The Queen’s Sovereigns’ luncheon is always an important occasion, but especially so in this Jubilee Year; today’s lunch was attended by more than 60 monarchs.

For her first appearance at this event Kate chose a pink piece by Emilia Wickstead, below she is seen chatting with Princes Harry and William before everyone sat down for lunch.

John Stilwell/Press Association

We can thank the Daily Mail’s Rebecca English for details on Kate’s frock:

Rebecca English/The Daily Mail Twitter Feed (@RE_DailyMail)

WKW Facebook friend @Kate Spotter made an early prediction on the frock, we thank both ladies for sharing such helpful information today. Below, a better look at the dress and Kate’s earrings.

John Stilwell/Press Association

The soft pink dress is knee length with a full pleated skirt. It also features a fitted bodice with concealed off-center closure and an inset waistband above the skirt.

John Stilwell/Press Association

You can see many elements found in Kate’s dress in this piece from 2011 shared by Michèle Boccard; the neckline, bodice and pleats are almost identical, the biggest distinction between the two pieces is the length of the sleeves, and the dress itself.

Emilia Wickstead/Press Association/Emilia Wickstead

Emilia Wickstead collections generally offer several pieces in pink; below we see a backstage shot before the 2010 runway show. The designer is fourth from the right.

Vogue Italy

And here we see pink frocks ranging from 2010 to 2012.

Emilia Wickstead

Some will recall Kate wore Emilia Wickstead for the Irish Guards event on St. Patrick’s Day. (Our post on that appearance is here.)

Anwar Hussein/Press Association

For those interested in learning more about Ms. Wickstead, here is a great video with the designer, described as a ‘posh young talent’ by Vogue Italy.

Vogue Italy

Kate recycled her pink satin Prada pumps, thanks to VE.Lina on Twitter, as well as Anna Marie, Nuria and Ashley Margot on Facebook for quickly identifying them. Kate previously wore the shoes to Peter and Autumn Phillips’ wedding in 2008 (pink jacket over black dress), as well as to the Charlie and Lucy Savory wedding in 2010 (pink Collette Dinnigan lace dress, same pink blazer).

And Kate also reprised the pink Prada clutch we have also seen on multiple occasions, initially noted when carried to last year’s ARK Dinner .

Prada Satin Logo Box Clutch

Kate had two pieces of jewelry on today we’ve yet to identify. Her earrings have been seen before, the always-sharp Ayvee of Diana’s Jewels shared that Kate wore them to a wedding last January of 2011 (our post is here), when Kate wore her classic Libélula black velvet Dulwich coat.  Ayvee’s site also notes they were worn to the Rosie Bradford – Harry Meade nuptials in October of 2010.

Additionally Kate wore a brooch we haven’t seen before.

John Stilwell/Press Association

A very sharp WKW FB friend, Michelle Wales, did some hunting and wondered if this might be a piece borrowed from HM, the “Queen’s Amethyst Bouquet Brooch,” a gift to the Queen in 1960. But after more examination, Michelle isn’t convinced it is the same piece, nor are Ayvee (mentioned above) or Anna (of royal jewelry FB site My Small Obsessions).

As is often the case these days, social media provided details on the event. We can thank Richard Palmer of the Daily Express for his update on a topic that was hotly debated, royal protocol and curtsies:

Richard Palmer/Daily Express Twitter Feed (@RoyalReporter)

Senior British Royals were in attendance at Windsor Castle, the entire roster of monarchs at lunch may be seen at the BBC site:

Twelve members of the British Royal Family – including the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge, Prince Harry and the Duke of York – will also be there.

More on the glittering guest list from Rebecca English

A sneak peek at the seating plan showed there were 24 Kings and Queens, one Emperor, a Grand Duke and a Sultan.

Eight princesses, an Emir and a lone Empress added a further layer of gravitas to the mix.

Royal Photographer Mark Stewart Twitter Feed (@RegalEyes)

• Emperor Akihito and Empress Michiko of Japan,
• Prince Albert & Princess Charlene of Monaco
• King Harald  of Norway and his wife Queen Sonja

The BBC’s story is here.

The BBC

The Telegraph/ITN video is here.

ITN/The Telegraph

Two more items today, the first is our $500 Spending Spree contest winner, compliments of Shop It To Me. The lucky lady is Alicia, who entered with a comment at 7:40am on May 11th, saying her favorite designer would be McQueen, except she can’t afford it. Hopefully this will help out on that front!

Our thanks to both Nicole and Tamara at Shop It To Me for making things go smoothly and offering such a wonderful prize. Alicia promises to let us know what she ends up purchasing, I can’t wait to see what treasures she comes up with!

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Our other note involves an incredible savings opportunity at a place we know Kate likes, Links of London.

Links of London 5 Day VIP Sale

Links of London USA is doing a VIP 5 Day Sale and prices are *amazing* on many items, with some pieces up to 60% off.

For example, the iconic Links Sweetie Bracelet shown below left in rose gold vermeil retails at $385, but it is just half of that price, $192.50, until the sale ends at midnight on Monday. On the right we show the Links Sweetie in 18KT Gold over Sterling with freshwater pearls, it sells at $990, but is $693 (30% off) until the sale ends.

Links of London VIP Sale

Or those looking for a little trinket with a bit of Britain might like the British Flag Welly Boot charm (normally $85, now $42.50), or one of my favorites, the British Bulldog charm (it normally sells at $95, but is VIP priced at $47.50) or the Heart Sunglasses charm (also just $42.50).  They are all darling in addition to being great buys.

Links of London VIP Sale

But you need to use a special link to get to the sale online, click here to do just that. The VIP event ends at midnight, Monday the 21st.

Kate’s next appointment is tentatively scheduled for the 22nd, the Garden Party at the Palace, and then we get into heavy Jubilee activities, including Epsom on June 2.

With this brief respite between appearances we though it a good time to share a few tidbits.

We begin with a reminder about the next scheduled appearance for William and Kate, it is this Friday, May 18, at the Queen’s Sovereigns’ Luncheon. The Telegraph has more on the event in a piece by writer Harry Mount.

If you happen to be in the Windsor area on Friday, it’s advisable to wear sunglasses. As part of the Diamond Jubilee celebrations, the Queen is hosting a lunch for sovereign monarchs, and the assorted tiaras, gems and diamonds the size of gulls’ eggs may cause major sun glare problems…

As this is the Queen’s Jubilee year the function takes on more significance and becomes a bigger draw for other monarchs. Back to Mr. Mount’s story:

It’s the biggest gathering of monarchs – outside royal weddings and funerals – for a decade. The last time there was such a big reunion was 2002: once for the funeral of the Queen Mother and, again that year, at the Queen’s Golden Jubilee dinner for European sovereign monarchs.

