Catherine, Duchess of Cambridge in Roksanda Ilincic

Posted on July 31, 2012 by tlo2

Catherine, Duchess of Cambridge attends the UK’s Creative Industries Reception at the Royal Academy of Arts in London in a Roksanda Ilincic dress. Kiki McDonough earrings and L. K. Bennett pumps.

[Photo Credit: Ian Gavan/Getty Images]

http://twitter.com/KnittingKnoobie Susie

I find Catherine style to be so much like Diana’s when she was a bit older. Catherine seems to have an elegance that Diana didn’t gain until she was in the limelight for quite a while. Then again, she’s so lovely she could bring beauty and elegance to a potato sack.
- http://twitter.com/Kathy_Marlow Kathy Marlow
  
  I think she’s far more comfortable in her skin than Diana was when thrust into the spotlight, probably because she was older than Diana.
  - RebeccaKW
    
    Plus, she knew what she would be getting into by marrying William. I don’t think Diana was prepared for the amount of media and public attention she received.
    - formerlyAnon
      
      All the above, PLUS I think she has a better relationship with her spouse, and the entire business enterprise which is being-a-Royal learned a lot about supporting a new Member of the Firm in making a smooth transition. The whole Diana experience was an exquisitely painful lesson for everyone involved.
- MK03
  
  I think some of that has to do with the fact that Diana’s spotlight years were in the 80s, which was easily one of the worst decades for fashion. Everything was hideous.
- Corsetmaker
  
  Remember Diana was only 19 when she was thrown into the spotlight. By the time she found her real footing she was nearer the age Kate is now.
http://twitter.com/Kathy_Marlow Kathy Marlow

Flawless. (but someone needs to feed her a sandwich and soon)
- ChiliP
  
  Really? I actually think she looks healthy. Very slim, yes, but look at the muscle definition in her arms and legs. The angles of her face and shoulders do not look quite as severe as they did this time last year. And if she is struggling with an eating disorder (which it’s not our place to diagnose), telling her to eat a sandwich is not going to help. It is truly just as damaging as telling an overweight person to put their sandwich down.
  
  *Jumps off soap box*
  
  Anyways, she looks lovely.
  - http://twitter.com/Kathy_Marlow Kathy Marlow
    
    That wasn’t my intention to indicate that she might have an issue, I just recall pictures of her prior to the engagement where she had a little more meat on her bones.
    - ChiliP
      
      I understand, and I wasn’t trying to put words in your mouth. But think about it this way- if we saw a picture of an actress who had gained a noticeable amount of weight over the past couple years, would we make comments such as “someone needs to feed her a Slim-Fast”? We wouldn’t (well, hopefully we wouldn’t!) because that would imply that her body is subject to our approval/disapproval, and also that we are knowledgeable of her health history. It’s not only harmful to the woman being discussed, but to other women who might have a similar body type and feel subject to the same criticism.
      
      Anyways, I know you didn’t mean any harm by your comment, but I do admit that I wish I could look at a Cathy Cambridge post without seeing her weight address in the comments :-/.
      - http://profile.yahoo.com/3HARQMG4KFGOFWU2USY3HO3PGE Katherine
        
        This — So glad other people in the world are out there to stand up for the Naturally Thin!!
      - Rei Carter
        
        And the not so naturally thin. Body snarking/shaming/speculating is problematic no matter what.
    - http://profile.yahoo.com/3HARQMG4KFGOFWU2USY3HO3PGE Katherine
      
      Actually, by indicating she needed to ‘be FED a sandwich and SOON’ implies that she cannot/will not feed herself and that she has an immediate problem. So yes, it was your intention to indicate she had a problem. Unlike much of the world, she probably loses weight when she is under stress rather than gains it. (I say this because I am the exact same way) Seriously, unless you want people to harp on you about YOUR weight (something that no woman, regardless of their weight wants) you should hush your mouth.
  - http://korilian.livejournal.com/ korilian
    
    Agreed. Anyway, I think the model of the dress is working against her figure a little. The wide-ish shoulders are making her hips seem disproportional slim.
    - ChiliP
      
      Yeah, I know what you mean. She has broad shoulders in comparison to her waist/hips, so adding bulk to that area is only going to exaggerate the effect. And the draping of the cowl neck seems a bit off. Still, I think she looks beautiful and happy.
  - NC_Meg
    
    Look at pictures from when she wore this dress last summer and you can see that she has more meat on her bones now. She’s not just a waif, she IS toned. I think she looks fabulous.
    
