Think St Patrick’s Day, think the Emerald Isle, so how fitting that the Duchess of Cambridge choose to wear a green Emilia Wickstead coat dress for today’s Irish Guards' parade.
Kate Middleton attended her first solo military engagement in Aldershot sporting the traditional Irish colour with chocolate brown suede heels and a matching 'Betty Boop' hat by Lock and Co. You’ll remember she also opted for James Lock-designed headgear for her visit to Leicester earlier this month.
She topped off her look with a black belt, tumbling curls, a frothy shamrock and her fave amethyst and diamond earrings by Kiki McDonough. As for that gold shamrock brooch, it's actually owned by the Guards, and loaned out by them, having previously been worn by the Queen Mother and Princess Anne, as well as Kate herself on Armed Forces Day last summer.
The Duchess goes for green
The coat dress comes courtesy of Emilia Wickstead's Autumn Winter 2010 collection, the New Zealand-born designer who shows at London Fashion Week. Backstage at her Autumn Winter 2012 show in February, Emilia told Grazia that she admires Kate’s polished style and could see the Duchess wearing any number of her creations. Indeed, the designer’s softly sexy silhouettes and super feminine nipped-in frocks with modest hemlines are ideal for our DoC. What's more, Emilia has already dressed a handful of guests for last year’s Royal Wedding, including Kate’s cousin Lucy, Lady Kitty Spencer and Emma Parker Bowles. See, who needs the luck of the Irish when you’ve got the Kate effect on your side?
Kate meets the guards mascot, the Irish wolfhound
Speaking of which, the Duchess’ radiant appearance was enough to make the soliders swoon. Yes indeedy, one uniformed chap was apparently so bowled over at the sight of her that he promptly fainted. Bless.
Kate certainly looked radiant and her queenly green ensemble was marvelous against the scarlet red uniforms. Of course, Prince William was made an honorary colonel of the regiment last year and wore his Irish guards uniform on their wedding day.
Kate meets the troops
Kate confidently presented the 1st Battalion Irish guards – and their doggy mascot – with shamrocks and after being photographed with a mass of them, the 30-year-old enjoyed a St Paddy's Day tipple. Yep, the DoC sipped on a well-deserved glass of Harvey's Bristol Creme sherry as the officers toasted her all-round amazingness (scroll through the gallery above to see her take a swig). Bring on the Irish merriment, we say!
For more looks from the Duchess, hop on over to Grazia's Kate Middleton Look Book.
