Showing posts with label Jenny Packham. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Jenny Packham. Show all posts

24 September 2016

The Cambridges in Canada: Your Open Post

And they're off! The Cambridge family has landed in Victoria, Canada, kicking off a week long tour.
You knew it was only a matter of time before William converted them all to the blue suit brigade. The Duchess is handling her part of the family coordination scheme in a blue Jenny Packham dress, with maple leaves all around (a blue Lock & Co. hat adorned with maple leaves - this is the same designer that did 2011's red maple leaf hat - plus the diamond Maple Leaf Brooch on loan again from the Queen). Really lovely.

We'll be checking in with the tour periodically over the next week on the blog. For those of you that want to discuss the whole thing as it happens, you're welcome to use this post throughout. As always, mind the comment policy and enjoy!
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20 September 2016

Royal Trips of the Day: September 20

When the United Nations kicks into gear, the royals come running to New York City. A grab bag sampling of recent royal NYC looks:

Princess Madeleine attended the World Childhood Foundation USA Thank You Gala 2016 in New York last week.
From gala dinner to gala toga party without a change required, so handy! Really, this repeated Jenny Packham gown has a whole ethereal thing going on that's quite pleasant, but that bodice also has a whole patched up wardrobe malfunction thing going on.
Jenny Packham Fall 2012 RTW
Vogue

Crown Princess Victoria started her visit to New York City by supporting Swedish fashion at the Capsule show.

It's zebra and also not zebra, all at once, and I'm all for any compromise that brings us closer to the zebra side. I like the way she's wearing this. Great choice for the venue.
Dress by WHYRED, h/t The Royals and I

King Felipe and Queen Letizia started a visit to New York at the UN headquarters.
House of HM the King
Now THIS, this is lovely. And you won't be at all surprised to find that it is by Carolina Herrera, as tends to be the case with most of my favorite Letizia outfits these days. You just keep up those Herrera shopping sprees, Queen L.
Letizia's version, and a gown adaptation from the Carolina Herrera Fall 2016 runway
House of HM the King/Vogue
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23 June 2016

Royal Outfit of the Day: June 23

It seems the moment many of you have been waiting for has finally arrived.
The Duke and Duchess of Cambridge attended a gala dinner for East Anglia's Children's Hospices' Nook Appeal
I know this Jenny Packham gown has been on many a wish list for a repeat; we haven't seen it since its debut in 2011. It's not among my personal favorites (I don't love the shoulder/neck detail, kinda?), so I'll stand here to the side and hand out paper bags for those of you that need to breathe.
Jenny Packham
But you know that my ambivalence does not extend to either #TeamUpdo or #TeamMoreDiamonds, and the styling this time has been given a major upgrade. The Duchess wore diamond chandelier earrings on loan from the Queen (worn several times before), along with Queen Mary's Diamond Bar Choker Bracelet (first worn at last year's Chinese state banquet), which is also on loan from the Queen after passing through Queen Mary and Queen Elizabeth the Queen Mother. (More on that piece at the Vault.) Pile it on, please.

Psst: Tiara post will be tomorrow.
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11 April 2016

Royal Trip Report of the Day: April 11

The Duke and Duchess of Cambridge started their tour of India and Bhutan with a stop in Mumbai, where the Duchess managed to check off pretty much every item on the India tour must-have list - just on the first day. Must be some sort of royal tour record.

Laying a wreath at the Taj Mahal Palace hotel in Mumbai on arrival
Photo: Kensington Palace Twitter
Vibrant prints and Indian design inspiration: Check! Paisley patterns "became very popular in the West in the 18th and 19th centuries, following imports of post-Mughal versions of the design from India," according to my super extensive Wikipedia research, so the motif in use by a favorite British designer - it's a modified look from the Alexander McQueen Pre-Fall 2016 collection - is one diplomatic nod of an outfit.
Photo: Alexander McQueen
This is an excellent look with which to play my favorite royal tour outfit game, Will we ever see it again? Place your bets now.

