? He’s truly a unifying factor across South Asia, at least for women of a particular generation, 😛
Haha, while I am certainly an auntie of a certain age now, this is more about me being a 90s South African Indian teen girl. That cricket world cup was the first one South Africa was allowed to play in after isolation and the first time I saw what contemporary South Asian men looked liked. Previously I had only seen a few South Indian movies. That Pakistan team had some good looking men with Imran Khan leading the way.
So………………………..Kate in traditional dress but not William – bit sexist, no?
Yes, my thoughts too. Why is it only the ladies who get to play dress up? Will didn’t want to wear a Kurta too?
He wore a sherwani for an evening reception and Kate wore a GORGEOUS emerald green outfit! As someone of pakistani descent, I approve!
I like both these outfits, the colors are really nice on her. I know she’s wearing tunics over the trousers, but see how good she looks in slim trousers (ie not jeggings)? And flats!! no wedges so far!!! yay!
Yes @ Becks!And she looks just as slim all covered up in flowing/draping clothing as she does in jeggings/ leggings plus wedges.She doesn’t need heels and wedges to look tall either,as the flats (even love that they are nude)still elongate her silhouette.
Very pretty IMO.
Great outfit choices here, both. I didn’t love the outfit coming off of the plane, the person who said it looked like Frozen got in my head and now I can’t unsee it, but it wasn’t terrible. I don’t think it was Diana cosplay. Diana’s was of a much more traditional cut and a different shade of blue.
I love both of these though. The blue and green both look lovely on her. To me, Kate either looks radiant or a bit messy (I think her hair at any given event has a lot to do with it). She looks radiant in that blue especially.
Catherine Walker passed away 10 years ago. There is no designer there now, it is just her widower using the exact patterns his wife used for Diana for these outfits. Yes, that is Diana cosplay taken to a whole new level.
Thank you – I was wondering if the designer was still around.
Kate really looks a lot like Carole in the blue outfit
Yep the blue is such a great colour. Love it.
She’s beautiful and seems lovely.
Yeah she’ll never wear this stuff again. Its the India trip all over again, gtheme dressing that’ll never see the light of day again.
And she has that Catherine Walker already in blue and red at least.
Other than the amount of security, still failing to see just what is so complex about this tour. So far they haven’t done anything different from any other royal tour. And I’m rolling my eyes at them suddenly pretending to care about women and education. Would have a hard time swallowing it from someone who never used her education and spent her college years chasing a man.
Laughing my head off at everyone bringing up Jemina Khan- she’s never been a fan of Kate.
More details on Jemima and Kate please. That’s very interesting.
She made some comments before the wedding including saying that Kate’s hips weren’t child bearing and pointing out how thin she was as well as stuff about how she suddenly started going by Catherine. She was also the only one of Di’s friends that wasn’t invited to the wedding. Think there was more stuff said over that but can’t find the articles with all the new ones bringing her up for this tour.
Great post. It’ll be surprising if these outfits ever see the light of day after week, so it’s amusing to see comments about how she can rewear these pieces. And according to a local royal follower on Twitter, their day is already done. “Complex” tour indeed 😒
Complex in terms of security and no they are not done for the day they have an evening reception to come.
She has the perfect figure for the cigarette pants under a tunic! She looks very elegant and that shade of blue is gorgeous!
The green and white Is likely intended to be a respectful homage in a meeting with the Prime Minister as those are the colors of the Pakistan national flag
Agreed. I also love the scarf and other accessories she paired with the green and white trousers. I think she looks stunning in both looks.
As both Kaiser, and several posters, pointed out, she has the perfect figure for these outfits.
As for engaging with people, I have seen several interior shots where they were laughing and engaging with kids and other people they were visiting – Kaiser has chosen to focus on the fashion.
I really like the second picture of her walking with William, wearing that gorgeous blue outfit. She looks great in that. And her face is relaxed, she doesn’t look like she’s pretending, no manic smile. I think she actually looks like a serious, mature, adult woman/wife/mother/royal instead of looking like a twee juvenile who’s not sure what to do, so she’s just going to smile for the camera. I get that feeling from Kate a lot: like she’s never giving her full attention to what she’s doing or the people she’s meeting when she’s out working, because she’s so worried about *looking* like she’s paying attention and connecting with people. Thus the manic smiles and hand gestures. She always looks posed, like she’s doing a “royal duchess out on an engagement” photo shoot. It’s like she can never forget that she’s being photographed and so a large part of her is always playing for the camera.