    And as someone who is naturally thin, I have had people tell me to go eat a Big Mac. It makes me want to punch walls.
    - ChiliP
      
      I agree, I think she looks fit and healthy. One of the instructors at the weight resistance class I go to is tiny as can be, but she can squat and lunge with more weight than most of the men. Likewise, one of my friends has always been heavier, but she’s competed in triathlons, takes regular dance and cardio classes, and is one of the most overall fit people I know. A healthy body can be a variety of shapes and sizes, and that’s nothing to criticize.
    - tereliz
      
      Her arms are definitely more sculpted than they used to be. Duchess is working HARD for this body, and I’m sure she’s eating quite enough since she must attend so many important dinners.
- Sobaika
  
  Well, I don’t know. I generally prefer people with a bit of meat on their bones, and she has lost weight I think, but I don’t know that it’s the issue everyone makes it out to be. Her face is full, her mane gives her a healthy appearance.
  
  Anyway, enough with the body talk. I’m just glad her hair is up! Finally.
  - A Reeves
    
    That’s it. Her hair is up. Ten points for the added sophistication.
moppet

I see she’s wearing her favorite color again — “colorless.” : But she is impeccably classy as always and it’s nice to see something different with the hair.
- VanessaDK
  
  Hey–if she can wear all those whites and off-whites without getting a single stain on them, I bow down to her.
  - TheOriginalLulu
    
    omg THIS! Last weekend I went to a pool party, so I put on some cute blue and white striped shorts. I was SO careful about where I sat and made sure my napkin fully covered my lap when I was eating, but STILL got a small ketchup stain on my stupid shorts! I have already given up on light-colored tops. Fuhgeddabout it.
l3icest3r

People are going to say this looks like a royal hospital gown, but I like it. And her hair looks great.
- http://twitter.com/stellaphone Stella Zawistowski
  
  ”Royal hospital gown.” PERFECT.
  
  And yet, because she is blessed with those genes, even a royal hospital gown looks lovely on her. I just wish there weren’t some unspoken royal protocol to match shoes exactly to a dress. Just once, Cathy Cambridge, could you wear a contrasting color? Please?
  - http://twitter.com/sebwfu Shannon Beamer
    
    Yes, the lack of a contrasting color is my only complaint here. THANK GOD FOR THE HAIR! I mean, it is such a nice change of pace. Nothing terribly crazy or inspiring about the dress, but it fits her well and is appropriate for the occasion. I say good job, Miss Cathy. Next time, pick some colorful shoes, por favor?
  - http://twitter.com/PhDKnitter marlie
    
    She looks nice, but something contrast would push this look into “great”!
- Cathy S
  
  Hospital gowns have better necklines.
http://twitter.com/phd_tv Heather Barkman

Dress and shoes are expected but I LOVE her hair! She should wear it back more often.
http://twitter.com/MajorBedhead MajorBedhead

AN UP-DO!! Well done, Missus!

Other than the hair, it’s a standard outfit for her. Nice, kind of dull, a bit old for her, but expected.
http://twitter.com/corrinfiltrate corrinfiltrate

She looks fabulous but is obviously suffering from
Chromatophobia. Also check out where the gentleman’s eyes are while shaking hands with her. YOU ARE CAUGHT SIR!!
- siriuslover
  
  That gentleman looks like Prime Minister David Cameron!!!! LOL
http://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=1405004314 Cindi Tracy Aune

She needs a cheeseburger, washed down with some fish and chips! Girl is too damn thin!
But her hair sure looks nice!
- http://profile.yahoo.com/3HARQMG4KFGOFWU2USY3HO3PGE Katherine
  
  Seriously, people need to stop harping about her weight. This is just as mean as calling someone who is overweight to put DOWN that sandwich and join Jenny Craig. It is mean, crude, and insensitive. Just because there are less healthy skinny people in the world today than there were a couple of decades ago doesn’t mean they don’t exist.
  
  Also, TLo has a rule about NOT commenting on things that people cannot change — such as weight, face, ass, boobs, etc. It’s rude and you should be ashamed.
  - guest2visits
    
    I don’t take these comments in general to be a slam or an insult. I think they’re thrown out there as a flip way of
    expressing a concern. Someone has noticed something that may be amiss; and this is worrisome, subconsciouly.
    It’s not surprising that if somebody’s lost a lot of weight that they didn’t need to, that the reflexive thought would
    be to hold out a bowl of warm soup.
    