Meeting cricket stars Sachin Tendulkar and Dilip Vengsarkarand and meeting with representatives from local charities. They also took a bus tour with children, visited a slum, and visited the Banganga Water Tank
Photo: British Asian Trust Twitter
Wearing Indian designers: Check! Kate wasted no time donning a frock from Mumbai designer Anita Dongre. Her selection, the Gulrukh Tunic Dress with Jaipur-inspired motifs in printed georgette, was just the right length with a nice flow. Just for a tiny peek into tour planning: her appearance in the dress came as a surprise for the designer, though the label's lookbook was requested by the royal team.
Video: Cricket shenanigans and #TeamShades
It was as good a dress as you can have for playing cricket, if there is such a thing as a good cricket-playing dress. (She's developing a curious specialty in engagements with athletic events completed in heels and skirts and flowing hair. Play to your strengths, I guess.)

Attending the evening's Bollywood charity gala
Photo: Kensington Palace Twitter
Color, embellishment, color, Indian jewels, and color: CHECK! Kate wrapped up her check list with a serious dose of vibrant blue, a fabulous flowing train, and some more diplomatic details. The dress is from one of her favorite evening gown designers, Jenny Packham, but the beading on the top and the wrap was completed in India.
Photo: UK in India Twitter
For this round of Will we ever see it again?, I sincerely hope the answer is yes. I love the dress without the shawl (seen above, with the bouquet) (is it still a bouquet when it's that large? Seems like a two hand requirement should drop it out of bouquet range. Whatever, it's gorgeous), and can't wait to see some sapphires paired with it in the future.
Photo: UK in India Twitter
She also checked off the "Indian jewels" category from the tour must-have list - though not in the way many were hoping. As I said when I wrote about jewels from the Queen's collection with an Indian connection over at the Jewel Vault, I doubted that we would see such royal gems appear during this trip. At what is expected to be the glitziest event of the tour, they did not.
But she did go for new earrings from Indian jeweler Amrapali, in lapis lazuli and diamonds. These are a bigger statement piece than I would have expected from her - from Queen Máxima, sure; the Swedish princesses, why not - but hey, whatever it takes to inch us towards bigger gems. Keep it coming.

Need more? Here is a tremendously lengthy gallery at Zimbio. More tour coverage to come around here as the week rolls on.
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22 December 2015

Year in Review: Crown Princess Victoria's Best of 2015

I usually start thinking about my picks for the best of the year in early December, but I always leave room for the Nobels on Crown Princess Victoria's list. Just in case, you know. And this is why:
Purple and a cape and a new-ish tiara choice and some amethysts thrown in for good measure. Bliss in bespoke By Malina - both my favorite Victoria tiara appearance for the year and my favorite Victoria appearance of all in 2015.

I had plenty of other options lined up, though. With her mastery of maternity wear and the special events she attended this year, my honorable mentions list could go on:

    What's your pick for Victoria's Best of 2015?

    Photos: via Getty Images, SVT screencaps
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    21 December 2015

    Year in Review: The Duchess of Cambridge's Best of 2015

    This was a year with a maternity leave and without an international tour for the Duchess of Cambridge, but - thanks to the tiara gods - the pickings for her Best of 2015 were still easy as can be:
    A master class in how to incorporate diplomatic symbolism into your outfit in an elegant way, what we saw of the Jenny Packham dress (state banquets, alas, aren't great for fashion perusal, but I'll take what I can get) was swishy and just a touch sparkly.
    It doesn't exactly hurt that the look was also laden with diamonds on loan from the Queen and topped by one of my favorite tiaras and a fab chignon, but the dress can stand on its own as a 2015 highlight.

    Honorable mentions:
    • We didn't really get to see her dress for the Diplomatic Reception (speaking of events not great for fashion perusal, harrumph), but the surprise tiara debut was enough for an honorable mention alone.
    What's your pick for her Best of 2015?

