Canada Day 2: Kate in White Reiss Dress

Hmmmm . . . what to say about this. First, it's a re-wear. This is the white Reiss "Nanette" dress Kate wore for her official engagement portrait. The dress is fine, it's the accessories I'm a little concerned about. Let's take a look shall we:

photo via Daily Mail

 

 

 My first thought was this - "NOOOOOOOOOO! Not the fascinator!" and that was BEFORE I discovered it is a Maple Leaf themed fascinator. I was so hoping we could get through these next 10 days without anyone wearing a satellite dish on their head. With the red court shoes, it's just all so "theme-y". The one redeeming thing might be the cute Anya Hindmarch clutch. I'm not sure it goes great with the silky formality of the dress, as it is made of straw, but it is super cute with the tassel. It should also be noted, that Kate is wearing a maple leaf shaped diamond brooch on loan from the Queen. How sweet. Well, Day 2 is off to a slightly disappointing start. Stay tuned.

photo via Daily Mail

Kate & Will at Epsom

Kate looked amazing and so appropriately dressed for the Epsom Derby. And the boys were dapper in top hats and tails.

photo via Daily Mail

photo via Daily Mail

I love this combination of flirty and flowy dress with tailored and trim jacket. The hat looks a bit too much like a beret, but her hair is amazing. The back is worked into a sort of a messy, braid/bun. The dress is from Reiss - no word on whether she crashed their website again. The "Nessie" jacket is from Joseph and the shoes and clutch are from LK Bennett. Her hat, or fascinator is from Whiteley. She really is a champion of High Street in this ensemble.

The jacket seems to be available at several online outlets in navy.

I do wish she would not wear the panyhose or tights as they are called here. Surely her legs are trimmed and tan enough to go without them. Could be a necessary thing for formality, but I think she could take the initiative to change that now.

Well done, Duchess Kate. Can't wait to see what your wear to Ark tonight!

Newsy Stuff

I have always been a big fan of the "story behind the story". Amy Williams at the Daily Mail has written a really interesting article about the behind the scenes stories of the Royal Wedding. She interviews some key players in the big day (including Kate's hairstylist, the royal photographer and the guy who opened the car door for Kate, among others). It's really fascinating to hear what people who were so close to the action were experiencing and thinking. Read it HERE.

As we wait for Kate & Will's big trip to North America it is being reported that Kate has chosen not to keep a lady-in-waiting. It has been suggested that her sister, Pippa, might fill this role. Many believe it might be the only way for the two to remain so close, as there is speculation that the Royals will attempt to isolate Kate from her family. This remains to be seen, but for now Kate and Will continue to take a low-key approach to royal life. The choice to not have a lady-in-waiting is said to be one that will be given a trial run, until Kate is more comfortable and can determine if she will truly needs one. It may seem strange to be waffling on a decision of whether one requires a person in one's life whose role is to help one get dressed, but we must remember that on a visit such as the one Kate & Will are making to North America, Kate will be required to wear at least two and possibly three outfits a day. In fact, though the term is old fashioned, there are many celebrities in today's world that employ such people. They just happen to call them stylists. Kate will have some help planning her wardrobe for the trip and is expected to wear a mix of designer and high street fashions. (get ready REISS!)

As always, we will be on it.

Kate & William Meet the Obamas

Back from their honeymoon and looking rested, tan and happy, the newlyweds greeted Barack and Michelle Obama at Buckingham Palace. Kate is wearing Reiss once again. The camel colored shift is called the Shola bandage dress. It is still available on the Reiss website for £175. It also comes in blue.

all images via Daily Mail
 

Kate's clutch is from Anya Hindmarch.

UPDATE: The dress can also be purchased at ASOS.

Royal Engagment Photos

photo via

This is, of course, the official royal engagement photo taken by FASHION photographer Mario Testino. I think it's lovely and there has been a lot of buzz about how similar it is to Charles & Diana's engagement photo. Um, really people? If we are going to go there, then the photo is similar to the engagement photos of about one million couples around the world. This is what couples do in an engagement photo. They embrace! So, let's get to what's really important here. What is Kate wearing? The cream silk dress is from High Street retailer Reiss. The dress, called the "Nanette", sold out within hours of the photos being released. Reiss had more made and sent them to retailers in the United States, Hong Kong and the Middle East. They claim they will limit production of the dress, as not to "exploit the situation". Back to the photo - love everything about it - the colors of the room, the ancestral portraits in the background, the romantic blur. Gorgeous.