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.
Royal Tour Day 4: Kate wears blue Alexander McQueen coat dress to Blenheim and Omaka Aviation Center10/4/2014
This morning, the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge continued their royal tour of New Zealand with a visit to the Marlborough region located on the north east tip of the South Island. They started the day with a commemorative wreath-laying ceremony in Seymour Square, Blenheim. Price William and Kate were joined by a group of WWII veterans, politicians, and thousands of spectators. The service was held to pay tribute to those who have died in combat during the first World War, which marks its 100th anniversary later this year. For today's solemn service, Kate wore a bespoke cornflower blue coat dress from her favourite designer, Alexander McQueen. The piece appears to be a fusion of the Utility Coat Dress and Belted Crepe Coat from McQueen's current ready-to-wear collection. Kate's coat dress is described as a double leaf crepe coat, with utility pockets, waist belt and pleated back skirt. It features a collared neckline and has concealed snap fastenings through the front. On her feet were bespoke Alexander McQueen navy blue suede pumps, first seen during her first Royal Tour of North America in 2011. SHOP REPLIKATES OF THE ALEXANDER MCQUEEN NAVY SUEDE SHOES ... Kate coordinated her shoes with her navy suede Russell & Bromley 'Muse' clutch also known as the Stuart Weitzman 'Raz' clutch. She wore her Sapphire & Diamond Oval Drop Earrings, which were a gift from Prince William and originally owned by the late Princess Diana. SHOP REPLIKATES OF THE SAPPHIRE EARRINGS ... On Kate's left chest was a poppy pin. The pin is a symbol of the "Remembering WW1 - 100 years on" commemoration, and identifies First World War centenary activities, events, or projects in New Zealand. Following the memorial service, William & Kate had a private lunch at Wither Hills winery. The restaurant staff tweeted: "It has been a right royal day at Wither Hills! We are so proud to have hosted the royal couple at our restaurant". After lunch, the Duke and Duchess headed to the Omaka Aviation Heritage Centre for a tour of the 'Knights of the Sky' exhibition, a display of First World War aircraft collected by Lord of the Rings film director Sir Peter Jackson. This evening, the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge will attend a state reception at Government House. Prince William will give a speech at the event and unveil a new portrait of Her Majesty the Queen.
You can read further details of today's events on the official website of the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge. The royal motorcade was spotted leaving Wellington on Monday after the traditional welcome ceremony at Government House. It is believed the Cambridge's retreated to the Wharekauhau Country Estate Lodge to relax and rejuvenate after their long-haul flight from London. The sprawling luxury estate resort has a grand lodge and 15 guest cottages on the private grounds with plenty of privacy for the royal family to enjoy. Day 2 of the tour was a rest day for the royals and their entourage. No doubt they made the most of this day to regroup and gear up for the next three weeks. On Day 3, the Royal trio returned to Government House in Wellington to meet with the Royal New Zealand Plunket Society, an organization that provides health care to children and new families. Their Royal Highnesses arrived ahead of schedule, and Kate was spotted wearing the same grey MaxMara wrap dress she wore when landing in Sydney earlier this week. After a quick wardrobe change, Kate emerged wearing a black and white patterned knit dress named 'Paulina' by American designer Tory Burch. The Tory Burch 'Paulina' dress is from her Resort 2014 collection. The dress has an alternating white open-knit and solid black knit pattern. The fit-and-flare silhouette is defined by a cinched-in waist and a pleated skirt. The short sleeve cuffs and hem are finished with tactile fringing. At time of posting, the dress is still in stock in limited sizes, retailing for about US$450. Today's event marked Prince George's first official royal engagement, which included meeting with a preselected group of families for some baby playtime. The heir to the British crown was just a regular little bub this afternoon as he played with ten other 8-month-old babies in the grand Blundell room of Government house. This is the only event that George is scheduled to attend during his time in New Zealand and Australia. Kate wore a new pair of black suede court shoes. The shoes were identified as the Jimmy Choo 'Aimee'. The Italian made pumps have a black suede upper and feature an almond toe with a platform. Kate's kept her jewellery to a minimum today, wearing her Mappin & Webb Fortune necklace, Annoushka pearl drops with Kiki hoop earrings and Cartier Ballon Bleu watch. You can read further details of today's events on the official website of the Duke and Duchess of
