The Duchess of Diplomacy

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Jess Cartner-Morley of The Guardian has pointed out that The Duchess of Cambridge has made some diplomatic fashion choices during her trip to Canada with husband Prince William.

For example, the Princess has twice worn dresses designed by ErdemMoralioglu, a Canadian-born London designer, definitely an appropriate choice. I'd even go a step further and say that the Kate's wardrobe is wrought with symbolism.

On Canada Day, she wore her cream Reiss "Nannette" dress, the same one she wore in her formal engagement portraits taken by Mario Testino. Her red maple-leaf fascinator was reminiscent of a hat worn by Diana, Princess of Wales, when she and Prince Charles toured Canada in 1983.

A final touch was the Queen's Maple Leaf brooch which is on loan to the Duchess. The Queen, as Princess Elizabeth, wore the brooch on her first visit to Canada in 1951. Katherine wore the pin to decorate a stunning purple Issa dress.

We'll never know how William's mother and his bride would've taken to each other but Katherine clearly wants to be seen to be cognizant of the comparisons, and respectful of her memory. Another nod to the late Princess came on the occasion of what would have been Diana's 50th birthday, July 1, 2011.
William and Kate planted an Eastern Hemlock tree as a symbol of love and marriage, next to the oak tree William's parents Prince Charles and Princess Diana planted on their son's first birthday. Katherine wore a relatively somber grey, V-back "Kensington" dress, designed by one of the Duchess of Wales's favorite designers, Catherine Walker.

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Finally, on the way to Prince Edward Isle, the Princess donned a naval-inspired Alexander McQueen number, sending a message perhaps that amongst the High Street labels she loves, McQueen by Sarah Burton, who designed her wedding dress, will be her go-to designer label.

The Duchess of Cambridge in Issa 










The Duchess of Cambridge in Catherine Walker 
The Duchess of Cambridge in Alexander Mcqueen 

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