Those European monarchs – who are also Knights of the Garter – get together occasionally at Garter services but, still, never in such numbers as on Friday. The crowned heads of Sweden, Norway, Denmark and Spain will be among those there, joined by Emperor Akihito of Japan, though the Palace does not publish guest lists in advance. And the full cast of our own Royal family will be on hand to greet them, from the Duchess of Cambridge to Princess Alexandra.

For those who have been wondering, we do not anticipate seeing Kate in a tiara. Nor do we expect to see Kate and William at Friday’s dinner, Richard Palmer of the Express shared the following on Twitter.

Richard Palmer/Daily Express Twitter Feed (@RoyalReporter)

The dinner is officially hosted by Prince Charles, Richard says that event is a smaller, more intimate function.

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We have news about special coverage of the Queen’s Jubilee from one US network, ABC.  The alphabet network will air two 2-hour specials, here are details from ABC’s news release:

ABC News will air two exclusive primetime broadcasts anchored by Katie Couric, including the only American interview with her grandson TRH The Duke of Cambridge Prince William, who pays a personal and poignant tribute to his grandmother and also speaks candidly about his mother Princess Diana and his wedding – and an interview with Prince Harry, as well as the American broadcast of the most star-studded event of all – the “Concert for the Queen”.

ABC also has exclusive rights to that huge Jubilee concert with Elton John, Kylie Minogue, Paul McCartney, Stevie Wonder, Tom Jones,  and many more stars. HM, Prince Philip, William & Kate, Harry and other Royal Family members are expected to be in attendance for some, or all of the concert.

Specifics on the specials and other ABC Jubilee programming:

• Tuesday, May 29, 9-11 pm: “The Real Queen: By Her Own Royal Family with Katie Couric”
• Tuesday, June 5, 9-11 pm: “Concert for The Queen: A Diamond Jubilee Celebration with Katie Couric”
• Good Morning America will report live from London on Monday, June 4 and Tuesday, June 5.
• World News and Nightline will also cover events surrounding the Jubilee weekend from June 2 – 5.

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Kate has landed on a new crop of magazine covers following Friday’s Olympic dinner (more on that here).

Hello! Magazine

The teal Jenny Packham gown stands out on the covers, above we show the May 21 issue of Hello!, below, People magazine’s cover.

People Magazine

There are several more, a quick check at your local newsstand is likely to yield other magazine covers.

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We also mentioned an early look at some of the Aquatalia by Marvin K. styles for fall, we begin with an Aquatalia classic, the ‘Regal’.

Aquatalia by Marvin. K 'Regal'

If this looks reminiscent of Kate’s oh-so-popular ‘Rouge’ (or ‘Royal,’ as it is called at Nordstrom), you are right, the style is being renamed the ‘Regal’ for the fall. The distinctive strap and buckle detailing are now showcased in an updated color palette, including a navy – wonderful news for those of us who have encountered challenges finding shoes in that hue of late.

Another new style for fall, the ‘Quiz’ knee-high boot.

Aquatalia by Marvin K. 'Quiz' boot

Previously Aquatalia offered a style by this name, however, that version was more of a bootie, this one looks like it could be another classic for the company.

Next, the ‘Pop’ bootie, looking warm and snuggly.

Aquatalia by Marvin K. 'Pop'

The ‘Quaint’ from this fall’s lineup of elegant styles.

Aquatalia by Marvin K. 'Quaint'

Our final offering from Aquatalia’s Fall 2012 collection is an entirely new style for the company, say hello to the ‘Pippa’ boot.

Aquatalia by Marvin K. 'Pippa' Boot

Our thanks to Chrissy for her gracious assistance with the fall preview pieces!

BTW, Aquatalia happens to be running a fun contest “Discover Your Shoe Personality,” the winner will receive a $400 gift certificate, click here for more.

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Our final tidbit today is a last-minute reminder to get entered in our Great Kate $500 Giveaway from Shop It To Me.

Shop It To Me

To learn more about the contest, read this post, or scan the following abridged bullet points:

1.  Sign up for Shop It To Me (either at ShopItToMe.com or ShopItToMe.co.uk).
2. Leave a comment on this post telling us your favorite Kate-inspired clothing brand.
3. For an extra entry, tweet this and let us know you did: “Hope I win the @WhatKateWore @ShopItToMe $500 Kate Middleton-inspired shopping spree! To enter, RT and visit http://bit.ly/JerRED.

Entires close at midnight tonight, we’ll let you know the winner tomorrow!

Kate looked relaxed and happy this afternoon while watching William and Harry play Polo.

SplashNews.com

The Duchess was in the ‘Rebecca’ dress from a label we know she likes, Libélula. Our thanks to Lara who shared the information with the Duchess of Cambridge Style and HRH Duchess Kate for sharing the information on the WKW Facebook page.

Kate wore the shirtdress in the ‘mermaid blue and brown petal’ colorway, it originally sold for £290, approximately $465 USD at today’s exchange rates, but most recently sold for £199, about $320. This close-up offers a better view of the print, a popular print offered by Libélula.

Libélula Studio

The knee-length dress is 100% silk, it is from Libélula’s fall/winter collection. In addition to Kate’s ‘mermaid blue’ colorway, the frock also came in a brighter ‘emerald green with cream petals,’ shown in the two center photos below, as well as a more formal version in black velvet.

Libélula Studio

The button-front dress features piping at the stand collar, cuffs and waist, as well as pockets, a fabulous addition to a shirtdress. (Yes, your faithful scribe is a fan of pockets on dresses when they don’t ruin the line.) I think the collar looks best buttoned, but also include a photo above to show how it looks open and spread.

With thanks to our pals at Grazia Daily for the tip, here is a look at the dress from the side, the image was shared by model and blogger Ruth Crilly of A Model Recommends on Instagram.

Ruth Crilly Instagram

For those not as familiar with Libélula, the line is designed by Sophie Cranston, who early in her career worked with two other brands Kate loves, Alexander McQueen and Temperley.  The pieces showcase timeless style with clean lines and luxurious fabrics. One of the more notable Libélula items Kate has worn is the Dulwich coat.

Libélula Studio

Below we show a few items from the S/S 2012 collection including the Isla dress in emerald, the Sofia in blue and the Millie in a lush pink.

Libélula Studio

This is a style Kate is clearly comfortable in, the subdued hue indicative this is another occasion where the Duchess wishes to remain in the background so attention is focused on Harry, William and their teammates.

