Kate Makes Two Stops in Oxford

The Duchess's first stop of the day was to Rose Hill Primary School. She is a patron of The Art Room, which encourages confidence in disadvantaged children. Kate spent two hours in an art therapy class where she donned a black apron with the name 'Miss Catherine' embroidered on the front.

For her second engagement of the day, the Duchess visited Oxford Spires Academy, a secondary school which also has its own Art Room.

Kate looked glam in a long-sleeved, Birdie wool jacquard shirt dress by Irish designer Orla Kiely. She finished off her look with brown opaque tights, brown suede 'Rouge' Aquatalia by Marvin K. ankle boots ($398), and a brown envelope clutch. Kate kept her jewelry simple and wore her Kiki McDonough 'Grace' white topaz and diamond earrings (£695) as well as her gorgeous sapphire and diamond engagement ring.

Additional details about Kate's 'Birdie' coat from the Orla Kiely website http://www.orlakiely.com/:

"Originally £325.00 Now on sale £162.50 (currently sold out in all sizes)
Wool long sleeve shirt dress in Birdie jacquard fabric. Button through at centre front. Deep pleats in skirt and pockets in side seams. Button fastening at cuff.
 Length: 85.5cm

100% Wool

Product Code:

11AW/JAC741

Color: Walnut"

Additional Photos from Kate's Visit

Update 2/25/2012

Kate's clutch has been ID'd! Stuart Weitzman has confirmed that it is one of theirs from a past season. It is their “Muse” clutch.

Kate Visits Liverpool on Valentines Day

Kate started the day by visiting The Brink in Liverpool. The Brink, is an alcohol-free bar linked to Action On Addiction, of which she became patron of last month. Three quarters of the bar’s staff are recovering alcoholics or drug addicts. They christened a smoothie 'The Duchess' in her honor.

 Later in the day she made an appearance at Alder Hey children's hospital, where she spent time with cancer patients.

Kate bundled up in a sleek brown, woollen coat (£329 reduced to £182) from high street chain Hobbs. The Hobbs 'Unlimited Celeste' coat sold out within hours. She customised the coat by replacing the original studded belt and cuffs with a more stylish buckle version.

Additional details about Kate's coat from the Hobbs website http://www.hobbs.co.uk/:

'Wrap up this autumn in this stunning double crepe wool coat. In a sumptuous seasonal chestnut-brown, this coat subtly flares from the hips. It's given an on-trend toughened edge thanks to the leather stud fastening cuff straps and waisted belt.

Collection:
UNLIMITED
Story: Celeste

Sleeve: Long Sleeve

Style Code: 3977

Colour: Chestnut

Fabric: Double Crepe

Fabric composition: 100% Wool

Care instruction:
Dry clean only'

Under the coat Kate wore a black knee-length polo neck dress with gold belt from another high street store, Oasis. Anyone hoping to buy one is likely to be disappointed – a source at the brand confirmed that the figure-hugging £60 number is ‘years old’.

The Duchess accessorized with black tights and her Jimmy Choo 'Cosmic' ( £435) black suede platform heels. She held a black clutch and her wore her £1,900 green amethyst earrings by Kiki McDonough and famous sapphire and diamond engagement ring.

Additional pictures from Kate's Visit

Update 2/1/2013

 

 

I have managed to locate some pictures of Kate's Oasis black, knee-length polo neck dress. Thanks to a seller on Ebay (royal-luxury).

Kate Makes Solo Appearance at Lucien Freud Exhibit

Tonight, Kate made a solo appearance at London's National Portrait Gallery. She attended a private viewing of Lucian Freud Portraits. This is a new exhibit of works by the famous late British painter.

The exhibition officially opens to the general public tomorrow and features 130 artworks spanning the length of Freud's painting career from the early 1940s until his final, unfinished work.

The Duchess, recently became a patron of the National Portrait Gallery. The cause is close to her heart as she studied art history at St. Andrews University (where she met her prince).

Kate was greeted by Freud’s daughter Esther and Sir Paul McCartney’s daughter Mary. Jeremy Hunt, the Culture Secretary, and Sandy Nairne, director of the gallery, also joined her on an hour-long tour.

The Duchess of Cambridge wore a grey tweed, double-breasted, 1950s-style frock by the high street clothing label Jesire. The dress had a full skirt with a wide black belt cinching her waist and over sized shawl collar.

Despite the cold weather, she went sans stockings but accessorized with her Jimmy Choo 'Cosmic' ( £435) black suede platform heels, a black clutch, a diamond bracelet & matching earrings, and her Asprey Pendant.

Update 2/10/2012

I have been frantically searching for more info on Jesire. There wasn't much out there but I did find two articles that I'd like to share.

1) Grazia www.graziadaily.co.uk/ reports that Jesire is out of business. The brand was stocked in stores like John Lewis and House of Fraser.

2) Express www.express.co.uk/ reports that the high street brand officially closed it's doors in November 2011. The former managing director of Jesire, Martyn Vines, is planning talks with the original creator of the Jesire coat dress to possibly re-issue it.

It is thought that Kate bought the £169 dress as far back as autumn 2010 at Peter Jones in London’s Sloane Square.

 

Update 3/28/2013

 

Copykate on Ebay

 

Thanks to Copykate on Ebay, Kate's belt has been 'found' but not ID'ed because it does not have a brand name anywhere on it.

 

Copykate on Ebay

 

Additional details about the belt from Copykate:

 



'Material: Leather, metal and high quality smooth-finish elastic woven raffia-like fabric. Front metal clasp fastening

Unbranded'

 

Note: The b80's style belt listed by Copykate is not the same color that Kate wore in the pictures above. My thoughts are that it could have been borrowed from Carol Middleton?