    Throwing burgers and fries her way is just a silly verbal gesture of nourishment. Most everyone believes treating
    yourself to something yummy will make it all better (a spoonful of sugar makes the medicine go down theory).
    I don’t think it’s about who’s fat or thin, or a person’s shape - I think it’s about people’s idea of whats healthy, or
    what might be ‘good’ for the person they’re thinking about. I know its flawed; but I don’t think most of the time
    it’s about being mean.
    - ChiliP
      
      Here’s the thing though- what about her body appears unhealthy, other than her slim frame? Her face is full, her skin and hair are glowing, her arms and legs are toned. There’s no reason to be concerned about her health based on these pictures alone, other than a bias against her body type and that’s absolutely a damaging way to think not just about other women’s bodies, but your own. There is no one body type/frame that is healthy, so when we project condemnation on women under the guise of being “concerned” for their health (which, again, you really can’t tell from pictures and you definitely can’t tell from these pictures), we are perpetuating the idea that all women’s bodies should look a specific way. Whether casting that projection on a slim or full figured woman, that is WRONG.
      
      Again, I use the example of a woman who has a fuller figure. Lets say Christina Hendricks. We would absolutely not tolerate comments such as “she needs to go to the gym more” or “she needs to put down the burger and french fries”, even if the person making the comments said they were only concerned for her health. Why? Because there is no reason for us to be concerned with her health, and because she has a beautiful, curvy figure that does not deserve our criticism. To make comments otherwise would be shaming her body, and most people here wouldn’t tolerate that. The same gesture needs to be applied to Ms. Cathy. She has a slim frame, with broad shoulders and a very slim waist/hips. Frankly, her body doesn’t look much different than Jessica Biel’s, but while we rave about how in shape/healthy Jessica looks, I constantly see comments about how skinny Cathy is. The only difference between them is that Jessica has a more ample booty, which we are not all so lucky to be blessed with. This is Cathy’s body, and whether it stays as small as it is or fills out over time, it is no one’s place to tell her how she *should* look, especially when there is absolutely no visible indication that she needs help. And even if she does need help, making comments about what foods she shouldn’t/shouldn’t eat or how frequently she needs to eat said food is not going to help her, it’s only going to make the commenter feel superior for “fixing” her body.
      
      Ok, rant over. I swear, this is my last body-related post.
      - guest2visits
        
        I posted my comment for this tag before reading these particular posts; and it didn’t include
        anything about Cate being thin. I thougth she looked great and I said so.
        I just thought it was overkill about the sandwich remark. I also don’t want to visit a site that is all
        about running down people’s parts. And I’m grateful this is not one.
    - http://www.tomandlorenzo.com/ Tom and Lorenzo
      
      “Too damn thin” is an insult and besides, would you use the same reasoning if someone argued that they were worried about Octavia Spencer’s health and thus consider it perfectly acceptable to advise her to eat less? It’s not acceptable in either case. Not here.
    - http://profile.yahoo.com/3HARQMG4KFGOFWU2USY3HO3PGE Katherine
      
      So me throwing you a slim fast is a general gesture of healthy decisions? It’s rude. If you think otherwise, you are nothing but a bully. Just because you don’t think it’s mean, doesn’t mean that the target takes it the same way.
      
      I can call you fat out of concern for your health. Would you be offended? Of course! This is exactly the same. So stop. Seriously. And, AGAIN, TLo does not allow comments on weight. Period.
- http://www.tomandlorenzo.com/ Tom and Lorenzo
  
  This is out of line, as several other commenters have noted. We don’t do body-snarking here.
Allyson Wells

Are those the same earrings from the opening ceremonies? They looked blue with her blue dress, and not so much here, but they are very similar if not the same pair. I really love this dress on her. She is just a tiny little thing!
xmixiex

she looks beautiful, her hair being up is a striking change of pace. but again, with the grey… it would have been stunning even in white.
xmixiex

and good grief, stop ragging on the girl’s weight. she’s naturally very thin, we get it, enough.
- Christy Cricow
  
