Kate Middleton Recycles Pink Emilia Wickstead for Garden Party

What does one wear to their first Buckingham Palace garden party? Especially when that person is the Duchess of Cambridge, married to the grandson of the monarch celebrating their Diamond Jubilee? Well, Kate Middleton has answered that question for us, folks.

K-Midd chose the pale pink and pleated Emilia Wickstead dress she wore less than two weeks ago at Windsor Castle. Kate changed out the accessories--gone were the pink satin Pradas (thank gawd, we say!) in favour of day friendly L.K. Bennett Sledge nude pumps and Natalie clutch. Kate also added a pretty Jane Corbett hat accented with raffia and lace and pearl drop earrings.

While we can't fault Kate on her attractive garden look--the pastel and ladylike design are right on trend--we do think recycling a dress so soon may not be the best choice. Thoughts?


Photo via mirror.co.uk

Kate Recycles Blue Lace Erdem for Hannah Gillingham's Wedding

Kate, William and Pippa were all in attendance for the wedding of the Duchess' friend Hannah Gillingham in Suffolk. As per usual Kate went with a recycled frock, ostensibly to ensure attention would remain firmly on the bride. In this case K-Midd opted for the blue lace Erdem Cecile dress she wore during her Canada tour, accessorized with her blue suede pumps, Anya Hindmarch clutch, a great belt (we seriously heart the addition of this belt) and a cropped blue jacket (reportedly also a reworked Erdem, a similar jacket trimmed in a houndstooth print can be purchased at Matches).

 Kate's fab studded belt is Alexander McQueen,

which was previously available for purchase on net-a-porter.com.

As for Pippa Middleton, when's the last time she hasn't looked a fool at a wedding? Taken apart the pieces of her outfit aren't offensive. Some are quite nice actually. There is a lot of spangly, sparkly, and gold, but who would expect anything less from Look at Me! Pippa. Still, we're not loving the whole ensemble. Also, just us or do the sisters seem to be sporting very similar footwear?

The beaming bride and her new husband.

Hannah's dress, however, is a little too Kate for our taste.

Photo 1, 4, 5 via The Daily Mail

Kate Wears Red Lace to Wedding in Wiltshire

Kate arrived at the wedding ceremony of Thomas Sutton and Harriet Colthurst with pal Louise Aubrey-Fletcher, looking chic in a knee-length red lace dress. The dress was originally reported as Erdem, but has now been confirmed as a french lace number from Collette Dinnigan. It may not be our favourite Kate look (the slanted hat kind of has a stewardess feel), but we understand that it must be difficult for the Duchess to strike the right note when trying not to upstage the bride.

Kate's accessories included a pair of patent platform Prada pumps.

While they look black in the first picture, this one definitely shows

them as more burgundy. The Duchess also carried her Aspinal

London Eaton Clutch and wore a diamond bracelet that looks

like the one she wore to the BAFTA event in L.A.

 

A similar red dress from Collette Dinnigan, fashioned from French lace.

This one has cap sleeves and an attractive V-neckline (we pretty much

like it better than Kate's), but is made of the same lace and has the same hemline.

Pippa, who has been on quite the marathon wedding schedule as of late, showed up with boyfriend Alex Loudon this time. Pips wore a monochromatic Alexander McQueen dress. This isn't terrible, but we never seem to be wowed by the Pipster's wedding looks.

The bride wore an oldish-feeling column dress with a pleated bodice.

We do like that tiara. Very much.

Oh, and were you wondering just what Wills was up to?

He was at the wedding too, but as he was an usher he showed

up at the church beforehand so that Kate had to arrive solo.

Photos via The Daily Mail

Zara Phillips' Wedding Dress & Kate Middleton Recycles at the Wedding

Kate Middleton looked beautiful, if understated, in a largely recycled outfit at the wedding of Zara Phillips to Mike Tindall today. First, let's start with the bride...

Zara Phillips looked like a very happy bride in a somewhat simple Stewart Parvin, which did suit the Queen's granddaughter's laidback style.

We love Zara's choice of the Meander Tiara,

on loan from mom Princess Anne.

