Is Kate Middleton channeling Jackie O.?
The Duchess of Cambridge is in France to mark the 100th anniversary of the start of the battle of the Somme, the largest battle of World War I and one of the bloodiest in world history.
It's no small feat, dressing for such a somber and monumental day as the face of a nation. But the "modest fashion" icon did it well -- and with a subtle but remarkable shift in her signature style.
On Thursday, the Duchess wore a black and silver Missoni coat in the design house's signature zigzag print overtop of a black dress. Though the coat was muted by the dark color palette, it's a bold choice of designer, and one we haven't seen much of before. The storied Italian brand is known for it's knitwear, mixing colors and embodying a Mediterranean lifestyle. All of which is a stark contrast to the prim, British style of the royals.
But her accessories were the real surprise. Kate wears a lot of hats, most by the renown milliner Philip Treacy. Though she rarely (if ever) wears the pillbox style that is quintessentially American. Coupled with her large earrings (identified by some fashion bloggers as Balenciaga), she looked downright Kennedy-esq. It's a style perfected by Jackie O., whose image is almost synonymous with giant pearls and matching Chanel suits and hats.
The Duchess went back to a more typical outfit for events on Friday, pairing a fitted dress with bracelet-length sleeves and Peter Pan collar with a black "Lion Tamer" hat by Sylvia Fletcher for Lock & Co that she's worn on several occasions. She also switched back to her signature style of small drop earrings, with Annoushka pearls and Kiki McDonough hoops.
Though everything down to the lace and peplum are on-brand for her (the particular brand hasn't been identified, it's most likely a familiar designer like Alexander McQueen), it still feels more Michelle Obama than Queen Elizabeth. Perhaps it's the chic mix of neutrals as opposed to pastels or whites the royal family favors. Or the lack of an overcoat.
Either way, both ensembles feel stately, particularly to an audience across the pond. And if she's being called upon to flex her diplomacy skills in this time of unrest following the Brexit vote, American first ladies are not a bad place to look for inspiration.