This morning, the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge started their Good Friday with a visit to the Royal Easter Show at Sydney's Olympic Park. The Show is an annual event, set up to bring the bush to the city. It has a carnival atmosphere with agricultural competitions, animal experiences, fair rides and shopping. On this warm sunny Autumn day, Catherine wore a white broderie anglaise dress by Australian designer Zimmermann. The Roamer Day Dress is from the upcoming Summer Swim 2014 range and will retail for AU$495. According to the Herald Sun newspaper the frock was due to arrive instore worldwide this June but the release date has reportedly been moved forward in response to overwhelming demand. Australian actress Naomi Watts modeled the eyelet dress in Zimmermann’s upcoming campaign. SHOP REPLIKATES OF THE ZIMMERMANN ROAMER DAY DRESS ... For the first time on this Royal Tour, Kate wore her Stuart Weitzman tan 'Minx' cork wedges, initially worn by the Duchess during the Royal Tour of South East Asia in 2012. The wedges were reissued this season and retail for US$395. Kate colour coordinated her shoes with the LK Bennett 'Natalie' clutch which dates back to 2011. She again wore her Annoushka pearl drops with Kiki hoop earrings and Cartier Ballon Bleu watch. After a quick stop at Admiralty House to see Prince George the Royal couple made a visit to Bear Cottage, in the seaside suburb of Manly. It is the only children’s hospice in the state of New South Wales. The Duchess made a heartfelt speech paying tribute to the hospice and also participated in a music session with the children. Following their emotional hospice visit, William and Kate made a short trip to Manly beach where they met with junior lifesavers in an event to highlight Australia’s surf life-saving clubs. The Royal couple were presented with a custom-made surfboard for Prince George. You can read further details of today's events on the official website of the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge.
Tomorrow, the Duke and Duchess travel to Brisbane, Queensland where they will visit the largest operational base of the Royal Australian Air Force at Amberley. That afternoon they will attend a reception in the city centre hosted by Queensland’s Governor and Premier. This morning, the Duke and Duchess headed west out of Sydney to the Blue Mountains, one of Australia's most majestic areas of natural beauty. They meet with emergency services personnel, as well as locals impacted by the recent bushfires in the region that destroyed 195 homes. Kate wore a flowy cotton wrap dress by Diane von Furstenberg. The DVF 'Patrice' dress is a faux wrap style made from cotton voile. It is rendered with a blue and black ikat print on a white background. It has cuffed 3/4 sleeves and a subtle flare skirt. At time of posting, it has sold out but retailed for US$325. Kate brought back the navy suede Stuart Weitzman 'Corkswoon' wedges which coordinated perfectly with the blue printed frock. She also carried her navy suede Russell & Bromely 'Muse' clutch, also known as the Stuart Weitzman 'Raz' clutch in the USA. Again, we saw the sapphire & diamond drop earrings, Mappin & Webb 'Fortune' necklace and the Cartier Ballon Bleu watch. SHOP KATE'S 'BLUE MOUNTAINS' LOOK FOR LESS ... The meet and greet was followed by lunch in the Winmalee Girl Guides Hall where they later planted a flowering gum tree out the front of the Hall. The Royal couple then headed to the Echo Point lookout in Katoomba to view the impressive Three Sisters rock formation. The Duke and Duchess concluded their day trip at Narrow Neck Lookout where they observed an abseiling demonstration by the Mountain Youth Services. Prince William boldly stood just inches from the 100-metre cliff face. He made many onlookers nervous as he peered over the edge. You can read further details of today's events on the official website of the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge. Tomorrow morning, the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge will remain in Sydney where they will visit the Royal Easter Show. If the afternoon, they head to Manly for two events. The first, a visit to the Bear Cottage Children's Hospice, followed by a surf life-saving display at Manly Beach.
Royal Tour Day 10: Duchess, a ray of sunshine in Roksanda Ilincic for first day in Australia16/4/2014
This afternoon, the royal trio emerged from their flight from Wellington to commence the Australian leg of their royal tour in Sydney.
