Kate Middleton Style: anniversary fashion special

Tomorrow will mark the first year wedding anniversary of Kate Middleton and Prince William, and it got me thinking about all the amazing outfits Kate has worn over the past year. Pre-wedding Kate's outfits were gorgeous, but post-wedding they have simply been spectacular. There have been some glamorous ball gowns, casual ensembles, wonderful wedding outfits and amazing royal appointment numbers. Thinking about which outfit would take the number one position in my 'Top Ten Kate Outfits 2011/12' was tough, and I still haven't been able to pick my absolute favourite, but I do know that one outfit springs to mind and would definitely be a contender.

In 2011, Kate stepped out with Prince William and Prince Harry to watch the Epsom Derby, which was at the time the biggest gathering of the Royal Family since the royal wedding.  Kate dazzled in a collarless off-white jacket over a diaphanous white frock and nude platform shoes while Prince William, and Harry opted for a top hat and tails.

For me, I just loved the simplicity of the dress. Catherine's jacket was from Joseph, her clutch by LK Bennett and the dress was from another of Catherine's favourite shops Reiss: it was the 'Peacock' dress. What made the ensemble truly magnificent was the way she styled her hair. Although her long-flowing brunette curls are her trademark, sometimes it pays for Kate to tie her hair up. She looked simply stunning, elegant, chic and youthful.

The designs are no longer available, but I have found you an alternative dress, jacket and clutch. I know the weather in the UK isn't great at the moment, but hopefully this will improve, and the up-and-coming months tend to be taken up by weddings, days at the races, summer parties and the like. This is a great time to start investing in some spring/summer pieces, which will save you money in the future when even more invitations will be landing on your doorstep. Plus, when the weather is gloomy, a spot of Internet shopping will always bring a smile to your face.

This 'Chic Broderie Jacket' from Boden is gorgeous. It does cost £129 but the design and colour means that you can team it up with other summer dresses or dress it down with a pair of jeans and wedge sandals for a daytime look.

This 'Anara' dress from Reiss is a great alternative to the Reiss 'Peacock' dress. It comes in at £189 but, like the Boden jacket, it can be dressed down for day wear or teamed with jackets in another colour (think shades of royal blue) to create a different look, therefore making it a real investment. (Reiss dresses do tend to be timeless, and Kate and Carole have worn several Reiss dress that have been out of season.)

Pair the dress and jacket with nude shoes and a clutch. This is the 'Natalie' clutch from LK Bennett which Kate has used a couple of times, including at the Epsom Races.

 I'm not a fan of fascinators but Kate wears them well, so if you can pull them off too then don't forget to buy one to add the finishing touches to your outfit. Otherwise, I'd recommend a nice pair of plain diamond earrings or a pearl pair to complete the look.

Happy Saturday shopping

x

Kate Middleton, African Cats Premiere and that glow

Tonight, Kate and William attended the UK premiere of African Cats. As usual, Kate looked picture prefect.So what did Kate wear? Here's the first look at her grey two-piece and rich green jewels embellishing the collar and sleeves courtesy of Grazia.

The ensemble is by British designer Matthew Williamson, who is favoured by the like of Sienna Miller.Grazia explains that Williamson had confirmation that the Duchess of Cambridge was planning on wearing the dress, which is part of his pre-fall 2012 collection, but hadn't had confirmation of when she would wear it! What a great surprise for Williamson.

I love the dash of colour-pop on the dove grey dress! (Kate does love to wear grey). I think this dress, in particular, really brings out her eyes, and more importantly, showcases just how fabulous Kate's skin is.

The Daily Mail recently reported that Kate is a fan of Heaven products on the recommendation of the Duchess of Cornwell, Camilla. According to the newspaper, Camilla has discreetly been using Heaven's organic alternative to Botox - a face mask containing bee-sting venom.

The product is pioneered by Deborah Mitchell, who claims that the product is a needle-free shortcut to youthful, line-free skin. The product isn't cheap and comes in at £65 for 50ml or £23 for 15ml.

