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Roland Mouret & Orla Kiely Runway Shows, LK Bennett, Tory Burch & Kate’s Imperias on Sale

We are back with a quick Kate update, a look at two more spring collections from Kate-favored fashion designers and Sales & Savings opportunities.

First, word via a People magazine story on how the Duchess is faring:

Kate is thought to be convalescing at Kensington Palace in London, where she is “able to be up and about but needs to be resting frequently,” a palace source tells PEOPLE. William told well-wishers in Malta on Saturday that his ailing wife was feeling so-so.

“We’re taking it day by day,” the palace source says.

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Paris Fashion Week continues, yesterday it was Roland Mouret’s turn to show his RTW (ready-to-wear) collection for next spring.

Vanessa Friedman of the NY Times wasn’t positively impressed by the collection. From her review:

…you would expect Roland Mouret, author of his own destiny, to have attained a clarity that was regrettably absent from his runway. Mr. Mouret is a dab hand at the strictly sensual sheath or cocktail dress, and able to infuse a bright green A-line skirt and white jacket with a surprising chic, yet it seems he can’t help mistrusting his own skill.

So he sticks on a flap here, a fold there, until the result resembles nothing so much as the outfit of an overwrought art gallerist, the collage from the wall having migrated to the body. He should have more faith in the power of his simplest lines.

And from Vogue’s review:

The palette was similarly exuberant, as girlish peach and lilac hues sweetened up vibrant shots of emerald green and poppy red. “Fragile hues are over, a woman should stand out,” he said.

From the Women’s Wear Daily review:

Skirts were short and flared; tops were fitted, slightly cropped and shaped with origami folds and sculpted panels to accentuate the bust.

A few thoughts from British Vogue:

Mouret was going back to looking at what defined him. And joy and desire was what he concluded – his sculpted silhouettes here softened in colour-blocked pastels to make this a young and fresh collection that in plenty of white, primrose yellow, pink and lilac was the embodiment of spring/summer.

It was refreshing.

Kate doesn’t frequently wear Mr. Mouret’s clothing. The more memorable piece from this designer is the Ella gown worn in December 2013 to the premiere of “Mandela: Long Walk to Freedom” (below left); it was first worn to the Thirty Club private dinner at Claridge’s in May of 2012 (below right).

Kate Roland Mouret Ella Gown Mandela Film Premiere Dec 2013 and May 2012 Dinner with William

The Duchess also wore Roland Mouret when flying to Canada for the North American tour in 2011, the designer’s ‘Manon’ dress.

In most Mouret collections there are always pieces that could work quite well for the Duchess. Below, several styles from this fall’s collection.

Roland Mouret

Roland Mouret

If looking for a LBD, there is no shortage of frocks.

Roland Mouret

Roland Mouret

There are also plenty of jewel tones.

Roland Mouret

Roland Mouret

A reminder that Alexander McQueen and Stella McCartney both show at Paris FW. Ms McCartney’s spring styles are on the runway Monday morning, Sarah Burton’s collection is Tuesday at 2:30pm EDT.

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Our other spring collection offers styles quite different from Mr. Mouret’s, it comes from a brand the Duchess has worn several times: we’re talking about Orla Kiely’s presentation at London Fashion Week, staged amid a field of retro flowers.

First, a refresher on Kate’s Orla Kiely pieces.

James Whatling/Splash News

James Whatling/Splash News

Style.com’s review noted the setting for the presentation.

Despite having presented for only four seasons at London fashion week, Irish designer Orla Kiely has developed a reputation for delivering a theatrical performance, which she lived up to for Spring, riffing on the idea of an English garden.

The retro vibe was evident throughout the collection.
 

From the WWD (Women’s Wear Daily, subscription required) review:

Kiely remained faithful to her signature Sixties silhouettes, working two-toned flower jacquards onto A-line dresses with white collars or patch pockets. Even the solid colors felt fresh and outdoorsy as in one fluo pink raincoat and a belted, button-front dress done in robin’s egg blue.

More from Style.com:

Kiely specializes in pretty clothing with a quirky vibe and commercial appeal. The palette was floral-inspired: There were dresses and skirts in mismatched, oversize daisy prints in cornflower blue and rose. It was all easy, but far from sloppy.

Because the Orla Kiely has such a youthful sense of whimsy it can be difficult to envision the Duchess in many of her designs.

Some of the spring 2015 handbags.

For those interested in Orla Kiely styles to wear now, the fall line is available online and in-store.

Orla Kiely

Orla Kiely

In fact, the entire fall collection is on sale for 15% off the regular retail price. The discount is applicable online at the US site and in the New York store.

Orla Kiely

Orla Kiely

Click here to see the fall lookbook; the discount offer ends at midnight Sunday evening.

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Kate fashion fans interested in seeing another high-profile wedding gown by Sarah Burton for Alexander McQueen will want to look for photos from this weekend’s Amal Alamuddin – George Clooney nuptials. More from the Daily Telegraph:

“…Beady-eyed paparazzi have spotted the Lebanese-born lawyer exiting the London offices of Alexander McQueen… According to various sources the visit was not her first, and she is said to have hugged a member of staff on her way out – suggesting she has indeed opted for a gown by the famed British label.

