Kate Middleton looked to have referenced tennis style from 1920 with her Wimbledon outfit choice today.
Arriving with Prince William just in time to watch Roger Federer take on Mikhail Youzhny on Centre Court this afternoon, she wore a cream pleated cable knit dress by Alexander McQueen that looked as if it could have come straight from a Wimbledon kit list from the roaring Twenties.
Duchess of Cambridge accessorized the designer dress with a pair of $260 navy blue suede court shoes from LK Bennett.
It was a dress she has worn before – exactly a year ago today – when she made a trip to Prince Edward Island during her tour of Canada in 2011.
Kate Middleton looked to have referenced tennis style from 1920 with her Wimbledon outfit choice
It is a style that has also been worn previously by Sarah Jessica Parker. The Sex And The City actress wore a navy version of the dress in 2006, the year it was debuted by the British design house.
It is the first Wimbledon appearance of the year for the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge. The royal pair’s visit comes after Carole and Michael Middleton were guests in the Royal box yesterday, and Pippa and James Middleton sat alongside Felicity Kendal and her son Jake in the prestigious seats last Friday.
Kate Middleton has come in for some rare sartorial criticism over her fondness for her favorite LK Bennett nude heels.
It seems the fashion police will have to try a little harder if they hope to part the Duchess of Cambridge from those trusty LK Bennett court shoes.
Kate Middleton was once again sporting the £185 ($296) heels on Saturday, when she attended the wedding of Prince William’s cousin, Emily McCorquodale – Princess Diana’s niece.
Duchess of Cambridge, 30, was joined by her husband and her brother-in-law, Prince Harry, for the ceremony in Stoke Rochford, Lincolnshire.
While some observers have criticized Kate’s safe choices, she seems happy to be building up a reputation for thrift.
Kate Middleton was once again sporting the $296 LK Bennett nude shoes on Saturday, when she attended the wedding of Prince William’s cousin, Emily McCorquodale, Princess Diana’s niece
Kate wore her faithful court shoes to two events over the Diamond Jubilee weekend, and was seen in them six times during her tour of Canada and the US last summer.
Indeed, her entire outfit for the wedding had been recycled.
She wore the floral Jenny Packham dress at a polo match in the US last year, the dove grey coat at the Order of the Garter service and the hat at last June’s Epsom Derby.
The court shoes are such a favorite that in the last year the Duchess has worn them to the Epsom Derby, to Prince Philip’s 90th birthday at Windsor, to attend Zara Phillips’s wedding and on a visit to the Royal Marsden Hospital, London.
On last summer’s tour of Canada and the U.S. Kate was photographed in them no fewer than six times. On Sunday’s Jubilee River Pageant, they were given another outing on the Royal Barge.
And on Tuesday she got them out of the closet to attend the service of thanksgiving at St Paul’s cathedral.
The high street platforms have also of late been adopted by Princesses Eugenie, who wore a similar black version at the Jubilee River Pageant.
With every outfit coming under the microscope Kate’ support has given a welcome boost to the British brand.
The pumps have become such a success that LK Bennett brought out a Sledge 2 patent version.
Kate Middleton wore the same pair of nude shoes to the Epsom Derby last June, to Prince Philip’s 90th birthday at Windsor, to attend Zara Phillips’s wedding, and on a visit to the Royal Marsden Hospital, London.
On tour in Canada and the U.S., Kate Middleton was seen in them six times. On Sunday, she chose them for the Royal Barge. And on Tuesday she put them on to attend the service of thanksgiving at St Paul’s cathedral.
Just what is it about Kate and her $296 pair of LK Bennett nude patent courts? Perhaps she bought a dozen pairs of the Sledge Court Shoe, first produced in 2009, as she loved them so much? Perhaps they are such good value and never scuff.
Despite their four-inch heel, the shoes must be comfy, given they have been worn in so wonderfully (the Queen asks her dresser, Angela Kelly, to break in shoes for her. Kate clearly has no need of such a service).
Kate Middleton wore the same $296 pair of LK Bennett nude shoes at each event
What’s more, at St Paul’s, Samantha Cameron wore the same pair, only in black. For after they became such a success, LK Bennett brought out a Sledge 2: identical, but in a patent leather rather than a high-shine leather.
In the more recent photos, Kate is wearing the patent version – which means she definitely has at least a pair to wear and a pair to air.
So what is wrong with Kate Middleton endlessly showcasing a High Street shoe?
The “safe” nude shoe is very much a 2011 trend, as is the slim platform; seen endlessly on the High Street.
Kate has occasionally patronized other shoe brands: Jimmy Choo twice, Pied a Terre once, and an Aquatalia Rumba boot – an awful suede affair. And wedge espadrilles, too. All pretty ghastly.
But what should Kate be putting on those size seven feet?
Kate should patronize Aruna Seth, a 30-year-old British-born designer who makes wonderful shoes that hover around the $960 to $1,280 mark.
Or show courtier Georgina Goodman, who sadly went into liquidation in May, but she still hopes to make bespoke commissions.
Or how about patronizing the new generation of shoe couturiers, such as Rupert Sanderson, Charlotte Dellal, Camilla Skovgaard and Tracey Neuls?
