Kate Visits HMP Styal + A Pivot Away From Fashion?
What a happy surprise to see the Princess of Wales out again yesterday. Kate visited HMP Styal in Cheshire. She was there in her capacity as patron of Action for Children, which operates a special unit at the prison for mothers with babies under 18 months. The goal of the unit is to promote the wellbeing of the mothers so they can bond with their babies.
(This lady probably regrets making this face, but it does make me chuckle. Looks like they were having a good time.)
I love this initiative. I think the mother-baby bond is so important, and it is great to see women supported in pregnancy and early-motherhood despite serving punishment for some offense. Kate met privately with current inmates, and also publicly with former ones who benefitted from the program.
Kate was wearing the same BLAZÉ Milano coat that she wore on her visit to the royal Marsden in January, with a Sézane knit skirt. She was also wearing Gianvito Rossi heeled boots and Katherine James earrings.
It is not entirely unusual for Kate to recycle a coat in close proximity (and I love this ensemble), but this repeat does remind me of the news in the last few weeks that Kensington Palace won’t be releasing Kate’s fashion details anymore…sort of.
The Times reported:
A palace source said: “There is an absolute feeling that it [the public work] is not about what the princess is wearing. She wants the focus to be on the really important issues, the people and the causes she is spotlighting. There will always be an appreciation of what the princess is wearing from some of the public and she gets that. But do we need to be officially always saying what she is wearing? No. The style is there but it’s about the substance.”
Buckingham Palace routinely issues details of the Queen’s outfits for all her public engagements.
The caveat is that for big events, the Palace might still confirm Kate’s fashion choices.
When I first heard this news, I was a little frustrated, but, in fact, it doesn’t feel like that big of a change. First of all, Kensington Palace has never provided consistent details on what Kate is wearing. Second, at this point, the fashion sleuths are so good, there is rarely a need for KP to comment.
Still, the fact that the Palace is taking this tack is disappointing to me. I thought Kate was more pragmatic than that. The language of fashion is a very real part of royalty. The world was obsessed with Diana’s clothes, and yet everyone agrees she was extraordinarily powerful in drawing attention to her causes. In fact, many of the influential women of the modern era are also fashion icons. Fashion and substance are not opposed.
Also, as has been discussed many times, Kate’s promotion of British brands—large and small—is enormously helpful and something you would think she would want to continue. She is known for her thoughtful fashion touches. For example, in October 2023, People reported:
Kate Middleton made a touching statement with a pair of earrings she wore on World Mental Health Day as she and Prince William hosted the Royal Foundation event, Exploring our Emotional Worlds.
Donning a yellow jacket with a plain black top and black trousers, the Princess of Wales accessorized the outfit with jewelry gifted to her by Sarah Renton, a Maidenhead Rugby Club coach whose daughter — Isobelle Phipps, 17 — died by suicide earlier this year.
Dubbed "Issy Star," the gold-plated star-shaped earrings were designed by Phipps' cousin and owner of EarSass, Sophie McGown, with proceeds from the purchase of the jewelry going to the mental health charity, Brave Minds.
This was just the fastest and easiest example, but Kate has dozens of little fashion moments like this over her 12+ years as a royal. Is she not going to do this anymore? Are we not supposed to notice when she wears pieces like this? Because the message seems to be, fashion is trite and shouldn’t be the focus. But the reality is, fashion is a powerful tool in Kate’s communication box.
From a practical stand point, it doesn’t really matter if KP briefs on Kate’s clothes, because, as noted above, we can still figure out what she is wearing. What I hope, though, is that this doesn’t suppress Kate’s style. I have never understood the idea that women have to be dowdy to be taken seriously—that beauty and substance are opposed. It is such an absurdity, yet somehow it has been accepted by far too many women. I really hope Kate continues to embrace and celebrate her fashion status and not shift to dressing like a nervous college intern trying to follow the rules. Our femininity is part of our power.
Thank you for all your well-wishes on Monday. I ended up getting a lot sicker than I thought I would, running a high fever all night and throughout most of Tuesday. We were finally able to break it yesterday afternoon, and I slept well last night. I feel a little weak and light-headed if I move around too much, but I am on the mend!
U.S. resident here -- I bought a few pairs of the Izzy Star earrings after reading about the backstory and cause they support. I've since bought the company's earrings honoring the Princess of Wales. Just one example of how knowing what the POW wore can help a small business thrive.
So much of what the princess accomplishes in her role comes about through visual communication. She makes very few speeches and only very rarely gives interviews. Therefore, the various elements of the visual picture she paints become hyper important. I have always loved the subtle elements of her fashion that nevertheless speak loudly about the people, cause or country she is highlighting. Jane, you pointed out a few years ago the shift to a more corporate look to Kate's outfits as she tries to convey the seriousness of her work. I rue this change since I think it projects a somewhat colder or more masculine approach to her public appearances. I prefer her to lean into the softer, more colorful and feminine side of dressing since it lifts our spirits when we see her in something pretty and unique rather than the monochromatic pant suits. However, at 67 years old, I know that life is long and we are always evolving, even at my age. Therefore, I understand that this mode of dressing in a more low key way and perhaps downplaying the fashion side of her wardrobe is possibly just a phase that the Princess is going through that will change over time. She ALWAYS looks beautiful and well put together. Thank you for this post and continued best wishes for your and your family's health.