'She's got a problem with eye make-up': Vivienne Westwood slams Duchess of Cambridge's penchant for heavy black liner

By Tamara Abraham


As the grande Dame of British fashion, Vivienne Westwood knows a thing or two about style. And she's certainly not shy about sharing her opinions on the subject.

When asked about the Duchess of Cambridge's look in a recent interview, the fashion designer, 70, called it 'ordinary', finding particular fault with her eye make-up.

She told the Sunday Times Magazine: 'I think she's got a problem with eye make-up.
The sharp line around her eyes make her look hard. Either she should be smudgy or wear none.'

Signature look: The Duchess of Cambridge, pictured in Calgary, Canada, last month, is too
heavy-handed with her eye make-up, according to fashion designer Vivienne Westwood


On style, she continued: 'It seems to me, that her image is "ordinary woman".

Therefore, High Street shopper. And I just think she should be an extraordinary woman, wherever she gets her clothes from.'

Dame Vivienne is not the first to criticise Catherine's heavy eyeliner. In an interview last month with Grazia Daily, Dutch fashion duo Viktor & Rolf also commented on the same thing.

They told the site: '[We'd like to see her wearing ] different make-up and hair - less eyeliner, less hair. It would bring out her natural beauty.'

The Duchess demonstrates some confidence when it comes to her beauty routine. She does her own make-up for official engagements, including her wedding, which was watched by two billion people around the globe. And on the recent Royal Tour to Canada and the U.S. she brought a hairdresser as part of her entourage, but no stylist or make-up artist.

But celebrity make-up artist Rachel Wood, who has worked with Holly Willoughby, Olivia Palermo and Lily Cole, believes that Dame Vivienne has made a good point.

She told MailOnline that softer eye make-up would look look less dated and enhance Catherine's beauty.

'Kate is lucky - she has beautiful skin and a pretty face,' she said. 'She is one of the lucky kind of girls that can slip through on the not-so-perfect make-up front, but I do feel her eyeliner is a little dated and harsh for her beautiful eyes.'

She said she would advise the Duchess to soften her pencil on the bottom lash line, and go heavier on the mascara instead.

'I'd love to see her with a strong and classic liquid on top and take her favoured hard black pencil on the bottom and soften and smoke it out. I would also love to give her a little more mascara,' she continued.

'If she prefers to keep the black liner she so loves to wear on the top line, I would love to add a touch of a smoky shadow to open and soften her eyes. This way she is keeping the colour she feels comfortable using, but giving it a much needed update and softer finish.'

Expert tips: Celebrity make-up artist Rachel Wood believes that a softer approach would look look less dated


Though her style is generally feted in the press, the Duchess's sartorial choices have come under fire in recent months.

Last week Kelly Osbourne said on the Tonight Show that Kate shouldn't recycle her wardrobe.

She told Jay Leno: 'In England they are like look how thrifty she's being, showing the British public that the Royals are in a recession as well. Only in this country they call it a faux pas.'

And in March, designer Matthew Williamson told the Telegraph: 'Kate isn't a fashion bunny. I don't know why everyone in fashion is waiting to see what she wears. I'm, like, thinking: get over it.'


source:dailymail