Style Counsel EMMA
AFTER more than 18 months of postponements due to the pandemic, finally this week, No Time to Die got its world premiere.
To say we had been expecting Mr Bond is an understatement, but I don’t think anyone was expecting the world’s most famous secret agent to have his big moment completely overshadowed by the girl in the golden gown, as one commentator dubbed the Duchess of Cambridge this week.
Along with hubby Prince William, Prince Charles and the Duchess of Cornwall, Kate, 39, was one of the guests of honour at the glittering screening of the movie at the Royal Albert Hall in London on Tuesday.
And not even departing 007 Daniel Craig’s bubblegum pink velvet tux jacket (surely no one saw that coming?) could stop the dazzling duchess in her breathtaking gown from being the night’s fashion talking point.
The sequins, the silhouette, the slightly sheer material that felt a little rule-defying from a senior royal, and obviously the colour with all its Bond movie connotations, the £3,000 dress by go-to royal designer Jenny Packham was nothing short of epic.
It even had a cape for goodness’ sake. I love a cape on the red carpet.
While the movie’s Bond girls – sorry Bond women – Lashana Lynch (in Vivienne Westwood), Lea Seydoux (in Louis Vuitton, take note she also had a cape) and Ana de Armas (also in Louis Vuitton) made valiant efforts with their own designer ensembles, it was Kate who people were talking about around the virtual watercooler on Wednesday.
I confess I spent rather longer than I care to admit staring at picture after picture of the mother-of-three.
I don’t normally go in for digging up Diana comparisons for every outfit her daughtersin-law wear, but in this case with the deep V-neck and cinched waist, echoes of the silver Bruce Oldfield gown the Princess of Wales chose for the 1985 premiere of A View to A Kill are hard to dismiss.
But there was much more to the Duchess of Cambridge’s scenestealing turn than a well-designed frock.
From the intricate updo, to her lightly contoured cheeks, long fluttery eyelashes and bold brushed-up brows, this was Kate like we have never seen her before.
Her earrings, a bespoke crystal and pearl design by O’Nitaa Catherine, that she first showcased on her and William’s 2019 tour of Pakistan, were the perfect finishing touch.
She even switched her trusty nude courts for a £555 pair of Aquazzura Fenix stilettos.
Everything about Kate’s appearance screamed future queen consort.
No wonder she spent the whole evening grinning like the proverbial feline from Cheshire. Mind you, I’d find it hard to stop smiling if I was allowed to get as close as she did to Mr Craig.
But I digress.
This was not just one of the best looks we have ever seen on the royal, I think it is one of the most impressive looks I have ever seen on a red carpet.
Loath as I am to get into the whole Meg vs. Kate debate (yawn...), it is hard to imagine that the Duchess of Sussex, watching the premiere at home in her Montecito mansion, wasn’t shaken and stirred by her sister-in-law’s style evolution.