SplashNews.com

Once again we can thank the WKW Facebook community for their amazing item identification skills, they quickly found out out and shared who made Kate’s shoes.  We specifically thank Carolyn, she discovered that Kate wore the Stuart Weitzman Minx Espadrille.

Stuart Weitzman

The shoe has a cork wedge in ‘camel laniard,’ with a 4.5″ heel atop a 1″ platform, not for the faint of heart when it comes to heel height. The shoes are $398 at the Stuart Weitzman site, available in a broad range of sizes as of this writing, also offered at many other outlets for a variety of prices.

Kate has certainly been to her share of polo matches, and she knows about the perils of hard soled shoes on grass and dirt, one reason these shoes make sense can be seen on the sole.

Stuart Weitzman

From what we could see it looked like Kate brought out the Kiki McDonough Grace studs again.

Kiki McDonough

Harry and William also played an intense match yesterday, the match is a fundraiser for one of their charities, more from the Daily Mail:

 More than 200 special guests were invited, including actors Russell Crowe, Gemma Arterton and Tom Hardy, among them.

This year marks the tenth anniversary of the Audi Polo Challenge, which has raised more than £1.4 million in the last decade.

Funds from this year’s events are being used to support Prince Harry’s charity Sentebale which helps orphans and vulnerable children in Lesotho.

Lupo was quite the crowd-pleaser at today’s function.

James Whatling/SplashNews.com

It was obvious from pictures the royal pooch generated quite a bit of attention, more from People‘s story on today’s event:

And he was clearly something of a novelty for guests. “Lupo seemed to get as much attention from the people at the presentation as William and Harry,” an observer says.

At the end, when William and Harry were mingling with guests and present for the award-giving, Kate and Lupo joined them, and the lucky pup got some love from his two favorite princes.

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A few other quick notes:

• In our last post we shared our pal Rebecca’s story in the Daily Mail about Kate’s participation at a Buckingham Palace garden party with the Queen, but we did not know the date. Thanks to the kindness of a commenter, Julia, she shared word the date is a week from Tuesday, May 22 and the function runs from 4-6pm.
• Now magazine reports Kate is actually volunteering on a regular basis with the Scouts at home in Anglesey. According to the story, the Duchess works with boys and girls aged 6-10 every month:

 She’s been doing it all below radar because this was something she wanted to do in her own time, without fanfare,’ says a source.

‘The first evening she turned up at the group there was obviously great excitement among the other volunteers and children but she got stuck in straight away.

‘Now it’s no big deal. She’s just a volunteer like anyone else.’

It was another formal affair for Kate and William tonight, they were guests of honor at the Greatest Team Rises event, something of an official launch party for Team GB and ParalympicsGB, marking the final countdown to the Games. The Duchess returned to a favorite designer for tonight’s gown, Jenny Packham.

SplashNews.com

Once royal journalists tweeted word that Kate was wearing Jenny Packham, the brilliant Anna of My Small Obsessions rapidly discovered the dress Kate’s was modeled after.

Via Raihan-Wed.com

Kate is in a bespoke version of Jenny Packham’s ‘Aspen’ gown, a design showcasing beautiful silk chiffon, light and lacy cap sleeves and an ornately embellished waist. All the design traits combine for a knockout dress, this one is a head-turner.

We see another angle from the always wonderful David Wilkinson of CNN, he shared this image as Kate and William arrived.

David Wilkinson Twitter Feed

The back of the dress is exquisite, arguably prettier than the front.

SplashNews.com

This is how Jenny Packham describes the frock:

The style combines an emerald lace bodice embellished with Swarovski crystals and a pleated skirt, ribbon waisted with a crystal and flower embellishment and matching bespoke clutch bag.

Here we zoom in a bit to better show the stunning lace and shimmering crystals.

SplashNews.com

That image also shoes Kate’s elaborate updo of multiple braided sections. Below you can see a side angle of the style, as well as what appear to be new earrings for Kate, rhinestone or diamond-set dangles.

SplashNews.com

The dress is lovely, here we see it in a photo spread at Miss Bush Bridal Wear.

Photos: Eddie Judd Photography via Miss Bush Bridal Wear

Below we have another look at on model Ally Murray, she actually tweeted her delight in wearing the dress.

Ally Murray Twitter Feed

The MSRP on the Aspen gown was £2875, approximately $4620 USD at today’s exchange rates.

Kate carried a matching clutch in the same silk and lace, she also sported the glittering Jimmy Choo Vamp dress sandals.

Splash News

The shoes remain available on the Jimmy Choo website.

Jimmy Choo

Guests signed messages of support for Olympic and Paralympic athletes on their way in to the event, below we see 5-time Olympic rower Sir Steve Redgrave writing well wishes, with thanks once again to CNN’s David Wilkinson for sharing his wonderful photos.

David Wilkinson/CNN Twitter Feed

More on the event from People‘s story:

Five-time gold medal-winning rower Sir Steve Redgrave escorted Kate into dinner, which included free-range chicken, lightly smoked ham-hock terrine, slowly braised British beef on spring cabbage and pancetta, and bitter chocolate mousse on shortbread, accompanied by passion fruit yogurt and freeze-dried mango and coconut.

Tonight saw the first performance of “One Vision,” the official Team GB and ParalympicsGB song, as well as other excitement, including adventurer/survivalist Bear Grylls making an aerial entry.

Team GB Twitter Feed

William addressed the crowd before dinner, Hello! magazine editor Rosie Nixon posted this photo.

Rosie Nixon, Hello! Magazine Twitter Feed (@Rosie_Nixon)

Paul Harrison of Sky News shared some of William’s remarks via Twitter.

Paul Harrison, Sky TV Twitter Feed (@SkyNewsRoyal)

The Duke also displayed his sense of humor:

Paul Harrison, Sky News (@SkyNewsRoyal)

This was an outstanding look for Kate, the gown offers a level of sophistication that very much suited her. The rich teal or turquoise (the jury is out on the precise color) enhanced Kate’s coloring, while the sheer elements of the frock provided a little va-va-voom without being inappropriate. The Duchess oozed elegance without being overpowering, a very tough combination to pull off.

As A Petite Princess pointed out, this is the second time we know that Kate has chosen a designer’s bridal gown for a formal event, Kate wore a bespoke version of a Temperley bridal dress to the War Horse premiere (more on that here) in January.

Splash News/Vogue Australia

The Telegraph’s story is here, Daily Mail’s story on the event may be found here, and a nice ITV video piece is here.