I HAAAAAATE the green coat dress over white trousers though. That’s a funky, acid green, at least in the sunlight. And it just looks like one of her thousands of other coat dresses (I bet we see it for St. Patrick’s Day in the future) that she wore trousers with to make it look more Pakistani.
I agree with you about how she often looks in pictures. Its almost like she’s constantly play acting or something, I don’t know. It’s like she’s always posing but not in a “look at me” kind of way; its more that she seems vaguely uncomfortable and can’t really commit to the event because she’s so aware of the cameras. I think that’s part of the reason we always say she does better at sporting events or with kids – she’s not as aware of the cameras and comes across much more relaxed.
In the pictures walking with William, she looks better because there’s not the feeling that she is posing – she looks more comfortable and it shows.
Yes, it looks like she’s play acting all the time. I don’t think she feels like a Duchess, a member of the royal family, a philanthropist, a People’s Princess, or a smart problem solver for her patronages. I think she might feel like she won a contest that she didn’t really deserve to win and now she’s trying very hard to look like she deserves it. Rather than just learning how to fit the role, she’s focusing on appearing like she deserves the role, play acting the role as she thinks it should be played. I think this is also why she’s always copying either Diana, the Queen, or Meghan with her clothing, mannerisms, social media style, and big life events (like the presenting the baby photos where she dressed like Diana). It’s like she couldn’t conceive of a Duchess wearing pants, even if she wanted to, until she saw another Duchess doing it, because she doesn’t see herself as a Duchess who can make her own decisions about what Duchesses do and wear.
I don’t know who exactly she’s playing to, though. The public and media? The other members of the royal family? Her mother? William? But she definitely wants to look like she’s doing it right. Rather than thinking about her legacy in terms of the good she did or the people she helped and touched, it’s like she’s compiling The Big Duchess Kate Photo Album, full of just pictures that have no captions or context, so she wants to make sure she looks super engaged/serious/connected in all the pictures. It’s why she’s always posing, even when it would be more natural to just be in the moment. And she wants to make sure she’s always wearing some fussy outfit that screams “this person is a a Duchess! Not just a normal woman named Kate.”
Interesting take, Amy Too.
I think she’s mostly trying to please William, keep him happy. I imagine he has given her quite the earful about how to be “regal” over the years. (I also think he either enjoys undoing buttons, or at least used to.)
I secretly suspect she’s been getting it from all sides all these years. (William, Carol, the press, us…) And she might have some social anxiety underneath it all as well. Most folks I know who have it tend to go to great lengths to hide it. So that could be a factor.
I also do not like the color of the green. It’s really ugly.
She looks better here than she usually does tho, so there is that.
Not a fan of that green, either.
This is what, her fifth outfit in this Kermit green?
These look like vacation pictures.
We shall see…Hope they get out there and really work.I am not someone who wants to constantly criticize Will and Kate,but I’m not holding my breath for this to be a hard working tour as much as it will potentially end up being about appearances and parties …
I do appreciate the creativity from her here. So far her tour wardrobe has been interesting and much better than her wardrobe for India visit a while back. The fusion look she is attempting in the Catherine Walker is kind of cool but also gives me colonial vibes. But I guess it’s hard for a British royal in South Asia not to give off colonial vibes. I’m enjoying the effort here at least.
Wow! She looks amazing! That blue outfit is just gorgeous.
I saw the pics of the blue outfit on IG when they were posted and I was like WOW, this is the best outfit ever. I also like the green and white one, but the blue one is absolutely stunning. I also like her hair, so a win overall. William looks boring as usual. 🙂
I loved the plane outfit and I love the blue outfit but I think the green one is awful and I agree it looks like she put trousers under a coat dress.
Underwhelmed so far. I guess this will tour will focus on Kate clothes vs Diana…how sad
Catherine Walker. Shoulder pads. Nude shoes.
MEH.
The blue outfit is nice, and it’s refreshing to see her wear some flats, but my god why are they NUDE?
She’s looks so awesome in the blue. It’s a really good look!
My favorite is the green and white outfit. She looks stunning.
This is a very expensive fashion show.
I’m shocked, shocked I tell you that the BM isn’t outraged at the prices of Kate’s bespoke Catherine Walker pieces..oh wait I forgot Kate’s bespoke pieces don’t count.
@chunkyla lol. Meghan doesn’t wear bespoke dear. The only bespoke items she has worn thus far are the two dresses she wore to her wedding and her reception. But you tried it.
PS – Royals cannot accept free gifts and even if they were discount she isn’t getting them for £8! Lol.
