Monday Memory: July 26, 2015
The America's Cup World Series in Portsmouth
Today’s Monday Memory takes us back to July 26, 2015—the America’s Cup World Series and visit to the Ben Ainslie Racing (“BAR”) facility. Kate essentially took July off in 2015. She had delivered Princess Charlotte in May and gone on maternity leave. She attended Trooping the Colour and a casual polo game in June. In July, the Cambridges baptized Charlotte, and Kate attended Wimbledon before this joint engagement with William at the end of the month. Although this is a more casual event in the clothes department, it was special because of William’s presence.
This ensemble was Kate’s uniform for water sports back in the day. Skinny jeans, a Breton top, a team/event-appropriate quarter-zip, and her trusty Sebago moccasins. This event’s ensemble stands out a little more, because William and Kate had branded jackets with their titles on the back, which I loved at the time and still love today.
Kate added her gorgeous Annoushka Baroque pearls (hanging on Kiki McDonough hoops) to add glamour to the ensemble.
William and Kate toured the BAR facilities and sampled some of the state of the art training equipment and tactical tools, including, a machine that simulates a heaving deck. Kate only used the video equipment to get a sense of the experience, and remarked that it felt "weird."
The couple met skippers and crews from the USA, France, New Zealand, Japan, Sweden and, of course Britain.
If you recall this event, you know it was a very stormy day at Portsmouth, so much so that the second day of racing (it was a weekend competition) had to be called off, and the awards were determined by the first day of racing only.
Kate switched out her sporty quarter-zip for a double-breasted Zara blazer and her Corkswoon wedges. This is probably when she starts triggering people. Both the Zara blazer and the Corkswoons elicit strong reactions from fans, although I have gotten both negative and positive feedback on both.
I actually don’t think the primary ensemble here (skinnies, sports pullover, and Sebagos) has aged badly. [I don’t think I was ever in love with the double-breasted Zara + skinnies.] Honestly, GenZ is shifting denim trends so quickly, I feel we are all entitled to wear whatever silhouette we want. Still, Kate has found ways to change things up in the years since, and those changes have been welcome. E.g., here in 2022:
What do you think? Are skinnies too dated today?
Gen Z can pry my skinny jeans from my cold, dead hands! In all seriousness, I do think skinnies are still acceptable, especially if you are in your 30s/40s. Many suit silhouettes I see still feature a skinny leg (I live in an area where suits are still frequently worn), and I think for official, less formal engagements for Kate where jeans are worn they are still a more polished look.
I still love skinny jeans…they look the best on me with my height.