Kate wore the same neutral gold brocade coat by Day Birger et Mikkelsen (from their Resort 2006 collection) that she wore to Laura Parker-Bowles' wedding and to the wedding of Oli Baker in 2010 (when she accessorized with black shoes and fascinator). Not sure if she's wearing the same lace dress underneath (Update: Other photos do show the same hint of lace, so we're saying it is the same dress Kate wore to the LPB wedding, the Charlie Savory wedding and the Young Stalin book party, which Collette Dinnigan has now confirmed as one of hers, something we previously suspected). We like that Kate added a different chapeau for a fresh, new look.

Kate accessorized with her L.K. Bennett Natalie clutch and Sledge2 pumps, as well as what looks like the same diamond drop earrings the Duchess sported with that purple Issa dress on Canada Day.

The dramatic hat (we're definitely fans) is by Gina Foster Millinery.

Above you can see the same hat, from Foster's Kensington W8

S/S 11 collection, in a different colour.

Kate's slanted "potato chip" hat had a similar feel to the

black one that Zara sported at Kate and William's wedding in April.

We think this type of recycling works much better than the DVF dress that Kate wore yesterday. More time has elapsed, plus the addition of all new accessories--including the dramatic hat--makes the outfit fresh again.

We also think Beatrice and Eugenie looked better last night.

We're not big fans of all Bea's sequins today.

And look at these royal ladies jumping on the nude platform

pump bandwagon. L.K. Bennett can't stock 'em fast enough.

Some pretty wedding guests...

Some background on the Meander Tiara,

which we really love:

via knowingtheroyals.wordpress.org

According to Wikipedia: "This tiara was a wedding gift to then Princess Elizabeth from her mother-in-law Princess Andrew of Greece and Denmark (born Princess Alice of Battenberg). The Meander Tiara is in the classical Greek 'key pattern' featuring a large brilliant cut diamond in the centre surrounded by a diamond wreath. The tiara also incorporates a central wreath of leaves and scrolls on either side. The Queen has never worn it in public and it was given to Princess Anne around 1972. Princess Anne has frequently worn the tiara in public, notably during her engagement to Mark Phillips."

Also from Kate and Camilla to Bea and Eugenie, the Countess of Wessex and other guests, everyone seemed to be wearing a pair of nude, platform heels. Does everyone have Kate Fever?

Photos via The Daily Mail

Old School Stylings: Kate Middleton at Charlie Savory's Wedding

Can we say hot mess? Not sure that any of the individual pieces here are offensive (except for maybe the hair flowers), but Kate Middleton looked kind of horrible at the wedding of Charlie Savory in 2010.

KMidd sported the same pink double-breasted jacket she wore to Peter Phillip's wedding in 2008 (with the same pink satin heels) paired with the lace dress (likely Collette Dinnigan) she wore to Laura Parker-Bowles' wedding. Kate accessorized with what looks like the Asprey button pendant necklace and a beaded clutch.

We're thinking that what really throws this whole outfit off is happening from the neck up. Whatever it is, it's not working. No. Just...no.

Kate was seen wearing the same dress at the Young Stalin

book party that she attended with Pippa in 2007.

And she's wearing a watch, something we haven't seen in awhile.

Update: Kate's gold lace dress has been confirmed as Collette Dinnigan by the designer.

Royal Tour of North America - Day 2: Kate in Red & White for Canada Day

Red and white are the colours of love and we L-O-V-E this outfit on Kate. Sure the colour scheme, pin and Maple Leaf fascinator are a bit literal, but we think the Duchess looks trim and chic in her recycled Reiss dress. Yes, that famous white Reiss engagement picture dress:

Word has it that Kate was invited to borrow whatever selection of the Queen's jewels her heart desired for this tour. Talk about kid in a candy store. We have a feeling we won't be seeing many dazzlers or tiaras on this tour, that's not where Kate is headed image-wise at the moment, but we did get to see the first loaned piece on Canada Day.

[via]

A similar fascinator from Locke + Co.

The on-loan Maple Leaf brooch was worn by QEII (then Princess Elizabeth) during a 1951 trip to Canada. A nice way for Kate to bring her grandmother-in-law into the conversation. Kate's red hot fascinator is by Sylvia Fletcher at Lock + Co and the fab fan clutch is from Anya Hindmarch. Kate's red pumps? They're the Hobbs Albini Square Cut Court Shoes.

Kate also accessoried with the Kiki Mcdonough diamond and topaz Grace earrings and a mystery diamond-encrusted disc necklace, a great picture of which we found on the Jewels of the World message board. It appears that the necklace has the words "BOND" stamped on it. Kate was seen wearing the same necklace in 2010 at a polo match. Any idea of where it might be from?

