William and Kate Visit California

I know I'm starting at the end, but as a Yankee I somehow feel it my patriotic duty to look at what Kate wore in California before heading north of the border.

Date:  July 2011
Place:  California
Event:  Royal Tour of Canada and California (lots of individual events)

The Duchess of Cambridge touched down in style in Los Angeles wearing a bluish-grey dress by Roksanda Ilincic, a London-based designer.

The heavy zipper in the back took away from the otherwise airy quality of the dress.

Kate's tiny figure got a bit lost in the swag of the dress, but standing next to a man in that bold of a pinstripe suit . . . she could have worn a garbage bag and still looked presentable.  Anyway, she teamed the dress with an L. K. Bennett clutch, an unidentified pair of shoes (U. P. S.), and a pair of earrings by Kiki McDonough ("Grace").

The next day, Her Royal Highness attended a reception held by the British Counsel-General and smartly wore a green dress by Diane von Furstenberg.

The shoes look the same as the day before, but they're still U. P. S.

With her outfit, she wore the so-called "Camilla" bracelet and carried a coordinating leopard-print clutch also by Diane von Furstenberg.

On the same day, Kate went with her man to the polo wearing a Jenny Packham dress (hurrah).

She carried, again, the same L. K. Bennett clutch from the day before.  She debuted a pair of shoes, also by L. K. Bennett ("Silver Sandal").  Word has it this was the first time on the tour that the former Ms. Middleton went without hosiery.  Oh my!  (PS:  We love how the lady on the right is wearing a similar dress.)

Next up, what everyone has been buzzing about--what would she wear to the BAFTAs shindig.

Well, she looked stunning (though a bit repetitive) in a flowing lilac gown by Alexander McQueen.

She wore taller than normal heels (5.5 inches)--a pair of Vamp Glitter Sandals by Jimmy Choo.  The coordinating clutch is also by Jimmy Choo called 'Ubai'.

The next day, we saw Kate in just one California get-up.  And a gorgeous half-up, half-down 'do.  (Look at that lovely snail!)

Kate donned lovely jewelry, including a bejeweled cross pendant and sapphire and diamond earrings.  The earrings are rumored to be reworked from stones that came from jewelry that Princess Diana owned.

Both the top and the skirt are by British brand Whistles.  The top is from several year ago, though the skirt is on the new side (and just £95).  She carried a tried and true nude-colored clutch.

We love how enraptured Reese Witherspoon looks here.  (Though her clothes make her a look a bit scrunched up!  We wonder what on earth the woman in the purple frock was thinking with that . . . thing in her hand.)

!

Aaand off they go.  I had heard a talking head on CNN mention that the Duke and Duchess would depart on a commercial flight for London, "like any normal people."  Yeah, this looks normal.

That's all for this time.  Thanks for reading Fashionably Royal.  Stay tuned--we've got lots in store!

ARK Gala and the First Royal Garden Party of 2011

In an effort to get caught up a little more quickly, we're combining some events.

Date:  June 2011
Place: Perks Field, London; and Buckingham Palace
Event:  ARK (Absolute Return for Kids) Gala; and Royal Garden Party

First up, what I believe is considered the first official appearance of the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge, at a gala dinner for the ARK charity.

Kate wore a "pearlescent rose sequin gown with Swarovski crystals" designed by Jenny Packham.  She accessorized with a matching clutch by Prada, four inch heels ("Agata") by L. K. Bennett, and earrings that we've seen a few times--"Effervescence Bubble Stiletto" earrings by Links of London.

We really dig this dress.  Kate looks fabulous in it.  As another commentator pointed out, she wore the dress--the dress did not wear her.  Hurrah!  (We're fans of Jenny Packham.  More of that please!)

Next up, we've got the first royal garden party of the summer!

Her Majesty wore a lavender coat and hat with coordinating floral dress.  We love the color palette.  The Countess of Wessex wore a cobalt blue dress, white belted coat, and the same fascinator that she wore a few days earlier to Royal Ascot.  We tracked the fascinator down as being from Jane Taylor.  Oh, and let's not forget that patriotic flag clutch and . . . are those nude L. K. Bennett Sledge platform pumps, much beloved by the Duchess of Cambridge?  We don't want to be alarmist, but we might just have a copy-Kate on our hands.

