The Duchess of Cambridge mixes British and Swedish brands on day one of her Scandinavian tour
Hollywood stylists frequently talk about the art of setting a fashion pace on a press tour; the actress in question may have to promote their film at seven or eight different events, beginning with more casual occasions and leading up to a frothy finale gown or two.
As she arrived in Sweden this morning to begin her official tour of Scandinavia, the Duchess of Cambridge began her own, royal version of such an effort, her aide Natasha Archer no doubt having worked for weeks to deliver a pitch-perfect outfit for every occasion that Kate’s schedule should demand in the coming days, as she and the Duke of Cambridge navigate sports in Stockholm, ribbon cutting in Oslo, and dinners with Scandi cinema royalty and actual royalty.
Arriving to play hockey this morning, Kate, who is seven months pregnant, wore a black Burberry coat, chunky snow boots by ski brand Sorel, and a faux fur bobble hat by Eugenia Kim. She also nodded to her host nation by wearing a burgundy jumper from Swedish label Fjallraven.
In her second act, the Duchess changed for lunch with the King and Queen of Sweden, their daughter Crown Princess Victoria and her husband Prince Daniel. For that she chose a bespoke green shift dress by royal family favourite Catherine Walker, stepping things up slightly from the morning’s mood, but not feeling a need to match the efforts of Victoria, who had commissioned a heavily embroidered Ida Sj?stedt dress for the occasion.
After lunch and out on the streets of Stockholm, the Duchess added a matching Catherine Walker coat, and upped her British fashion credentials further with a new Mulberry Mini Seaton Bag - a top-handle style similar to those that the Queen has carried for years. (Lead image)
Duchess of Cambridge: every outfit ever
Today’s wow-moment, though, will undoubtedly be tonight; a black tie dinner with Oscar-winning actress Alicia Vikander should surely warrant a new gown? Vikander’s weapon of choice is usually Louis Vuitton, while Par Engsheden is the Swedish royal family’s go-to couturier. Kate could turn to one of her trusted allies (Alexander McQueen or Erdem, perhaps) but preferably, she might offer up a wild card from a Scandi minimalist.