Monday Memory: May 20, 2019

The Erdem Chelsea Flower Show dress, and a shift in her trouser preferences.

Today’s Monday Memory takes us back to May of 2019. 2019 was a such a great year—the last year before COVID-19 changed the world. Kate’s fashion was fabulous in 2019, in my humble opinion. She was playing a lot with her casual wear, and mixing trousers in for more formal events without overdoing it. She was embracing trendy midi dresses and sporting some of her classic looks. It was all just a beautiful and exciting balance. Truly a golden age. Today, I am focused on one of her more trendy dresses, because I loved it. I recognize this look might divide opinion, but here we go: it is the Erdem at the Chelsea Flower Show.

I know a lot of people hate Erdem and hate this high neckline with ruffles look, but as this style goes, I thought this particular example was a great success. It was very on trend, it was feminine and interesting, and despite the layers and ruffles and flounces, it didn’t overwhelm her. To me, it was a big hit.

Kate paired the dress with her Casteñer Carina wedges—sort of an update on the Corkswoons in her “go-to wedge” department. She added just a little bling with Cassandra Goad pearl cluster earrings.

A special part of this memory is, of course, the presence of the Queen. If you recall, this event was Kate’s Chelsea Flower Show debut. Her garden was titled “Back to Nature,” and William and Kate had brought all three children to a garden preview. This more formal event was Kate’s opportunity to show the Queen around it, too.

According to royal reports at the time, Kate was “endearingly nervous,” but William held back and let her take the lead. It was a wonderful event that showcased the familiarity and close relationship between the Queen and her grandson and grand-daughter-in-law. Both younger royals kissed the Queen, in addition to their bow and curtsy, and William made sure he kept the ladies amused:

My favorite picture from the event was William—in a full suit—poking around the base of a tree to get a closer look at the garden.

Kate had been at the garden earlier in the day, and that ensemble provides a good example of her shifting casual ensembles at the time. Kate wore a Broderie Anglaise blouse by M.i.h. Jeans and Massimo Dutti culottes all finished her Superga trainers and Monica Vinader Siren earrings.

2019 was an inflection year for her casual clothes. In 2018, Kate was still wearing skirts/dresses almost exclusively and super skinny jeans for casual events. In 2019, she shifted gears and started wearing more trousers for some formal events and mixing different style trousers in with her skinnies. This event and style was right in the middle of her big shift.

Time for you to weigh in. Did you like this look at the time? Has your opinion of the Erdem shifted in the intervening years? I liked it at the time, and I still like it today. I hated her trousers back in 2019, but I don’t mind them as much today.