Kate Middleton looked relaxed but refined in earth tones today as she joined First Lady Melania Trump for a joint engagement with the Scouts at Frogmore Gardens, Windsor.
Wearing an olive green jacket from the British brand. ME+EM and a brown skirt from the American designer ralph laurenThe Princess of Wales showed off her diplomatic attire at its finest, giving a subtle nod to both nations through her attire. (I also have more thoughts on his current appearance and the possible reasons behind his choices. Click here to jump to that section.)
The joint engagement is one of Melania’s final commitments during her two-day visit to the United Kingdom alongside President Trump.
It was also a stark contrast to last night’s state banquet, where the Princess and FLOTUS were seen in all their finery.
During today’s engagement, the couple met with Scoutmaster Dwayne Fields and 22 members of the Squirrel Scouts program who were busy participating in nature-based activities to earn their ‘Go Wild’ badge.
The Squirrels is a program for children aged four to six, operated by the Scout Association in the United Kingdom. The program launched in September 2021. There are currently 25,000 Squirrel Scouts across the UK.
Together, Kate and Melania joined the kids in a variety of outdoor activities, from creating leaf art to building bug hotels.
They talked about their favorite microbeasts and played team games with a giant parachute.
Both women presented ‘Go Wild’ badges to the young Scouts after they learned about the animals and their habitats, and how they use plants for food and shelter. Both received special Squirrel Badges instead.
Before her departure, the First Lady received a gift: one of the Scouts’ signature scarves/collars.
The Princess of Wales has been co-president of the Scout Association since 2020.
Kate’s outfit today:
For the relaxed outdoor engagement, Kate chose an elegant ensemble in earthy tones of moss green and rugged brown, which blended well with the natural surroundings and nature-related activities.
In the photographs, the appearance contrasted with the bright red uniforms of the Scouts and the bright colors of the parachute.
While we can’t know for sure if the current color palette was deliberate, it wouldn’t be out of place. The princess’s wardrobe is famously strategic and high-profile visits are almost always planned down to the last detail. In fact, it’s been reported that royal “reconnaissance” teams are sent ahead of overseas tours to research the location in advance, helping to ensure your outfits hit the right note. It wouldn’t be surprising if the same level of thinking applied to today’s engagement.
It was also the perfect look for a fall day, with the suede jacket keeping out the wind.
I also like that the earthy palette, the formality of the skirt, and the scarf tied with a bow give it an almost practical touch. scout leader sensation to the whole, while maintaining the focus of attention on the children.
The princess paired the short green jacket with a midi skirt and boots, and completed the look with a silk scarf. Let’s look at each piece in turn.
The jacket is ME&EM (thanks to Gaby for quick identification). It is from the British brand. Short suede military jacket in a dark olive green.
The jacket is designed with a cropped, boxy shape. It features a double-breasted button closure, deeply lined suede cuffs (so they can be rolled up if preferred) and practical pockets on the front.
The relaxed fit, olive green color and texture of the fabric make this the perfect jacket to face the cold temperatures of fall.
Each jacket is made from 100% leather in Mauritius.
Unfortunately, the jacket is from a past season and is sadly no longer available on the ME+EM website. It sold for £550.00 before going on sale for 50% off.
ME+EM confirmed that the princess is also using her Brushed Cashmere Straight Pullover Vest in Chestnut Brown.
This straight-cut knit sweater vest features a round neckline and fitted armholes. It is sleeveless and has a level hem. I’m not sure if Kate wore hers over a shirt, but I think it looks great with one, as shown in the model below.
The vest is made in China from luxuriously soft 100% cashmere.
Waiting to buy the vest? You will be pleased to know that it is still available in meandem.com. It costs £195 / $345 USD.
Also enter rhubarb rose (WHICH I LOVE). I’m literally just sharing this here for Kate to use.
ME+EM is a brand that we see the Princess use from time to time. She has several items from the company in her closet, including three Breton striped tops, a pink ombre dress, and a white “layered top.”
