Kate in Orla Kiely & “Miss Catherine” Apron for Art Room Engagements

Kate chose Irish designer Orla Kiely for her engagements in Oxford today.

James Whatling/Splash News

The Duchess was greeted by cheering crowds at Rose Hill Primary school and Oxford Spires Academy, she was visiting both on behalf of The Art Room, one of her patronages.

Georgina Brewer ITV Twitter Feed (@GeorginaITV)

More on the organization and its work from The Telegraph’s story:

The Duchess, who studied history of art at university, chose The Art Room as one of the first four charities to which she has given her patronage, as she is a firm believer in the power of art to help build self-esteem.

The charity helps to fund art teachers who give children intensive sessions in a specially-designated part of each school, where they create objects they can take home and keep.

The students created an apron for Kate, much like those worn by their Art Room teachers.

Mark Stewart (@RegalEyes)

Here we see Kate with one of the young artists at Rose Hill, watching students paint their interpretations of the famous Edward Lear poem “The Owl and The Pussycat.”

After her time at Rose Hill Kate moved on to Oxford Spires, where students eagerly awaited her arrival.

Twitter Feed (@MaxFosterCNN)

The dress is officially called the Birdie Shirt Dress, crafted of a wool jacquard.  The dress originally retailed at £325 ($485) but was on sale for £162 ($242), a discount of 50%.

Orla Kiely Birdie Print Dress

It features 4 oversized buttons on the front bodice, deep pleats at the waist front and back, pockets on the side seams and a self-belt.

Orla Kiely

The UK site offered the piece in Walnut and Turquoise, while the US site also carried it in Slate, all sizes at all online sites now appear to be sold out.

Orla Kiely

This talented designer is best known for her distinctive prints, her products have been handbags, stationery and other paper products, housewares and tabletop pieces, she also did a line for the Tate. You can visit the Orla Kiely shop here, and have a peek at her spring styles. If you would like a look at many of the Kiely style’s shown for London Fashion Week, they are in our previous post here.

Some US residents may have been first introduced to her work via her collaboration with Target in 2009.

Target

She has even designed for cars and other motor vehicles, like this bus.

Wikipedia

There is also an Orla Kiely yoga mat created as a fundraiser for another of Kate’s charities, Action on Addiction.

Action on Addiction/Orla Kiely – Yoga Matters

Many will recognize Kate’s booties, they are the Aquatalia Rouge, originally noted by fashion fans when the Duchess joined her fiance at the time, William, for an appearance in Anglesey.

The booties are now sold only at Nordstrom, they have been renamed the “Royal,” and appear to be available in all sizes as of this writing.

Kate also carried her black clutch and wore her Kiki McDonough Grace earrings.

Kiki McDonough

To learn more about the Art Room, visit its web page here, or its Facebook page here, or visit the group’s online shop.

For more on what Kate wore, the Mirror’s story is here, the Daily Mail piece is here, and the Telegraph’s is here.

The Telegraph

The BBC also has a video story up, as well as a slide show with wonderful (and large) photos, and The Independent’s stories (print & video) are found here.