Friday, August 5, 2011

Should Royalty be held to a different Fashion Standard?

I ran across this article today in which Kelly Osbourne strongly disapproved of  Kate Middleton for "recycling" her clothes which means to wear them more than once. Kelly rationalized that because Kate was royalty she shouldn't be so "thrifty" by re-wearing her clothes. Instead she should get a new "dress" everyday for the mere fact that she could and to compensate for all she's giving up by being in the spotlight.

Ok, everyone's entitled to their own opinion and I don't care for the drama  this article stirs up but it definitely made me think. Even if I were royalty, would I want to have a dress for everyday of the year. That's 365 dresses! That number is insane!!! What's wrong with wearing your clothes more than once? Hey the average person does that. How could you ever establish and enjoy you favorite garments if you only wore them once? For me that takes the fun out of having a wardrobe. I know I repeatedly wear (and on the verge of wearing them out) clothes that I've sewn for myself. It's part of the fun for me. But that's just me. I could ask a thousand more questions on this subject but I don't care to devote the time. But I have to admit being scrutinized for re-wearing an garment is ridiculous. Trust me if those are the kinds of standards people hold famous people to then I'm glad I'm not in that spotlight.

What are your thoughts? Do you think Royalty should be held to a different standard?

27 comments:

  1. It isn't even a question of should be held to a different standard because they are held to a different standard. She wears stockings in all types of weather - do normal people? She wears those sometimes silly little hats to special occasions - do normal people? She has a list of rules of things she can and can't wear that includes types of shoes...she is held to a different standard.

    However, I do feel that the reason she repeats garments is two-fold. One, because of the economy - she is attempting as a future Queen to show solidarity and understanding of the plight of the working class in England. For this she should be applauded - especially since Kelly is definitely out of the loop on that issue!

    Second - I think she dresses befitting her husband's station in life. He is still a working member of the military and I'm sure it goes a long way to helping her fit in with the other military wives. The woman still does her own grocery shopping - when was the last time you saw Kelly Osborne pushing a grocery cart!

    So I totally disagree with Kelly's point of view and applaud the Duchess for being relevant to the people she will spend the rest of her life serving.

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  2. Thanks for your point of view Carolyn. I phrased my question correctly with "should" in my last paragraphy but didn't do so in the title. That's what I get for typing this quickly on my lunch break! LOL! I'll correct it.

    But, you brought up some interesting points. I know the differences are there and Kate's in an entirely different social arena but I think it's over the line and ludicrous when she's persecuted for wearing a dress more than once. At some point these expectations are absurd.

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  3. Well, I saw the interview on Jay Leno where Kelly said the things you are mentioning here (not sure if that is where the article references her from) and it doesn't seem as bad as the media is making it. Everything Kelly said was "tongue and cheek," and she said that in England where she lived, the fact that Kate Middleton has worn the same clothing on different occasions is seen as "thrifty." It's all a play on words, but there seemed to be no malice behind it when I watched it.

    I think if you are royalty, and you can afford to wear 365 different dresses or such a year, then why not, because you are held to a higher standard. Kelly added in her comment that if she had to give up her life (privacy, obscurity, etc, as Kate did) for royalty, that would be her justification for wanting a different dress each day.

    However, if you are royalty and you cannot afford that type of lifestyle, my expectation is that you look nice, whether it's with a recycled item from your closet or a pair of jeans you are wearing again. The point is, no matter what she chooses, she is still royal, and I don't find either position wrong.

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  4. she should do whatever she wants

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  5. Ok, i am coming from a whole different angle, that of a Christain. When i hear royalty in the world terms it means nothing to me, as a christian 1 Peter2:9 says that we are chosen generation, a royal priesthood a holy nation. In short as CHRISTAIN ROYALTY iam only concerned with my dress being modest. To answer the question--I don't care what she wears, James 2:2-4 speaks on showing partiality. The only thing that matters is that her soul is right. With her wearing clothes against societys standard I would guess that she isn't too concerned with wasting money.

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    1. You can't even spell Christian so get off your pious horse. No one asked if YOU considered her royalty.

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  6. I am with you, Victoria, I feel clothes should be chosen because you love them, look good and feel good in them, and are appropriate for the occasion. (Which is why some of my garments are worn frequently, some less so and a few, RTW and made by me, are sometimes left to languish.) Kate Middleton dresses beautifully and with taste, setting a good example I think. LauraUK

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  7. Wow, interesting commentary! I admit that I am pretty appalled overall at the idea of throwaway clothing, especially when you consider what just one of her dresses is likely to cost. Royalty or not, that sort of waste is beyond ridiculous. There are so many better uses for the money that would provide 365 designer dresses. Shame on you, Kelly Osbourne, for promulgating that sort of attitude! Not that I find Kelly Osbourne particularly useful on any occasion, but still.

