Foreign dignitaries and royals on state visits find ways to connect international couture to local culture, and the Duchess of Cambridge is no exception.
ate Middleton is famous for her style and support of British designers, and on her tour to southeast Asia earlier this month, she clothed herself in an elegant pieces both by British and Asian designers. All of her outfits in one way or another related to the country she was visiting, thus paying cultural respect and following established diplomatic protocol.
On her first day of what was to be a nine-day tour of the southeast Asia, Kate wore a Prabal Gurang creation, a wool and silk-blend piece with waves of blue and purple print, to her official engagement with Singapore’s President Tony Tan. On another day, during her daily activities, she wore silk top and skirt from the Singapore-based brand Raoul, creating once again a classic and clean look.
In Malaysia, for the tea at the British High Commissioner’s residence in Kuala Lumpur, Kate chose a beautiful ice blue dress with Asian-inspired flower embroidery by Alice Temperley, while for the visit to As-syakirin Mosque, she wore a silk chiffon Beulah London Blossom dress. Probably one of the most stunning outfits of the tour was a custom Alexander McQueen gown by Sarah Burton, one of Kate’s favourite designers she, who chooses to wear for important occasions. The Duchess of Cambridge showcased a creamy white dress with golden embroidery, used to create the hibiscus floral motif, Malasia’s national flower, at the State Dinner.
[quote align=”center” color=”#b64736″]Whether it was the tailored cuts that matched Singaporean style or the elegant headscarf she wore to a mosque in Kuala Lumpur, Kate showed her respect for the countries on tour with aplomb.[/quote]As a cultural symbol, The Duchess of Cambridge, like other famous female dignitaries, has a distinct style that she has adopted. In doing so, she is also looked upon to understand and acknowledge local culture to a large extent, something she has done with her careful choice of clothes on foreign visits, and the panache with which she carries them off.
By Riya Kartha