Cambridge. Prince George will retire from the spotlight for the remainder of the New Zealand leg of the tour, while his parents continue with their jam packed itinerary. Tomorrow, the Duke and Duchess will travel to Blenheim to attend a wreath laying ceremony, followed by a visit to the Omaka Aviation Heritage Center where film director Sir Peter Jackson will give the royals a personal tour of his private plane collection. Later that evening (local time), they will head back to Wellington to attend a State Reception at Government House hosted by the Governor General. The Royal Tour of New Zealand and Australia has commenced! The Duke and Duchess of Cambridge along with Prince George briefly touched down in Sydney this morning before boarding a RNZAF aircraft to Wellington, where the tour will officially begin. Kate wore her Max Mara wrap dress for the flight transfer, first seen in February 2013 when she was about 12 weeks pregnant. She wore a pair of tan suede court shoes, believed to be the Manolo Blahnik Suede BB pumps, however there's active debate that they may be an old pair she has had for many years. Other possibilities include the Dune 'Appoint' court shoes and the R&B '5th Ave' pumps. The Duke of Cambridge was seen holding Kate's black Longchamp 'Medium Le Pliage' tote bag. SHOP KATE'S IN-FLIGHT STYLE ... The outfit was a good choice for the three hour passage across the Tasman where she had to change mid-flight for the arrival into Wellington. The Duchess emerged from the plane looking refreshed and regal in a red double breasted Catherine Walker 'Russian Greatcoat' with a sharply tailored military silhouette, high collar, full skirt and burnished silver buttons. Kate coordinated the coat with a red Jackie-O pillbox from Gina Foster. The 'Seaford' hat features velour fur felt with a felt flower trim. Kate also wore a stunning New Zealand silver fern brooch loaned from the Queen. The brooch was a gift from the women of Auckland to Her Majesty in 1954 on her Commonwealth tour. Kate coordinated the sparkly brooch with her beloved Kiki McDonough 'Grace' white topaz earrings. On her feet were the Emmy 'Valerie' suede pumps in chocolate brown, which the Duchess has worn a few times since March 2012. After disembarking in Wellington, the royal couple enjoyed a ceremonial welcome at Government House. This included a traditional Māori greeting, called a Hongi, and the Haka, a traditional ancestral war cry dance that was performed on the lawn at the stately home. Kate added her chocolate brown suede Emmy 'Natasha' clutch for the visit. The young royal family then resided to a private hideaway just outside of the city, where they will spend the next day and a half trying to overcome their jet lag. SHOP KATE'S WELLINGTON WELCOME STYLE ... You can read further details of today's events on the official website of the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge.
The Duke and Duchess of Cambridge joined the Irish Guards at Mons Barracks in Aldershot, Hampshire for the traditional St Patrick’s Day parade. The Duchess presented shamrocks to members of the regiment, which she has done for the past few years. Prince William, an ex-RAF Search and Rescue Pilot was made Colonel of the Irish Guards shortly before his wedding in 2011; a position previously held for 38 years by The Queen Mother, until her death in 2002. Today, Kate looked festive in an all green ensemble. She wore a pine coloured trench coat from Hobbs London. This is a new piece in her wardrobe, not previously seen on the Duchess. The 'Persephone' trench is currently in stock and reduced from £279.00 to £195.00. The double-breasted coat is made from a viscose/wool blend and features a cut and sew design, raw edges, traditional storm flap and epaulette detailing. The Duchess wore her Gina Foster green beret style hat , previously worn on Christmas Day in Sandringham last year. The most notable piece of jewelry worn by Kate today was the gold Cartier shamrock brooch, first worn by Queen Alexandra in 1901 when she visited the Guards. Kate's other jewels included the Kiki Classic Green Amethyst and Diamond Cushion Drop earrings, first seen last month when the Duchess attended the ICAP Art Room at Northolt High School. She also wore her Tissot watch. Kate opted for bespoke accessories from Emmy. The Duchess wore the 'Valerie' suede pumps and carried the 'Natasha' suede clutch in the same 'carbon' hue. These accessories were first worn by the Duchess in April 2012, when she wore them with a grey Matthew Williamson dress to the movie premiere of African Cats. Kate finished her outfit with a tonal croc-embossed leather belt, used to cinch her waist. GET KATE'S ST. PATRICK'S DAY STYLE ...