    Photos: via Getty Images, Telegraph video screencap
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    28 October 2015

    Royal Gowns of the Day: October 28

    These are Kate's recent evening appearances, and this is also the post in which I reverse all my prior opinions:

    The Duke and Duchess of Cambridge and Prince Harry attended the premiere of the new James Bond film, Spectre, on Monday
    First, she threw a 1930s curveball at us with this belted Jenny Packham gown. And she threw in an updo and a fabulous pair of blue topaz and diamond earrings, which would normally be enough to make me swoon over anything. However. But. Well...
    Robinson Pelham earrings (as identified by Anna, and worn by Carole Middleton to her daughter's 2011 wedding party), and a Jenny Packham gown (modified from the Spring 2011 runway)
    As much as I love the idea of her going all Old Hollywood, I think that's the sort of theme that needs a bit more commitment. Maybe starting with a sleeker hairdo. Yeah, mark this down as the rare occasion an updo didn't win me over. I give the whole thing...three blinks and a shrug. (I'll still take the earrings, though.) (And the dates, hey-o.)

    In other reversals of opinion...

    The Duchess of Cambridge attended the 100 Women in Hedge Funds Gala at the V&A
    Given my well-documented dislike of Crown Princess Mette-Marit's famous prairie dresses, I should not take well to an attempt to usurp that Nordic pioneer throne. But against all odds, I kinda like this particular change of pace. (What's not against all odds: me disagreeing with most of you, probably.) The dimension and movement of that ruffle intrigue me - yeah that's right, I STAND WITH THE RUFFLE - and it's nice to see her in a bold Erdem floral that strikes closer to the designs for which the label is so well known.
    Erdem, available at Net-a-Porter. Earrings, available in your dreams.
    The sapphire and diamond earrings here are A+ too: more jewels debuted from the stash of the late Queen Mother! Naturally, I have a post up on them over at the Jewel Vault. And also naturally, I'd totally copy and paste the previous evening's hair here, because these babies deserve to be shown off. (Some things never change after all...)
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    22 October 2015

    Royal State Visit of the Day: October 22

    The Duke and Duchess of Cambridge have been front and center for the Chinese state visit to the United Kingdom, thanks to Prince William's trip to the country earlier this year. As the state visit continued yesterday, they accompanied President Xi and Madame Peng for a Lancaster House event focusing on creative collaboration between the two countries.

    Dolce & Gabbana may have been a surprise selection for the Duchess (even if a lace dress of any sort was anything but surprising), but she was hopping on board a royal mini-trend for these D&G dresses. Her guipere lace dress in a plum shade was paired with accessories in similar shades.

    Dolce & Gabbana dress, at Net-a-Porter
    The dress itself, I love. I don't find it too evening-ish (not any more so than the rest of her lace dress collection, really), but at the same time, I'm waiting to see it at an evening event with an updo so that lace turtleneck collar can breathe, and also for maximum Edwardian flair.

    The state banquet on Tuesday was handled at the Jewel Vault with full coverage and full jewel identifications for all family members, but since I like babbling about tiara stuff and since it never hurts to look at pretty gowns more than once, let's sum up the big Cambridge state banquet debut.
    Kate's first state banquet appearance proved she paid particularly close attention to the Sartorial Symbolism section of her How to Royal It Up: The Right Way handbook. Her bespoke Jenny Packham gown is red, the color of joy and good fortune in China. And while I rejoice that she wore the Lotus Flower Tiara again just because I like it so much more than her wedding tiara, there's more to it since the lotus symbol has significance of its own in Chinese culture.