Kate wore a sunshine yellow sheath dress by London-based designer Roksanda Ilincic. No doubt the Duchess selected this colour to reflect the gold of Australia's national colours - green and gold. The dress is a modified version of the Roksanda Ilincic 'Ryedale' wool-crepe dress. The ready-to-wear dress from the spring/summer 2014 collection features bell sleeves and has an exposed back zipper. It currently retails for £941.
Kate's bespoke version has the block colours reversed, with the yellow being the dominant hue. The sleeves have also been fitted and the neckline modified from round to square.
Kate paired the dress with her favourite accessories from LK Bennett; the 'Sledge' pumps and 'Natalia' straw clutch.
LK Bennett 'Sledge' Taupe Patent Pumps (in stock)
LK Bennett 'Natalie' Straw Clutch (sold out)
Kate also donned three pieces of jewellery she has worn consistently throughout the tour; the Mappin & Webb 'Fortune' necklace, Cartier Ballon Bleu watch, and Annoushka pearl drops with Kiki hoop earrings.
Mappin & Webb 'Fortune' necklace (in stock)
Cartier Ballon Bleu watch (in stock)
Annoushka pearl drops with Kiki diamond hoop earrings (in stock)
The Duke and Duchess of Cambridge headed straight to a reception at the iconic Opera House situated on the famous Sydney Harbour.
Following the reception, the royal couple greeted eager fans waiting around the perimeter of the Sydney Opera House. They concluded the day by taking a police escorted ferry across the beautiful Sydney Harbour to Admiralty House where they will be staying. It's not long now until the Cambridge's touch down in Australia (my home turf)! But, before they do, I thought it would be fun to see what you thought was Kate's best look in New Zealand. Cast your vote below! The Duke and Duchess spent their last day in New Zealand in the capital city of Wellington. William and Catherine visited the Royal New Zealand Police College this morning, where they layed a wreath on the wall of remembrance before watching a demonstration from the police dog unit. This was followed by a walkabout in the Civic Square. Kate wore her tweed navy suit separates by New Zealand born designer Rebecca Taylor, first seen in April 2012 Just like she did in 2012, Kate accessorised the suit with her Alexander McQueen bespoke navy suede heels. She also coordinated the outfit with the same accessories she wore on Day 4 of this tour; carrying her navy suede Russell & Bromley 'Muse' clutch also known as the Stuart Weitzman 'Raz' clutch, wearing her Sapphire & diamond drop earrings and the Cartier Ballon Bleu watch SHOP KATE'S TWEED STYLE FOR LESS ... Farewell New Zealand!
The Duke and Duchess of Cambridge made a sombre visit to Christchurch today. The city was impacted by a devastating 6.1 magnitude earthquake in February 2011, killing 185 people. The Royal Couple visited the CTV Building memorial site meeting families who sadly lost loved ones in the earthquake. In a nod to Canterbury's official colours, the region in which Christchurch is located, Kate wore her Luisa Spagnoli red dress suit, accented with black buttons and a black velour bow belt. Kate Middleton first wore this 2-piece suit when she and Price William visited St Andrews University on 25th February 2011. Incidentally that was only 3 days after the tragic earthquake. For the St Andrews visit, Kate elected to wear a turtleneck over the top of the dress. On that same day, Kate and William visited the New Zealand High Commission in London to sign the condolence book. For this occasion, Kate wore the red dress but swapped the matching peplum jacket for a black overcoat. Thanks to the brilliant detective work of Ayvee Elliot, she first noted on WhatKateWore, that the Duchess may have converted the dress into a skirt. This would account for the longer hemline, which many observed as the main difference between the suit she wore in 2011 and the one she wore today. Kate completed the outfit with familiar pieces; the black suede Episode 'Angel' pumps, black suede Mulberry 'Baywater' clutch, Annoushka pearl drops with Kiki hoop earrings, and the Cartier Ballon Bleu watch. SHOP KATE'S 'CANTERBURY' STYLE FOR LESS ... The Duke and Duchess of Cambridge also officially opened the visitors centre of the Botanic Gardens. In the aftermath of the earthquake, the gardens became a place of reflection for the people of Christchurch. Following the opening, William & Kate visited the city's Latimer Square to endorse the upcoming Cricket World Cup. The pair participated in a light-hearted game of cricket with the local kids. Despite both being dressed in suits, the royal couple weren't afraid to show off their competitive side. You can read further details of today's events on the official website of the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge.