There are, however, some fabulous alternatives to the Heaven product that will help you achieve the perfect English Rose look that Kate rocks on a daily basis! A brand I use, and couldn't recommended more (I even mentioned it in my book Kate: Style Princess) is Pai Skincare. Pai is a favourite of Natalie Portman and, if you need convincing any more, here is some more reasons to love Pai:

• All of their products are certified organic by the Soil Association
• You won't find "parfum" on any of our ingredient lists - a term that legally allows manufacturers to include up to 200 synthetic chemicals, including phthalates, in their products without declaring them on the label
• They carefully select ingredients with proven remedial and skin soothing properties
• They have a 30-day money-back guarantee

My favourite products are: Geranium & Thistle Combination moisturiser (£24), Camellia & Rose gentle hydrating cleanser (£25 and come with a muslin cloth) and Echium Anti-Ageing eye cream (£24). They even have a starter kit, which works out at a very cheap deal (£80 to include the eye cream and a toner)!

And the final proof: my skin.

What are your favourite beauty products?

Kate Middleton Wedding Anniversary Fashion Special

*I'm going away for just over a week and I won't be able to blog. I wanted to give you a couple of new posts to enjoy while I'm away!

It’s nearly one year on from one of the most spectacular, historically important events of the decade. When William and Kate tied the knot to become the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge the world shared in their happiness, and around the globe people were  inspired by their perfect wedding. I thought I would take the opportunity to toast the couple in the run up to their one-year anniversary and also post a blog on some Kate inspired wedding ideas. This will be a mish-mash of wedding related pieces and will vary in price.

Nail Varnish

 

Firstly, let’s start off with some Essie nail varnish. We now all know that Essie was the go-to varnish for Kate on her wedding day, but did you know that Essie’s Vow to Wow bridal-inspired collection is brand new and should be available soon! Getting your nail varnish colour right on your wedding day is vital – although it may seem like the last thing you need to think about – because it is the finishing touches to the whole outfit and it can take your look from wow to WOW. The right colour for you will depend on what kind of bride you are, but Essie’s new range - comprising of four shades - will have a colour that is just right for you. The colours are demure and delicate in shade and they go beyond sheer neutral colours you normally see on brides. The pale pastel shades are fun, understated and cheap; the perfect choice for any blushing bride. Just don’t forget to get a manicure first!

Instant Hot is my favourite. It has iridescent flecks of shimmer woven into the formula; a touch of sophistication. I also love Like to Be Bad, it’s a ballerina pink shade and it too has an added shimmer for that elegant finish.

Like to be Bad

Instant Hot

Bridesmaids

If Kate was the blushing bride, her sister was the bashful bridesmaid, but somehow sister Pippa nearly stole the show. 

If you have £1995 to spare to dress your bridesmaid then Alexander McQueen have a very similar dress to Pippa’s dress, which is available on netaporter.com

Alternatively, BHS have a replica dress for a fraction of the price (£145 reduced from £175).

The Bride

You have to check out Justin Alexander's website for a replica dress of the second gown that Kate wore on her wedding day.

Justin Alexander Kate inspired dress

Reception

If you're lucky enough to be able to have a second dress for the reception, like Kate and Pippa, and you want to emulate Pippa's look, here are a couple of silver clutches. Silver goes with nearly every colour there is, so even if you haven't dressed your bridesmaids in green you can still co-ordinate their outfits with a silver clutch.

Silver 'Cylinder' Beaded Clutch - Dune - £55

Gemma Diamante Clutch - Monsoon - £25

Valorie Clutch - Anya Hindmarch - £350

Do any of you have some Kate inspired wedding pictures? If so, I'd love to do a blog on them so send them over to me.

Which dresses did you prefer, the wedding/bridesmaid dresses or the reception dresses?

Sara x

Kate Middleton, April Engagements, Fashion For A Premiere And A Style Steal

According to the lovely, and very informative, Charlotte of hrhduchesskate blog, the Cambridges have a few engagements in their diary for the upcoming weeks. One these engagements will be the UK premiere of a nature documentary called African Cats on 25 April. The premiere will be at the National Film Theatre in London. The premiere is in aid of Prince William's charity Tusk Trust. 

The avid Kate fans out there might remember that in January Kate and William attended the premiere of War House. Kate pushed out all the fashion stops and looked simply divine. 

I can't wait to see what she wears to the premiere in April. Charlotte has a great post with some potential dresses including Temperley, Jenny Packham and Sarah Burton for McQueen.

