The Duchess of Cambridge’s 39th birthday looks a little different to her 38th. Over the past year, Kate, like many of us, shifted her duties online and then worked overtime to ensure a consistent royal presence at the various patronages, charities and organisations she throws her support behind. Acting as a soothing balm to a nation in turmoil is tricky via Zoom and accordingly, the Duchess tweaked her public-facing persona to suit the times. Royals, she proved, are not immune to “waist-up dressing” – the marketing term of 2020 and one which Kate must also be keen to log off from when business resumes some semblance of normality.
Kate kicked off the year on a high. She threw the traditional royal dressing rulebook out the window and took a pair of twinkling Jimmy Choos for a night out at London’s Noël Coward Theatre. Party season might have been a distant memory, but Kate’s feet looked aeons away from the sensible February mindset ingrained in us. She amped up her Dorothy moment with the matching Ellipse clutch and left a trail of silver glitter behind her. It was thrilling to see a woman whose fashion legacy had so far been defined by dress coats and nude court shoes throw caution to the wind.
This rebellious mood continued on the royal tour of Ireland, where Kate pulled a pint of Guinness in a Belfast boozer wearing a shimmering emerald The Vampire’s Wife dress. Exchanging salutations with the locals in a cocktail frock by one of the industry’s beloved indie labels, Kate looked, dare we say, fashion. It suggested a new willingness to try designers outside of her trusted circle.
Indeed, as 2020 rolled on, the Duchess showed off the spoils of a lockdown spent scrolling online. New Métier Roma Mini and Grace Han Love Letter bags pepped up her collection of classic top handle styles, while a HVN tennis-printed tea dress – a cheery motif also beloved by Jennifer Lawrence – saw her branch out of her polka dot and floral pattern box. A sprightly Easter-yellow dress from Matchesfashion.com’s in-house label Raey demonstrated that she keeps a finger on the fashion pulse, without being preoccupied with trends.
Lockdown tempered Kate’s experimental phase a little. The focus of her clothing became optimistic symbolism against the backdrop of Covid-19. It was no coincidence that the Duchess wore every colour of the rainbow during the first national lockdown, nor that she wore NHS-blue pieces while clapping for Britain’s carers every Thursday evening. On conference calls, she was all sunny knits and posy-dappled blouses as she kept calm and carried on. Even her signature blow-dry remained pristine as the rest of the population resigned itself to tracksuits.
During a precarious moment for the high street, the Duchess waved the flag for British fashion in new rose-coloured Marks & Spencer suits and egg-yolk Zara jumpers, and LK Bennett staples already in her wardrobe. Rewearing everyday pieces relayed the important message that thoughtful clothing purchases stand the test of time and should not be relegated to a specific season – one all high-profile figures must practise in order to shift the consumer mindset away from fast fashion.
While the Duchess is a consummate professional at diplomatic dressing, 2020 sharpened her skills in democratic fashion. She radiated down-to-earth glamour during every appointment and was steadfast in her approach. Those dance floor-ready Jimmy Choo shoes might have been gathering dust, as she leaned on her trusted sharp-collared dresses, pussy-bow blouses and military-inspired outerwear, but Kate, above all, looked like herself when we were all craving solidarity and leadership. The Duchess showed up and her outfit choices reflected her pride in what she does. Whatever 2021 holds, we hope this confident fashion streak continues. It suits her.
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