Will Beatrice upstage Kate Middleton?
Remember those early post-uni days when Kate Middleton set out to create her own mail order children’s clothing line?
She was said to have spent many hours and much money travelling to Milan, and other centres of fashion, sourcing fabrics and ideas for her merchandise. Not surprisingly perhaps, she ran out of money before the business started up. There were even security fears about the level of personal information needed to set up a company — although nominee directors might have got around that one. The project was eventually dropped.
Now her potential cousin-in-law Princess Beatrice is said to be working on her own clothing line, and has even started to sketch ideas for her first collection.
Of course, if Bea’s idea is to challenge model and now fashion designer Kate Moss for the Top Spot, it may be more difficult than it seems, for Bea lacks Moss’s “edgeiness” and “cool” credentials. So far her fashion sense has been more derided than praised. Her mother, Fergie, Duchess of York, is a well-established fashion disaster zone.
However, friends are rallying round. “It was Beatrice’s idea. She has always loved clothes and has an innate sense of style. She has said she is going to start up her own line of clothing and plans to call it Bobcat. She’s creating the label with one of her girlfriends. She has lots of ideas for her first collection although she hasn’t made a garment yet.”
The friend added, “She is quite reserved with what she wears. But she has a sophisticated sense of style and a knack of knowing how to accessorise her clothes. She’s always up to speed with the latest trends.”
Maybe Kate Middelton and Bea can get together on a joint children and adult clothing line.
Bibcat, perhaps?
I read this article and it said something about the project was on hold now that she is going to university. Do you think it will really happen? She should design some better hats for everyone
By dally on September 9th, 2007 at 12:29 pm
I’m a little confused - Two Kates were mentioned - Kate Middleton and Kate Moss. Two very different people!
Perhaps I didn’t read this right?
::going back to read it again::
By On The Outside on September 9th, 2007 at 1:43 pm
You’re right, OTO, it is confusing. A touch of Sunday morning haze, I think. I’ve amended the post now. I hope it’s more clear.
Thanks for the tip. Much appreciated.
By John on September 9th, 2007 at 2:15 pm
Somehow I think being the Queen’s granddaughter might open a few doors for Bea. Kate Middleton was just the potential girlfriend of Prince William, when she “supposedly” tried to get her children’s fashion business up and running.
As far as Bea’s friend saying: “She is quite reserved with what she wears. But she has a sophisticated sense of style and a knack of knowing how to accessorise her clothes. She’s always up to speed with the latest trends.†Is she speaking about Princess Beatrice of York? Everytime I’ve seen pictures of Princess Beatrice, she looks like she just stepped off Mr. Blackwell’s “Worst Dressed List!”
If fashion design is truly Bea’s passion, perhaps she should go to Paris or Milan during her “gap year” and study. That would be a lot more productive than schlepping around the US with Fergie. Just think what Bea could do for the Royal Ladies if she becomes a successful designer. She wouldn’t need any other clients!
By Arthur on September 9th, 2007 at 3:01 pm
John, do you have any pictures of Kate Middleton spilling out of her dress? Perhaps Bea should start off her fashion career with a line of undergarments!
By Arthur on September 9th, 2007 at 3:04 pm
Princess Beatrice as Arthur said should spend her gap year in Milan. On her 18th birthday she said she wanted to be MUMMY”S MINI ME and in her choice of dress it shows. For a young girl her dresses are to old and provactive for her and as for her choice of hats she must raid HM collection of old hats from years ago. So far this generation of royal ladies need help with the exception of Zara who occaisionaly gets it wrong.
By Trudie on September 9th, 2007 at 3:26 pm
John, do you have any pictures of Kate Middleton spilling out of her dress?
Arthur, unfortunately I don’t.
By John on September 9th, 2007 at 3:47 pm
I do think Kate and Beatrice can team up and do this. Kate is the in-law to be and this would really welcome her into the family. They both have great fashion sense and they know what’s in and what’s out.
By Claudius on September 9th, 2007 at 5:28 pm
No offense, but I think Zara misses the mark as well. She’s trying too hard and alot of her choices are just hideous. Sorry. Beatrice as well seems to dress like she’s 12 years old still playing dressup. Those hideous colors, hideous hats, and heels and the cut of her clothes are all wrong. And the dress with her bust hanging out….just….jaw dropping. All wrong.
By Positive on September 9th, 2007 at 7:29 pm
I think that the best dressed member of the Royal Family, excluding the late, exquisite Princess Diana, is Sophie Wessex. I am not attracted to the sartorial taste of either Princess Beatrice or Princess Eugenie and agree with Positive that Zara Phillips often misses the mark. I never have believed that knowing what is in and what is out was a factor in being impeccably dressed. To appear well-dressed, one must know how to wear clothes, must dress in colors and styles that suit their coloring and build, and must know how to select the proper clothes and accessories for the event they are attending. Just my 2 cents, of course.
By Gigi on September 9th, 2007 at 11:12 pm
Aw, Positive. You must be a New Yorker too.
By Marie on September 9th, 2007 at 11:55 pm
Speaking to the headline, I don’t think Kate Middleton needs to worry that Princess Beatrice will upstage her. As others have said, I don’t care for Beatrice’s fashion sense. And I highly doubt that she’ll pull off her own clothing line, without some real help from some real designers. She could use her own stylist. The idea of a fashion-focused gap year is a good one, and give Beatrice a real idea what the fashion industry is like.
By Evelyn on September 10th, 2007 at 2:37 am
Evelyn, I agree. She would need a lot more business knowledge and acumen than she’s probably got, plus huge sophistication in design and experience of the fashion industry to succeed in that cut-throat business. Bobcat sounds like a tweeny brand.
She should go along and see Philip Green and ask him for a frank assessment of her chances. In any case she’s going to college next year and will quickly forget about it.
By John on September 10th, 2007 at 8:49 am
I have to concur with the above comments. The idea that topshop or any clothing range would invest money on Beatrice’s ideas is laughable. She hasn’t a clue how to dress, i have never seen her in a nice outfit, she has never dressed well. She should definitely invest in a stylist but i don’t see it happening anytime soon. Eugenie is as bad but i have high hopes for her. The strange thing is that they both hang with the hip crowd in London so how do they get it so so wrong. I know their shape is not the easy slim one where everything looks good, they should look to someone like Kelly Osbourne, she has the same shape and dresses very funky.
Zara does get it wrong sometimes but other times she gets it very right. when you dress out of the safety zone only very few get it right all the time.
It is easier for Sophie because she sticks to the classics.
By Eliza on September 10th, 2007 at 9:42 am
I see Princess Beatrice is continuing to pursue her passion for fashion. “Led by the fifth-in-line to the throne, 19-year-old Princess Beatrice,” royal ladies attended a memorial service for millinery designer Isabella Blow, also known as “The Hat Queen.” I’ll bet there were some magnificent chapeaus on display at that event!
By Arthur on September 20th, 2007 at 3:30 pm