ITV News

The BBC’s story is here.

BBC News

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We have a few quick updates to share as well this evening, beginning with word that Kate will be attending an upcoming garden party, Rebecca English of the Daily Mail has the exclusive story:

The Duchess of Cambridge is to notch up another major royal first when she attends a garden party at Buckingham Palace later this month.

Considered to be one of the highlights of the summer season, all eyes will be on Kate as she joins the Queen to take tea with 8,000 guests in the gardens of the royal residence, Mail Online can exclusively reveal.

Unfortunately the Duchess will have to carry out the engagement on her own as her husband, Prince William, cannot get time off from work at RAF Valley on Anglesey where he is a Search and Rescue pilot.

Also new since yesterday, photos of Kate on a camping trip with Lupo and some Scouts, PopSugar has the photos.

PopSugar.com

The event is part of Kate’s volunteer work with Scouting, she sported Paige Denim’s ‘Skyline Peg’ jeans (WKW Facebook friends Kerianne identified the jeans, Ashley Margot received confirmation from Paige), Le Chameau boots and an unidentified gilet.

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One final note tonight, a quick reminder to be sure and enter the Great Kate $500 Giveaway from Shop It To Me. To learn more about the contest, read yesterday’s post. Or, scan this shortened version of things:

1.  Sign up for Shop It To Me (either at ShopItToMe.com or ShopItToMe.co.uk).
2. Leave a comment on this post telling us your favorite Kate-inspired clothing brand.
3. For an extra entry, tweet this and let us know you did: “Hope I win the @WhatKateWore @ShopItToMe $500 Kate Middleton-inspired shopping spree! To enter, RT and visit http://bit.ly/JerRED.

Good luck!

We have exciting news to share about an incredible giveaway I think you will like: the fab folks at Shop it to Me are going to give one lucky winner a $500 shopping spree!

If you are familiar with the service you know how wonderful it is. (Full disclosure: I am a longtime user and serious fan of Shop It To Me.) For those who may be unfamiliar with the service, Shop It To Me is a basically a free online personal shopper, making it über-easy to find whatever your heart desires, including ‘Kate-friendly fashions’.

It works like this: you visit ShopItToMe.com or ShopItToMe.co.uk and sign up, listing your favorite brands, and they’ll send you emails with the latest SALE apparel in your size from hundreds of stores.  Here are just a few of the brands Kate is fond of that Shop It To Me tracks:

• Reiss
• Alexander McQueen
• Aquatalia
• Mulberry
• Ralph Lauren
• Burberry

For example, if you want to hear about things on sale at Reiss, they are covered in your email, or you can also search that way on the site.  Here is a screen grab from some of the Reiss items listed on Shop It To Me:

Shop it to Me UK

The part I like is that you select what sizes you are interested in (let’s face it, not everyone has time to scroll through page after page of shoes in sizes you can’t wear, no matter how great a deal they may be) and what kinds of merchandise, like ‘sweaters’ or ‘handbags’.  Here is another screen grab, no one will be surprised my service is set up to look for handbags from Kate Spade and Milly, among a few other brands (cough-cough).

ShopItToMe.com

And I have been known to occasionally glance at other goodies.

ShopItToMe.com

You get to decide what you want to see, so if you are only interested in looking at footwear from Stuart Weitzman and Aquatalia, that is what you’ll see.

ShopItToMe.com

The service is not only available stateside, there is also a UK site, you can sign up at ShopItToMe.com to see items from stores based in the US, or at ShopItToMe.co.uk to see matches from UK stores.

Now that you know about the service, back to the contest.

ShopItToMe.com

Ready to win that Shop It To Me shopping spree? It’s easy to enter:

1.  Sign up for Shop It To Me (either at ShopItToMe.com or ShopItToMe.co.uk).
2. Leave a comment on this post telling us your favorite Kate-inspired clothing brand.
3. For an extra entry, tweet this and let us know you did: “Hope I win the @WhatKateWore @ShopItToMe $500 Kate Middleton-inspired shopping spree! To enter, RT and http://bit.ly/JerRED.

There are a few other important notes to share:

• The contest is open worldwide, anyone can enter.
• You must be a Shop It To Me member to win.
• The winner’s name can be used for promotional material.
• Winner will get to select up to $500 of merchandise found through Shop It To Me from their favorite brands. (Non-USA and non-UK residents will receive $400 in goods.)

The contest runs until midnight Wednesday, May 16th. Good luck and happy Kate style stalking!

TIP: This might help a bit if you are signing up for the service for the first time and are interested in the lines Kate wears, it’s by no means a complete list, but following are some of the brands Kate wears on ShopItToMe:

• 7 for All Mankind
• Alexander McQueen
• Aquascutum
• Aquatalia by Marvin K.
• Asos
• BCBG
• Burberry
• By Malene Birger
• Diane Von Furstenberg
• Erdem
• Hudson Jeans
• Issa London
• J. Brand
• Jenny Packham
• Jimmy Choo
• London Sole
• M. Missoni & Missoni
• Manolo Blahnik
• Matthew Williamson
• Mulberry
• Orla Kiely
• Prada
• Paige Denim
• Ralph Lauren
• Rebecca Taylor
• Stella McCartney
• Stuart Weitzman
• Ted Baker
• Temperley
• Tod’s
• Twenty8Twelve
• Topshop
• Warehouse

CONGRATULATIONS TO ALICIA, OUR CONTEST WINNER!

⛵THANK YOU TO EVERYONE WHO ENTERED!

William and Kate were out this evening for an elegant dinner at Claridge’s. Kate went back to a designer we have seen her wear previously, Roland Mouret.

James Whatling/Splash News

The dress Kate wore is from the designer’s 2009 line, actress Carole Lombard is the inspiration for the gown, it is named the “Lombard”.

Style.com

Thanks for this of identification go to WKW Facebook friend Melissa, she shared her find with all of us who continued to be stymied by the dress, unable to determine its maker.

A number of notable women have worn the jade green version of the dress, including France’s First Lady Carla Bruni,who wore it for a state dinner at Elysee Palace in 2010, Russian President Dmitry Medvedev and his wife Svetlana were guests of honor.

Model Amber Valletta has also been seen in the frock, Red Carpet Fashion Awards has details on that appearance, click here for the post, to see the Carla Bruni post click here. You can be assured Red Carpet Fashion knows what it is talking about with the dress, RCFA founder Catherine Kallon actually owns the dress, she wore it to the BAFTAs in 2010. We show her in the photo below right, Ms. Valletta is on the left.

