The Duchess of Cambridge (who attended her first formal event in ten months this evening) has developed what looks to be a wonderful partnership with Sarah Burton, creative director of Alexander McQueen. Burton designed a beautiful white double breasted coat dress for Kate that she has worn twice, each time with a different hat.
Look #1: With a black straw hat with windowpane lattice straw fly-away brim and curled feathers by Silvia Fletcher for Lock & Co. for Trooping the Colour on June 11, 2011
Look #2: With a cream parasisal straw percher with layered bow tails by Jane Corbett worn for the Order of the Garter service on June 18, 2012
Embed from Getty Images Embed from Getty Images
Which hat, dear readers, do you prefer with this McQueen coat dress?
Photos from Getty as indicated
Royal Hats 
Kate also wore the black hat with a black and white dress. This coat is epic but I like the black hat better with the black and white dress.
I love the black hat with the black and white dress. Here’s a bigger pic of the dress http://www4.pictures.stylebistro.com/pc/Kate+Middleton+Dress+Hats+Decorative+Hat+Zn6-qO2lRJOl.jpg
Oh you are so right, she looks great in that dress with the black hat, they go together perfectly. Thank you for showing those pictures.
I choose both, please! And if you could deliver both to my flat I’d be just delighted!
I prefer the hats worn by the Countess of Wessex and the Duchess of Cornwall in the second photo to either of these two hats worn by Kate! She’s young. Her hats will certainly improve in coming years.
I love the white hat. It balances and perfectly coordinates with the volume on the folded skirt of the coat. I DIE for this coat.
I know I am probably in the minority, but I like the black hat best. I don’t care for the white hat. It looks like a fancy folded napkin on a dinner plate.
I completely agree. The white hat is rediculous.
The cream corbet wins!
I really like both of these hats, and I think they both suit the coat dress, so I would find it impossible to choose!
I choose the white hat also, mostly because I am a tone-on-tone girl. And I agree with Buffy and Fashionista who said it before: that coat makes anything look good. I hope to see more of Sarah Burton’s creations for the Duchess, the partnership seems to work very well indeed!
Umm, I don’t dislike the black hat, but it belongs with a different (darker) outfit – it jars too much with the ‘innocence’ of the white coat.
Mind you, I think the DoC looks amazeballs in paler colours anyway – we share the same intensely dark colouring, and too much dark colour with the already dark hair and brows doesn’t work IMHO. (she says, wearing a black cardigan…)
Love the second picture with them all wearing pale neutrals – suits them – absolutely knockout.
Though the cream hat is beautiful, I prefer the black hat with this coat. I think the soft lines of the cream hat clash with the top part of the coat which is very formal and fitted, stark lapels, etc. I would like to see the cream hat with a softer looking outfit. The black hat is still light and airy and the criss-cross weave goes nicely with the collar of the coat. And it brings colour to the outfit.
I think also prefer the black hat. The white one is pretty very light and summery but I always love black and white together. It is a timeless and elegant combination.
I find it so hard to choose. I also like black and white together but there is something so pretty about how the white hat goes with this coat and Kate’s dark hair.
I like the white hat best but don’t dislike the black one either. I too think the black hat would be stunning with a red dress or suit or coat and black accessories.
I like the white hat best.
Oh The white Hat which looks so feminine on her. It looks like she is having a great time with the ladies and really enjoying herself, wonder what the joke is about? The black hat would look really great with a red suit that she has with flaps on the side(I don’t know the designer or even the event she wore it too, but with black heels and that black hat would be really sharp on her. She looks great in red, makes her shine.
Really nice pictures, Thank you!
The cream percher is my total fave with this coat. it looks fun and lighthearted as does the coat. Love that outfit on her! One of my all time favorites.
The cream percher with ribbons is my favorite. I do like the black hat, but the cream looks best with this coat dress.
I prefer the black hat, because I love the shape. But honestly that coat would (and does) make anything look awesome!
You said it- this coat is so amazing it transcends anything you pair with it.
That being said… choosing a hat here is like choosing which of your children is your favourite. The merits of both make it impossible to choose.
Thanks for this blissful end to a long day!
I also like the white one best – it’s softer look that blends with the coat dress well. I like the black one but would rather see it with a dress that is red with black accessories or if occasion did not call for red, maybe pair it with taupe w/black accessories.
The white percher, definately the white percher.
black hat is best I think. The white hat doesn’t seem to match exactly, I like the contrast of the black hat.
I’m with you. I am sensible to all arguments for the cream percher hat, which I like very much, and I agree with Buffy that this coat transcends everything you pair it with. But I definitely prefer the contrast with the black one and I think cream and crisp white just don’t match.
I adore this coat! The black doesn’t seem to have a reason to be there. The white hat has a lovely shape and her whole look fits in.
I also think the white hat with the white coat is too much white but I don’t like this black hat with this coat. Looking at those pink hats beside Kate I think a pink hat would be really soft and pretty with this coat-dress.
Joanne I agree with you 100%. The white hat is pretty enough but I think a soft pink hat would take the cake. Or a soft blue hat.
I think you two are on to something. A hat in a soft pink, green or blue would be just beautiful with this coat.
I love (adore) the coat. And the second photo with the three ladies having fun, too. But I prefer the black hat. The other seems to be too much white.
She was still a young bride in 2011. I like the white hat the best! LOL!