Weekly Wrap-Up, 17th Sep 2016

NEWS

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 >

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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 >

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WHAT'S NEW IN KATE'S CLOSET

Kate debuted one new piece from her closet this week:

Altuzarra Aimee Polka-Dot Button-Front Dress $2,150

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REPLIKATE ROUNDUP

Below are my favourite repliKates of the week:

Max Studio US$128

French Connection £60

Eric Michael US$130

Lauren Ralph Lauren US$300

Dune London US$59

Select £19.99

Mynt 1792 (Plus) US$110.80

Etsy US$45

SheIn US$31.98

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REPLIKATE REVIEW

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.

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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. 

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IF I WERE KATE'S STYLIST ...

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.

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FASHION UPDATES

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.

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BRAND BROWSING

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:

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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
[email protected]