{UPDATE: Kate Middleton's disc necklace is by Asprey London}

~ Happy Canada Day ~

What Was Kate Middleton Wearing at the Irish Guard Medal Parade? McQueen!

There were epaulets! Shiny gold buttons! And a fabulous clutch to boot!

Can you tell we're really, really, really feeling Kate Middleton's navy, military-inspired Alexander McQueen coat and dress for the Irish Guard Medal Parade? Like, really, really, really feeling it.

This is the Kate we love -- classic but fresh, stylish but appropriate.

Seriously, we think she hit the nail on the head.

via iialp.org

Sarah Burton's Pre-Fall collection for McQueen was full of military inspiration but it appears that Kate's outfit was custom. (McQueen has confirmed both garments are theirs).

The Duchess of Cambridge carried a drool worthy blue box clutch from Anya Hindmarch. The Marano is made of shagreen, AKA real stingray.

Samir Hussein - Wire Image

The ID of Kate's navy pumps remain a mystery, although they do look like her black Pradas we don't think they're the same design. We'd love to know your thoughts.

Kate's uber cute fascinator is by Rachel Trevor-Morgan and the Duchess was also wearing her Kiki Mcdonough citrine earrings again. Some new pieces of jewelry included a Shamrock brooch and a monogrammed gold charm bracelet. The brooch has been worn by other members of the royal family like Princess Anne and apparently is loaned out by the Irish Guards Regiment.



Kate Recycles Another Frock for Prince Philip's Birthday

Telegraph UK

Forget the high street or designer boutiques, this weekend Kate Middleton proved that sometimes the easiest place to shop is your own closet. After recycling that black and white Zara dress at her friends' wedding on Saturday, the Duchess appeared at a service celebrating Prince Philip's birthday in pieces she's worn before.

The Mirror UK

Kate's brocade coat is a cornflower blue creation from Jane Troughton last seen at the 2009 wedding of Nicolas van Cutsem (second photo above). For Prince Philip's 90th birthday, Kate changed up the hat (the new one is also by Jane Corbett), shoes (those nude L.K. Bennett Sledge2 pumps) and dress to give the coat a second life.

And the dress underneath that coat? We've seen it before too. It's the blue pleated Zara dress that Kate wore when departing Buckingham Palace the day after her wedding. Kate was also carrying an unidentified nude clutch.

Kate's sapphire-and-diamond earrings have apparently been refashioned from an old pair of Princess Diana's, part of the jewelry suite gifted to the late Princess of Wales by the Prince of Saudi Arabia.

While we can't say we love the earrings--like the engagement ring they kind of seem...old fashioned--the bit of history is appreciated and they do match that famous ring quite nicely.

And this may not be our favourite Kate Middleton fashion look (we'll take a chic McQueen coat dress any day of the week), but we do respect how the Duchess is able to recycle old items to make new looks.

The Duchess Recycles Black and White Zara for Friend's Wedding

After the Trooping the Colour, Kate Middleton did a quick change to attend the wedding of old friend Sam Waley-Cohen to Bella Ballin. Who, you ask? Well, ol' Sam has the distinction of being the man who is said to have brought Will and Kate back together after their 2007 split.

Zimbio

Kate, ever considerate of her sartorial choices, seemed to play down her look so as not to overshadow the bride (well, at least she tried), choosing a slim, monochromatic Zara dress that we last saw her wear outside Boujis nightclub in 2007. The Duchess stuck with the black Treacy hat she wore earlier and also wore her Links of London Bubble Earrings, and the same black Prada pumps and Anya Hindmarch Maud clutch that she wore when meeting with the Obamas earlier this month.

SkyNews

We totally love that Kate recycles her fashions (and we're glad she got rid of that belt, too). She's great at making everything old look new again. What we can't get over is how different Kate looks these days.

And, Pippa, you were on shaky ground with us to start with. Your Royal Hotness or whatever they're calling you these days (we prefer Harry's rumored nickname for her--Commando--bwah!), you've failed miserably with this ensemble. Mother-of-the-brideish is putting it mildly. Ugly and ill-fitting is about right.

Popsugar

Think Kate's the only royal who knows the benefits of shopping their closet?

Nuh uh says Beatrice. Ms. York showed up at the wedding in the

same purple blazer and hat she was seen sporting in 2009.

We love the clutch! 

Zimbio

The happy couple!