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Kate Brings Back Hobbs Animal Print Dress for Foster Care Engagement & A New Pair of Earrings

Today the Duchess had an engagement “celebrating the work of foster carers,” especially those offering support for young people.Stephen Lock / i-Images

The event was hosted by the Fostering Network, the UK’s leading fostering charity. The Duchess arriving at the Islington Council in north London, where today’s function was held. Many readers will recognize her Hobbs Animal Print dress.Jeff Moore/SplashNews.com

Kate took part in a roundtable discussion with those offering foster care and teens who have been, or are in, foster care, described by the Fostering Network as “…a private discussion about the issues that they feel are most pertinent in foster care today.” The Daily Mirror’s coverage explains the acute need for foster care in the UK:

These children have often experienced neglect and abuse, or have witnessed domestic violence or substance misuse.

Right now there’s a need for at least 8,600 new foster families across the UK, particularly to offer homes to teenagers, disabled children and groups of brothers and sisters.

One of the Fostering Network’s suggestions for those in foster care is that they keep a memory box; today Kate was given her own memory box.

…one like so many children in foster care carry with them. It was full of stories and poems from young people in foster care, and the children of foster carers, and I hope that we managed to provide some more memories of fostering that she can carry with her.”

 (@/Kensington Palace Twitter (@KensingtonRoyal)

More from the Fostering Network news release about today’s event: “Following this, The Duchess attended a tea party with foster carers, the children in their care and care experienced young people – as well as social workers from Islington Council.” And from The Daily Mail’s coverage:

…Kate was noticeably moved by the stories she heard.

Many of the families she met have fostered children for many years looking after a range of ages, with some staying a few days while others many years – effectively becoming members of the family.

Lefteris Pitarakis/WPA Rota/Nunn Syndication/Polaris

Back to the Daily Mail story:

..there were lighter moments during the event, which was held at the offices of Islington Fostering Services, including one which saw the Duchess become instantly smitten with one particularly adorable baby.

The Duchess smiled at the gurgling rosy-cheeked girl Naya and compared the six-month-old to her own son Prince George, telling Naya’s foster mother, ‘She’s chubbier than George’.  Noticing that Naya’s hair was tied up in little bunches with coloured bands, a smiling Duchess then moved closer and said, ‘Sweetie pie, I love your hair!’

Baby Naya was being carried in the arms of single mother Tigest Tesfamichael, from Islington who has been looking after the little girl for the last four months.

Kate is not involved with the Fostering Network in a formal capacity at this point; she is not its patron, nor does she volunteer with the group to the best of our knowledge. However, it is an organization doing work that dovetails nicely with the themes running through her official patronages: care for children and help for at-risk youth.

Below, Kate chatting with a woman named Molly.(Lefteris Pitarakis/WPA Rota/Nunn Syndication/Polaris

The director of development for the Fostering Network, Lucy Peake, noted that “A visit from The Duchess helps to shine a spotlight on fostering and the need for more foster carers, particularly to look after teenagers, disabled children and groups of brothers and sisters.”

Kate wore the Hobbs Animal Print Dress, a silk shirtdress we have seen previously. There’s good news for anyone interested in purchasing the piece: it’s on sale for just $95 on the Hobbs US site and still available in limited sizes, although it does appear to be sold out on the UK site.

Hobbs

Hobbs

Kate accessorized with her Mulberry Bayswater clutch.Stephen lock/i-Images and Jeff Moore/SplashNews.com

She also wore her Stuart Weitzman ‘Power’ pumps in black suede.The shoe is available in all sizes at Stuart Weitzman ($355).i-Images/Splash News

We saw Kate wear a new pair of earrings today. The pair is by Mirabelle Jewelry, there’s just a little confusion as to whether the Duchess is wearing the Lolita style or the Gina.  Both pairs are gold-plated and Fair Trade, as are many of Mirabelle’s products.NunnRota/Polaris, Nunn Rota/Polaris,

The Lolita is a smaller pair, measuring 4cm in length, while the Gina measures 6cm. Additionally the Gina circles are hammered (textured) metal all over, while the Lolita only has that effect on a portion of the circles. According to the company’s website, Kate is wearing the Gina, shown below right.  The Lolita style is £30 and the Gina earrings are £35. But on Mirabelle’s Instagram page they show and say that Kate is wearing the Lolita. The Gina is also available at Amulet.