Oh dear, this convo went left. Okay so I looked up the Moroccan tour and the first thing that came up was the bespoke Dior traditional caftan. Then again, I wouldn’t say it was exactly a Moroccan caftan, Dior did their own take on it and I think it would have looked better on Meghan in a different colour. That’s my input.
@valiantly garnished actually Meg wore a bespoke Dior on her Morocco visit
@chunkyla, why are you bringing up the Morocco tour as your reference point when Meghan has done a much more recent tour that was full of outfits that weren’t bespoke designer outfits? She was literally in South Africa a few weeks ago. But I guess that doesn’t fit the narrative you’re going for here, huh. How convenient for you!
@jadeone I just double checked and you are right.
@chunkyla actually you are still the one that tried it dear. No one brought up Meghan in this convo – but you certainly felt the need to. Im an adult and willing to admit I was mistaken about the Dior dress in Morocco. But so what? That doesn’t negate ANYTHING I said previously about how expensive this trip will be as far as Kate’s clothing goes. Photos have just dropped of her wearing a custom Jenny Packham dress btw. Jenny Packham dresses retail from 4,200 to nearly 6,000 USD. That’s more than Meghan spent on her ENTIRE South Africa wardrobe.
Yeah, the clothes are expensive for this tour for sure – but like many have pointed out – she won’t get criticized for it like Meghan was. The tabloids even made up numbers for the cost of her bespoke outfits and counted her repeats/pre-owned items during their year end tally. Kate played it smart, she bought new clothing for which a retail price cannot be determined so her clothing cost will be low when those numbers do come out. I think the best part about this tour has been the excitement that Pakistanis have felt about it and their hospitality, it’s really amazing to witness. I am genuinely surprised with the reaction to this royal visit given the history of the RF in the India/Pakistan region, its opposite of what Indians think of the RF. The “complexity” of this tour I genuinely think is only the security aspect of it, but everything else is smooth sailing for them. In contrast, I believe the South Africa tour was more complex – the reaction to the announced visit by Africans was opposite of what I saw from Pakistanis – and this is not because it was H&M coming, but a strong dislike for the BRF in general.
@chunkyla, “Do you really think I came down in the last shower!? ” I have never heard that one before, I’m going to have to borrow it, thanks:)
Ikr and it’s not yet noon.
They both wear bespoke and they both have worn repeats.
I’m sorry, but I don’t find anything particularly interesting or noteworthy about wearing a Catherine Walker coat dress over a pair of pants. How is this a creative take on anything? It reminds me of that awful magazine article from a while back that tried to make “dresses over pants” a new trend, without accounting for the fact that they’re reinventing the salwaar kameez wheel while conveniently failing to acknowledge that South Asian women have been on this trend for literally a century by this point. I’ve worn the whole “long tunic over a pair of skinny jeans with a fancy long scarf” look to different South Asian occasions multiple times. Where’s my article about how I’m so cool and ahead of the curve and a trend setter, lol!!!!
The outfits are appropriate, however why is she dressing conservatively for this tour and didn’t for the tours to India and Bhutan who are also conservative countries?!?!
Plus the talk of taking the kids was clearly just to generate PR. Clearly they were never going to take them.
India is a different type of conservative than Pakistan or Bangladesh, tbf. I’m not saying it isn’t conservative at all, but I do think that the response she’d get would be a little different from the type of response she’d get in Pakistan. There are certain nuances to the conservatism, if you ask me, not all of it is the same.
There was never any official talk of taking the kids. I am Pakistani and nothing of that sort was reported in our media as well from the moment the tour was announced. It was highlighted from the start that the tour will be risky and security will be tight, and justifiably so. WhyGiven such constraints, why would they bring the kids? They are also visiting multiple places over the course of a few days-doesn’t make sense to drag the kids along.
British schools half term holidays soon. I think they are still in school this week though. But a tour like this wouldn’t be good for the kids.
It was all over the UK press that they might take the kids with them esp when they announced the tour.
I can’t get over how stiff William looks! Like you’re walking with your wife, buddy not your accountant. He’s an odd man for sure.
I thought he looked stiff too, but maybe he’s wearing a bullet-proof vest, or he’s subconsciously bracing for a bullet. Those open air walkabouts must get nerve-wracking at times, especially after all the stressing about security.
I generally don’t like much of what Kate wears, but have to admit the blue outfit is beautifully made and drapes on her nicely. The green outfit, not so much. The color looks great, but it doesn’t flow as nicely. Maybe it’s the trousers, as others have mentioned. I will say this: I think Kate needed a little “competition” from another popular Duchess to step up her efforts on all fronts. I’m looking forward to seeing what she wears on this tour, as well as the issues they will be discussing.
