In just a few days, Kate Middleton andPrince Williamwill begin their royal tour in Pakistan, but what will Kate, who is already an expert in the art of diplomatic dressing, be packing for such a culturally important trip?
“I think this is a tour where the impact of her choices has the potential to be very significant,” Susan Kelley, editor and founder of fashion blogWhatKateWore.com, tells PEOPLE. “Textile manufacturing is an enormous part of Pakistan’s economy, so if Kate were to wear something manufactured locally, I think there would be a huge impact at a level not previously seen on tour before.”
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“I think we will probably see at least one traditional shalwar kameez — the top and loose trousers look — from Kate on this trip,” says Kelley, who launched her blog that follows Kate’s fashion back in 2011. “Diana wore that look multiple times in Pakistan and I think she has on occasion looked to Diana for inspiration, while being careful not to copy her.”
Princess Diana visits Pakistan.Tim Graham Picture Library/Getty
Princess Diana in Pakistan.Tim Graham Photo Library via Getty
While we haven’t seen this look from Kate before (although she did wear a floaty Beulah dress and headscarf to visit a mosque in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, in 2012), Kelley says Kate’s confidence has grown significantly since then.
Kate Middleton in Kuala Lumpur.Danny Lawson/PA Images via Getty
“I think we will see her branching out more and taking more risks — she has become so much more confident in her role, she’s willing to take more risks, wear new designers andshe even wore a blouse backwardsand it worked!”
While on tour in India and Bhutan in 2016, Kate stuck to several of her favorite British designers — Jenny Packham, Alexander McQueen, Temperley London and Emilia Wickstead — and while we will likely see a repeat of some of those names, there’s a high chance that Kate will also wear at least a few local labels.
“There are some really tremendous designers either in Pakistan or with Pakistani roots. There’s one called Hassan Sheheryar Yasin (known as HSY) Asim Jofa, Osman, who is British-based but also has Pakistani roots and there’s a tremendous history of Pakistan fabrics with vibrant colors and patterns.”
“I think we’ll see the color green incorporated [to represent the green flag of Pakistan], and I think we may see jasmine, the national flower, used somehow in her clothing choices,” predicts Kelley. Princess Diana also wore green, seen to be a customary color of respect when she visited the country, nearly 30 years ago.
DANIEL LEAL-OLIVAS/AFP via Getty
One thing we can be sure of, Kate’s wardrobe will be a powerful tool of communication, just like it has been for generations of royals before her.
“Kate does diplomatic dressing very well and she doesn’t do a lot of public speaking, so I think she will use her clothing to send messages. It will be classic Kate: modest but modern with a newfound confidence.”
source: people.com