  Uhhhh…..I don’t think so. Look at her back before her wedding–she lost a lot of weight, and is looking thinner yet. My stepdaughter, who is a small person herself (ie, generally applauding of thin!), ran into her on the street in London and said she is rather shockingly skinny in person.
  - Christy Cricow
    
    Forgot to say, she looks beautiful. If a bit fragile.
  - xmixiex
    
    oh come on. for as long as she’s been in the public, she’s been very thin. surely she’s fluxuated the
    way all of us do, but she’s just thin. it is nobody’s right to discuss, critique, or shame her body.
    - RebeccaKW
      
      And look at her arms and legs-she has muscles. She is obviously very fit, plus she is petite. Her face is not gaunt, she doesn’t have circles under her eyes. She looks very healthy. And it’s no win for her-if she stays thin, she’ll get hammered for being too thin. If she gains weight, she’ll get hammered for needing to lose weight.
      - tereliz
        
        One of the first signs of anorexia is limp hair/hair loss. Cathy’s hair doesn’t look like it needs a sandwich.
        
        edit, meant to reply to comment above, sorry, rebecca!
  - http://profile.yahoo.com/3HARQMG4KFGOFWU2USY3HO3PGE Katherine
    
    I have the exact same body as Ms. Cathy — For the love of GOD stop harping on weight. How would you like it if I said you needed to lose weight, hm? You are not a doctor, you have no right to critique her body weight. She’s fine.
siriuslover

Now THAT’s a summer dress! Very light and airy, even if no color to it. What I want to know is, who is that fellow and what the heck is that bling about? Was he a previous Olympian?
http://twitter.com/PhDKnitter marlie

It’s pretty, but again with the pale non-color.

And those shoes should be burned. I know she’s not going to go with “statement” shoes, but putty-colored suede shoes in JULY? I just can’t. If she’d worn silver shoes, or something a little strappy (she’s done it before!), or even black…

I like her hair up, but I don’t know if I love *this* style.
- lilibetp
  
  Those aren’t the famous putty-colored shoes. They’re actually light grey.
MissAnnieRN

Hair is awesome! Updo FTW!! These designers need to make dresses in Catherine of Cambridge sizes because no tailor can seem to make things fit her properly.
RzYoung

But she has a chignon! How can this only be on the whiteboard? Oh well, I guess there’s no surprises here with this look, tres chic. She looks tiptop
http://twitter.com/starrika Ali

She reminds me of Crown Princess Mary of Denmark here. I think it’s the updo.
gabbilevy

Lovely dress and a lovely lady, and that hair-do is a knockout! Win, Miz Cathy.
- TheOriginalLulu
  
  Yeah, she looks so pretty with her hair up.
MilaXX

This is a much better look than that long sleeved satin-y thing she wore to the opening ceremonies. Love the hair
SapphoPoet

She looks very elegant and thank god she finally put up her hair. I LOVE those earrings.
Jenna621

I love this look so much. She looks so classically beautifuly and perfectly polished.
teensmom99

She has never looked better. Love the dramatic eye make-up, too.
http://gabyrippling.tumblr.com/ Gabriella M

Dove grey really is her signature color, huh? No qualms though – I like this – the draping on the top is lovely, and the trim at the neck and sleeves makes it look so soft and fresh and summery. But the shoes are too blah. She’d never do it, but I would have picked like, a lemon yellow or some other fresh color. Even a crisp white shoe may have been better. The shoes make her look a little like a wilted, in my eyes.
jmorino08

She looks fantastic here!!
crash1212

That last picture is a total “Hey, my eyes are up here” moment! Love the dress and her hair is lovely.
http://www.ellenciompi.com/ NurseEllen

BRAVO for the updo, Mrs. C!! But that dress is a complete cipher, absolutely nothing to recommend it, least of all the little strips of illusion net, or whatever it is, decoration around the neckline and sleeves. She should take an oath to avoid gray/dull silver/pale ice blue for a year.
Bree The Vole

I have irrational hatred of über-drapey necklines like that, but she looks fantastic.
http://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100001998855370 Fatima Siddique

She pulled her hair back! Brava!
VicksieDo

LUV her hair!
marilyn

That’s how she should have worn her hair at her wedding.
http://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=4943378 Mary Featherstone

STUNNING. Shut. it. down.
jw_ny

looks like a 50something trophy wife that’s had mega work done. I’m not loving this look at all…
sesomai