Red Carpet Fashion Awards

Kate’s version of the dress clearly has some design elements that are different from the original Lombard dress, not the least of which is the color, an elegant creamy white. The shoulders on Kate’s dress varied slightly, as did the neckline, although her gown retained the thigh-high slit, making for careful entrances and exits from cars and other seated positions.

We do not yet have verification from Mr. Mouret it is indeed a bespoke version of his 2009 creation, but close shots in the proper light show the seaming on Kate’s dress to match that on Carla Bruni’s. (Click here for the HuffPo pictures showing the dress, compare them to the images in the Daily Mail.) The piece features many of Mr. Mouret’s most distinctive design elements, including the pieced seams and scultural details at the neck and waistline.

Many will recall Kate wearing Roland Mouret’s Manon dress for the trip from London to Canada last summer.

Press Association/Roland Mouret

Kate accessorized with her Jimmy Choo Vamp sandals, careful observers noted the Duchess had her toes done in a rich crimson red.

James Whatling/Splash News

Jewelry whiz Anna of My Small Obsessions advised us Kate was wearing the Beaut Jewelry ‘Eva’ earrings from the vintage style collection.

Beaut Jewelry

These were previously seen on Kate in November of last year, paired with a Jenny Packham gown at the National Memorial Arboretum Appeal fundraiser at St. James’s Palace. (Our original post on that is here.)

We have not yet identified Kate’s clutch, although the glittering gold and white color scheme and beading are reminiscent of a vintage bag, the styling is more updated, this is clearly a contemporary piece.

The Daily Mail’s story offers quite a few photos, click here to see those images, below we share a snippet from the Mail’s story:

The royal couple were at Claridge’s hotel in Mayfair for a meeting of the Thirty Club, whose members are some of the most powerful men and women in advertising and the media.

Their meetings feature a guest speaker – in this case Prince William – who was following in the footsteps of many other senior royals who have made address including his late mother, Diana, Princess of Wales, his grand-father Prince Philip and aunt Princess Anne.

‘The Duke has been invited for around nine years now and thought that it was right to accept the invitation this year because of the Queen’s Diamond Jubilee.

‘It also seemed rather apt as it his 30th birthday next month,’ they said.

Mark Stewart Twitter Feed (@RegalEyes)

More on the Premier’s thoughts about the dinner from Adelaide Now:

Mr Weatherill had high praise for the heir to the English throne.

“He’s a lovely young man and he gave a very warm and personal speech and he’s obviously a fine young gentleman,” he said.

“He spoke very honestly and warmly about himself, his experiences and his hopes for the future.

“They’re a very lovely couple and very natural and were wonderful company.”

Here we see the South Australian Premier with the couple at tonight’s function.

Adelaide Now

ITV News also covered the story, click here or on the photo to view the video of Kate & William arriving at the hotel.

ITV News

It was a beautiful look on Kate, the dress is lovely with elegant lines that enhance her build and speak to her aesthetic. While others thought the dark jade green color would have been prettier, the off white seems more Kate, she wears the color quite frequently, it has become something of a signature for her.  I can’t help thinking the finer points of the dress might have been accentuated had Kate elected to wear her hair up, the style seems to beg for that.

While we have a little break in appearances we thought it a good time to peruse some of the spring and summer looks from designers/retailers the Duchess is fond of wearing.

We begin with a few styles from Reiss; I’m not convinced we will see Kate in loads more from this retailer (she seems to be leaning toward other designers), but I do think she will continue to wear the brand. Below we show the Carine dress.

Reiss Carine Dress

The Carine shows a number of design details Kate favors, including the ‘fit and flare’ silhouette, as well as the embellished bodice. Another frock with style features that Kate likes, the Nerissa, with a lacy look and once again, that wrapped waist and neckline detailing.

Reiss 'Nerissa' Dress

Here is a dress combining multiple elements of Kate’s Reiss Shola & Peacock dresses, the skirt is also reminiscent of the blue Zara dress wore the day after her wedding.

Reiss Kana Dress

That is the Kana Dress from Reiss, it also comes in a sunny yellow similar to Kate’s Jenny Packham dress, more than almost any other Reiss frock this one seems to exhibit features the Duchess looks for in a dress.

More Reiss dresses, from left to right, the Forella in stone, the Hetty in white (perhaps Wimbledon?), and the Edina.

Reiss

Some Reiss items that carry a ‘Kate-ish look’ from the front are not-quite-so-Kate once the back of the garment is seen, like the Heidi.

Reiss Heidi

Two more possibilities, the Reiss Brandy and Magda dresses.

Reiss Brandy & Magda Dresses

Our final group from Reiss includes (from left to right) the Carlie in teal (offered in graphite as well, a very Kate-like color), the Bridge in firebrick (it also comes in fawn and black, the fawn seems a possibility) and Sophie in indigo.

Reiss

There are several other things that would work for the Duchess, we’ll have to wait and see if she chooses any of them!

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No one will be surprised to see pieces by LK Bennett featured in this space, we begin with the Cleo dress.  I doubt we will see Kate in the Raspberry or Maya Blue (turquoise), the purple seems like a possibility.

LK Bennett 'Cleo' Dress

One consideration, there is a matching jacket for the Cleo.

LK Bennett Cleo Jacket

LK Bennett launched its Black Ribbon line this spring, comprised of pieces considered a bit more upscale in construction and material, a touch more sophisticated in design.  From that new collection we show the ‘Kay‘ & ‘Ivina‘ Dresses, both have the side ruching detail Kate is so fond of, as well as necklines that are a step removed from more common designs.

LK Bennett 'Kay' & 'Ivina' Dresses

As an FYI, the new collection is exclusively available online and through Harvey Nichols Knightsbridge and L.K.Bennett stores in the UK. Below, the Errina jacket and Hallie blouse, both styles that seem ‘very Kate’.

LK Bennett Errina Jacket & Hallie Blouse

Other possibilities include the new Bello Cardigan and Dellio Top

LK Bennett Bello Cardigan & Dellio Top

Another dress in the new collection is the “Hiley,” below we see it on literary agent Felicity Blunt, she was at LK Bennett’s party last week celebrating its new store in the city. (More on that in a moment.)

LK Bennett/Scott Rudd - WWD.com

As promised, we have a quick glance at LK Bennett’s brand new flagship in New York.

LK Bennett

The new store is located in the Time Warner center, it officially opened last month.