This evening, The Duchess of Cambridge joined Her Majesty, the Queen to host a star-studded reception at Buckingham Palace honouring The Royal Academy of Dramatic Arts (RADA), of which the Queen is patron. The Royal duo greeted an estimated 250 guests, including Dame Helen Mirren, Cate Blanchett, Sir David Attenborough, Uma Thurman, and Downton Abbey creator, Julian Fellowes. Tonight, Kate looked vibrant in the red peplum Alexander McQueen dress, first worn to the Diamond Jubilee River Pageant in June 2012. It is also believed she wore it to the Queen's pre-Christmas luncheon in December. The Duchess opted for classic black satin accessories, carrying her customised Anya Hindmarch 'Maud' frame clutch and Prada shoes. Both pieces we have seen before, and Kate first wore this combination when she meet the Obama's at Buckingham Palace in May 2011. Catherine has her 'Maud' clutch personalised with the initial C. The bespoke clutch retails for £450 and comes in an array of colours. It is fabricated from luxuriously soft satin, made using tightly woven thread to give a glossy appearance. Kate finished her look wearing Cassandra Goad 'Temple of Heaven' girandole pendant earrings. The 9ct yellow gold earrings retail for £1,365 and have been worn by the Duchess for a number of years. You can read more about tonight's event here.
Currently, the Duchess of Cambridge has no official events planned for the immediate future. I suspect Kate's appearances will slow up over the next couple of months as she plans for the Royal Tour of Australia and New Zealand in April 2014. This morning, the Duchess of Cambridge officially opened the ICAP Art Room at Northolt High School in Ealing, London. She wore a form-fitting bright blue sheath dress from one of her favourite high-street labels, LK Bennett. The Art Room, of which Kate is Royal Patron, is a national charity which offers art as therapy to children and young people aged five to 16 who are facing challenges in their lives. Today, the Duchess participated in an Art Room workshop and addressed an assembly of children at the school. The sheath dress is the snorkel blue 'Detroit' notch collar fitted dress currently on sale at LK Bennett for £225. The figure-hugging 'Detroit' dress is crafted from elegant crepe with strategically placed panels and cinched waist. The dress provides modest coverage with mid-length sleeves and a clavicle-skimming neckline. Kate contrasted the bright blue frock with her trusty black suede Episode 'Angel' pumps and an unidentified black suede clutch with bow, which she has had for a few years now. Kate also wore her £3,950 Mappin & Webb Fortune White Gold Drop Pendant, first seen on the Duchess in early December 2013 when she visited the Shooting Star Hospice. Kate wore a "new" pair of drop earrings from Kiki McDonough. Kate already owns the diamond hoops, which originate from her Kiki Diamond and Green Amethyst Oval Drop earrings. Today she paired the diamond hoops with a green amethyst drop which is new to her Kiki collection. The earrings can be bought as a set and are known as the Kiki Classic Green Amethyst and Diamond Cushion Drop earrings. We have also seen Kate interchange the hoops with the Kiki Citrine Drop earrings. There was another new piece of jewellery worn by Kate today. We saw her wear a stainless steel watch from Cartier for the first time. This timepiece is part of the Ballon de Bleu collection and retails for US$4,550. More details about the watch can be found on the Cartier website. The next engagement for the Duchess of Cambridge is this coming Monday. Kate will join the Queen at Buckingham Palace for a reception honouring the dramatic arts. Among those expected to attend are Cate Blanchett, Dame Helen Mirren and Sir David Attenborough.
Tonight, the Duchess of Cambridge carried out her first official engagement of the year. She attended the Portrait Gala at the National Portrait Gallery in London in her role as patron. The dress code for this evening's event was "black tie with a touch of sparkle", and the Duchess certainly looked the part in a ink blue Jenny Packham gown, previously worn to the 100 Women in Hedge Funds Gala at Kensington Palace last October. There was however a sparkling addition to her outfit tonight. Adorning Catherine's neckline, was a priceless diamond necklace, on loan from Her Majesty the Queen. It is reported that the necklace was a wedding gift to the then Princess Elizabeth from the Nizam of Hyderabad, then King of a state in India. Kate paired the necklace with her much loved diamond earrings, believed to be a wedding gift from Prince Charles. Kate completed the look with her trusty black suede Jimmy Choo Cosmic Pumps which are available from Net-A-Porter for US$695 12/02/2014 UPDATE: It appears the Duchess of Cambridge has a new addition to her ring collection. Along with her sapphire engagement ring and wedding band, it was noted that Kate was also wearing a diamond eternity band, reminiscent of this one by Tiffany & Co. Currently there is no official ID or any further details on the new ring. 29/05/2014 UPDATE: After some exhaustive research, My Small Obsessions has confirmation that the ring is the Annoushka Eclipse Diamond Eternity Ring. The 2mm wide ring features brilliant-cut micro pavé white diamonds hand-set into a 18ct white gold eternity band. It retails for £820.
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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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