We're just including this photo because we like artsy shadow pictures.  Enjoy!

Thanks for reading Fashionably Royal!  Stay tuned.  We'll be looking back at William and Kate's North American tour soon and lots, lots more.

Ascot 2011 (Everyone Else Edition)

And now for everyone else....

Date:  June 2011
Place:  Ascot, England
Event:  Royal Ascot

Day one:  Beatrice is wearing a black jacket by Philosophy de Alberta Ferretti and a nude and black dress by 3.1 Phillip Lim.  Eugenie is wearing a teal lace dress by Issa.  We are less than enamored with Eugenie's shoes.  They look just plain wrong with that outfit.

Day one:  We're not sure who created their toppers, but we think Eugenie's falls flat--neither flattering nor interesting.  (And it's Ascot--hats are supposed to be interesting!)  Beatrice on the other hand is wearing a low topped, wide brimmed hat that is super flattering.  Why can't people dress like this on a daily basis?

Day three:  We are simply in love with Beatrice's blue look.  (We'll get to Anne, on the left, later on.)

Day three:  We've not confirmed who created this ensemble, but we're agog.  The hat is a bit lukewarm, but from the neck down Beatrice really looks like royalty.  One quibble is that it looks awfully warm for summertime.  But we don't see her breaking a sweat.

Day four:  Eugenie seems to be wearing both navy and black with a sand colored jacket.  The dress is a bit blah, but at least her hat (mildly flattering) is getting in the spirit of things at Ascot, as is the lady's beside her. 

Day four:  The hat is, by the way, a Philip Treacy creation.  You probably knew that though--those tell-tale "horns" are hard to miss.

Day five:  Va-va-va-voom!  We are a fan of red vixen-ish dresses around here, let me tell you.  (Your faithful narrator got married in one.)  This Alexander McQueen dress donned by Eugenie on the final day of Ascot is particularly interesting.  It's a slightly different version of that bridesmaid's dress worn by Pippa Middleton to Kate and William's wedding.  We're not joking. 

Day five:  On the off chance that Eugenie is actually employing a tailor, seamstress, or otherwise to fit her clothes, we beg her to considering hiring someone else!  This is a gorgeous dress and she really pops in it, but . . . it simply does not fit.  The bunching around the hips, thighs, and under the bosoms is a clear sign, it doesn't fit!  I wonder if she stood all day in fear of busting open a seam.

Day five:  Call us crazy, but did she borrow her sisters' shoes--the ones Beatrice wore on day three with that delicious blue outfit?  Sisterly thrift.  Finally!

Day two:  Not much to say about about the Countess of Wessex.  We want to like the hat--getting into the Ascot spirit and all that--but it looks a bit like she went through a car wash with it.  Oh well.

Day one:  Our last Ascot lady is the wonderfully frugal and perennially slim Princess Royal.  Her outfit on the first day was not terribly flattering--looks a bit big and frumpy.  But we don't hate that color on her.  And for sedate Anne, we must applaud the effort in the hat department.  Too bad about the shoes.

Day two:  Here Princess Anne is wearing a caramel colored get up that looks rather dated.  Honestly, the high-necked dress doesn't bother us so much as the color of the coat and hat (and also the cut of the hat). 

Day two:  But considering Anne first wore this dress in 1980 (lower right-hand corner) for Trooping the Colour . . . we'll overlook those faults.  She wore it again in 1983 (lower left-hand corner) to Epsom and also in 1991 to Ascot (upper right-hand corner).  Bravo for keeping your figure over three decades!

Day three:  We reckon this is a slightly more recent outfit and it's quite a nice color for her.  Not everyone can pull off a pale lavender.  If she had tried a bit harder below the ankle and, perhaps, gone for a bigger hat, she would look really rocking.  So to speak.