LK Bennett

Women’s Wear Daily reported on the party last Wednesday celebrating the store’s opening:

British accessories brand L.K. Bennett has gotten a bit of a bump in the last year thanks to the Duchess of Cambridge’s occasional favoring of its preppy — make that Sloaney — wears. It makes sense, then, that the retailer has made its way to New York as part of a wider U.S. rollout. On Wednesday night, a handful of Brits and American Anglophiles toasted the brand’s New York flagship…

If a trip to the city isn’t on your itinerary and you aren’t close to any of the other free standing US stores (Atlanta, Chicago, Houston), don’t give up hope, Fashionista offers this:

Robert Bensoussan, LK Bennett’s executive chairman, told the publication, “We think we could go to 20 stores in the US very quickly.”

If interested in seeing more photos of the new store, visit the LK Bennett Facebook page.

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We move to our last group of things we believe Kate might wear, again looking at a brand the Duchess clearly likes, Links of London.  Most readers are familiar with some of the Links pieces Kate is frequently seen wearing, below we see her on one of the many occasions she wore the Hope Egg earrings.

Canadian Heritage/Links of London

Imagine my surprise when Anna of My Small Obsessions and WKW Facebook Friend Keriane shared word that the Duchess has been wearing the Hope Ring by Links of London.

Links of London

Like the earrings, the ring is sterling silver, awash in sparkling white topaz stones. Both ladies believe Kate has been wearing the ring for several years.

There is also a coordinating pendant, as well as Hope pieces without the white topaz, like the earrings on the right.

Links of London Hope Collection

Another style seen with some regularity, Kate’s Effervescence Bubble Stiletto earrings.

Canadian Heritage/Links of London

I didn’t realize how many other pieces there are in the Collection, including this matching bracelet.

Links of London Effervescence Bubble Bracelet

The piece has the same lavender iolites as those seen in the earrings.

It wouldn’t be a surprise to see Kate wearing pieces from the company’s London 2012 collection (Links is the creator of the Official Jewellery Collection for the London games this summer). Below we see the official Team GB Olympic and Paralympic Games charms.

Links of London

We know Kate will wear cause-related jewelry, as she did for the EACH function back in March (more on that here), sporting the group’s fundraising bracelet.

Press Association/EACH

So many people wanted to purchase the bracelet after seeing Kate wear it, the sales frenzy briefly knocked the EACH site offline. (It was merely a temporary issue, the site is fine and the bracelets are still available for only £10, EACH will ship them worldwide.)

That is why it wouldn’t be a stretch for Kate to be seen wearing the Links Official Team GB Band.

Links London Team GB Band

The bracelets are available here.

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A couple of quick updates to your Kate Calendars:

• William and Kate are out tonight, celebrating the Duke’s 30th birthday with a dinner at the exclusive Thirty Club at Claridge’s. William will speak to the group of advertising and media executives, as his mother did, and Prince Philip. (We’ll do a new post if there are photos from tonight’s event.)
• This Friday, May 11, we’ll see the couple in their roles as Olympic Ambassadors as they attend the “Our Greatest Team Rises” concert at Royal Albert Hall.
• a new appointment is on the schedule for the Duke & Duchess, they will join almost all the other royals for the Sovereigns’ Luncheon on May 18 at Windsor Castle, a very big deal with monarchs from all over the world, more on this function from the Windsor Express: “Buckingham Palace has announced they will join the Queen and other royals at the historic gathering of crowned heads from reigning monarchs from around the globe.  Those expected to attend include the Emperor of Japan, the King of Tonga, President Khalifa bin Zayed of the UAE, the Sultan of Brunei, and the Emir of Qatar.”

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We’ll be back with another post before Friday’s gala, one that I think you’ll like, it involves a *fabulous* giveaway.

EDITOR’S NOTE: While we are proud to have Links of London as a WKW blog sponsor, they do not influence blog content. They did not ask me to write about their jewelry, nor have they ever done so.

Many Kate fashion followers know Kate and William were out and about Friday and Saturday, we have updates on what Kate wore.

We were fortunate in identifying Kate’s blouse, within moments of photos hitting the internet a top-notch royal reporter shared the information on Twitter.

Victoria Arbiter Twitter Feed

With thanks to Victoria Arbiter, the piece is by Ted Baker, Kate wore the Stardy blouse.

Ted Baker 'Stardy' Blouse

The piece is sold out, here is how it is described at ASOS:

Long sleeved blouse, Front pleat bib detail, Concealed button fastening, Small stand collar, Button fastening on cuffs…”

We do not know what skirt Kate may have been wearing (we’re dubious about her wearing trousers), but will update if we learn more.

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William and Kate were also out and about on Saturday, attending a wedding in Suffolk, Kate’s Marlborough  College friend Hannah Gillingham married Robert Carter.

Scoot on over to Pop Sugar to see the fab photos by ace royal photographers Mark Stewart and Niraj Tanna and then come back to see if you agree with what we think Kate wore.

Everyone recognized Kate’s navy Cecile dress by Erdem Moralioglu, worn during her visit to Canada last summer.

Canadian Heritage/Erdem

Discerning who made Kate’s jacket proved to be a bit of a challenge, but the super sleuths on the WKW Facebook page were undaunted.  Janet Scheid and Kate Middle sorted out the mystery, the jacket is identical to Erdem’s Tigan jacket, minus the bright houndstooth trim at collar, cuffs and hem.

Matches Fashion

If you look closely at the photos from Saturday (check #14) you can see the bright trim has been replaced with lace trim matching the lace in Kate’s dress.  Here is more on the box cut jacket:

This navy silk-blend jacket is collarless, has a round-neck and long sleeves … wide hem and cuff trim.  and a red, purple and pink signature floral-print silk lining.

82% polyester, 18% silk. Tweed: 35% cotton, 25% polyester, 17% polyamide, 13% viscose, 10% acrylic. Lining: 100% silk.

Kate’s bespoke piece retained the “large button centre-front fastening,” this item remains available at Matches Fashion, selling at $1266.

Kate added a belt to the ensemble, we thank eagle-eyed Kimberly Berna Slack for discovering the belt, we’re fortunate to benefit from her research skills on the WKW Facebook page.

Net-a-Porter

The Net-a-Porter description:

Command attention in Alexander McQueen’s black glossed-leather waist belt. Wear this gold-studded accessory to add a fashion-forward edge to a crisp white shirt and navy blazer.

Originally the belt sold at $510 and was then discounted to $210, but it is now sold out.

Locating Kate’s hat designer took a little more time, we are lucky that WKW FB friend Taylor shared her belief it is by noted milliner Jane Taylor, her ‘crushed rose cocktail fascinator’.

Jane Taylor

UPDATED: With thanks to Kate Spotter on Facebook, it turns out this is *not* the same hat Kate wore.

