Sorry folks, there will be no wrap-up this week.  I'm taking a mini break ahead of the Canadian Royal Tour!  The newsletter will resume the week after the tour.

Only one week to go until the commencement of Royal Tour Canada!  Earlier in the week, Kensington Palace released a detailed itinerary of the 8-day visit. Click to read more >

As expected the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge spent the end of summer with the Queen and Prince Philip at their Scottish holiday home, Balmoral Castle.  Last Sunday, they were photographed driving to a church service at the nearby Crathie Kirk. Click to read more >

On Friday, William and Kate went ‘back to school’ as part of their work for mental health initiative Heads Together. Click to read more >

Kate debuted one new piece from her closet this week:

Below are my favourite repliKates of the week:

My dear friend Giulia, from one of my favorite Instagram pages @lelepug has kindly reviewed her recent repliKate purchase of double pearl earrings from eBay and compares them to more expensive alternatives from John Lewis:

The double pearl drop earrings always have been a favorite of mine, as they are delicate and classy.

After a long research I found a pair online at John Lewis and when I was in London in July I stopped at the shop to try them. 

John Lewis has two versions in stock, a bigger one for £140 and a smaller one for £65. They feature two pearls and 9 ct. gold settings but the price was a bit high for my wallet. At the moment they aren't available in white (they used to) but only pink and black.

So I kept searching and some days ago on eBay I found this amazing pair for less than £20. A comparison between my earrings and Kate's reveals that they are almost identical in dimension and shape except the fact Kate's pair features a gold setting (like John Lewis pair) instead of silver. 

I admit I hadn't a big expectation because of the small price but when they came (from UK to Italy in only 4 days!!!) the only thing I thought was "wow"! They are super tiny and delicate, the colour is an amazing shiny pearly white, just like the top quality pearls are. 

The dimension is half way between the two versions offered by John Lewis (and when I saw the John Lewis version I had the feeling that the small one was too small and, obviously, the big...too big) so this makes them just perfect.

As I said, the shipping was so quick, I ordered them on Monday and received them on Friday. The packaging was nothing special but still nice: a plastic bag into a small tulle purse, all packed using the bubble wrap to keep them safe. 

In the pictures I took you can see all the 4 pairs I mentioned compared, sorry if some of them are not great but I took them very quickly while I was at John Lewis. 

Short review about the pair I saw at John Lewis
General impression 10/10
Resemblance to the original 8/10
Quality/price 6/10
Packaging 10/10 (they come with velvet box) 

Short review about the pair I bought on eBay 
General impression 10/10
Resemblance to the original 8/10
Quality price 10/10 
Packaging 5/10
Product link

At this point I would say I prefer the pair from eBay for 2 reasons:
1. The shape of the lower pearl is more "oval" just like Kate's pair, John Lewis pair looks like a drop (especially in the big version). 
2. Price is way more convenient; I know that the quality probably is not the same but (to a not expert eye as mine) they look as good as the pair at John Lewis. 

Whilst Kate always looks fabulous in frocks, skirt and coat-dresses, I would love to see the Duchess  deviate from her signature look and elevate her professional style with a tailored pant suit!

This week, I have put together a few new-season pieces from LK Bennett to create a professional ensemble perfect for Fall. The hero piece is the LK Bennett 'Neha' Grey Wool Jacket which works wonderfully with LK Bennett's 'Isabeau' Black Cotton Trousers and 'Roland' Black Merino Knitted Top. Masculine-inspired outfits don't have to consist of dull palettes, so for a pop of Autumn colour I suggest LK Bennett's wine-hued accessories; the 'Ellenor' Truffle Leather Flats and the 'Ada' Merlot Croc Bag. Kate always like to add a hint of sparkle to her outfits, so I have included a gorgeous pair of Links of London 'Hope' earrings for a feminine touch.

Hobbs London has just released the Palace Collection! The label's AW16 collaboration with Historic Royal Palaces has been inspired by Queen Victoria’s childhood home, Kensington Palace, and her renowned love of horses. With a story to tell behind every garment, this collection of limited edition pieces is unique to Hobbs. Click here to see the exclusive collection.

Each week I like to devote a little time browsing the websites of Kate's favourite brands and designers. This week, many of the new season pieces from Reiss caught my eye. I came across these Duchess-worthy styles by the British fashion brand:

I always love hearing from fellow repliKaters, so if you would like to submit a review of your recent repliKate purchase or showcase your repliKate outfit/closet, please drop me a line at
admin@katescloset.com.au

William, Kate, George & Charlotte are reportedly enjoying the end of summer at Balmoral with the Queen.  If this is the case, it's highly probable the Duke and Duchess will join Her Majesty at Crathie Kirk this Sunday. Here's a look back at last year's church arrival.

