Strictly Kate (Catherine - The Duchess of Cambridge): November 2013

Friday, November 29, 2013

The Duchess Dazzles in Temperley as She Meets Sports Stars of the Future

Daily Mail/Weir Photos/Splash News

Last night, Kate met some of Britain's most promising Olympic and Paralympic hopefuls at the SportsAid fundraising dinner in London.

Daily Mail/Andrew Parsons/i-Images

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Daily Mail/AP

The glittering ball, sponsored by Tiffany & Co and Laurent-Perrier champagne, was held at swanky pop-up venue Supernova in Embankment Gardens.

Daily Mail/Tim Rooke/REX

Daily Mail/AP

The event raised money to help fund Britain's next generation of elite athletes aiming to emulate the success of Team GB at London 2012.

Mirror/Philip Coburn

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The Duchess was greeted by a group of athletes at the door before settling down for a three-course meal that included chicken and cranberry Wellington, slow-cooked shoulder of lamb, and a chocolate pudding.

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After dinner, Kate presented the One-to-Watch Award for the most impressive up-and-coming young athlete to Amber Hill, 16, who already competes with the senior British shooting team and is ranked fifth in the world.

Daily Mail/James Whatling/Splash News

Daily Mail

Daily Mail/Stephen Lock/i-Images

The Duchess walked down the red carpet in a black, intricate laser-cut design cocktail dress with a nude under slip. The 'Templeton' dress is by Temperley London and from the designers 2012 autumn/winter collection. It retailed for £995 and was then marked down to £398. It sold out within minutes.

Lyst.com

The knee length frock was inspired by Renaissance stained glass and featured three quarter length sleeves and a black bodice with nipped in waist.

Additional Info:

Made of a taffeta style fabric

Plain body with a detailed neck yoke

Sleeve and skirt finished with a feminine scallop

Demure and slightly Audrey Hepburn in feel.

It has a nipped in waist

Slightly exaggerated shoulder

Full skirt

Available in solid black or with a contrast lining that accentuates the laser cut design

Fabric Composition: 100% Polyester Lining: 94% Silk, 6% Elastane

True to size.

Standard dress length, hem on knee

Daily Mail/WeirPhotos/Splash News

Splash News/WKW

Kate finished her look with black suede, five-inch 'Cosmic' pumps (£450) by Jimmy Choo, her red Alexander McQueen bow clutch (last seen at the Thames for the Diamond Jubilee celebrations), and her sparkling diamond bracelet.

Daily Mail/Reuters

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The Duchess appeared to have had her hair darkened and trimmed in preparation for the event as well as an inch or so cut from the length.

Daily Mail/James Whatling/Splash News

Thursday, November 21, 2013

Kate Attends First Annual Resilience and Emotional Strength in Schools Forum

Daily Mail/Justin Goff/GoffPhotos.com

Yesterday, Kate braved the wintry weather and attended the first annual Resilience and Emotional Strength in Schools Forum to combat the issue of cyber bullying. The forum was organized by children's mental health charity Place2Be at the offices of the law firm Clifford Chance in Canary Wharf, London.

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Mirror/PA

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The Duchess of Cambridge, who is royal patron of the charity listened to health and education experts, and discussed such 21st century problems as cyber-bullying and “sexting” with experts at the forum. She took particular interest in the mental well-being of under-fives.

Daily Mail/PA

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Daily Mail/AFP/Getty Images

Kate is said to have been a victim of bullying at the private Downe House school in Berkshire, which she left after just two terms to attend Marlborough College in Wiltshire.

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The visit was supposed to last for two hours, but the Duchess was so immersed in the subject that she stayed for an extra hour to listen to talks on addiction and self-harm. She then enjoyed singing from the children of St Edmund's Primary School in Tower Hamlets.

Place2Be/Colin Baldwin Photography

Place2Be works with 75,000 children in more than 200 schools in some of the most deprived parts of Britain. The charity was one of the first patronages taken on by the Duchess.

Daily Mail/Getty Images

Daily Mail/SC

Just Jared

Express/Max Mumby

The Duchess of Cambridge opted to wear a navy knife pleated skirt by Orla Kiely (from the deisgners S/S 2012 collection), which she paired with a gorgeous navy MaxMara jacket (A/W 2013 Collection). She almost suffered a wardrobe malfunction as gust of wind blew up her skirt.

Additional details on the Orla Kiely skirt:

Classic pleated skirt in crepe fabric with permanent pleats all the way around skirt.

Button and concealed zip to fasten at center back.

Fully lined.

Length: 52cm.

63% Polyester. 33% Viscose. 4% Elastane.
$205 (sold out)

Daily Mail/KCK

Kate accessorized her outfit with a pair of thin opaque tights, blue suede Alexander McQueen heels, her Russell and Bromley blue suede Muse clutch (£245) and her Annoushka pearl drop earrings.

Daily Mail/Michael Dunlea/Bancroft Media

Daily Mail/SC

Her hair was, sensibly, swept back in a half up, half down do.

Daily Mail/Justin Goff/GoffPhotos.com

Tuesday, November 19, 2013

Kate Recycles Orla Kiely Bird Print Frock on 'Only Connect' Visit

Daily Mail

This morning, the Duke and Duchess paid a visit to crime prevention charity Only Connect. The couple toured the central London office, and then met with staff and young people who spoke about the ways Only Connect helps support ex-offenders and young people at risk of re-offending.

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Daily Mail/Stephen Lock/i-Images

Daily Mail/Andrew Parsons/i-Images

The charity, helps about 10,000 people a year, and is said to have reduced re-offending by nearly half.

Daily Mail/Andrew Parsons/i-Images

Helping former offenders is a cause close to William's heart, as his aunt Lady Jane Fellowes — the sister of Princess Diana — is one of the trustees of Only Connect.

Mirror/Getty

Only Connect on Twitter

William and Kate then visited two sister projects which are based at Only Connects King's Cross head office — Bounce Back, which works with prisons to offer work experience, training and employment for offenders at the end of their sentences, and Handmade Alliance, which trains prisoners in textile making.

Daily Mail/Stephen Lock/i-Images

Alan Davidson/The Picture Library Ltd

The Duchess wrapped up in an Orla Kiely bird print dress which showed off her svelte figure. The 'Birdie Shirt Dress, had its first outing back in 2012 when Kate wore it to The Art Room in Oxford. The brown wool jacquard dress features a cream retro print that looks like ducks, buttons in the center and a pleated skirt. It originally sold for £325 but was picked up on sale by Kate for £162.50.

Kate wearing the 'Birdie' dress on her 2012 visit to Oxford

Getty Images

She completed her elegant look with chocolate suede 'Royal' Aquatalia ankle boots and a matching brown clutch. In the UK you can buy a similar version of these from Russell and Bromley.