In the meantime, I have sourced out a beautiful dress that is a super cheap alternative to the Temperley dress Kate wore to the War Horse premiere. It's priced at the perfect price of £60 and available from Jane Norman.

 

Team with a black clutch and  stilettos. These Zara shoes are a great match (£69.99).

Or play it safer with these more Middleton-esq shoes from Zara (£59.99).

 What do you think Kate will wear on 25 April? I'd love to hear your thoughts....

Style Princesses: Kate and Pippa both wear the Issa engagement dress!

On Friday I posted a blog on Kate's waxwork model and the Issa dress she wore for her engagement announcement to William. I also recommended the Issa dress in a glamorous poppy-red colour. Well, it seems Pippa has already beaten me to it (except she has a cherry red version).

See Instyle Magazine for more images and an article on Kate and Pippa: Style Twins

So, if you need any excuse to purchase the red Issa dress, available on netaporter.com, then this is certainly it.

Don't have £535 to hand? Try this dress as an alternative and see my Friday blog here for advice on what to team the dress up with.

Kew dress for £73 available at John Lewis. A perfect alternative: cheap, long-sleeved, waist detailing and the middy-knee length.

HAPPY SHOPPING AND HAPPY EASTER!

Sara x

Kate Middleton, Seeing Double, and that Issa Dress in RED!

The first waxwork model of the Duchess of Cambridge was unveiled at Madame Tussauds, London, this week. Kate made her debut alongside an updated model of her husband Prince William.

The couple are shown on the day in November 2010 when they publicly announced their engagement, posing outside St James’s Palace.

Kate is wearing a blue Issa dress, while William is in a navy Gieves and Hawkes suit, with a replica Omega Seamaster watch on his wrist.

It was the day the nation went crazy for Kate, and it was a day the fashion world got caught up in a Kate frenzy. The blue Issa dress that Kate wore sparked a massive global interest and the dress soon sold out. Not only did Kate sell out the dress, it spawned replicas all over the world. 

Well, I'm pleased to tell you that the blue Issa dress has been revamped, reinvented and is available in poppy-red!!!! I love it. As I always say, don't be a Kate clone but replicate with your own touch, and what better way than getting the dress in a fiery shade of red for this spring/summer.

The Royal Engagement silk-jersey dress is available on netaporter.com for a whopping £530. If you have the money it really is an investment piece. (I know I say this a lot, but Kate and Pippa Middleton both buy investment clothing that can be worn again and again, year on year.) The site recommends you wear the ever-classic silk-jersey dress at the office with a tailored jacket and simple black pumps, switching to colour-pop sandals for dinner out with friends. 


While I agree the dress could probably be dressed down for office, I think it's such a beautiful item of clothing it's better saved for dinner dates, evenings out and for occasion wear. I'd recommend teaming the dress with wedge sandals instead of colour-pop sandals, as this is much more Middleton-esq. 

LK Bennett Rose Black Wedge

LK Bennett's Rose Black peep-toe cork wedge sandals are the perfect match. They cost £165, but again they are worth the investment. Buy them in black to compliment the red dress. They are also available in pink and navy (a perfect match for the blue dress if you are lucky enough to own it, or a replica). Marks and Spencer also have a wonderful pair of espadrille wedges, and they are much cheaper than the LK Bennett pair. They also have Insolia, which I couldn't recommend more - all you need to know is that it makes the shoes super comfy to wear! 

Marks and Spencer Espadrille Sandal

Both pairs of shoes would look fantastic with nearly all those Middleton-esq pieces in your wardrobe because they are classic, versatile and timeless. If you don't like wedges, you could get a basic pair of black court shoes, which would be equally nice and compliment the outfit.

Complete your outfit with a staple Kate bag - the clutch. This Anya Hindmarch Valorie Cluch is to die for. It cost £350 but is worth every penny. I love the glitter, which would add sparkle to the outfit (especially if you don't have a blue sapphire sparkler on your finger, like Kate!)

The alternative is LK Bennett's Avon Black clutch (£165). I love the clasp detailing and the fact it comes with a thin metal strap if you get tired of holding it all night. 

There are loads of wedge sandals and clutches out there - both expensive and cheap. I picked out my favourites, which just happen to be quite costly, but if you search around you can find similar on the high street for less and still look fabulous like Kate. 

Rate the outfit below and feel free to comment on the look - I'd love to hear what you think.