UPCOMING ENGAGEMENTS

Friday, 16th September: Kate and William will visit Stewards Academy in Essex as part of an engagement with Heads Together and Place2Be. They will meet students, pupils and parents; the focus will be on how pupils deal with the pressures of starting at a new school.

Below are my favourite repliKates of the week:

The GAP ikat pants were a big hit with fans when Kate wore them on Day 2 of the Cornwall County visit. They were a refreshing departure from her usual conservative style. Whist patterned trousers are ideal for casual wear, they can also be office-appropriate when paired with a tailored blazer and stiletto heels.

Below is an example of how you can take a pair of patterned pants from the weekend to the workday:

SHOP WEEKEND LOOK:
Pants $42.99 | Cardigan $14.99 | Earrings $29.99 | Tank top $5.99 | Longchamp Bag $125.00 | Loafers $79.00

SHOP WORKDAY LOOK:
Pants $42.99 | Earrings $29.99 | Blazer $198.00 | Shirt $19.99 | Bracelet $53.10 | Bag $29.99 | Pumps $100.00

Each week I like to devote a little time browsing the websites of Kate's favourite brands and designers. This week, many of the new season pieces from Hobbs London caught my eye. I came across these Duchess-worthy styles by the British fashion brand:

I always love hearing from fellow repliKaters, so if you would like to submit a review of your recent repliKate purchase or showcase your repliKate outfit/closet, please drop me a line at
admin@katescloset.com.au

I'm back, well rested and super excited about the coming months!   Since the last Wrap-Up on 30th July, a lot has happened on the Kate-front.

At the end of August, the much anticipated dates of William and Kate's second Royal Tour of Canada were announced. The royal couple will touchdown in Victoria, British Columbia on 24th September, with the tour proper commencing on 25 September (my birthday!).

That same week, the Duke & Duchess resumed their royal duties after a month-long summer holiday. They visited Luton for a day of engagements, and the following day they visited the Young Minds Parent Helpline as part of their Heads Together campaign to end the mental health stigma.

This week, William and Kate undertook a mini-tour of the Cornish countryside.  The two-day trip to South West England marked the couple's first visit to projects in the Duchy of Cornwall, a private estate which one day William will inherit when his father, Prince Charles, becomes king. On their first day, the royal couple visited Cornwall. Click to read more >

On Day 2, heavy fog delayed their visit to the Isles of Scilly. Their amended plans saw them visit the Eden Project, before heading out to the Isles once the weather cleared up. Click to read more >

Kate debuted three new piece from her closet this week:

Below are my favourite repliKates of the week:

New season styles have hit the racks at LK Bennett and it includes a reissue of Kate's teal 'Jude' jacket. This season's 'Judi' jacket has an identical design to the original peplum jacket but is rendered in "Evergreen". It pairs perfectly with the LK Bennett 'Saskia' Evergreen Dress!

I'm sure many of you would agree that having the role of Kate's stylist would be the best job in the world!   Seriously, how much fun would it be to help Kate shop and experiment with new looks!? Whilst I will never have this dream job, in this new occasional segment, I'll showcase my daydream outfits for the Duchess!

This week, I have put together a few new-season pieces from Kate-favourite, LK Bennett to create an ensemble perfect for Fall.  The key piece is the LK Bennett 'Guilia' Midi Skirt which pairs with the LK Bennett Isla Deep Rose Cashmere Sweater. The top should be worn tucked in to achieve a ladylike silhouette.  For an evening look, I suggest the black patent accessories; LK Bennett Imogen Black Patent Courts and LK Bennett Leonie Patent Leather Asymmetrical Clutch.  And, for a hint of vintage glamour, I would add the Zara Sparkly Crystal Bead Necklace!

Each week I like to devote a little time browsing the websites of Kate's favourite brands and designers.
Following the debut of the Lela Rose blush pink dress, it motivated me to have a look at the designer's other ready-to-wear pieces. The fit-and-flare silhouette features heavily in the current collection of Lela Rose - a style Kate favors.  I came across these Duchess-worthy looks by the American brand:

In this month's edition of Fashion Files, guest blogger Alaina explores potential new Canadian designers Kate might pack for the upcoming royal tour! Click HERE to check out Alaina's predictions.

I always love hearing from fellow repliKaters, so if you would like to submit a review of your recent repliKate purchase or showcase your repliKate outfit/closet, please drop me a line at
admin@katescloset.com.au