What Kate *Might* Wear & Online Fashion Week Specials

There has been a significant amount of chatter this week about items Kate is said to have purchased in advance of the holidays, we thought it would be fun to share some of them with you. The buzz primarily surrounds a story in Grazia magazine.

The article talks about the upcoming holidays, emphasizing the clothing Kate will need for her first Christmas at Sandringham.  Grazia‘s story offers a list of things that store employees say Kate bought on a recent shopping trip.  With thanks to intrepid WKW Facebook contributors Jo Baldwin and Bella Hayward for sharing links to the merchandise, we have images of some items.

Oddly, Kate purchased two pieces that we blogged about back on November 8 (that post is here), the LK Bennett Jude Jacket, although we showed it in teal, Kate is said to have bought the jacket in black.

LK Bennett ‘Jude’ Jacket in Teal

Here we show the Jacket in black, (£295/$460, available in all sizes) along with a look at the neck detailing and the Jude Skirt (£145/$225, available in all sizes), the two pieces together would make an elegant suit. Kate is not reported to have purchased the skirt, we merely add that to show the versatility of the jacket.  And because we want the skirt, heh-heh-heh.

LK Bennett ‘Jude’ Jacket & Skirt

Evidently, the Duchess also bought the Davina dress in teal, in our previous post we showed the dress in bright pinks and red.  The dress is a poly blend, the asymmetrical neckline is ‘very Kate’ in my opinion, as is the ruching down the left side of the garment.  Kate also enjoys cap sleeves and fitted lines, the dress is £195 (about $305 at today’s exchange rates), currently it is available online in all sizes.

LK Benett ‘Davina’ Dress in teal

The Grazia story also says Kate purchased the Long Cashmere Cardigan at Zara, available online in Ecru, Black and Camel for £69.99 (roughly $110).

Zara Long Cashmere Cardigan (style #3887/232)

The other Zara item Kate hypothetically bought is the regular Cashmere Cardigan, also £69.99/$110. This piece is available online in Beige (looks more camel), Ecru, Magenta and Deep Blue.

Zara Cashmere Cardigan Style #0367/210

Obviously, neither sweater is made with high-grade cashmere, but both will certainly help ward off the chill from the cold, damp air.

The Duchess is also said to have been shopping at The White Company, buying a navy waterfall cardigan.

The White Company

The styles shown above include the Merino Wool Waterfall Cardigan, it is now sold out, not a surprise since this issue of Grazia came out a few days ago. Below we show other styles, but they do not come in navy.

The White Company

Thanks also to Gemma and Princess Diana Remembered for their assistance with information.

Both the Grazia story and this story in The Daily Mail reference five wardrobe changes on Christmas Day. From the Mail’s article:

The Duchess of Cambridge faces the ultimate wardrobe dilemma for her upcoming stay at Sandringham – where she could be expected to change outfits several times in one day.

Royal etiquette expert Jean Broke-Smith told Grazia magazine that the Duchess could be expected to change outfits up to five times in a single day.

‘Kate will need a casual outfit for breakfast, a smart outfit – and a hat – for the morning church service, a dress for lunch, a cocktail dress for early evening drinks and a full-length dress for the evening meal.

Ahem. Having spent a little time in formal house guest situations, we’ve not heard of guests coming down dressed for cocktails only to disappear again so they might change into another ensemble for dinner. We’ve no doubt Ms. Broke-Smith knows her stuff, but our friend Janet suggests perhaps they are thinking of a high tea as opposed to cocktails, with a new outfit for drinks/dinner, that makes more sense.  We welcome any insight readers may be able to share on the topic as we’ve yet to receive our invite from HM, sadly it must be lost somewhere over the Atlantic.

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Also today, a look at what is being offered by “Kate-favored retailers” in the first-ever Online Fashion Week. The event is sponsored by British Vogue, it is a promotional effort combining new merchandise showings and launches, special discounts on merchandise and shipping, contests and prize drawings, as well as charitable contributions. Here is more from British Vogue:

Every single company is offering special online events, prizes, discounts or free gifts – and with every single purchase you’ll be helping a charity of your choice.

Keep in mind this does not appear to be a promotion with deep discounts, and many of the offers, like free shipping, will only apply in the UK.  It all begins at 9am GMT Monday, that’s 4am EST and 1am on the west coast. Following is our listing of some special offers and events, many of the offers will require a discount code you will be able to get at British Vogue’s OFW site.

• French Sole will unveil its Christmas collection, with a 20% discount each day on the style unveiled, 10% of sales go to charity
• Selfridges: “…unveiling never-seen-before products from the most covetable brands, including Roksanda Ilincic, DVF and Raoul. Plus, it’s back: they have an exclusive reissue of that Kate Middleton ISSA dress, but you’ll have to be quick, it won’t be around for long. Keep your eye on the Online Fashion Week blog to be sure you’ll have the first chance to buy it.”
• Bastyan: will have a flash sale with a 30% discount on all items, including sale merchandise (although I do not know if this will run all week, or only during a certain time, so check the site or the OFW blog) & it will also do a charitable auction. (Our thanks to Get What Kate Wore for letting us know about this brand, it is tres Kate.)
• Alexander McQueen: revealing a new collection of holiday gifts every day for the five days, each set will be available at a special discount from the time of reveal until midnight.
• Penelope Chilvers: will be offering an exclusive Christmas stocking worth £1,000, and 10% of all proceeds will also be donated to the Child Bereavement Charity, Prince William is a patron of this charity
• Aspinal of London: Monday 5th December for one day only, 20% for Vogue.com readers across the entire line, from Tuesday 6th December to Friday 9th December Aspinal will be offering 10 per cent off to Vogue.com readers plus a free gift with purchase for orders over £100.
• Harvey Nichols: discounts of up to 30%, competitions, 10% of proceeds to charity
• Browns: will take 15% off a special item each day
• Harrods: exclusive Fashion Sale Preview will be available offering 30 per cent off top luxury brands, plus “huge daily beauty prizes” and 10% of proceeds to charity
• Jenny Packham: will do a Flash Sale for one day only where VOGUE.COM readers will be offered an exclusive discount of 20 percent, the rest of the week a 10% discount will be offered, use discount code VOGUEJP01, 5% of proceeds to charity
• LK Bennett: complimentary postage & packaging, a showing of next season’s styles
• Jigsaw: 10% off all orders on one day only from 9am until midnight, look out on the OFW blog to see how and when you can redeem it
• Burberry: unveils its Christmas Collection & gives away samples of Burberry Body, the OFW blog will explain how to get the samples
• Mulberry: Twitter and Facebook contests to win handbags
• Temperley London: offering an exclusive product package to Online Fashion Week shoppers which will include a signed copy of its debut book True British
• Austique: a 15% discount and half-price delivery in the UK
• Links of London: launching 3 limited edition Christmas friendship bracelets, 10% of sales will go to charity
• Rupert Sanderson: reveals his Resort and Spring/Summer 2012 collections online over the five days of OFW, 10% of proceeds to charity

If a company is not listed it is either because they are not offering any specials, or it is merely for something they may already do, such as complimentary shipping.

Again, this is not really the event for those seeking big bargains, although there will clearly be some discounts; it is more about creating excitement online and raising money for good causes. The primary charity receiving donations is the Neuroblastoma Society, although other organizations have also been designated, such as Penelope Chilvers’ selection of the Child Bereavement Society.