I haven’t gotten a celebrity crush since I was a teenager, but every time I see her all I can think is “AHHH, so pretty!!” She makes me smile.
greyhoundgirl

Lovely and delicate dress. Doesn’t read off-white to me, but a light lavender, which looks good with her skin. Even if it’s actually grey–she looks good in it. Love the hair. A lot of people have commented on her weight–and I appreciate those who are educating about commenting/not commenting about women’s weight in general. I will do so if someone looks dangerously and alarmingly unhealthy. I don’t get this from looking at her.
TheOriginalLulu

This for me is a WERQ. She looks stunning. Well, she always looks stunning, but here she looks particularly stunning to me.
If I have one quibble it’s with the excessive amount of blush she’s wearing. It’s like somebody spray-painted a line from her ear to her mouth. I hate it when blush looks like that.
kimmeister

Love the hair. The shape of the dress, however, is not ideal. Like me, she has much broader shoulders than hips, and this dress just highlights that.
formerlyAnon

She’s elegant, I love the hair up & like the earrings.

On most women this dress would look a lot more like something hacked out of a bed sheet and tacked down at the waist. Even on her, I can’t get excited about the neckline – but no mistake, I like this dress on her.
3boysful

The dress is kinda plain, but it really works because of the elegant, gorgeous hair, and killer earrings.
KathKo

OK, maybe one day she’ll be able to actually wear some color…
NICHOLAS PASQUALE

She always seems like such a class act.
nannypoo

She looks beautiful, as always. She always looks just right for the event. Love the hair.
quiltrx

I like all of this. The dress is lovely and becoming; her hair looks very elegant, and the earrings go perfectly with the ‘do.
guest2visits

She looks fantastic; I’m thrilled that she did something really nice, and different with her gorgeous hair too.
I think Cameron looks like a dink for looking down while greeting her.
sagecreek

She looks lovely, and finally, hair up!

I guess I’m the only person in the world who hates those earrings. I think they look cheap, which they are assuredly not.
allj

Love her eye makeup, but the accessories are boring boring boring bor–
sashaychante

Hair up with this neckline is the way to go. She looks lovely. Not much of an opinion on the accessories. They are serviceable, so I guess that means a bit toward boring.
http://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=1241487378 Lauren Lynch Fox

Could we get the girl a sandwich? She looks like if you touch her she will break.
chlorophyll

Please consider: Regardless of our motivation or justification of comments, or our assessment of where they fall in a politically correct spectrum, the comments are NOT innocuous. LISTEN to the recipients of these comments . HEAR what Katherine and NC_Meg are saying. These comments are hurtful. These comments cause pain. These comments qualify as weight bullying.
- http://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=1241487378 Lauren Lynch Fox
  
  I did not mean to be nasty and if I was, I am sorry. I was in London last year and her wedding dress was on display. She is very petite in stature (height and weight). I am raising a daughter myself and am very aware and sensitive of body issues and how girls feel about themselves (and it is heart breaking). My comment on this dress, I guess is that it is aging and she has plenty of years for that. I will restrict my comments to clothes in the future.
  - http://profile.yahoo.com/3HARQMG4KFGOFWU2USY3HO3PGE Katherine
    
    Holy… If you were raising your daughter to be so sensitive, you would never, ever say such rude and cruel things. You are raising her to be a mean, critical bully. You are sensitive to heavy weight issues, but you very conveniently ignore those who are thin. Don’t you think it’s rude to say that someone is too thin? Don’t you think that they will inherit body issues from people calling them thin, skinny, anorexic, ‘too masculine’, ‘too old’ — How is that helping them? How is this right?
    
    And for the LAST TIME — TLo has stated many times that you should not ever comment here (or anywhere) on someone’s stature, weight, height, facial features or otherwise. So yes, you were mean and nasty. Even if you were naive and unaware.
    - http://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=1241487378 Lauren Lynch Fox
      
      Perhaps you too should restrict your comments to the clothing.
      - http://profile.yahoo.com/3HARQMG4KFGOFWU2USY3HO3PGE Katherine
        
        Then stop being rude and insensitive. I’m actually standing up for a girl who cannot do so herself against rude, ignorant bullies that she doesn’t even know.
        
        As TLo has said, there is no body-bashing here. Even if you are ‘concerned’, it is not okay. So stop.
turtleemily

I want to be her when I grow up.

