The Duchess of Cambridge's lesson in Covid-era royal style, from a chic mask to a recycled frock
There’s nothing like an all-white outfit to set off a fresh holiday tan, and the Duchess of Cambridge, who has reportedly spent the past few days on the Isles of Scilly with her family, demonstrated that to great effect when she stepped out in Sheffield on Tuesday afternoon.
Kate was paying a visit to Baby Basics UK, a volunteer project supporting families struggling to provide for their newborns. And while white isn’t the wisest colour choice when helping pack and unpack supplies or meet small children, her look made a stylish impact.
The dress was one we’d seen before, Suzannah’s ‘Flippy Wiggle’ design (£1,850, suzannah.com) that she wore at Wimbledon last year. This time, she did away with the black leather belt and Wimbledon bow (a symbol of her royal patronage of the All England Lawn Tennis and Croquet Club), instead teaming it with its accompanying white belt, dove grey stiletto court shoes and a £15 micro-floral print face mask from Amaia Kids, a label from which Kate often sources childrenswear but which has recently made adult masks.
It was at once vintage Kate and a masterclass in how fellow royals should approach dressing for formal engagements in a post-Covid era, diplomatically checking off all the key criteria.
Take her mask: it was the first time we’ve seen Kate wear a face covering in public, and in doing so she sets an important example to the rest of us in England, who must now wear a mask in shops, banks and Post Offices as well as on public transport. She also remained visibly socially distanced while meeting and speaking with volunteers.
And while her dress was a high-end designer piece, it was a re-wear, demonstrating both thriftiness and a planet-friendly, sustainable attitude.
She’s still a royal though, and a certain degree of glamour is required for the role - she needs to provide the kind of star dust that people expect when meeting ‘a princess’. It’s the same reason the Queen always wears bright colours, so that she is easily identifiable from a distance by well-wishers who may have gathered to catch a glimpse of her.
That’s why Kate’s hair, worn loose this time, is freshly highlighted and blow-dried, and her heels were the very definition of taxi shoes - the kind one only wears if there’s very little walking involved.
As ever, the Duchess has navigated that tricky grey area between positivity and sensitivity - and she makes it look easy. But as soon as you start to think about the consideration, thought and planning that must have gone into creating each look, it becomes very clear that it’s anything but.
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