Eight months pregnant Kate Middleton cut a fashion-forward figure as she appeared at Southhampton Docks yesterday to christen the Royal Princess.
Forgoing maternity clothes yet again, Kate Middleton looked chic in a £169 ($265) Dalmatian mac from High Street store Hobbs.
The water-resistant coat was the ideal choice for the blustery conditions at the waterside where Kate Middleton listened to a brass band play out before smashing a £1,250 Nebuchadnezzar – a 15 litre bottle of champagne the equivalent of 20 regular 75 cl bottles – on the ship’s hull.
The Duchess of Cambridge paired her coat with a sinamay hat with bow detail from royal favorite milliner Jane Taylor and black court shoes.
As has become her signature maternity style, Kate Middleton chose a dress shorter than the styles she wore prior to her pregnancy.
Eight months pregnant Kate Middleton cut a fashion-forward figure as she appeared at Southhampton Docks to christen the Royal Princess
With almost precisely one month to go before her reported due date of 14 July, Kate Middleton, still managing to wear non-maternity clothes, is an inspiration to women out there who feel frustrated by lack of choice in maternity shops.
This was to be the Duchess of Cambridge’s last solo engagement before her baby is born.
Kate Middleton looked relaxed as she stepped from her chauffeur-driven vehicle to the quayside in Southampton.
She made the journey from London by helicopter for the naming ceremony of Princess Cruises’ 3,600-passenger vessel Royal Princess.
Dalmatian-print Hobbs coat worn by Kate Middleton to launch Royal Princess cruise ship sold out in minutes
A musical extravaganza was staged ahead of the christening of the new vessel and blue carpet, not the customary red, was laid out for her arrival.
She took her place on a stage in blustery conditions that threatened rain.
Seated opposite in a large grandstand were guests associated with charities that have the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge or Prince Harry as their patrons.
Spectators were from East Anglia’s Children’s Hospice, Kate Middleton’s charity, SkillForce which has prince William as its figurehead, and Prince Harry’s organization WellChild.
Kate Middleton is the new liner’s godmother, a symbolic position similar to a patron or sponsor that dates back to the mid-19th century when leading women were selected for the honor.
Princess Cruises has a history of illustrious godmothers for past ships including Diana, Princess of Wales, who named the first Princess Royal in 1984, actress Audrey Hepburn, Sophia Loren, and Baroness Margaret Thatcher.
The Band of her Majesty’s Royal Marines Portsmouth accompanied by the Pipers of the 1st Battalion Irish Guards gave the start of the ceremonies a military flavor.
They lined Kate Middleton’s route to her seat after playing rousing tunes such as Pomp And Circumstance, sea shanties and a march called HMS Queen Elizabeth.
The Royal Princess in numbers:
3,600: Number of passengers the ship can accommodate at any given time
1,082: The ship’s length in feet
141,000: The gross tonnage of the Royal Princess
Five: The number of stops the ship will make on her maiden voyage. These include Barcelona, Gibraltar, Malaga, Lisbon and Vigo
10: The number of restaurants on board
One: The number of casinos on the Royal Princess
Two: The number of royal princesses at the naming ceremony. One is the ship itself, the other is Kate Middleton.
1,780: The number of staterooms on the Royal Princess
30: The number of days the leisurely voyage to Fort Lauderdale will take
Four: The number of Caribbean islands the Royal Princess will visit. They include the Bahamas, the Virgin Islands and St. Maarten.
Skinny jeans, leggings and blazers have replaced denim jackets, polo necks and thick black tights as wardrobe staples over the last 25 years, a study has revealed.
From leather leggings to denim hot pants, trends come and go as fashion evolves every season.
But it seems that some trends are here to stay.
Nude tights, ballet pumps, a maxi dress and a black or nude clutch bag are also among the modern must-haves every women should own.
But while they might have been staple items in the 1980s, straight-leg jeans and simply knee length skirts are no longer considered as classic clothes.
It wasn’t all change though, as black trousers, cardigans, a simple white blouse or shirt and the little black dress have remained constant must-haves through the decades.
Skinny jeans have replaced thick black tights as wardrobe staples over the last 25 years
Black or brown boots, black court shoes, a pencil skirt and a smart black coat have also stood the test of time and are still considered staple items.
A spokesman for F&F at Tesco in UK, which commissioned the research said: “Everyone has a section of their wardrobe which is reserved for staple items.
“And while many have remained the same, there are some that have changed as the trends and fashion has evolved over the past twenty years or so.
“Good-quality staple items can really help to save costs when it comes to a new season or trend.
“If you’ve got a few trusty items of clothing that you can rely on, all you need is one or two pieces from a new trend and you have an up-to-date and fashionable outfit for a fraction of the cost.
“So it’s worth making sure the staple items you do buy are good quality so you can be sure they will stand the test of time for years to come.”
The study found that 81% make sure their wardrobe is always full of staple or classic items, with another 83% believing there are items that every woman should own.
And the average woman estimates that almost half of their closet is taken up with classic clothes which they can wear year after year – compared to just a quarter which is reserved for trend items each season.
Almost three quarters of the women polled also said they are happy to splash more money than usual on staple items knowing they will get plenty of wear from it.
A third of women even own items of clothing that has been such a wardrobe staple, it has been passed on to them from older friends and relatives.
More than one in ten even have some timeless clothes which they have been wearing for 20 years or more now.
Researchers also found that 57% of people say the majority of the staple items in their wardrobe is black, followed by beige, brown, white and grey.
According to the study, in an average month, women spend £22.01 ($34.55) adding to their staple items, with quality and the look or appearance the most important factors when shopping for wardrobe essentials.
But the study found that it’s not all about staple items with 46% of women saying they like to go shopping and stock up on some fashion items to complement their basics.
Seventy-seven per cent even admitted they have kept certain items of clothing in the hope they will someday become trendy and fashionable again.
A spokesman for F&F at Tesco, added: “The secret to a good wardrobe is mixing your staple items with a few key fashion pieces each season.
“Buying good quality staple items alongside some more trendy, one-off clothes means you get to keep up with the latest fashion, without breaking the bank.”
STAPLE ITEMS NOW:
Leggings and skinny jeans
Nude tights
Blazer
A maxi dress
Ballet pumps
STAPLE ITEMS 25 YEARS AGO:
Straight leg jeans
Black, woollen tights
Denim jacket
Simple knee length skirt
Black polo neck top
CONSTANT TRENDS:
Black cardigan
Black trousers
Black or brown boots
White blouse
Flip-flops/flat sandals
White vest top
White/black short sleeved t-shirt/top
Black court shoes
Bootcut jeans
White/black long sleeved top
Little black dress
Pencil skirt
Smart black coat