I also wish for a photo of her standing tall in the dress since in all of these her shoulders are slouchy.
DourBeast

Am I looking at the right photos? She looks too thin, too old and disturbingly mannish from the neck down. I’m not saying I wouldn’t switch places with her but I would lay off the weights and eat some fish and chips maybe.
- Elisa_G
  
  I agree. The dress isn’t flattering, emphasizes her athletic shape which doesn’t go with the hairdo which is incredibly aging. I mean, I’m glad she tried soething different but this hairdo is dowdy compared to the dress. Plus her makeup here seems off – maybe too much contouring? Doesn’t look modern or fresh. A miss.
  - DourBeast
    
    Thank you. I feel like I’ve taken a crazy pill. I know they are going for conservative or demure but her stylist is not doing her any favors by erring on the side of dowdy. Michelle Obama has a more youthful and far more flattering look than this 20-something.
- hilbobaggins
  
  Have you read any of the previous posts? Please LAY OFF these comments about her weight and what she needs to eat. It’s NOT OK to make these kinds of comments – it’s insulting and offensive.
  - DourBeast
    
    I was not aware that I had to read all of the comments before posting my opinion. Which is CLEARLY that she should eat Irish babies or something. That’s a Jonathan Swift reference. Silly me, I thought I was posting in the bitter kittens section where people have a sense of humor. I guess I stumbled into precious unhinged fawns territory by mistake.
    - hilbobaggins
      
      To quote TLo: “We don’t do body snarking here”. End of.
      - Susan Crawford
        
        I ope my comments about her weight will not be read as snark. I’ve been around for a L-O-O-O-N-G time, and I feel a bit like the Granny at times when I comment! I vividly recall the late Princess Diana’s struggles with her body image, and I in NO way believe that the Duchess of Cambridge is following in those tragic footsteps. She has always been a slender, athletic, fit young woman.
        
        I think she is making a beautiful adjustment to her new position, and I also think it does not take a microscope to see that she has grown very thin. I am not, and never would, feel right encouraging anyone to adopt an unhealthy diet, nor would I suggest that the Duchess is suffering from an eating disorder. Her schedule is packed and fast-paced, and my comment is aimed at encouraging her to eat well and to think about adding only a few pounds that would enhance her beauty.
        
        Why does it seem that it is insulting to encourage someone to add a few pounds, while it is perfectly acceptable to express actual hate for larger bodies? I recall the cruel, demeaning and ugly comments thrown at Sarah Ferguson because she was not rail-thin. Her daughters have also been called out for being “fat”.
        
        This is one of the BEST commentariats going, precisely because we CAN express our opinions, and frankly, the posters on tis blog are among the most thoughtful, funny, insightful and knowledgeable around, thanks to the inspiration of Tom and Lorenzo. Do we occasionally slip into snark? Well, of course – it goes with the territory.
        
        But I think when it comes to this discussion, those who encourage the young Duchess to be careful of her health, and to assess her diet are making a good point. We want this budding young woman to live long, prosper, and be the beautiful style and personal inspiration she so rightly deserves to be. This is not “body snarking” – this is a reasonable observation made out of – at least in my case – an older woman’s concern.
      - http://profile.yahoo.com/3HARQMG4KFGOFWU2USY3HO3PGE Katherine
        
        Let me tell you something — I have the EXACT same body type as Cathy here. (Heck, I have the same name) I cannot tell you how many times I have been told I should eat more, I would be so much prettier if I put on a few more pounds, how people are just so concerned.
        
        Well guess what? This is my body and I have trouble changing it. Just like those who have a larger frame, but still obviously healthy, cannot magically obtain my body. And it IS considered completely unacceptable (especially here on TLo) to suggest that someone lost a few pounds. That is WHY people are saying we should give that same respect to those who are thin. (And even if it was ‘allowed’ why are you allowed to be mean in response?)
        
        Don’t you DARE encourage anyone about their diet. Everyone knows exactly what you are saying. Your concern is NOT warranted, wanted, or accepted here. All you do is infuriate people like me, who have been bullied all their life because other people are ‘concerned’. Your remarks are the exact reason why I hate buying clothes, why I hate going out in public and why I hate my body — I hate the fact that I’m skinny. I hate the fact that other people think I’m unhealthy. People say to embrace their body — Why I am not allowed that ‘luxury’? Why must I suffer because other people think it’s so unhealthy? Please, PLEASE, enlighten me?
        
