This morning the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge commenced the final leg of their royal tour Down Under in the nation's capital city of Canberra. First on the itinerary was a visit to the National Arboretum perched high on the hills overlooking Lake Burley Griffin. The arboretum was recently opened in the wake of the bushfires that ravaged the area over a decade ago. The royal couple planted an English Oak tree to make a contribution to the efforts of the arboretum. The Duchess wore a vivid grass green coat dress by Catherine Walker. This is a bespoke piece that fuses design elements of the Catherine Walker 'Evelyn' coatdress and the 'Lara' coat from the current collection. Both are fabricated from Venetian wool and it is evident that Kate combined the zip scuba collar of the 'Lara' with the full skirt of the 'Evelyn' including the hand pick stitching and belt. We got a glimpse of the Suzannah Green Budding Heart silk tea dress under her coat. Kate also wore this dress under her green Erdem coat when she recently visited the Waikato region of New Zealand. On her feet were the infamous LK Bennett 'Sledge' taupe patent pumps. Kate wore her emerald and diamond earrings and Cartier Ballon Bleu watch. The Duke and Duchess then attended a reception hosted by Prime Minister Tony Abbott in the Great Hall of Parliament House. Prince William made a short speech and told the audience of 600 how much he and his family had enjoyed their visit to Australia. He also made a comical remark about Prince George's affection for his plush toy wombat. Immediately following the reception, William and Kate headed to the National Portrait Gallery where they viewed some of its prized paintings, including one of Australian native, Princess Mary of Denmark. SHOP KATE'S 'ARBORETUM' STYLE FOR LESS ... On their final evening of the Royal Tour, the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge attended a cocktail reception at Government House hosted by the Governor General, Sir Peter Cosgrove. The royal couple mingled with 100 carefully selected guests from the arts, sport, business and charity. Kate looked elegant in a monochromatic outfit and with her hair in a loose chignon. She wore an ivory fitted peplum dress from American designer Lela Rose. This is the first occasion we have seen the Duchess wear this label. The linen-blend sheath dress is from the Spring 2012 collection. It features circular lace short sleeves and peplum waist. It originally retailed for US$1295. Kate contrasted the dress with her black suede Mulberry 'Bayswater' clutch and Jimmy Choo 'Cosmic' platform pumps. The Duchess completed the ensemble with her dazzling diamond earrings and bracelet set which she tends to favour for formal events. She also wore her Cartier Ballon Bleu watch. Tomorrow is the last day of the three-week royal tour. The Duke and Duchess will attend an ANZAC Day service at the Australian War Memorial before boarding a Royal Australian Air Force plane bound for London at around 2pm. SHOP REPLIKATE'S OF THE LELA ROSE DRESS ... You can read full details of today's events on the official website of the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge.
The Duke and Duchess of Cambridge flew into Adelaide this morning looking refreshed from their overnight stay in Uluru. Catherine looked stunning in a blush pink ensemble from Alexander McQueen. The outfit appears to be separates featuring a knit peplum top with cropped sleeves and a matching skirt with fluid pleats. Below are similar ready-to-wear pieces from a previous seasonal collection by Alexander McQueen. A close-up of the top in sunlight shows fine woollen type fibres. This is most likely a bespoke outfit with the details yet to be confirmed. Today, we saw the return of Kate's favourite accessories combination; the 'Sledge' patent pumps and 'Natalie' straw clutch both from LK Bennett. Kate's jewellery included her Annoushka pearl drops with Kiki hoop earrings, Asprey 'Woodland' charm necklace and Cartier Ballon Bleu watch. SHOP KATE'S MCQUEEN STYLE FOR LESS ... Today's events were based in the working-class suburb of Elizabeth, named after Queen Elizabeth II, who visited the area in 1963. The Duke and Duchess spent time engaging with the disadvantaged youth in the area. Their first stop was a visit to the Northern Sound System, a community-run music workshop that gives young people the chance to rehearse, record and perform their own music. The royal couple then moved outside where Prince William added a blue sky to an aerosol art display. This was followed by a an exhibition of BMX and scooter stunts by the local teens. It was then on to the Playford Civic Centre where William and Kate unveiled a plaque to commemorate the naming of the new Prince George Plaza. This was followed by a short walkabout, and then a civic reception co-hosted by the Governor of South Australia and Acting Premier of South Australia. It was also attended by 200 guests, all under the age of 30. Later that afternoon, the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge returned to their home base in Canberra to be reunited with baby Prince George. You can read full details of today's events on the official website of the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge. 16th July 2014 - UPDATE It has emerged that Catherine's Alexander McQueen ensemble is a dress, not a separate skirt and top as we originally thought. It is from the Pre-Fall 2014 collection. The dress features a peplum waist with an asymmetrical hem. It is fabricated from a blend of 90% wool and 10% cashmere. It was recently made available for purchase from mytheresa.com for £ 1,985.
Duke and Duchess of Cambridge commenced their Easter Sunday with a traditional church service at St. Andrews Cathedral in Sydney.
The coat silhouette is comparable to this rose Funnel Neck Coat from an earlier Alexander McQueen collection. The tailored coat has a funnel neck, concealed front fastening, structured shoulders, cropped sleeves, inset pockets to the sides, a rear vent and a straight hem. It is made from a acetate/rayon blend and originally retailed for about US$2,800.
