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

Kate Middleton at Zara Phillips' Pre-Wedding Party on the Britannia

via mirror.co.uk

Yawn.

C'mon Kate, work with us here.

We're sure you didn't want to steal Zara's spotlight and that's commendable.

We love the fact that you're willing to recycle outfits even though you've got

a bank account healthier than a marathon-running Pippa.

It's all good.

Except, not so soon...

We kind of love when Kate pulls out an item we haven't seen since 2006 and makes it new again, but she should wait at least six months before wearing the same dress to big events in  our opinion (the opinion that counts, obviously). At least KMidd's green Diane von Furstenberg dress--the same one the Duchess wore in L.A.--is pretty and a nice enough colour. For Zara's party Kate switched up the shoes, opting for black pumps instead--ostensibly her standard black Pradas, but we can't be sure from these pics.

via dailymail.co.uk

Bride-to-be Zara Phillips looked pretty (and ready to party--we bet she'd be great fun, that Zara) in a one-shouldered tie dye dress (the Alice + Olivia Bree) in hues reminiscent of the water. Appropriate when your bash is being held on a yacht. Zara's sky-high nude platform heels seem to be the sexy night version of the Sledge2 worn with an oversize animal print clutch, which we're not sure we're feeling with that dress.

And who is homeboy with the plaid pants?

We want to party with him too.

It also looks like Kate is carrying her Anya Hindmarch Maud clutch,

the same one she usually pairs with the Prada pumps.

The Royals Are on the Move - For Zara's Wedding!

Mike and Zara Outside their Gloucestershire
Home After Announcing their Engagement

It's not all about William and Kate this year when it comes to British royal weddings. Saturday another of the Queen's grandbabies will be saying "I do." Calm down girls, it's obvs not Harry, but rather Zara Phillips, the blonde daughter of Princess Anne. Officially Zara isn't a member of the royal family, but she is 12th in line for the throne, so that's something we guess. Zara and her fiancé seem remarkably down-to-earth, which is nice.

The royals, including QEII as well as Will and Kate, will be heading to Canongate Kirk in Scotland to celebrate Zara's marriage to rugby star Mike Tindall. The wedding is expected to be très private--no embarrassing Hello! spread à la Peter Phillips for his sister--and the Queen has apparently forbidden Zara from selling photos.

Police are also warning the curious that it's best to stay away as there will be little opportunity to glimpse a royal. We're sure we will get a few snaps at least, which we're looking forward to. We're not expecting too much from Kate as we're quite sure the Duchess will do everything possible to ensure she doesn't overshadow the bride.