I wish they would stop invoking the ghost of Diana and staging stuff like the child mentioning Diana. 14 year old says she was a fan of Diana. WTF, she was not even born when Diana was alive. And Bill lamely replies that he was a fan of hers too. You were not just a fan of hers, you were her firstborn son who loved her and admired her work. He sounds as if he didn’t even know her.
I agree re: the ghost of Diana (it would help if Kate stopped wearing Catherine Walker and stopped constantly repeating Diana’s outfits), but I give William a pass on the mention of his mother. I’m not sure what we want him to say at this point.
A few weeks ago there was a post about tina turner and she mentioned how she didn’t like to talk about Ike Turner and the abuse because every time she did, it was basically reliving the trauma and she was unable to move on as a result. I imagine its similar for William. Every time someone says to him something like “I loved your mother, she meant so much to us here in Pakistan” or something it probably just rubs him raw.
Diana is a big deal in Pakistan. She visited a few times in the ’90’s. Everybody knows who she is and everybody speaks of her fondly. It’s not surprising that kids know about her but it could also be that they were briefed about Will and Diana before Will and Kate’s classroom visit.
and that is an extremely negative take on a sweet comment. It was just a response to a child-nothing lame about it. He lost his mother and honestly the callous remarks of some commenters are incredible. Do people really think they know better than him how to react or comment about his own mother?
Diana is huge in Pakistan. Do you know how many aunties and uncles loved her? You need to be less judgmental on a kid. Callous indeed. That pic with Imran is amazing given the connection. Pakistanis fondly remember her. Just stop. Bitter pills everywhere. And what was he supposed to say? Pray tell?
lol. Pakistanis and indians love Diana. That child’s parents are probably fans. That is the ONLY reason William and Kate get attention there. And besides William brings up his mother at every turn and Kate is trying to deperately to replace her, but try as they may Diana will live forever in our hearts!!!!
All fashion, little substance. Where are the speeches?
When she has a theme she really runs with it. She looks nice but she’d never dress like that back in England. Conservative but appropriate for where they are. As mentioned, focus on why they’re there, not what she’s wearing. Also, isn’t she accompanying her husband, future king what’s his name? Hardly any mention of him.
There’s plenty of news coverage and social media coverage on what they are doing in Pakistan. It’s going really good. I mean, you are on a gossip site and the talk is going to be centred on fashion. Kinda silly to read a goss site for actual Royal news coverage, non?
Have you read this particular site before? Cuz there’s a great deal that gets covered beyond just fashion. And no, that’s not the be-all and end-all of gossip coverage.
@A – but that’s up to the writer, isn’t it? If they want to do a write up of alllll the engagements, they can. If they want to talk and print pics of just the fashion, they can do that too. My point was, people saying ‘there’s no real substance going on’ are wrong. There’s plenty going on and a gossip site isn’t the best place for actual tour coverage – if that is what people want to read & see. On our news channels, they are covering the engagements in detail.
There is plenty of engagement and interaction with Pakistanis going on. The day was packed with events and there is a lot of coverage on the media. They even met the President and Prime Minister today. The response in Pakistan is overwhelmingly positive. This is a gossip site so naturally the nitty gritty is not being covered here and the focus is on fashion, so why complain?
Um, Kate’s own people said she would do her “work” through her clothes, letting her fashion be the message. She’s truly a living Barbie doll: her whole self identity being about clothes, and her pretend work just an excuse to wear new clothes.
I’ll give her this, she knows how to dress formally for an occasion, and this is a more formal, state visit. This is always the focus on her, how she is turned out and what she’s wearing. It’s very performative. As long as the local crowd over there is happy, can’t ask much more than that. Imran Khan is an interesting character but don’t know much about him in U.S. press regarding relationship with Trump, etc. Its a much more conservative country so Kate stepping up like Meghan is unfathomable, at home or abroad. Will they do anything groundbreaking or consider this a working visit, not at all. I’m glad they’re highlighting girls education. Didn’t realize the numbers were so low. Really shocking actually.
The blue is gorgeous but the green? Oh hell no! Okay if she wants to wear the Pakistani flag colors but that looks really bad together. Should have been all green with the flag colors in a scarf or other accessory.
William’s shoes look brand spanking new, and probably will never see the light of day again.