Kate completed the ensemble with her Anya Hindmarch Marano clutch, Prada suede pumps and sapphire/diamond earrings.

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Good news today for fans of Alice Temperley’s work, the designer is doing a capsule collection for UK retailer John Lewis, more from British Vogue:

The 60-piece collection… features a version of all the signature Temperley pieces that customers have loved over the past decade: from her leopard-print knits and floaty boho dresses, to Victoriana blouses and military jackets.

Here we see Ms. Temperley and two fabric swatches from the upcoming line.

John Lewis

The collection will be called Somerset, it is expected to launch in-store and online September 4. British Vogue reports prices will run “from £29 for a scarf to £1,000 for a sheepskin coat.” Click here for more information on the John Lewis site.

Another designer Kate is fond of, Jenny Packham, has also done a diffusion line with a British retailer, Debenhams, No. 1 Jenny Packham.

Jenny Packham No. 1 for Debenhams via She Finds

There are plenty of Ms. Packham’s party frocks.

Via Catwalk Queen

In addition to clothing, one will find jewelry, shoes, handbags, hair accessories and more.

Jenny Packham No. 1 for Debenhams

We initially wrote about the collection here, the collection is now available in store and online.

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Calendar notations:

• Torrential downpours in Europe have prompted cancellation of the Badminton Horse Trials. Kate and William were to watch the event & hand out prizes May 7, this event is off the calendar.
• We will see Kate and William in their official roles as Olympic Ambassadors on Friday, May 11. The pair will attend the “Our Greatest Team Rises” concerts at Royal Albert Hall.  More on the gala:

For the 3,000 attending guests, Our Greatest Team Rises will be a spectacular night combining fine dining with the best of British entertainment.

The event, which will take place the day after the London 2012 Olympic flame is lit in Greece, is an important fundraiser for the Olympic and Paralympic teams…by attending… ticket holders will play a vital role in helping to support British athletes to succeed at London 2012.

Our Greatest Team Rises

You can learn more about the concert here.

One final note, we updated Thursday’s post to reflect the news that Rebecca Taylor is reissuing the tweed separates Kate wore.

Rebecca Taylor via The Daily Mail

Click here to shop at Rebecca Taylor or see our updated post.

Kate changed things up for today’s second appearance, switching from the Rebecca Taylor separates to a dress by Amanda Wakeley, a designer she wears with some regularity.

Press Association

Kate and William attended a reception launching the Imperial War Museum’s efforts to raise £35m to revamp the museum for the 2014 centenary of the First World War, below Kate and William speak with guests.

David Wilkinson, CNN Twitter Feed (@David_Wilkinon)

And doing the same here, our thanks to CNN’s David Wilkinson for tweeting photos from the reception.

David Wilkinson, CNN Twitter Feed (@Wilkinson_David)

The dress is Amanda Wakeley’s Sculpted Felt Seamed dress, it came in three colors when originally released, from left to right we see Oatmeal, Black and Gunmetal.

Amanda Wakeley

The garment is a “knee length fitted dress with 3/4 length sleeves and a slash neck. Features seam detailing,” originally the dress sold for ₤450, approximately $725 at today’s exchange rates. Kate purchased the frocks at the Amanda Wakeley Store on London’s Fulham Road.

WKW Facebook friends Serena Irene and Duchess of Cambridge News pointed out it was the identical dress worn to Royal Marsden just about the same time that Kags 7, Petite Princess, and Mrs. Regal Eyes noted this fact on Twitter. Kate wore the dress in Oatmeal when visiting Royal Marsden last September for the opening of the Oak Centre for Children & Young People, more on that here. Below we see Kate with a very young patient at the Centre.

Via Royal Marsden Hospital

And it was WKW Facebook friend Kimberly Berna Slack who reminded us that wore the gunmetal dress in November to the Princes’ Charities Forum, seen on the far right below, under the Zara Zippered Jacket.

Royal Marsden Hospital/Amanda Wakeley/British Monarchy

Credit for IDing the belt Kate wore also goes to a WKW Facebook friend, Allana Stark pointed out it is this Alexander McQueen piece, thanks to Franciele for showing us the following photo.

Luxury Launches

It’s interesting the belt is shown with Kate’s McQueen blouse. The piece was originally priced at $2225 when sold at Net a Porter, it is from last fall’s collection:

Give your fall wardrobe a hit of dramatic structure with Alexander McQueen’s chain-embellished bridle leather belt. Channel the discipline and drama of the season’s runway show and wear it to cinch a structured military look.

However, Kate didn’t wear the broad leather corset/girdle part of this, merely the belt and chain portion, that is better shown in this photo.

James Whatling / Splash News

The earrings were a pair we have seen before, the Temple of Heaven Girandole pair in 9KT yellow gold. I believe the earrings may still be ordered through the Cassandra Goad website.

Press Association/Cassandra Goad

Kate wore her towering Jimmy Choo Cosmic pumps, still available online for $695.

Jimmy Choo

The ensemble was completed with Kate’s trusty Anya Hindmarch silk Maud clutch.

Anya Hindmarch

Good news for those fond of this bag, the Bespoke Maud in Ink Black is again available for ordering, it runs £450.

The Duchess also changed her hairstyle a bit, wearing it partially up for tonight’s event, a nice change.

James Whatling / Splash News

The event this evening was a reception at the Imperial War Museum, honoring the Museum’s launch of its fundraising for upcoming Centenary Commemorations. More from the IWM’s website:

“2014-2018 marks the centenary of the First World War, a landmark anniversary for Britain and the world. Working in collaboration with our peers and colleagues from national and international organisations, IWM will mark the centenary by leading a vibrant four-year programme of cultural activities across the UK.”

This is one of the few museums in London we have not visited, it is definitely on our list for the next trip, it is supposed to be remarkable. The Museum actually has several branches and locations, including the basement/underground Churchill War Rooms in Whitehall…

Imperial War Museum Churchill War Rooms

The HMS Belfast on the Thames…

Imperial War Museum HMS Belfast

And the Duxford airfield.

IWM Duxford

William is a patron of the fundraising efforts, he spoke at today’s event.  The Mirror has more:

“… (he) told the guests: “Every exhibit, every display, every tank, aircraft and medal in its case, speaks to us of sacrifice, of the facing down of evil, of freedom bought and preserved – for us – at unimaginable cost in human lives and suffering.

“It’s a message of reflection and remembrance, but it is also one of pride. In the course of the 20th century our nation, with our stalwart friends and allies from the Commonwealth and elsewhere, safeguarded the freedom of the world. It is as simple as that.