A Tip of the Tiara to Kate Middleton Style blog reader Marianna Bozzoli who alerted Carly that she thought Kate was wearing the earrings, as well as Books, Birkins & Beauty who posted the earrings on the WKW Facebook page, along with Anna of My Small Obsessions who has been corresponding with Mirabelle. Once we get the specific style sorted out we will update the post.

UPDATE: Felt Jewelry says they sent Kate a pair of earrings in both the silver and gold finishes. The style appears to be the Lolita from the photo they posted on Facebook.

Felt Jewelry Facebook Page

Felt Jewelry Facebook Page

The ‘Kate Effect’ seems to have hit Felt, their website is experiencing some difficulties. The Lolita earrings are also available at Not on the High Street ($33.48), as well as Rock My Vintage (£20).

As always, the Duchess enjoyed speaking with the children gathered for the event.Nils Jorgensen/i-Images/Polaris

The Duchess as she is leaving today’s engagement.©Nils Jorgensen / i-Images.co

One other quick update today, this one about Kate’s Madderson London dress worn yesterday: the company says they will be re-issuing the frock.

Madderson London Twitter Feed

Madderson London Twitter Feed

Our thanks to Ashley Marie for the tip about this.

We will see you on Monday for the three engagements Kate has in Kensington.

LINKAGE:

  • Learn more about the Fostering Network by visiting the group’s website here, or its Facebook page here, or following them on Twitter here
  • The Fostering Network has a fairly easy way for those in the UK to donate £5: just text ‘Care00 £5’ to 70070; otherwise, this page offers a more standard online donation process
  • The Daily Mail’s photo-rich story is here,

 

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Brittany

Tuesday 20th of January 2015

I don't like this look much. I think this dress with this size bump would work fine for an average someone who was trying to adapt her work wardrobe for pregnancy (though even in that scenario I would think this would be the last outing the dress would have until after the baby), but less so for someone like the duchess who has much greater resources at her disposal. I'm assuming (since I haven't yet been pregnant) that it can be awkward to dress a growing belly regardless of income, but for someone like Kate I think this one could have been saved for another time (maybe those first few weeks or months after birth, if seasonally appropriate) to better effect. Maybe a few new pieces are in order.

I don't like the black shoes and tights with this brown, and I especially dislike the earrings (I think they coordinate well enough with the dress, but I personally dislike them). I would like this dress better in fall than winter with nude hose and perhaps a mushroom suede shoe (with warmer undertones) so that she's not a column of dark brown from head to toe. These earrings confirm what I already knew: the duchess and I do not have similar taste when it comes to fashion jewelry (I do quite like her more classic choices).

The dress is nearly to her knee, even when she's squatting to speak to small children, so I'm in the camp that it is a perfectly appropriate length.

Bee

Monday 19th of January 2015

Is HRH allowed to accept gifts?

Just wondering.

I think she always looks great!

annmartina

Monday 19th of January 2015

I think nude tights and a cute colored flat would have made this look so much fresher.

Susan

Monday 19th of January 2015

I agree completely. Black tights and court shoes do not go with every outfit. A cute t-strap pump and nude hose, a flat, or some great boots would have done this better. It's a cute dress, but it doesn't fit her properly.

Peter

Sunday 18th of January 2015

I left a comment on the the other day and it was not accepted. I don't know why, as I said nothing rude or inappropriate. I only offered my opinion. The dress, like most of the Duchess's day clothes, is too short. And she carries her handbag like a fig leaf. I support the Duchess but it is time to put away the clothes the girls at university wear. Just my opinion. And I am entitled to it.

Dianda

Sunday 18th of January 2015

Dont like the dress much how comes she does not feel the cold everyone around her is rugged ll up and she is almost spring like not even a jadket. Do like the earrings, Bit bored with ark hose and matching shoes,

Holly

Sunday 18th of January 2015

Anything I would say about the dress has already been said, but what struck me even more than the outfit:

Take a look at Kate's expression in that first picture. They say that couples start to resemble each other after awhile, and that expression is totally William!

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