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The Duchess Glitters in a Glamorous McQueen Gown & Supersized Earrings

For tonight’s BAFTA Awards the Duchess chose a bespoke gown by one of her go-to designers for major events, Alexander McQueen.Both images © AJ Pictures/Splash News

Many will remember Kate wore a gown by Alexander McQueen at the BAFTA Brits to Watch gala in Los Angeles in 2011.©Stewart Cook / BAFTA

That is the BAFTA CEO, Amanda Berry, with Kate and William.BAFTA

A quick video of the Duke and Duchess arriving.

The duo looked very relaxed and seemed to be enjoying themselves immensely as they arrived at Royal Albert Hall.© James Whatling

Rebecca English of The Daily Mail has a good video with the Royals being greeted after their arrival; it also offers a look at Kate’s updo.

This allows you to see some of the skirt movement.

From People magazine’s story:

Kate and Prince William provoked audible gasps from the crowd as they arrived and even caused stars to crane their necks to get a good look as the royals took their seats inside the theater.

BAFTA

The couple did not sit in the Royal Box, but in the front row, perhaps because William needed access to the stage as he was presenting an award.©Daniel Leal-Olivas /WPA Rota/Nunn Syndication/Polaris

There are many other royal connections to the Academy. 

Now for our look at what Kate wore to the evening’s festivities.©Stephen Lock / i-Images

The Duchess was in a bespoke version of an Alexander McQueen gown from the designer’s 2016 Resort Collection.© James Whatling/Stephen Lock, i-Images

From The Telegraph’s article by Caroline Leaper:

Whenever the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge decide to mingle with the movie stars it’s a considered affair – the occasion must be one that honours British talents and the royals always do their best to highlight, rather than outshine those that the event in question is supposed to honour.

Here you see the frock that was the foundation of Kate’s dress; it is a version of the Alexander McQueen Tiered Violet Jacquard Dress.Alexander McQueen

From Vogue’s Tim Blanks story about that collection:

If Alexander McQueen’s Fall collection had an elegantly dying autumn in mind for Sarah Burton, she was thinking of Resort as “romance, beauty, positivity, flowers blooming.” Sweet pea, hollyhocks, violets, butterflies flying around a garden in springtime…all of that was stitched onto extraordinary tulle evening dresses, sheaths of fragility.

The material is a jacquard fabric created from a silk/poly blend, adorned with green and violet flowers. Hopefully, you can see the texture the fabric has, as well as the floral pattern.Alexander McQueen

The off-the-shoulder gown featured a Bardot neckline, fitted bodice, a full skirt with multiple tiers defined by the horizontally placed satin ribbon, as well as a hidden zipper at the back. More about that neckline design from The Guardian’s July story about Kate’s Barbara Casasola dress featuring the same neckline style:

So what makes someone like Kate want to wear an off-the shoulder dress? Several reasons: on paper, bare shoulders speak of summer, now but also then, the 1960s, or 1970s if you’re looking at Chloé, hence the “Bardot” moniker; retro is always engaging in a fashion sense.

Returning to The Telegraph’s story:

In the past, when attending film premieres and gala dinners alongside other famous faces, the Duchess has always sported a UK-based eveningwear name and has always sought to shine in her own way.

It’s a sartorial tactic, experts say, that The Queen has also pulled into play many times during her reign.  “If she was going to a film premiere she would often wear something more subtle,” says Jane Eastoe, author of Elizabeth: Reigning in Style.

Both © Jeff Moore/Splash

Kate in Roland Mouret for the opening of Mandela: Long Walk to Freedom; wearing Temperley London at the premiere of War Horse in 2013; in a Jenny Packham gown at the SPECTRE world premiere; and wearing Self Portrait for the premiere of A Street Cat Named Bob.©PA Wire / Splash News / i-Images /

A tip of the tiara to Laura for her speedy ID of tonight’s dress.