The coat also shares a resemblance to Kate's aubergine wool coat, reportedly tailored by an independent dressmaker, whose identity remains unknown.
The Duchess colour coordinated her outfit with a new hat by Jane Taylor.
It is the ‘Lupin’ velour felt teardrop beret.
Kate styled her outfit with sand toned accessories. She carried her modified Alexander McQueen suede clutch, first seen in September 2012. The original clutch has a signature McQueen skull clasp, but Kate had hers customised with something a little more demure.
Kate wore her L.K. Bennett 'Harper' suede pumps, also first seen in 2012. This closed court shoe has a 4.5 inch heel with a concealed platform. It is currently only available in black suede for US$345
Seen for the first time this tour were her unidentified blue topaz and diamond earrings, initially worn during the Southeast Asia Royal Tour of 2012. She also had on her Mappin & Webb 'Fortune' necklace and Cartier Ballon Bleu watch.
Following the service, William and Catherine signed the First Fleet Bible, brought to Australia by the First Fleet Chaplain in 1788. They also signed the 1788 First Fleet Book of Common Prayer.
Over the past century, it has been signed by several members of the Royal Family, including the Queen in 1954 and William’s parents, the Prince and Princess of Wales in 1983. The royal couple returned to their home base at Admiralty House for lunch before heading across Sydney Harbour for an afternoon at Taronga Zoo with Prince George. During the visit, the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge officially opened The Prince George Bilby Exhibit at the zoo. The baby prince was fascinated by bilby George, who has been named after him in honour of his birth. The Duchess wore a primrose yellow eyelet frock, again from her 2012 wardrobe archive. Kate first wore it in Tuvalu during the Jubilee Tour of Southeast Asia. The dress was designed by the Duchess with the assistance of the Queen's tailors. It features a boat neckline, short flared sleeves and a self belted waistline, although the belt appears to have been removed for today’s wearing. As she did in 2012, Kate paired the broderie anglaise dress with her Stuart Weitzman 'Minx' tan wedges.
Kate wore her beloved Kiki McDonough Citrine Drop earrings.
The Duchess was spotted wearing a new gold charm necklace. The incredible investigative work of My Small Obsessions has identified it as a piece by Asprey of London, from the jeweler’s Woodland collection. The Duke and Duchess of Cambridge also viewed tree kangaroos and feed giraffes, before moving to the birds of prey and animal display. They also got to pat a koala with the iconic Sydney Harbour Bridge as the backdrop. Tonight, the Cambridges leave Sydney for Canberra. Easter Monday will be a rest day for the couple and their entourage. You can read further details of today's events on the official website of the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge. Today, the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge headed to Queensland, affectionately known as the Sunshine State because of its warm sunny climate. They landed at the Royal Australian Air Force base in Amberley just outside the State capital of Brisbane. The Duchess wore a frock by her favourite high-street label, LK Bennett. Catherine opted for the 'Lasa' poppy print dress which reportedly had sold out prior to today's engagement. The LK Bennett Lasa poppy print dress has a slim sheath silhouette, adorned with snorkel blue poppies, arranged in an artful print against a white backdrop. It also features a square neckline and elbow length sleeves. It is fabricated from a breathable cotton blend. In another royal coup for Australian fashion, on the back of yesterday's Zimmermann dress, Kate carried a ombre blue clutch from Aussie brand Oroton. The 'Odeion' clutch is crafted from Italian embossed calf leather and metal, featuring a snake chain strap and Oroton hardware. The minaudiere originally retailed for AU$245 but has now sold out. For the third time on this tour, Kate wore her bespoke navy blue suede Alexander McQueen pumps. I was however surprised to see them again after they got drenched in the rain on their last day in Wellington, New Zealand. It makes me wonder if Kate carries a few pairs of her favourite shoes! We again saw the Duchess accessorise with her sapphire & diamond earrings, Mappin & Webb 'Fortune' necklace and Cartier Ballon Bleu watch. While at the base the Duke inspected the waiting Royal Guard and later both he and Catherine were given a tour of the No 1 Squadron - which is the first Super Hornet squadron outside the US. They were both given the opportunity to clamber into the cockpit a fighter jet. After the hour-long tour, the William and Kate visited Amberley's Memorial Garden, where they planted a Plunkett Mallee, a eucalyptus tree, native to Queensland. The royal pair then headed into the city centre to attend an official reception at Brisbane's Convention and Entertainment Centre. The Duke and Duchess had a gourmet lunch comprised of local Queensland produce, and they had the opportunity to mingle with more than 200 charity, community, political, and business leaders. Following the lunch, William and Kate undertook a walkabout in the centre of Brisbane where they were greeted by over 10,000 fans. Tomorrow, the Duke and Duchess start their day with a Easter Sunday church service at St. Andrews Cathedral in Sydney. Next they will head to Taronga Zoo. It is possible that Prince George may join them when they visit the Zoo's is a Bilby enclosure, which was the nation's gift on the occasion of his birth. Later that day, they will leave Sydney and travel to Australia’s capital, Canberra, staying at Government House. You can read further details of today's events on the official website of the
Duke and Duchess of Cambridge. 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 met 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 Stuart Weitzman 'Muse' suede clutch.
Again, we saw the sapphire & diamond drop earrings, Mappin & Webb 'Fortune' necklace and the Cartier Ballon Bleu watch.
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.
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. 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. 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.
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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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