        As many, MANY people have already stated — Body snarking is absolutely not allowed on this website and NOT REASONABLE. Everyone, regardless of their weight, is sensitive about. That includes us 1% who are actually ‘thin’.
      - Susan Crawford
        
        I hear you, Katherine. I have watched my goddaughter go through life with your EXACT same issues: as a 5’11″ size 2, she has literally been followed by people who offer her advice and ask if she is “getting help” for her “problem”. And she eats a good, healthy diet (and lots of goodies her poor old god-mom must resist!) and enjoys a healthy and active lifestyle.
        
        I think that my concern – wanted or not, and I will be very careful in future to be more circumspect – was simply that this lovely young woman be as healthy as possible. Period.
        
        I am SO sorry that any comments I made hurt you (and anyone else dealing with similar issues), because I know you have a major struggle every day. As someone who has struggled to LOSE weight in order to be healthy and to have a better sense of who I am, I understand your anger full well. I’ve experienced criticism from perfect strangers, from friends and from family, not to mention from myself, and it took me literally DECADES to reach a point where I made a little peace with my body.
        
        For me, the impetus to finally lose weight and keep it off was related to health. I was literally looking at a major heart attack, a crippling or fatal stroke or devastating effects from out-of-control diabetes. And that finally made me get to work. I was fortunate in that I could DO something about my problem. I lost the weight; I studied nutrition; I learned the benefits of exercise.
        
        But I cannot impose my journey on you or anyone else. My dear god daughter will never be in the same position as I was to make big changes. She will always be thin. She too has trouble buying clothing, fending off random comments and worrying that she is perceived as frail or weak when, in fact, she is full of energy, strength and endurance.
        
        So I want to apologize to you, Katherine. I’m a natural worrier, particularly when it comes to those I admire and care about. And like many others, sometimes I offer advice where none is needed or wanted. It wasn’t intended as meanness, or as snarking, and I will take away a valuable lesson from our exchange: we come in all shapes and sizes, and we all have concerns about our bodies, our health and our image. And when we need some advice – we are all capable of asking for it rather than having it foisted upon us by strangers.
        
        You did me a favor today by reminding me that some journies are very personal. I wish you only the best, Katherine, and hope you – and others whom I may have offended – will accept an apology from the bottom of my heart.
      - http://profile.yahoo.com/3HARQMG4KFGOFWU2USY3HO3PGE Katherine
        
        Thank you.
        
        You’d be surprised by how much this comment means. I greatly appreciate it.
      - chlorophyll
        
        I would like to thank you for the kindness of your apology from the bottom of MY heart.
        
        I am Katherine’s mother.
        
        Katherine is a beautiful young woman with gorgeous red hair. She is also very tall (5″8”), very small boned, and very thin. She has been this way since the day she was born. Every physician she has ever seen has reached the same conclusion: very healthy, naturally thin (what did you expect? look at your parents!), and oh, by the way, you’ll be happy about this when you get older.
        
        An amazing percentage of the rest of our society think they can diagnose an eating disorder on sight and are not shy about verbalizing their conclusions. These comments from complete strangers are often prefaced as ” justified concern”.
        
        People question why it is wrong to suggest someone “eat a sandwich”?
        
        On a beautiful day while Katherine was hurrying to class (she is a college junior) a loud voice shouted out “Hey, would it kill you to eat a cheeseburger”? She has learned the best response is to hurry on by. Maybe the comment was not directed to her. The voice, louder, “Hey you, Ginger, I’m talking to you! Would it f**cking kill you to eat a G*d d*mn sandwich. Everyone in the vicinity became quiet and stared. Then the young man(who made the comment) and the group of girls surrounding him started laughing and giggling. Others looked away.
        
        What are the implications of “feed her a sandwich”?
        
        I sent Katherine to summer camp one year. Her pediatrician sent a letter verifying good health. One of the employees (not a doctor, not a nurse) decided she was malnourished.They did not contact me or Katherine’s doctor with their “concerns”. They took it upon themselves to “fix” her. Katherine was given double portions at every meal, a counselor was assigned to monitor her, and she was not allowed to leave the table until she had consumed every bite. She was not allowed to go to the bathroom for a specified period of time. She was eleven years old.
        
        “Eat a sandwich”, verbal abuse, force feeding. Where has the line been crossed?
        