However, as with all good celebrity weddings, there will doubtless be more than one dress involved, and with a three-day long party planned Alamuddin will likely sport numerous couture outfits.

The groom and groomsmen are wearing Armani.

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We want to share a few Sales & Savings opportunities of note, beginning with Kate’s Imperia wedges being discounted at Dune London.

Dune London

Dune London

But you’ll need to be fast with this sale, as it ends at midnight this evening (Friday, 9/26).

Dune London

Dune London

LK Bennett is on flash sale site RueLaLa again. The sale includes shoe, clothing and accessories. Below, a few of the frocks being offered.

RueLaLa

RueLaLa

 

And a look at one of the shoe styles on sale, the Shilo:

RueLaLa

RueLaLa

And some of the handbags.

RueLaLa

RueLaLa

Also this weekend, LK Bennett has a solid selection of fall merchandise discounted 20% on the UK/International site; use promo code AW20 to receive the discount. It does not appear this offer is in effect at the US/N. America site.

LK Bennett UK/International website

LK Bennett UK/International website

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Also on the list of brands offering seasonal savings, Tory Burch, with discounts up to 40% on a broad selection of merchandise; the offer is valid at ToryBurch.com and in US and Canada stores. Some pieces are ideal to wear now and well into fall/winter, others are items you’ll want to buy and stash for next summer. Below left we show the Renny dress, crafted of guipure lace (was $495, now $297); on the right we show the Dakota dress, with a silk gazar bodice and laser cut skirt, (originally priced at $1095, reduced to $547).

Tory Burch

Tory Burch

Other pieces include the Noreen skirt in a wool/silk blend (originally $450 , now $315); the T-Dot Scarf in silk twill (was $135, now $94.50); a warm-weather shoe, the Catherine Ballet Flat in navy (was and $250, now $150); and one of the designer’s classic tunics, the Margherita (original retail $350, now $175).

Tory Burch

Tory Burch

A few more dresses on sale at Tory Burch, the silk jersey Rhoda is on the left (originally sold at $450, discounted to $270); then the wool Roberta dress (discounted to $255 from $425); the Liana dress in a silk-wool blend (originally $695, now $417); and the short-sleeved Gemma dress in merino wool (was $395, now selling at $297).

Tory Burch

Tory Burch

 

LINKAGE:

  • To see the entire Roland Mouret spring 2015 collection, click here
  • For a look at all of the spring 2015 styles from Orla Kiely, click here
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Akaleistar

Sunday 28th of September 2014

I want everything from Orla Kiely :)

The Way We Were

Saturday 27th of September 2014

Sounds like the second around is just getting harder on Kate...hope she and the baby will get well soon.

Lili

Saturday 27th of September 2014

Looking at the Mourets, I was surprised to note that I have a Reiss dress in that precise shade of green and with a very similar silhouette. I bought it 3 or 4 years ago, too. As creative as some designers can be, when it comes to wearability, there aren't that many design directions.

In fact, although I like Mouret's aesthetic very much, it's true that this collection isn't very fresh. That's fine with a lot of people, I'm sure, since fans of a given designer tend to look to him or her for shapes and feelings that remain relatively constant. It's always disconcerting when a designer you love decides to show off her versatility and artistic credentials by galloping off in an entirely new and -- to you -- uncongenial direction.

I've commented before that Orla Kiely's clothes too often look as though she is designing for grade schoolers. This collection certainly does, and the cheerful, flower-splashed background and large flowers some of the models are holding only support that appearance. The flowers make me think of Florence Eiseman's classic clothes for children. Didn't she use a flower like that as her logo?

At the moment, I suppose, I'm not thinking much about what Kate might wear, since it's so uncertain when she and her doctors might be able to get the HG under control. It sounds as though she may be having a tougher time than she did last with her last pregnancy. I doubt she's thinking much about clothes herself.

ElizaMo

Saturday 27th of September 2014

Thanks for such a sumptuous feast, Susan, that is surely an encyclopaedic post! I love the Roland Mouret, the shapes, the colours and the superb clean lines. He really manages to take a classic outline and give it an entirely fresh twist.

I’d already seen some of the Orla Kiely outfits, funnily enough via Vanessa Friedman who you quote, and who I follow on Twitter. I think they’re fun and youthful, in a safe sort of way, but maybe quirky isn’t always what Kate is looking for as a royal figurehead. I think they make a contemporary look in a very accessible way, though for myself I sometimes find the overall effect a bit fussy and the raised waistlines too juvenile.

I miss Vanessa Friedman greatly from my weekend paper, the Financial Times, her previous post. That was quite a coup when she landed the NY Times slot! However, on this occasion I think I might beg to differ with her as the embellishments shown here work fine for me. I think minimalism can be taken too far, to a point where it disappears into its own carefulness and sacrifices vitality. I love the edgy green of that A-line skirt and the gorgeous white jacket sets it off a treat.

Sunny

Saturday 27th of September 2014

I'm confused... Orla Kiely or Tory Burch??? I think you might have the pictures mixed up

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