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  8. you know what, if Kelly said that, she is full of BS, point blank. I'm a huge fan of Michelle Obama's style and whenever I read that she previously worn something that is currently in the photo, I'm shocked, its like I'm seeing it for the first time. No one cares how many times you wear anything as long as you look great. I don't have an issue with the clothes Kate wears I'm more into, is she eating enough, she is very very thin!

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  9. OK, I don't know who Kelly Osbourne is but it seems she would be well-advised to keep such silly opinions to herself. Some foggy notion of letting people think she's stupid vs. confirming their suspicions...

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  10. If she's royalty, why should we tell her what to wear? She can make up her own mind.

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  11. In years past (certainly centuries ago) I would have agreed with Miss Osbourne's statement. The ability to spend frivolously and ostentatiously is one of the things that set royalty apart. (Remember we're talking about ROYALTY.)I expect that in times of war and/or bad economies things were/are different; sacrifices were made to show that the royals "feel the people's pain" too. Given the state of the world today, I like to see that the Duchess is appearing a little more like the commoners. Hell, she's not a princess or queen yet -- maybe things will change when she moves up in rank.

    Funny how no one really complains about our first lady wearing the same thing twice. We look forward to seeing how she's going to mix it up. But again, we're not talking about royalty. As Carolyn said, there is a different standard.

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  12. I'm only royalty under my own roof, BUT I wouldn't repeat an outfit at 3 different events within my little social circle. I'm not saying she should discard them and never wear them again, but I didn't like that she wore it to such high profile events. She's trying too hard.

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  13. I think Judy hit the "proverbial nail" on the head!! If she's royalty, then she's one of the "trend-setters" and why not set a "thrifty" trend in this crazy economy! Definitely others are looking to this very beautiful woman for her style sense. I'm all the way behind her for wearing things more than once! So that's my two cents worth! Great post Victoria!

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  14. Royalty or not, she still has a budget to stick to, I'm sure - if she had a new outfit for every occasion, someone would be saying that she's spending too much money on clothes. If you're in the public eye, someone will always criticize.

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  15. Wouldn't it be a shame to t buy or make a dress that you loved and looked fabulous on you but not be able to wear it again. Yet, we do that at our weddings.

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  16. i wouldn't ever want to have to deal with finding a new dress for every day! it's not practical, even for royalty! why waste all that money to buy new clothes when what you have already is of such good quality? as long as her clothes make her look fabulous, which they obviously do, i see no problem with her rewearing things.

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  17. Kate Middleton is absolutely beautiful and stylish no matter what she wears or how many times. I honestly hope she doesn`t care what others think of her.

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  18. Perhaps it is more like Erica said, not the fact that she wore something more than once but the where she wore it to. You wouldn't wear the same thing exactly the same way to multiple events especially if you are going to be photographed.

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  19. Wow!!!!! Interesting post indeed. I think that Katherine should be able to do what she wants to do. I see nothing wrong with wearing an outfit more than once. We all do it. Put aside the fact that she is married to the Prince. He has a regular military job and she is a military wife. They are not in the castle yet, and it seems to me that all of the Queen's outfit look the same, just in different colors. What's the problem.

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  20. I think Kate recycling her clothes shows that she is an average person. And that makes her relatable to people. Kudos to her!

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  21. She's doing nothing new here, even the Queen recycles her clothes. Also wearing a dress etc., only once to me is a sign of insecurity or too much money. My cousin used to throw baby clothes in the dustbin (taken out by the binmen)while her husband was working on the oil rigs. We thought she was crackers (which as it turned out she was for a short time). Kelly is a little short of the grey matter.

    Anyway we've all worn something once I bet, and given it away because we hated it or it didn't suit. Kate should wear what she likes and when she likes.

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  22. That's crazy! I understand that these people have no attachment to clothing simply because these items are purchased or gifts, we must love our clothes because we have spent many hours planning and working for them, our clothes are our "babies" .

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  23. I assume at this point everything Kate does is strategic, and re-wearing clothes should certainly be part of her PR strategy during these economic times. Kelly Osbourne comes from private wealth, which is a whole different ball game. If Kate was never conspicuously seen in the same thing more than once, there would be a huge outcry over the public money wasted on her fripperies.

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  24. I totally don't understand and can't relate to all they hype and hooplah and that keeps doing the rounds about Royalty, for i thought the world long has become free and more democratic and really get annoyed when i see more and more about royalty as what they wear or don't wear, i simply don't care! May be there are people who care, best wishes to all of them. Everyone has their own obsessions, celebrity dressing and the interest in them is understandable, but can't question why person x wore something or did not wear something, its one's own wish, after all food, clothing, shelter are birth right to every individual!

    I agree with one line of all these comments though, that is i quote we must love our clothes because we have spent many hours planning and working for them, our clothes are our "babies" .'' Unquote

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  25. I can't imagine not being able to wear a favorite dress over again! What a pity! I wonder if she plays "dress-up" at home with all of her discards?

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  26. The Royalty more than anyone should set a bit of an example by wearing clothes more than once. They already get criticized for how much they cost the UK, especially in these tough economic times.

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