The Hobbs animal print collection, i.e. the same print as Kate's Hobbs dalmatian mac coat, has all been reduced! Prices start from only £28.00!

The Duchess recently wore the Hobbs dalmatian mac coat to the Royal Princess naming ceremony. This coat has sold out but Hobbs has a variety of styles in this same print, ranging from a bag to trousers. 

SHOP THE SALE:

Don't you love it when you see The Duchess of Cambridge wearing an item you already own!? I was going through some 'old' Kate images and just noticed that she was carrying the Gucci monogram horsebit flap bag in this 2012 picture of her at Millennium Stadium in Cardiff. 

My overly generous sister bought me the brown version for my birthday about 5 years ago. Now I just wish I had it in red too!

Gucci introduced the horsebit design in the 1950's, when it was used on heavy tan leather saddle-stitched handbags. Since then, the horsebit has been both miniaturised and maximised as hardware on bags and footwear. It's also been embossed or printed on clothing, bags and scarves, and is now recognised as an iconic Gucci signature. Gucci have a lovely pictorial history of the horsebit on their website.  Click to shop the latest collection of the Gucci horsebit bags.

It's rare to see the Duchess carry a 'logo-ed' bag but given that the monogram is tonal I think this helps it slip under the radar ;-)

Whenever I'm on the hunt for a new outfit or dress, I always turn to the Duchess of Cambridge for inspiration!  I have an informal wedding to attend in late August so I hit the online high street to start my search.  I already had an idea that I wanted a cowl-neck dress like the Roksanda Ilincic ‘Peridot’ dress Kate wore during her LA visit in July 2011 and then a year later to the London Olympics Royal Academy Reception in July 2012

However I wanted a dress with an abstract print similar to the Hobbs Wessex dress.  To my astonishment I came across this cocktail dress which I think fuses the elements of the Roksanda and Hobbs dresses with the added colour element of the Jaeger shirtdress!  I snapped it up and to my delight it arrived next day!

While the blouson dress from Royal Tag is lovely, I don't think the silhouette of this dress particularly suits my slightly pear body shape.  It would better suit somebody with broader shoulders and narrow hips.

However, if I decide to keep the dress I will probably change the thin silver belt with a wider neutral toned waist belt to help cinch in the waist area a little more.  

Whether I wear this to the wedding will yet to be decided but all this means is I can continue to shop around!

One of Kate's favourite high-street brands, Reiss is having a bi-annual sale.  You can get up to 50% off dresses, tops, coats, shoes and much more!

Kate helped put this label on the global radar after she famously wore the Reiss Nanette dress for her official engagement photo shoot.  

Back to the sale!  I'm loving the Pensa dress which shares similar structured sheath elements of the Shola dress which Kate wore in May 2011 when she meet the Obama's at Buckingham Palace.

Here's my top 5 picks from the sale: 

Shop the Reiss Sale: http://www.reiss.com