    Video: Short look at the state banquet. A longer version, including the royal family's entrance and both speeches, is posted at the Vault.
    Those seeking some internal royal family symbolism in the form of a royal family order for Kate were in for a letdown when she turned up order-free. (Count me among the unsurprised; the rest of those yellow-bowed brooches were handed out to those doing the "full time royal" gig, and we know the Queen doesn't give honors out like candy. Kate's future holds plenty of RFO-wearing, anyway.) But if jewel loans are anything to go by, all is copacetic between Cambridge #1 and the Boss Lady: the tiara, her diamond chandelier earrings, a diamond bracelet from Queen Mary via the Queen Mother, and the bracelet Prince Philip designed for the Queen as a wedding present were all on loan to the Duchess. The Wedding Gift Bracelet, known so well as a personal  part of Her Maj's collection, was an extra special surprise.

    Now that we have all that blah blah blah aside, did ya like the look? For me, well, it has a swishy skirt. And you know my stance on Things That Are Swishy. (Which is, to be clear: WANT.)

    Photos: via Getty Images, Net-a-Porter, Telegraph video screencap
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    12 June 2015

    Prince Carl Philip & Sofia’s Wedding: The Pre-Wedding Dinner

    The party is starting! Ready your jumpy claps!

    This evening, wedding guests gathered for a short boat ride on the way to the venue for the pre-wedding dinner. Only a couple of the international royal guests were present, but the headline family members certainly did give us some things to discuss...

    Prince Carl Philip and Sofia Hellqvist
    I wondered if Sofia would continue the trend of wearing Elie Saab for her pre-wedding event, as her soon-to-be-sisters-in-law both did. And I was close: she wore Zuhair Murad, a.k.a. almost Elie Saab! (Also the groom was present. He wore a tux.)
    Many of us have been hoping we’d see more of Zuhair Murad on the royal red carpet, and I think this couture dress certainly delivers. Just enough sparkle, and with a train (which looked like it was detachable) added to the back to give it a little extra royal oomph.
    And the blue is divine on her, no? I love it. What a great start to the event!

    The King and Queen
    {SCREECH} Well, that escalated quickly. Let’s just say that something had to come in third place on the list of Silvia's best mother of the bride and/or groom pre-wedding outfits (it's a very specific list)...call it the sacrificial lamb?

    Crown Princess Victoria and Prince Daniel
    Okay, this is better! Victoria’s sparkly, slinky number is perfect for this and also for her next Great Gatsby-themed party (I figure there’s no point to living in a palace if you’re not going to throw the occasional Gatsby party, right?).
    Crown Princess Victoria wore Jenny Packham, the original model from a bridal collection (the Packham bridal collections always have dresses that are great more uses than bridal, though). She also had a brooch in back in her updo, and you know I luv her for that.

    Victoria, Daniel, and Crown Princess Mette-Marit
    With many royal guests arriving tomorrow, it was a lovely surprise to see Victoria and Daniel bring part of the Norwegian contingent: Crown Princess Mette-Marit, Princess Märtha Louise, and Ari Behn. Crown Prince Haakon joined the party by car a bit later. Mette-Marit repeated the Giambattista Valli dress she wore to Queen Margrethe’s birthday dinner earlier this year.

    Princess Märtha Louise and Ari Behn
    Apparently seeing that his wife was intent on a tasteful beige dress, Ari Behn decided someone had to shake things up and tossed a sash around his waist. Sure, man, why not?

    Princess Madeleine and Chris O'Neill
    Also skipping the boat ride in favor of arriving by car, Princess Madeleine breezed by in a basic but sort of ethereal maternity dress.

    Lastly, a couple aunts and an extra international royal couple, just for good measure:

    Princess Birgitta, doing her Birgitta thing.

    Princess Margaretha, doing her Margaretha thing. (What more can you say?)

    Prince Leopold and Princess Ursula of Bavaria...doing their thing. A very sequin-y floral thing, which is a curious combo.

    All in all, not a bad start to a wedding weekend. This entry may be updated later on, and feel free to add more in the comments!