Now let’s talk about those earrings, shall we?©Pool /PA Wire

The upper portion of the earrings has a pear-shaped central stone surrounded by diamonds, or what appears to be diamonds. The show-stopping lower pendant also has a pear-shaped central stone, although it is reversed, with the point of the stone at the top.  This stone is also surrounded by diamonds.© Tim Rooke/REX/Shutterstock

It has been suggested the stones could be morganite or quartz.© Pool / Nunn Syndication / Polaris

This is not the first time the Duchess has worn the earrings. She was first seen in them at the 100 Women in Hedge Funds dinner in 2011, although they are barely visible in the photos from that night.© /Polaris

The ‘Wedding Gift Bracelet’ had a return engagement this evening. The bracelet is so named because it was Prince Philip’s wedding gift to HM when they were married in 1947.©

Kate carried a new Alexander McQueen handbag, the Heart Clasp Box Clutch in black satin ($2075).© i-Images / Matches Fashion

The clutch is covered in a viscose/silk blend fabric, has a detachable chain, and is adorned with the goldtone and silver heart with red crystals, faux pearls, and the designer’s logo. Below, a look at the ornate clasp from which the item draws its name. Thank you to Gemma of Food, Fash, Fit for her help identifying the bag.Matches Fashion

In this photo, you have a good look at both the bracelet and the clasp on the clutch.© Daniel Leal-Olivas /WPA Rota/Nunn Syndication/Polaris

Patricia Aviero believes Kate was wearing her Prada Wavy Cut heels. I did not have a good look at Kate’s shoes (I will do so this evening), but Patricia knows her stuff.Prada Wavy Cut Suede Pumps Nov 22 2016

And a look at Kate’s hairstyle, a low chignon that worked well with the gown and earrings.© i-Images/

This was a good look for Kate. The dress is a sophisticated, elegant design, and the earrings gave the look a glam-factor commensurate with the event.

While not related to the Awards this evening, there is a BAFTA tie to one of Kate’s patronages, Place2Be. The Academy program is called BAFTA Kids Roadshow with Place2Be; it is designed to “champion creativity and showcasing soft skills important for emotional well-being and career progression.”

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LORI

Saturday 17th of October 2020

10/17/20

Hello....you are confusing this bracelet with the one from Prince Charles....

This bracelet she is wearing is on loan from QE II's private collection and was a wedding gift from Prince Philip to QE II made from the dismantled Tiara from his mother. He had her engagement ring and other pieces made from the diamonds of that tiara, including this bracelet.

The one gifted from PC on the Duchess wedding day is an art deco design with a row of round stones.in between 2 rows of diamonds as a border.

LORI

Saturday 17th of October 2020

never mind.....my mistake....I read your comment wrong and you had it right!!!! SORRY!!!!

Stacey

Sunday 26th of March 2017

Although I'm not a huge fan of this dress, she still looks wonderful! I love her choice of big earrings. I do have one question, though. Does she normally wear false eyelashes? This is the first time I have ever noticed her wearing falsies.

Misty Chapman

Wednesday 25th of October 2017

This is the first pic I have seen with her wearing false eyelashes.

Carol in Atlanta, GA USA

Sunday 19th of February 2017

BIG hair and BIG dress do not go together. Fashion and style are a balancing act!

Carol in Atlanta, GA USA

Sunday 19th of February 2017

Beautiful gown...it's hard to go wrong with McQueen, but I can't get past that big, bouffant of an up-do to comment on it much. Why that style was chosen over a sleek chignon I'll never understand.

If anything, this look is a miss in my book due to a mishmash of accessories, and I'm including that hairdo as an accessory here. The earrings, purse, bracelet and shoes are all great on their own, but thrown together for this evening's BAFTA event, with that gorgeous gown...and with that bad hair...more care and thought should've been undertaken.

Sorry. The truth hurts. Get a GOOD stylist.

Katie

Saturday 18th of February 2017

Loved the look, head to toe. So glad she experimented with a new cut and print. I'm personally not a fan of either for me but I was walking the carport with Wills. So for her frame and the occasion, it was appropriately fresh! Would have preferred the earrings correspond to a shade in the dress but, dang, they are so bold that it didn't matter. A++ tonight.

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