Skip to Content

Kate Sparkles in Jenny Packham for Photography Awards Gala

Kate returned to another favorite designer for this evening’s engagement at the Natural History Museum.

Splash News/i-Images, Polaris

Splash News/i-Images, Polaris

The Duchess wore an elegant Jenny Packham evening gown for the Museum’s Wildlife Photographer of the Year gala.

Kate’s dress featured a deeply veed neckline, three quarter sleeves, gathers at the front waist and concealed back zipper.

REUTERS/Stefan Wermuth/PA Wire

REUTERS/Stefan Wermuth/PA Wire

Jenny Packham described the color as ‘pale jade’ in an Instagram post about Kate’s dress, a hue featured in the designer’s spring 2015 collection. Below, a comparison of Kate’s dress and a gown from next spring’s runway show.

Goff Photo - Splash News/Jenny Packham

Goff Photo – Splash News/Jenny Packham

This was Kate’s second engagement today; the Daily Mail’s story has more on the evening’s events:

Hours after attending a ceremonial welcome at the start of a four-day State visit to Britain by President Tony Tan of Singapore, Kate looked in good health and chatted animatedly with her hosts.

Kate, 32, who is patron of the museum, joined television naturalist Sir David Attenborough to present the awards after meeting finalists and viewing an exhibition of their work. 

The gown’s most dramatic design element was its length.
Arthur Edwards/Sun/GoffPhotos.com

Arthur Edwards/Sun/GoffPhotos.com

There are actually two lengths, the draped overskirt, or wrap dress portion of the frock, and the skirt underneath. The dress appears to be a custom version of this Jenny Packham style from the a/w 2014 Cruise Collection. We show it at Neiman Marcus, where it is called the Three-Quarter Sleeve Gown with Wrap Front.

Neiman Marcus

Neiman Marcus

The description of the dress better explains the garment’s construction.

  • Wrap front creates surplice neckline; jeweled embellishments at waist. (Kate’s version obviously doesn’t have the modesty panel in the neckline or the jeweled embellishment.)
  • Slim silhouette with gathered-into waist and straight envelope skirt.

The beaded version shown at Neimans is $5765. Here is a view offering greater clarity on the two different dress layers.

 Ian Jones/Splash News

Ian Jones/Splash News

The Duchess carried another handbag by Alexander McQueen, a custom version of a basic piece, the brand’s Knuckle Box or Knuckle Duster clutch.

PA Wire

PA Wire

The clutch is offered in different colors and materials each season. Below we show two such styles: on the top it’s Lake Tulip Lace version at Bergdorf Goodman ($1995) and on the bottom you see the Ivy Embroidery version at Alexander McQueen ($3895).

Top: Bergdorf Goodman Bottom: Luisa Via Roma

Top: Bergdorf Goodman Bottom: Luisa Via Roma

The bags are modified to remove the ornate skull closures. Below left, a bag much like Kate’s that was found by Ashley Marie, and Kate’s version, minus the elaborate skull that is part of the closure hardware.

Splashnews.com

Splashnews.com

All of the Alexander McQueen handbags Kate carries have to be altered to eliminate the skull portion of the clasp.

Alexander McQueen/i-Images

Alexander McQueen/i-Images

Another example of a McQueen clutch with the clasp changed to project a more regal style.

Splash News/Alexander McQueen

Splash News/Alexander McQueen

Kate brought back a pair of LK Bennett shoes we first saw at the 2011 annual ARK (Absolute Return for Kids) dinner, the Agata suede sandals.

LK Bennett 'Agata' Sandals

LK Bennett ‘Agata’ Sandals

She also wore a Jenny Packham gown for that engagement.

James Whatling/SplashNews.com

James Whatling/SplashNews.com

This evening we saw the Duchess in new jewelry, a sparkling diamond necklace and matching earrings.

Arthur Edwards/The Sun/GoffPhotos.com/SplashNews.com

Arthur Edwards/The Sun/GoffPhotos.com/SplashNews.com

Anna of My Small Obsessions has identified both pieces; they are from a jeweler Kate has not worn previously, Monica Vinader. The earrings are the Riva Diamond Cluster Drops, with pavé diamonds set in rose gold-plated sterling silver ($1245).

Monica Vinader 'Riva'

Monica Vinader ‘Riva’

These images offer a slightly better look at the necklace.

PA Wire/GoffPhotos.com

PA Wire/GoffPhotos.com

The matching Riva Diamond Bib Necklace necklace was only available at Harrods and we haven’t been able to locate any product images of that item to share; for an Instagram photo by Monica Vinader of a friend wearing the necklace, click here.

UPDATED: Monica Vinader has made the necklace available for pre-ordering.

Monica Vinader

Monica Vinader

Two more angles showing the necklace and earrings.

Splash News/Splash News

Splash News/Splash News

The Riva collection encompasses a variety of pieces and styles, the designer says it is inspired by her travels “and the glamour of the Italian Riviera.”

Kate’s return to official engagements was front page news.

Via Nick Sutton Twitter Feed (@suttonnick)

Via Nick Sutton Twitter Feed (@suttonnick)

This was an outstanding look for the Duchess. The dress color worked perfectly with her coloring, she looked healthy, confident and very much in her element at the awards.

LINKAGE:

Pin It

This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.

Charlotte

Wednesday 7th of September 2016

Beautiful blue dress, really like the lines. Has there been a similar "RepliKate" dress identified at a more reasonable price? If so, could someone please post the link. Thanks.

joerly

Wednesday 11th of March 2015

Very beautiful!

daphne

Saturday 25th of October 2014

irresistible- stunning- shade of blue ! (reminds me of the Cinderella/Nairobi "blue" Lupita Nyong'o wore to the Oscars-)

leave it to Kate to manage showing off her stockingless legs and toes-in-strappy-high heels while remaining irreproachably elegant and Queen approved- even modest-

her taste is simply unerring, imho-

always appropriate. always respectful. always graceful. a true, albeit young, Lady..

Cindy Potter

Saturday 25th of October 2014

Love the look. I know she's athletic and chasing after a toddler, but for heaven's sake, when you're wearing a gorgeous gown, get a manicure. As Rhett Butler would say, "You can always spot a lady by her hands."

monalisa283

Friday 24th of October 2014

I think she looks great!!! Love the dress and the shoes, and as someone else said, the long wrap lets her get away with a shorter skirt which she rocks. Lets hope the frumpy look is gone for good.

This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.