    Photos: via Getty Images as indicated, Expressen video
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    08 June 2015

    Royal Trip of the Day: June 8

    The Swedish royal family celebrated National Day on Saturday. Before Crown Princess Victoria got to that, though, she embarked on a two day trip to Portugal that revolved around the Volvo Ocean Race and included a stint sailing with Team SCA in addition to other engagements. I'm going to say...tentatively...she's officially got her style mojo back. Celebrate! (While knocking on wood, come on now, don't jinx it.)

    My love for this Preen dress is REAL, and I will tell you about it every chance I get. Take note.

    MY LOVE FOR PURPLE DRESSES IS ALSO REAL. And this one is so, so great - so great she couldn't help accessorizing with lavender earrings.
    More pieces for her collection of Shourouk costume jewels, which is going to grow at an exponential pace if matching gems to dresses is required.

    And this one is the best use of her big Jenny Packham collar/necklace we've seen yet. Success at last! 

    As they have done in past years, the family released a new picture of Princess Estelle as a greeting for National Day. (Photo: Kate Gabor / Kungahuset.se)
    Victoria's trip lasted right up until National Day. A little too close to National Day, actually, because flight troubles in Denmark on the way back resulted in her having to travel overnight by car instead, cutting it close with a packed day of engagements waiting at home for her. That day began with a fun white look for Victoria at a citizenship ceremony and ended with the rest of the royal family at the annual concert.

    The concert means national costume for everyone! Well, for the ladies. The gents don't play along. Sofia Hellqvist added to the blue and yellow festival this year, missing only the white kerchief which is for married women.

    A very pregnant Princess Madeleine modeled a maternity version of the national dress, wisely opting out of the bumpy carriage the rest of the family took. Just a few more days left to hang in there...

    Photos: via Kungahuset and Getty Images as indicated, Lyst
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    24 March 2015

    Royal Outfits of the Day: March 24

    It's time to spend a little quality time with Crown Princess Victoria, my friends.
    Last week, she presented awards at The Royal Swedish Academy of Letters, History and Antiquities, which is another of those events for the Swedish royals where they do the whole gown + orders thing, but stop just short of a tiara (boo). And she was practically crying out to put a tiara on, donning this repeated Jenny Packham crystal headpiece. I do appreciate the effort, V.
    Pronovias gown and Jenny Packham headpiece
    As for the gown, it's a repeated number that turns out to be from Pronovias. If I recall correctly, it got a resounding meh from the peanut gallery the last time we saw it, but I'm sticking to my guns: I love it! Enough lace to be delicate, not enough to aggravate my ongoing case of lace fatigue. Gorgeous. (Click here for some more pics.)

    Currently, she and Daniel are in South Korea for an official visit.
    And OMG SHE WORE HER HAIR DOWN THIS IS BIG PEOPLE. It's seriously been a few years since we've seen her with her hair down in public, and as someone who is on Team Updo but is even more firmly on Team Variety, I am thrilled to see it. Nothing can bring this great moment down!
    {SAD TROMBONE} Oh.
    Having learned her lesson, that even black clothes can be see-through if you add enough flash photography, she was well and truly covered up for their next event.

    Victoria's black blouse on arrival did perk my interest, though (for reasons other than transparency mishaps, okay). Crown Princess Mary, with the rest of the Danish royal family, attended the funeral of a close friend of Queen Margrethe's last week. Funeral wear is beyond critique as far as I'm concerned, but I'm just wondering...
    ...you think we could get the Duchess of Cambridge to don her black dress with the white Peter Pan collar this week so we could call it a hat trick?

    Photos: via Twitter and Getty Images as indicated, Pronovias, Jenny Packham
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    23 February 2015

    Potential Royal Fashion of the Day: February 23

    It's Fall 2015 Ready-to-Wear runway time, so let's waste away our Monday looking at some pretty things and dreaming up a wish list for royal fashion to come. As always, click the designer names to be taken to the full collection...

    I'd just like someone to wear that one up there on the left for me, please. Anyone. Thanks.

