Week in Review: The Duchess of Cambridge, 1-8 July

1. Attending Wimbledon, 4 July.
2. The Order of the Thistle service, 5 July.
3. a) Attending the Wimbledon Men's Final, 8 July, in b) repeated Joseph pieces. I dig her double necklace deal.

Photos: PA/Getty Images/Joseph

Royal Fashion Awards: The Order of the Thistle Service

The service of the The Most Ancient and Most Noble Order of the Thistle (isn’t that just a deliciously medieval title?) was held yesterday. The Order of the Thistle is Scotland's highest order of chivalry, and its service resembles Garter Day in pomp and would-be-silly-under-any-other circumstance outfits. And where go the froofy hats, so go we…

Best in Day Bling

Queen Elizabeth

Is this modern emerald set my absolute favorite of the Queen’s? Nah. But I can’t complain about diamonds. Especially not when we’re looking at such a low key year for the Windsors, tiara-wise.

Best in Introductions

The Earl of Strathearn

The Thistle service usually isn’t such a big to do (media-wise), but this year the Cambridges – excuse me, the Strathearns, as they are properly known in Scotland and heavens, we must be Proper – were in the house, and there you go. The Queen decided to bestow the Thistle on William, and this was his big day to take the oath and make it official (he did receive his insignia from her last month, and wore the star at Trooping the Colour). I have to say, this debut was far more dashing than his slightly embarrassed Garter debut a few years ago.

Most in Need of Something

The Countess of Strathearn

Yeah…this isn’t doing it for me. I’m a little disappointed overall lately on the Emilia Wickstead front, which is sad. Anyway, I think Kate here just needs something. A belt to cover up that wonky bit of seaming on her waist, a different hat…something.

Best in Consistency

Lady Sarah Chatto

After temporarily abandoning her white and black wardrobe for Garter Day, Lady Sarah is back on point. Sometimes, if it isn’t broke, you don’t need to go messing with it. (Plus - star brooch alert! Like the Jardine Star's little sister.)

Best in Poise

Arthur Chatto

Lady Sarah’s in attendance at these events because her son, Arthur, is currently serving as a Page of Honour for the Queen. That means he’s tasked with tending to her train and what have you, and though he flew solo today, he’s sometimes joined by his cousin Charles Armstrong-Jones. I always find these boys to be very composed in their outfits (which are stately and traditional, but must feel a little silly to a 13-year-old boy), but this green one truly gets my praise. Forgive me, you all know I love the ceremonial, but this just makes me want a bowl of Lucky Charms. 

Best in Knights and Ladies

The Princess Royal

Left to right: the Duke of Edinburgh, the Princess Royal

It’s interesting to me that the Thistle is less frequently awarded in the royal family than the Garter, which is higher in precedence (when you look at the U.K. as a whole). So I have to aim my golf claps in Princess Anne’s direction, for being the only one of the Queen’s children in attendance (Charles had a prior engagement elsewhere; Andrew and Edward have not been awarded the Thistle). Besides, Philip is Philip, and his praise is implied.

Who wins your Thistle awards this year? 

PS: This replaces our Flashback Friday today.

Photos: Reuters/Getty Images/PA/Bauer Griffin

Week in Review: The Duchess of Cambridge, 6-9 June

1. a) Attending the wedding of Prince William's cousin Emily McCorquodale, 9 June, in a series of repeats: b) the Katherine Hooker coat from Garter Day last year, c) the Jenny Packham dress seen watching polo in Los Angeles, and d) the Whiteley hat from last year's Epsom Derby.

Photos: BestImage/Katherine Hooker/Jenny Packham/Getty

Week in Review: The Duchess of Cambridge, 29 May - 4 June

Here's what Catherine wore from 29 May - 4 June:

1. At the Epsom Derby, 4 June, a) on Kate, b) the jacket from Joseph, c) the dress from Reiss, with a Whiteleys beret and LK Bennett shoes and bag. You guys, I was so relieved to see some of you come out in the comments on the Derby post and admit that you weren't in wild head-over-heels swoony sartorial love with this. I thought I was going to be all by my lonesome.

Because while I would never call something like this a disaster, or a fashion don't, this is not the stuff of sartorial excitement. It's a bit harsh, this jacket - a bit mumsy, if you ask me, and I shall never understand how she managed to find a jacket that's too small for her wee frame - and an odd pairing with the froufrou skirt of the dress underneath. And I will admit to a sigh upon realizing that she'd returned to her old standby outfit of dress + jacket. Needs something, needs some pep. Needs just a baby toe stepped out of the Land of Safe.

And so I continue to repeat to myself that this is only like her second appearance as a married lady, and she's still getting her feet under her, and the rumors say she's advertising for servants to include a dresser...perhaps the fabulous is still on the way...perhaps there's more to come...please let there be more to come...excuse me, I've started muttering.
Photos: Reiss/Selfridges/Mirror