And that wraps up Royal Ascot for this year.  Stay tuned for lots, lots more!  Thanks for reading Fashionably Royal.

Ascot 2011 (Her Majesty's Edition)

The Queen was present for each day of Royal Ascot, so this entry is devoted to her outfits.  We'll look at everyone else next time!

Date:  June 2011
Place:  Ascot, England
Event:  Royal Ascot

Elizabeth kicked off the week with a pale green Karl Ludwig dress and coat.  We adore  those shoes.

The hat is purported to be an Angela Kelly creation.  I'm not sure what Ms. Kelly or Her Majesty were thinking, but a disheveled, unraveled mess is never really appropriate for any occasion--now is it?

For day two, the Queen pulled out an old crowd favorite--a white coat and Barbie pink dress and swirl hat.

She has worn this ensemble at least twice before; first, at a royal garden party in 2009 and second, in Muscat during a visit to Oman in 2010.

On day three, Lilibet pulled out another recycled outfit.

She wore this salmon suit and hat previously in Canada in 2010.

We really dig the hat, are on the fence about the color, and really don't care for the slapdash frilly edging.  No comment on the square 1980s buttons.

On the fourth day, the Queen donned another outfit from her 2010 Canadian tour.  She looks lovely in yellow.  She should wear it every day!  Her jewels look great with this suit, too.

On the final day, Elizabeth pulled out yet another suit from her time in Canada last year.

The hat is divine.  The outfit is nice but a bit boring.  No comment, again, on the square buttons.  We love her coordinated umbrella.  And that brooch automatically kicks every outfit up a notch.

That's it for this time.  Thanks for reading Fashionably Royal.  Tune in next time for more coverage of Royal Ascot!

Wimbledon 2011

Tennis is a major passion of mine.  So, I enjoy this post more than is strictly necessary.  Game, set, match!

Date:  June-July 2011
Place:  Southwest London
Event:  The Championships, Wimbledon

First up, Camilla in what seems from a distance to be a cute and appropriate ensemble.

But look a little closer and it gets weird.  Her dress is jutting out through holes in the jacket.  This is not an attractive look on anyone.  On top of that, her jacket does not fit at all well.  Those buttons look like they're about to wave a white flag.  And, can we just take this opportunity to beg the Duchess of Cornwall to get a good bra?  To be frank, the Queen has perkier looking bosoms and she's 85.  Camilla's clothes would fit so much better if she could be bothered.

Next comes Princess Beatrice (and her boyfriend Dave Clark again, yay!).  We've not yet identified the makers of her dress, but we think it's adorable--especially on someone her age. 

One little quibble--the pockets on the jacket help keep the large lapel balanced and when her arms are at her side, the pockets are hidden throwing the jacket balance off.  Looks good clapping, here.

You can see the flamingo pattern on the dress here and better see the trim on the jacket.

THEN!  A few days later, Bea came back for more.  (If I were a royal I would be glued in that box every day!)  This time she wore a white jacket and black and white patterned dress.

The jacket looks just a bit too baggy and we lose sight of her trim figure.  The Issa dress was a bit blah, but not terrible.

Finally, we have the Duchess of Cambridge.  I'm a bit conflicted about this one.  I want to like the effort she put into looking tennis-appropriate, but it comes off just a bit too literal.  In the end, though, she looks pretty and seemed to be having fun.  So we'll let her slide.

The tiered, white dress is a Temperley London creation (the 'Moriah') and is slightly higher end than Kate usually wears and can be bought online here.

There's been a lot of chatter about Kate's bracelet, too, supposed to be a gift from Camilla.  I'm more skeptical, though.  It's said that Camilla's cypher is on one side and Catherine's cypher is on the other side (seen here).  However, I've not been able to find a photo of any other cypher on the bracelet than this one--the cypher of the Duchess of Cambridge. 

Well, that's all of the royal spotting to be done at this year's Wimbledon.  Now, if only some of them would turn up in New York for the US Open in September.  Stay tuned--lots more to come.  Thanks for reading Fashionably Royal.