    From pastels to orange tartans and back, there are a few things here that we could see pop up in one form or another on the Duchess of Cambridge or the Countess of Wessex. Probably not the black PVC numbers, but one never knows.

    Mixed materials and patterns characterized the collection from Queen Letizia's new favorite designer (well, the designer I'm pushing until it becomes her fave, that is).

    And a few more, for good measure:
    • Here comes a bunch of designers we've seen a time or two on the Duchess of Cambridge, starting with Temperley London.
    • Anything Mulberry for Kate this season? There's a poncho in there I wouldn't mind getting my hands on.
    • We haven't seen much Jonathan Saunders on the Duchess, but from what we've seen so far she'd probably go for only tamer pieces, and one at a time.
    • Some Boss, designed by Jason Wu, for Hugo Boss fans Crown Princess Mary or Queen Letizia, perhaps?
    • Here's some Diane von Furstenberg, whose classic wrap dresses are in many royal wardrobes.
    • I'm sad to say the first Oscar de la Renta collection without the master himself didn't flip my skirt like it usually does. (Sidebar: I did like the dress from this collection which appeared on Sienna Miller at last night's Oscars, though.) (Sidebar to the sidebar: Was fairly underwhelmed by Oscars fashion on the whole this year. Anyone else? Just...less than memorable. Meh.)
    Photos: Style.com
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    10 February 2015

    Celebrity Style Swap of the Day: February 10

    Some of you noticed something a little familiar on the red carpet at the GRAMMY Awards this weekend. Here's Taylor Swift...
    Wearing Elie Saab and magenta shoes.

    And here's our very own Duchess of Cambridge, in one of the outfits last year that most divided you all...
    Wearing Jenny Packham and pastel pink L.K. Bennett shoes.

    One mini/maxi skirt combo and a pair of accent shoes does not a solid connection make, in my opinion, but I'm up for the reaching challenge. And who wins the eternal Who wore it best? game? If you're going to do this skirt thing, you might as well do it at the Grammys and you might as well do it big time with the high contrast between the two skirt levels, so I'd call Taylor for the win there. On the other hand, Kate wins the shoe competition, if only for her significantly less chunky straps. Nobody's completely selling me on the overskirt as a fashion statement, but maybe if we mashed them up, we could get somewhere. Et toi?

    Photos: Via Getty Images as indicated
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    10 December 2014

    Royal Trip of the Day: December 10

    The Duke and Duchess of Cambridge have been on a trip to New York City this week, culminating in the St. Andrews 600th Anniversary Dinner last night.
    A trip full of new outfits (coats, mostly coats) and wouldn't you know - it's the repeat that catches my eye.
    I liked this Jenny Packham the first two times we saw it, and now with added jewels and an updo, what's not to love?
    The Duchess debuted new emerald and diamond earrings with a matching emerald and diamond bracelet. The pieces were private gifts. Based on new pieces given to other family members by Middle Eastern monarchies, I wouldn't be shocked to hear these have the same origin, but that's just guessing. They look pretty modern to me, and those are pretty big emeralds with a lovely bright color.
    And there's that updo - aw, it's like she knew we'd demand a proper look at those earrings - with a bonus Princess Eugenie sighting! The NYC resident was kind enough to come and say hello to her cousins. A better look at her color blocked gown:
    I really can't decide if all those angles help or hurt the situation, but I'm leaning towards a thumbs up. Et toi?

    Photos: Pool and Samir Hussein/WireImage via Getty Images; Jenny Packham
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    24 October 2014

    Royal Outfit of the Day: October 24

    So, this is puuurrrty:
    Victoria's dress, I mean. Specifically speaking. Not that they aren't a good looking group overall. But - the DRESS! Very Jenny Packham-esque (I don't know whether it is or is not for sure, at the time I'm writing, though I'm sure it will turn up), with certain similarities to the Packham/Tadashi Shoji dress we've seen time and again. This muted teal color looks fantastic on Victoria and the delicate lace adds a lot of interest to an otherwise plain number.
    If I could quibble - and you know me, that's what I do best - the beaded tassel earrings are not quite right. They are, however, from Oscar de la Renta, and of course this is being interpreted as a special gesture to the late designer's memory. Big statement earrings are definitely Victoria's style, special gesture or not. But as we can see in the video below, they're just a touch overpowering. There's a lot of swing happening there.
    Anyway, I'm taking the earrings out of the equation and calling this a win for Victoria. Agreed?