The British colonized the Indian subcontinent, they mistreated the land and the locals basically endured slavery and were considered less human than the British on every level . Hindus and Muslims were pitted against each other for years and when the British up and left they divided the Indian subcontinent up in a hurry without a thought and unfairly, stoked and created conditions which led to ethnic cleansing and genocide – But let’s talk about their descendants fashion choices and once again elevating the monarchy to a level which they have not earned, merely possessed through the accident of birth and bestowed unearned privilege. The monarchy is a racist, bigoted institution at its core. Why are their descendants continually enabled when we should really be having a conversation about repatriation of the cost of human lives lost, the stolen wealth gouged from the land and people as well as apologizing for a century of imperialist colonization to the detriment of the land and locals.
Exactly. It would also be nice if England returned the millions of dollars of jewels they stole from India. K thanks.
Well said Rise Above. The fawning for these people (and by Pakistanis no less) is beyond ridiculous, how people forget history. #abolishthemonarchy!
These tours IMO always have an element of cringe because of the colonial past. This includes H/M’s recent tour too. It’s especially cringe-worthy for me when I see black and brown people who have histories of colorism or invasion fawning over white women because of their looks and status. That includes Diana absent her humanitarian work. So, I’m also wondering about the underbelly of British-Pakistani history as well as the echoes of that how is being regurgitated and played out on this tour.
Someone above said that Pakistanis loved Diana. Why? For her humanitarian work or because a white princess of some renown and beauty gazed upon them and made them feel like somebody? Of course, the added bonus is she had an affair with a Pakistani. Like I said, I enjoy watching the BRF but that dark side of history is still there.
@CHELLE As a black brit I tell you why these women are so loved, IT’S THE WHITE THING. Sad but very much true.
Hmm I get what you’re saying, but I am indian I have a very “indian” long and slender nose, which is my favorite feature of Diana, she puts us long nose girls on the map, not because of her white skin, I love my tan skin so much more. BTW I didn’t find Diana’s personality appealing at all, she was very manipulative. And I don’t find Kate, and her vey typical white features desirable.
Well said guys and this is why I don’t take the royal family, anyone of them seriously. I only comment on their outfits. The only one I am sympathetic to is Meghan and thats because of the racist attacks against her. I also question the impact and relevance of all their royal tours. Charles and Camilla visited my country ( Nigeria) last year and I am still wondering what that trip achieved.
@rise above I have always thought the royal family was just the oldest form of nepotism. #abolishthemonarchy
The whole BRF and the idea of the BRF is just ludicrous but I intend to enjoy the show (clothes, affairs, scandal, court cases…etc…etc…) as long as it continue to play on the world stage.
FYI: Next Monday night at 8:00 pm EST in the USA on the Smithsonian Channel there is part III of a great documentary on the children of King George V and Queen Mary. I have watched part I and part II. I cannot get over how much Bill Cambridge looks like Prince George, Duke of Cambridge. I highly recommend: “PRIVATE LIVES OF THE WINDSORS”.
So many good points in this thread. That is all.
She should dress like this ALL the time. I like all these outfits way more than anything else she has ever worn. She looks full grown, not twee. Her clothes, which are actually tailored, actually fit and that makes them look luxurious and expensive. Pakistan your fashion is amazing!!
I know she can suck at engagement but hopefully it is easier to do that when one isn’t worried about flashing everyone.
The outfits are nice. BUT. BUT why does she not wear Pakistani designers? It’s not like there weren’t any. Tonight (CET) I see another Packh*m dress on the Fail. That is, I must admit, really quite dumb. (And boring, too!)
She looks waaaaay better in these outfits and colors than her regular Western clothes. I’m so confused as to why Wills is wearing suits instead of the local male outfits.
Because even the local men dont wear the local outfit LOL
His attire is fine. No one is questioning it and its not odd
Love the blue. It really is her color. The green looks like a coat dress over pants. The shoulder pads ruin it for me.
Where is the list of how much all of these outfits cost the taxpayers? Isn’t that what we constantly see about what Meaghan wears?
I know people really wanna moan abt the costs of these dresses but i assure you, they are NOT expensive. I am a pakistani so i would know. a designer dress as simple (Yes, they r considered simple) as the ones shes wearing will set u back maximum $300-$400. And im estimating on the high.
Dont know abt the Jenny Peckham dress. Thats likely costly by comparison.
She looks great in these colours and the tour is going really well! I think this kind of tour plays to their strengths because it doesn’t focus on connecting with people or working too much. This is a tour much more about highlighting the country and looking well doing it and they are achieving that.
I would love to see the press ask serious questions about the cost of her outfits(hard to do with so many are bespoke) but they probably won’t do that because complaints and pecking of that nature are saved for black American duchessing….