ME+EM creates luxury, contemporary and minimalist pieces. Earlier this year, Elle called out the brand “the sleeping hit of the year”, noting that amid a declining high street and several pandemic casualties, ME+EM has bucked the trend and “It will quietly become its own shopping phenomenon.”
The brand’s modus operandi is to create functional yet stylish clothing for busy working women, with a modern approach to office wear.
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Over the sweater and jacket, the princess wore a green and blue printed scarf tied with a bow. is from Sudbury Silk Mills‘ trade.
Below, a closer look at the fabric’s floral print, shared by the factory on its instagram page:
You probably remember that Kate visited the Sudbury Silk Mill last week? He toured the factory and spent time with the design team, learning more about their creative process, before seeing the looms at work in the weaving room.
The company says the fabric is 100% from Stephen Walters’ latest collection; It was knitted especially for the Princess and she gave it to her during her visit last week.
As Sudbury Silk Mill uses surplus fabric for items such as the scarves available in their store, they do not have this particular design available for purchase at this time. This scarf was custom created for Kate. However, they have many other fabrics and scarves available. On Instagramthe factory says they are happy to organize distance sales; you just need contact them directly to discuss what is available. They will send images and accept payment over the phone.
On her lower half, the Princess gave a nod to the First Lady of the United States by wearing a skirt from one of the country’s best-known fashion exports. ralph lauren.
It’s the Evilyn Birdseye skirt in dark brown tweed.
Described by the brand as “an elevated wardrobe essential”, The A-line skirt is designed to reach mid-calf and features “pants-inspired elements”including belt loops and zipper fly and buttoned belt loop at the waist.
The skirt also has numerous pockets on the front and back and is finished with real horn buttons, a signature of the brand. The garment is made with pleats at the front waist and darts at the back waist.
Do we think Kate had this photo on her Pinterest board for today’s look?
The skirt is made from a neutral yarn-dyed Italian tweed, a custom-developed fabric with soft wool yarns woven in a birds-eye structure to create a lightweight, jersey-like feel.
Although Kate chose Ralph Lauren today for diplomatic reasons, that does not mean she is a stranger to the American brand. Ralph Lauren is a brand that he uses regularly. We’ve seen her wear the company’s dresses, sweaters, blouses, coats, shoes and more over the years.
Now let’s move on to the shoes. The Princess chose her brown suede Gianvito Rossi boots for today’s engagement.
A couple of years ago, Gianvito Rossi confirmed that they made the boots for the Princess. I understand they are custom made, commissioned by Kate. They feature a pointed toe and a large block heel. She owns the style in two other colors.
It would be difficult to buy the same pair as they are custom made. At the time of writing, the closest match is this pair of 85mm boots from the designer Farfetch in black suede (£777), or the Glen style in ‘Texan brown‘ either ‘Red‘ (which I think is more of a dark burgundy-brown) RRP £1,465.00. Everything shown below:
The princess debuted the boots in 2022 and has worn them in nine other public engagements to date.
She is a longtime devotee of Gianvito Rossi footwear and owns an impressive 23 pairs of the Italian designer’s shoes and boots.
Gianvito RossiThe son of renowned footwear designer Sergio Rossi, he launched his eponymous brand in 2006 and quickly established himself as a master of refined and elegant footwear. Her shoes are renowned for their elegant silhouettes, impeccable craftsmanship and enduring appeal, qualities that have clearly earned the princess’ loyalty.
Now let’s talk about Kate’s earrings.
they are the Spells of Love Teardrop Hoop Earrings in Garnet and Gold.
Another repeated garment that we have seen him wear before. I think this is the sixth time we’ve seen her wearing them.
Crafted from 18K gold vermeil over sterling silver, the earrings can be worn as classic hoops or with the ethically sourced garnet drop.
Kate has embraced Spells of Love jewelry in recent years, adding three pairs of earrings and two necklaces to her jewelry box.
Spells of Love specializes in high-quality, ethically crafted jewelry. It is designed and handmade in Wales.
I don’t know anything about Kate’s belt. I’ll update if I remember if I’ve seen it before or if anyone identifies the item.