    Photos: Oscar de la Renta/Kungahuset video
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    22 October 2014

    Royal Return of the Day: October 22

    The Duchess of Cambridge yesterday returned to the royal stage for the first time since the announcement of her second pregnancy. It was a two-event day, and she returned to two of her favorite labels, Alexander McQueen and Jenny Packham. Getting back to your favorites is a bit of comfort for when you're feeling poorly, right? Sartorial chicken soup, in a way.

    First up, she and William greeted the President of Singapore and his wife as they kicked off their state visit. The Cambridges were filling in for the absent Prince of Wales and Duchess of Cornwall, who usually take care of this part of the visit. Outfit #1 was a new McQueen coat dress with a repeated gray Jane Taylor hat. I do enjoy a bit of Prince of Wales check.

    The couple did not attend the state banquet in the evening (but you can discuss those that did over at the Vault). Instead, Kate headed to the National History Museum in a new Jenny Packham dress and repeated L.K. Bennett shoes.
    If this double skirt situation doesn't come with a built-in solution for when you hit a Whitney/Mariah VMA moment, then I don't know what it's all about. (Am I the only one having that particular flashback? Probably.)
    Also, I really need these shoes in my closet. You never know when it's going to be a bows-on-shoes sort of day. Best to be prepared.

    Photos: WPA Pool via Getty Images, L.K. Bennett
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    03 October 2014

    Style Speculation of the Day: October 3, Plus a Programming Note

    The Spring 2015 Ready-to-Wear fashion shows are wrapping up in Paris, and prior to that in New York, London, and Milan. Will we see any of these fresh looks on our royal favorites? Time to make your wish list! Just a few from some royal favorites... (Click the designer names below to see the whole collection.)

    This collection includes a few psychedelic turns on Crown Princess Mette-Marit's favorite prairie girl dresses. So...watch out for that. Valentino fans are all over the royal sphere, so we're bound to see some of this at one point or another.

    Not my favorite Elie Saab collection, but the abundance of options that are not overly embellished (which is a hallmark of his couture stuff, and less so of his RTW collections) should make some of you happy. Keep an eye out for the ladies of Luxembourg and Sweden.

    Jenny Packham's not about to let that fern pattern she used for the Duchess of Cambridge go to waste, no sir! Potentials here for the aforementioned Duchess, and maybe for Crown Princess Victoria.

    More:
    • Pinstripe formal shorts and rainbow boots at Chanel. So that's what we'll be seeing in Monaco, then.
    • Akris is trying to make visors happen, heaven help us. Charlene, resist the pull. (It's an otherwise boring collection, in my opinion.)
    • A lotta fringe business happening at Giambattista Valli. Right up Mette-Marit's alley, and she has worn this designer before.
    • By the time we see Alexander McQueen on the Duchess of Cambridge, it's pretty far removed from anything shown on the runway. I did like the collection, though, and it's hard not to see those higher waists and be tempted to translate it to maternity gear.
    • Prada's collection is going to increase the coat section of Crown Princess Mary's closet.
    • Kind of a plain collection from Emilia Wickstead. Reason to hope the Duchess of Cambridge and the Countess of Wessex keep up the bespoke stuff.
    • Princess Madeleine's been spending time with Zac Posen (per his Instagram). The man does know how to do a serious ballgown, perfect for the Nobel time of year...

    Programming note: Stop back on Sunday for a new post! Same time, same place.

    Photos: Style.com
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