“The Imperial War Museum is here to remind us of this unassailable truth.”

The War Museum is where the Sun Military Awards were held last December (more here), you can learn all about the Museum on its website, a fascinating destination on its own.

Kate continued her loyalty to designers with UK connections, selecting separates by New Zealand-born Rebecca Taylor for today’s reception honoring the Scott-Amundsen Centenary Race to the South Pole.

James Whatling / Splash News

Kate chose separates from Ms. Taylor’s Sparkle Tweed collection, the Navy Jacket and Navy Skirt.

Neiman Marcus

Both pieces are from the pre-fall 2012/2013 collection, crafted in heavily textured mélange weft. The jacket originally sold at $450, it features frayed trim at the multiple seams, three quarter sleeves, chiffon and sequin floral embellishment at the neck, and a grosgrain covered placket.

Splash News

A more detailed view of the decor at the neck.

Neiman Marcus

It is described this way:

The rich shade of navy blue on this Rebecca Taylor jacket is just what your look needs to perfect it for the season. Wear this timeless but versatile topper with pencil skirts and skinny jeans alike.

Here we see how the jacket looks open, and have a better look at the detailing on the back.

Nordstrom

The jacket was featured in Rebecca Taylor marketing materials.

Rebecca Taylor Facebook

The textile blend for both pieces is cotton/acrylic/polyester/polyamide, the skirt originally retailed at $425.

In addition to honoring the trip to the Pole, today’s event was also a fundraiser for the British Legion, the group provides “welfare, comradeship, representation and Remembrance for the Armed Forces community.” Kate could be seen sporting a jeweled poppy brooch on her jacket.

Splash News/ British Legion Poppy Shop

The British Royal Legion provides “practical care, advice and support to serving members of the Armed Forces, veterans of all ages and their families,” you can learn more about the group’s work by clicking here. The Legion’s Poppy Shop carries all manner of nifty merchandise, including Kate’s brooch, available here.

UPDATED 4.30.2012 TO REFLECT REBECCA TAYLOR REISSUING SEPARATES:

From the Daily Mail:

The suit that sold out minutes after it was worn by the Duchess of Cambridge in London last Thursday, has been re-released by New York-based designer Rebecca Taylor.

The tweed jacket and skirt from the resort 2011/12 collection had been on sale at Neiman Marcus and Bergdorf Goodman, but promptly sold out in just half an hour.

But this morning, the garments were available to buy again on the Rebecca Taylor website – albeit at the original full price.

Rebecca Taylor’s flirty, modern designs have inspired legions of loyal customers and celebrity clients to indulge their feminine wiles.

The designer has been in business more than fifteen years. Her collections are shown at New York Fashion Week, and the company is also headquartered in the city. Ms. Taylor sold her firm to retailing conglomerate Kellwood last year, they own other upscale lines like XOXO, Vince, and David Meister.

CORRECTED TO SHOW PROPER JEWELRY COMPANY. The fine eye for design is clearly a family gift, Victoria Taylor’s firm, Tory and Ko., offers lovely pieces.

Tory & Ko.

Ms. Taylor and her business partner, Kirstin O’Brien, showcase New Zealand flora and fauna, including a splendid collection of charms.

Tory & Ko.

There are other collections in addition to the charms.

Tory & Ko.

Now back to Rebecca Taylor, here are pieces from this spring’s collection.

Rebecca Taylor

Ms. Taylor’s line includes ready to wear, shoes and other accessories, including handbags, these are from the spring 2012 collection.

Rebecca Taylor

The designer is carried in the US by most upscale retailers (Bergdorf, Saks, Neimans, Nordstrom, etc.), at Holt Renfrew and Lane Crawford in Canada, Selfridge’s, Harvey Nichols, in the UK and at many other locations. There are also free-standing Rebecca Taylor stores in the United States.

I have been vocal in hoping the Duchess would wear designs by this designer, recently Ms. Taylor spoke of her desire to see Kate in her styles, the following is from Time’s NY Fashion Week coverage:

What celebrity would you love to dress that you haven’t yet?
Catherine Middleton. I just think she’s beautiful; I think she’s doing a great job, and I love William.

Today Ms. Taylor learned Kate was wearing her creations, British Vogue has the designer’s reaction.

“I got out of the elevator this morning and my team had stuck a picture of her wearing the outfit on the wall opposite,” Taylor told us on the telephone this afternoon. “I am a Catherine Middleton freak – ever since she came on the scene I said: ‘I want to dress that girl.’ It’s a dream come true.”

For those wondering how the process works for designers, here is more from British Vogue’s story:

Taylor’s team were contacted by St James’ Palace in February and expressed that the Duchess was a fan of the brand and requested to see a selection of clothes – paid for by the Palace. The designer was later sent a letter of thanks, which she plans on having framed along with the relating cheque.

Back to Rebecca Taylor’s thoughts on dressing Kate.

“We get requests like that all the time, so I didn’t know whether she’d actually wear any of it,” said Taylor. “She is a perfect model for our clothes. It fits her so well, it had a grown-up appeal – but it still looks youthful.”

“She always dresses so appropriately, she’s very polished and chic. I really loved her in that lilac McQueen gown she wore when she was in LA with William – she looked gorgeous. I’d like to see her in more flowing outfits and actually Rebecca Taylor does lots of those!” laughed Taylor.

Read the entire British Vogue story here.

Kate accessorized with earrings we’ve not previously noticed, pearl drops.  We have seen the other items, her blue Prada pumps and Anya Hindmarch’s Marano clutch.

Splash News

The clutch is out of stock, but you can put your name on a waiting list.

Anya Hindmarch

The couple also made a previously unannounced stop today, following the British Legion fundraiser, they paid a visit to Britain’s renowned MI6 Secret Intelligence Agency. The BBC’s Peter Hunt put it very well on Twitter.

Peter Hunt Twitter Feed (@BBCPeterHunt)

Some felt the look was too much like other styles Kate has worn; the comparison is understandable, today’s color and fringed seaming is reminiscent of the Missoni coat worn for her visit to Fortnum and Mason with HM and Camilla back in March. (More on that here.)

Fortnum & Mason/Splash News

Others thought the jacket didn’t fit properly, that the waist hit too high on Kate, or that the ensemble was too ‘matchy matchy’. I liked the look, the texture of the fabric was very attractive, and this particular shade of blue is very flattering for Kate.

EDITOR’S NOTE: I mistakenly showed the incorrect jewelry brand in the post, I want to thank Victoria Taylor for being so very gracious about my error, and apologize for the mistake.