Bridal Accessories in Kate’s Lace Pattern (the real deal), Big News for Katherine Hooker

There are quite a few bits and bytes we want to share today, beginning with word of a special fashion collaboration I think you will like.

Famed French lacemaker Sophie Hallette has selected Enchanted Atelier to create a new line of bridal accessories made of the same lace design used for Kate’s gown. Many readers will recall Kate’s lace was crafted in France and then sent to London for sewing on the gown by the Royal School of Needlework. More on Sophie Hallette and the wedding dress lace:

“Everybody from the factory floor to the designers was thrilled when the news spread that our lace was on the dress,” said Romain Lescroart, CEO of Sophie Hallette. “Our laces have adorned haute couture creations and luxury goods worldwide for 127 years, but this certainly marks a crowning achievement in our history for which we draw great pride.”

A reminder of the lace as seen here on Kate’s Alexander McQueen shoes. (For our post on the dress exhibit, shoes, etc., click here.)

Now the Enchanted Atelier Collection will offer accessories in that very same Leaver’s lace pattern. (So called because the lace is made on Leavers looms more than 100 years old.) The new line will have opera length and driving length gloves, cage and traditional length veils, a bolero jacket, flowers, and sash using this very special lace. Below, just one piece from the Collection.

The collection debuts at New York Bridal Week this weekend. In a few weeks you will be able to see and purchase pieces at Enchanted Atelier and online. (Can we talk about the bolero jacket in this, how gorgeous will that be?!) We will share more photos from the shows as they become available this weekend on Facebook, Twitter and a new post.

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As mentioned in the post title we have news about Kate fave Katherine Hooker, actually several pieces of news, all of them good.

• the company is launching menswear, two men’s styles of custom jackets will be offered in a variety of materials and cuts.
• there will be a Katherine Hooker popup shop in New York City at the end of the month, October 28th to be precise. Our thanks to WKW Facebook pal Ashley Margot, she alerted us to this item.
• the designer has launched a ready to wear collection; as always, you can continue to order bespoke pieces, or off the rack. RTW jackets are all priced at £530, or about $825 at today’s exchange rates, coats are £595 or $925.

Additionally, visitors to the Katherine Hooker website will be treated to a new look, with improved graphics and easier navigation. And the RTW side of the business has its own online site, Katherine Hooker Now.

All of the company’s styles are available, along with accessories. Perhaps more importantly, there are multiple photos of each piece, important for those not able to try on garments in person. Below, the ever-popular Alexander, a jacket Kate has been seen in on multiple occasions.

There are new items available at Katherine Hooker Now, including the Jackson coat, elegantly understated.

Returning favorites include the classic Hacking Jacket.

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An update on the “E! True Hollywood Story: Kate & Pippa” show.  (I can’t help myself, here is where I have to interject a comment from my pal Vicki: “True Hollywood story: Kate and Pippa”, isn’t that an oxymoron?”)

It airs tomorrow night (Wednesday, the 12th) at 10pm EDT. For those capable of operating your DVR (or with flexible schedules) our friend Ralisa shared that the show will be repeated on Thursday the 13th from 1-2am and 3-4pm. Unfortunately E! does not air its shows online at this point, so those are your best bets if interested in the program.

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Next, another magazine cover for Kate, this one from Canada’s Chatelaine, the magazine’s special Women of the Year Issue.

The magazine isn’t widely sold on newsstands outside Canada, if interested in acquiring a copy our contact suggests visiting the website (French version here) or giving the magazine a call at 905-946-0084.

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Good news for brides to be interested in creating a repli-Kate dress, as well as for those who were fond of Pippa’s MOH gown, Butterick patterns for similar frocks are now available. The pattern to re-create Kate’s wedding gown is Butterick pattern #5731.

Here is more from the actual description:

Lined dress has raised neckline, close-fitting, underlined bodice and under bodice, boned under bodice, underlay, pleated skirt with side front seams and back zipper, button/loop closing and pleated, underlined bustle.

This pattern is currently selling at the Butterick site for just under $4 USD. There is also a Pippa dress pattern being offered by the company.

While sewing on the bias isn’t for the faint of heart, this frock also looks manageable. (To be honest, it isn’t really the sewing that creates the challenge, it is more often the fit and accompanying drape. If bias-cut dresses don’t drape properly they don’t look too fabulous.)

Butterick pattern #5710 is also selling at just under $4 USD. Our thanks to WKW Facebook friend Stella Rothe for the tip on this!

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Finally today, an update on the boots Kate has often been seen wearing, most recently here, identified by many readers as the Cookie boot, correctly so. Aquatalia tells me their closest boot to the no-longer-available Cookie is their Crystal.

The boot may be purchased for $495 online in the US, it is available in black calf leather in every size as of this writing.