Thanks! 

Sara

Kate and Pippa Middleton, do the double again!

Only a few days ago did I report that Kate and Pippa Middleton have similar taste in jeans (see here), and it seems the sister are at it again! According to Instyle Magazine, the Duchess of Cambridge and her younger sister both recently stepped out in light wash denim styles by Italian label Met.

Kate paired her 'Karma' skinny jeans with a shearling coat and rain boots. The shearling coat was an LK Bennett number (if you look through my past tweets [the 6th February, in fact] you will see I flagged this up to you lovely ladies) and cost just under £700. Kate was papped in this outfit while taking her super cute dog, Lupo, for a walk in Kensington Gardens.



 

Photo from Instyle

Shop for similar Met styles at metonweb.com and yoox.com. These Met jeans would be perfect and only cost £64.

Pippa, on the other hand, went Parisian chic on us and teamed her 'X-Angel' skinnies with a checked Maje shirt, completed with an olive green Fay jacket. J'adore Maje clothing! Their clothing is exceptionally chic, well-made and oh so Parisian (just what I love!) In fact, Pippa often channels the Parisian look.

UK readers, Maje on netaporter.com doesn't have any similar styles to Pippa's clothing, but they do have an amazingly beautiful Middleton-esq jacket. If I had £345 I would invest in this item.

Let's get back on track, so aside from this wonderful jacket, Franklin and Marshall have a great checked shirt that would definitely fit the bill as a copy of the Maje shirt Pippa is wearing. It's a bargain for only £19.99.

 Boden have some lovely jackets in, at the fraction of the price of Pippa's Fay jacket. See these two links for a replica Pippa jacket. Jacket 1 (£90) and Jacket 2 (£63.20).

If you want to emulate Kate's style, invest in a pair of Hunter wellies. You can get them in all sorts of great colours, not just green, and they are a good price.For a more costly pair, check out Le Chamea, who sell their wellies for about £300. Kate has been seen sporting both brands.

Happy Shopping.

Please rate the outfit below :)

Kate Middleton's Ski Clothing

Kate and William, the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge, have just returned home to Anglesey from a ski holiday in the French Alps. According to press reports they flew easyJet.William is said to have whisked Kate away on holiday for missing Valentine's Day, following a long six weeks apart, in which he has been flying a helicopter for the RAF in the Falklands.

Perhaps the couple flew with the budget airline because skiing is such an expensive hobby and the clobber can be very expensive. If you love skiing as much as William and Kate seem to then I have a couple of Kate replicate ski outfits for you. The main thing to do when replicating Kate's sporty ski wear look is to think sweet, sensible and stylish.

Hello Magazine have exclusive pictures, so best go out and buy yourself a copy if you want to see Kate in her most recent clobber.

In the past, Kate has worn a practical red Schoffel ski jacket with black salopettes, which are spot on for that sophisticated royal look.

Below is a replica of Kate's red Schoffel and it's called the Selma Jacket, by Schoffel. It costs £320 reduced from £400.Schoffel also do great black salopettes, check out rockandsnow.com for more gear.

You could also try shopping the Stella McCartney ski range to achieve Kate's ski style.Stella's clothes are super stylish and super comfortable.The white jacket, below, sold through Sweaty Betty is only £225.

Don't be caught in a blizzard without a pair of Bolle goggles. Kate has been seen sporting a pair in the past.

Lastly, don't forget to pack attire for all that apres-ski action! Think jeans and a tailored jacket or faux fur gilet to channel Kate's laid-back look; remember, they have those wonderful log fires, so you won't need clumpy coats for apres-ski. Here's a few ideas:


J Brand 811 Mid Rise Skinny Leg Jeans £245.

This Zara jacket (£79.99) is simply divine (the image on the website really doesn't do it any justice, so you just have to trust me!). It has wonderful leather patch detailing on the elbow and, although not available on the website, comes in a beautiful taupe colour (which would compliment Kate's  hair perfectly). My sister bought the jacket at the weekend, and I love it. We joked in the shop it was very KMiddy! I never switch off from keeping my eyes open for Kate inspired pieces.

 Dash faux fur gilet £25

Team said items with knee high boots, suede if possible! And don't forget the layers underneath (a simple, plain t-shirt or roll neck jumper will suffice!)

Happy skiing!!!