After an action packed week in New Zealand, the Duke and Duchess will spend tomorrow resting in private. On Wednesday, the royal couple will fly out of Wellington Airport and head to Sydney for their first Australian engagement at the Opera House. Today, The Duke and Duchess of Cambridge landed in Dunedin for their Otago visit which started with a church service and ended with a white-knuckle jet-boat ride! Kate turned to New Zealand born designer Emilia Wickstead to outfit her for the Palm Sunday church service. The dress is the same style as the pink pleated Wickstead coat dress Kate wore twice in 2012. The double crepe wool frock is a bespoke piece, and this teal colour appears to be from Wickstead's Autumn/Winter 2013/14 collection. Kate donned a matching teal hat by Jane Taylor Millinery. It is a modified version of the 'Dolly' cocktail hat. The hat is made from velour felt and features a handcut felt feather and crystal detail. The Duchess contrasted the teal outfit with her Emmy 'Natasha' clutch and 'Valerie' pumps in carbon suede, last worn to the St Patrick's day parade in March this year. Kate again wore the diamond Silver Fern brooch, on loan from the Queen, and completed the outfit with her Kiki McDonough green amethyst drop earrings. SHOP KATE'S STYLE FOR LESS ... Following the church service, the Royal couple changed out of their Sunday-best and into some comfy casual clothes to participate in the Rippa Rugby tournament at Forsyth Barr stadium. Kate wore a chic waffle-knit sweater by Jonathan Saunders. The 'Deborah' jumper is a mix of blush, white and aqua. It has a solid white ribbed crewneck, cuffs and hem. It is made from 100% cotton and retailed for about US$555. Kate teamed the sweater with her navy Zara skinny jeans and Mint Velvet taupe suede plimsolls. Both styles have been discontinued. SHOP KATE'S 'RUGBY' STYLE FOR LESS ... Following the rugby match, the Duke and Duchess took a short flight to Queenstown and made another wardrobe change for their visit to Amisfield Winery. Kate repeated most of the pieces she wore on Day 5 of the tour in Auckland; Zara blazer; Zara skinny jeans and Stuart Weitzman Corkswoon wedges. However, she changed up the outfit with a preppy navy/white gingham shirt. We think the shirt is by GAP. The Duchess was spotted in GAP only a week before the royal tour commenced, so there's a good chance she picked this up during her shopping spree. We also got a glimpse of Kate's Mappin & Webb 'Fortune' necklace. GET KATE'S 'WINERY' STYLE FOR LESS ... After the tour of the winery, William and Kate had high-speed tour of the Shotover River aboard a jet boat. The 'Shotover Jet' is capable of speeds of 85 kps in just 10cm of water and can do numerous 360 degree turns. Kate changed back into her Mint Velvet plimsolls and swapped her blazer for her waterproof Musto BR1 Channel jacket. She also donned her folding Ray-Ban wayfarer sunglasses. You can read further details of today's events on the official website of the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge.
On Day 6 of the Royal Tour, the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge visited the Waikato region of New Zealand, covering the towns of Hamilton and Cambridge. Upon arriving at Hamilton airport, the royal couple went separate ways. William visited the Pacific Aerospace Centre at the airport, while Kate attended a tea party at the Rainbow Place Children’s Hospice. Kate wore a bright grass-green coat by Erdem, featuring a zipped front and Peter Pan collar. The sleeves have matching zipped cuffs. The US$2500 coat is fabricated from 100% wool-crepe and is detailed with a tab waist and front pockets. We managed to get a glimpse of the dress Kate wore under the coat. It was a tea-length frock by London-based designer Suzannah, called the 'Budding Heart Silk Tea Dress'. The dress is tailor made in England and features a beautiful white budding heart print onto green Italian silk crepe de chine. The smocking detailing at the shoulder and under the bust add a wonderful vintage charm, with the bias line of the skirt skimming to below the knee. It is currently in stock and retails for £475. She accessorized with her black suede Episode 'Angel' pumps and her Mulberry 'Bayswater' clutch, also on black suede. Kate coordinated her green ensemble with her emerald and diamond drop earrings, first worn in November 2011 when she attended the opening of the Natural History Museum Treasures Gallery. We also see her wearing the Cartier Ballon Bleu watch. The royal couple reunited in the afternoon to officially open the Hamilton Avantidrome velodrome, a state-of-the-art cycling arena. The organisers presented them with a gift for Prince George, a bespoke Avanti Lil Ripper bike. You can read further details of today's events on the official website of the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge.