        Your above response indicates to me that you understand the problems with “eat a sandwich”.
        
        I commend you for your empathy and open-mindedness, and thank you for your kindness.
      - Susan Crawford
        
        I’ll be thinking of you and Katherine often – and wishing you both well. You are two beautiful, thoughtful women with a very special lesson to teach. Be well! And be happy!
    - http://profile.yahoo.com/3HARQMG4KFGOFWU2USY3HO3PGE Katherine
      
      Agreed — Making any comments about weight is not funny. It has been stated by TLo many times, and on Cathy posts, that we are not to comment on any person’s weight, height, boobs, ass, face, etc. It is not our (your) place. If you’d like, send TLo a picture of yourself and we can talk about YOUR weight, since you so easily talk about others.
      
      Seriously. End of discussion. Don’t do it again. You’ll get WORSE backlash.
- http://profile.yahoo.com/3HARQMG4KFGOFWU2USY3HO3PGE Katherine
  
  This is the problem with our country. Stop exercising and eat fatty foods? That is a complete disgrace. No wonder we are all so obese and think it’s perfectly okay.
  
  Read the last posts. TLo has made it quite clear that this type of behavior is completely unacceptable and you should be ashamed.
  - DourBeast
    
    You should be ashamed of your reading comprehension skills. I said that I would SWITCH PLACES WITH HER. Read it again. Never said unhealthy. She is the very picture of health. For a dude. No one can disagree that she LOOKS THIN which I consider less attractive than a soft, feminine look. Although honestly, it is probably her stylist’s fault.
    - http://profile.yahoo.com/3HARQMG4KFGOFWU2USY3HO3PGE Katherine
      
      No, you said to lay off the weights and eat fish and chips. Trying to mitigate it with ‘I’d still trade places with her’ does not excuse your behavior. You clearly indicated ‘unhealthy’ with your remarks and it was unacceptable.
      
      TLO DOES NOT ALLOW BODY SNARKING. Just because you like ‘softer’ looking body types does not mean that it is the only allowed body shape.
Susan Crawford

Gorgeous hairstyle! But please, Mrs. Duchess Cambridge, please have a nice helping of bangers and mash, and a Guinness with every meal, because you are seriously underweight. Yes, you are.
- hilbobaggins
  
  Oh good god, will it never end??
  - Susan Crawford
    
    I know that there are naturally thin women, but looking at the Duchess in earlier times, she was not so thin. She had a slender, athletic build that was attractive and healthy-looking. Granted, the stress of being part of the Royal Machine, being photographed, scrutinized and critiques every single minute takes a toll, but I really don’t like to see her this tiny. She is a gorgeous young woman, and ten pounds or so on that frame wouldn’t hurt one little bit!
    - http://profile.yahoo.com/3HARQMG4KFGOFWU2USY3HO3PGE Katherine
      
      No. Just no. You are so biased and fixed in your ways. Have you not seen a single post here?
      
      TLO DOES NOT ALLOW BODY SNARKING! Sorry that you are (probably) uncomfortable with your body and like to lash out at poor people who cannot defend themselves.
      
      I have the exact same body type as Cathy here — and comments like yours were the root cause of extreme depression and self image problems. Comments from complete strangers from when I was a kid. Unlike the rest of the world, there is a percentage of people who lose weight when stressed. I am one of them. Thanks for reminding me that I am not allowed to accept my body type like everyone else.
      
      Final word: You are NOT ALLOWED to post these type of comments — I don’t care how concerned you are. Once you get a medical degree with a specialization in psychological disorders, feel free to correct me. Until then, shut the hell up. Screw your ‘honest opinion’. It’s just rude, and you should be ashamed for being such a bully.
- http://profile.yahoo.com/3HARQMG4KFGOFWU2USY3HO3PGE Katherine
  
  Stop. For the love of GOD, stop.
  
  Please, PLEASE PLEASE send me a picture of you so I can rip apart all of your flaws.
http://twitter.com/#!/Space_Kitty Space Kitty

Love the hair, makeup and dress but what I wouldn’t do to see that in a strong color.
AuntieAnonny

Is she smoking again?
http://profile.yahoo.com/PKI5RTEEJ5TZIZII6VEN2G3D7A Caitlin

Stunner.

Tom & Lorenzo | Whiteboard

Fabulous & Opinionated

Catherine, Duchess of Cambridge in Roksanda Ilincic