• Wed, Oct 24 - 1:30 pm ET

Kate Middleton Misses Her Mark In Boho Temperley Dress

Kate Middleton–AKA Catherine, Duchess of Cambridge–has been widely fawned over for her style (by this site especially). Even though we’re fans, we think it’s quite fair to describe Middleton’s style as a kind of “uniform,” she has a look and she seldom deviates from it. She likes nipped waists, slim skirts, dresses with sleeves (especially quarter sleeves), she likes frock coats and sensible pumps and sparkly evening gowns with minimal silhouettes.

…This is all a manner of saying we’re kind of surprised by her latest choice, which she wore while attending a reception at Buckingham Palace yesterday (for the UK’s Olympics and Paralympics winners). The look was an uncharacteristically flouncey Temperley dress:

Apparently it’s a bespoke rejiggering of this look, a more restrained LBD. She paired it with some classic Jimmy Choo pumps and a diamond bracelet.

We spend a lot of time bitching and moaning at famous people for always being boring and wearing the same safe shit over and over again. So, in that regard, we think it’s cool that Middleton took a small risk by veering from her usual thing with hippie appliqués and sheer panels. Also, her hair is always amazing.

However, we still think the dress is kind of… ugly.

In times like these, we open it up to the polls:

Sorry! This poll is now closed.

(All photos via Wenn)

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  • Sean

    I don’t know…it wouldn’t be that bad if the black part wasn’t sheer.

  • LaLa

    In the second picture it looks like she’s yelling at herself for wearing it.

    • http://thegloss.com/ Ashley Cardiff

      hahaha.

      I put them together and was laughing while I did it, for exactly that reason.

  • http://saucyfbaby.tumblr.com/ saucyfbaby

    I like the appliques on the bottom half of the dress, but I hate the bell sleeves. I would keep the sleeves just plain black or even sheer & get rid of the “bell” part.

    — Nicole

  • Lastango

    She’s so lovely she almost makes it work. But even Kate can’t quite save this dress from itself.
    Starting over, I picture it redone in greens with white, worn at a garden party with a sandal.
    Agreed that she gets full marks for giving it a go, though. I suppose this reduces her batting average to something like .994

    • Lastango

      Also, full marks to the designer too, for giving it a try. If we beat up on designers for an honest effort, they’ll play it safe and we’ll see a lot less creativity.

  • Amy

    I can’t find the “She must be pregnant and trying to distract us” option in the poll.

    • Amy

      Also, where is the critique of Jessica Biel’s pink wedding dress?!!! I don’t know what to think until you talk about it for me. Tell me what to FEEL!!!

    • sara

      And can we talk about Biel’s bangs with that dress? And why does she even have them when she has the incredible perfect face?

  • http://twitter.com/KKaboodle Alexis

    To say I was upset by this dress is an understatement. She always does me proud and this was just so bad!!

  • sara

    It may be ugly but THANK GOD it is at least different. I understand her “uniform” but holy cow I am sick to death of her little belted 3/4 sleeve look! She has been a princess now for a while and done the “job” well so I think it is high time she is allowed to branch out good or bad in her style. And I just have one more thing, QEII if you are reading this fab blog, I think it is about time the girl gets a tiara!

  • MR

    I think she’s beautiful no matter what she wears. She’s the Duchess and the future of Britain’s more democratic monarchy. I like the knee length of her dress. Always triggers a man’s imagination.