For the first time since the tour began, the sun came out to greet the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge as they disembarked from the grey Royal New Zealand Air Force plane at Whenuapai Air Base near Auckland. Their first stop was a meet & greet with Royal New Zealand Air Force families at the military base. Kate wore a nautical inspired outfit, and added a touch of military chic with a new Zara navy blazer. The double-breasted jacket with goldtone buttons is from the current Zara collection and retails for US$139. Under the blazer, she wore a new Breton top from London based label ME+EM. The top features cobalt blue and white stripes, a scoop neckline, ¾ length sleeves and ruched detailing to the bottom hem. It retails for £48. Her ensemble included some familiar pieces; the Zara skinny jeans and Stuart Weitzman Corkswoon wedges in navy suede. Kate wore her Kiki Grace earrings and Cartier Ballon Bleu watch. Shortly after, William & Kate made their way to Waitemata Harbour where they raced each other in Emirates Team New Zealand America's Cup yachts. Kate made a quick wardrobe change, exchanging the Zara blazer for a sailing jacket, and her 5" wedges for her comfy Sebago 'Bala' deck shoes. The sailing jackets worn by the Duke & Duchess are by Musto. It is the BR1 Channel jacket described by the manufacturer as "ideal for coastal sailors who want a high level of protection from the elements but are conscious of weight and bulk of the garment." The company was established by Keith Musto, a British Olympic sailor, and in 2010 the company was granted two Royal Warrants from The Queen and The Duke of Edinburg. There was some healthy rivalry between the royal couple, but the Duchess triumphed! I initially thought Kate wore a classic pair of Ray-Ban Wayfarers in tortious, however some astute observers on WhatKateWore, noted they could be the foldable Ray-Ban Wayfarers. The eagle-eyes of Trisha Snyder spotted this photo of Kate wearing a braided brown belt. One possibility is the Mulberry Unisex Plaited belt. To wrap up their fifth day, the royal couple had an impromptu meet and greet with crowds after travelling on a Sealegs craft, an amphibious boat, to Westpark Marina in Auckland. GET KATE'S NAUTICAL LOOK FOR LESS ... You can read further details of today's events on the official website of the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge.
This evening, the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge attended a lavish state dinner hosted by the Governor General at Government House in Wellington. During the reception, William and Kate unveiled a new portrait of Queen Elizabeth II by New Zealand artist Nick Cuthell. The painting was commissioned for the New Zealand Portrait Gallery. For the reception, Kate wore a bespoke black crepe Jenny Packham gown with embellished crystal ferns on the shoulder, representing New Zealand's national emblem. Kate accessorised with her trusty black suede Jimmy Choo Cosmic Pumps which she favours for formal events. The shoes are available from Net-A-Porter for US$695. She carried her black suede Mulberry 'Bayswater' clutch, first seen at last year's Remembrance Sunday service. The clutch is no longer available in black suede, but is currently available in soft grain leather for £495. She completed her dazzling look with her art-deco inspired diamond earrings and bracelet set which were a wedding gift from her father-in-law, Prince Charles. SHOP KATE'S STATE RECEPTION STYLE ... You can read further details of today's events on the official website of the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge.
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I have retired the "Bits and Bobs" section of the website and started a new segment title "Outfit Chronicle".
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December 2014
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