Rebecca Taylor Wanted To Dress The Duchess – Now She Has (UPDATED)

Kate continued her loyalty to designers with UK connections, selecting separates by New Zealand-born Rebecca Taylor for today’s reception honoring the Scott-Amundsen Centenary Race to the South Pole.

Kate chose separates from Ms. Taylor’s Sparkle Tweed collection, the Navy Jacket and Navy Skirt.

Both pieces are from the pre-fall 2012/2013 collection, crafted in heavily textured melange weft. The jacket originally sold at $450, it features frayed trim at the multiple seams, three quarter sleeves, chiffon and sequin floral embellishment at the neck, and a grosgrain covered placket.

A more detailed view of the decor at the neck.

It is described this way:

The rich shade of navy blue on this Rebecca Taylor jacket is just what your look needs to perfect it for the season. Wear this timeless but versatile topper with pencil skirts and skinny jeans alike.

Here we see how the jacket looks open, and have a better look at the detailing on the back.

The jacket was featured in Rebecca Taylor marketing materials.

The textile blend for both pieces is cotton/acrylic/polyester/polyamide, the skirt originally retailed at $425.

In addition to honoring the trip to the Pole, today’s event was also a fundraiser for the British Legion, the group provides “welfare, comradeship, representation and Remembrance for the Armed Forces community.” Kate could be seen sporting a jeweled poppy brooch on her jacket.

The British Royal Legion provides “practical care, advice and support to serving members of the Armed Forces, “veterans of all ages and their families,” you can learn more about the group’s work by clicking here. The Legion’s Poppy Shop carries all manner of nifty merchandise, including Kate’s brooch, available here.

UPDATED 4.30.2012 TO REFLECT REBECCA TAYLOR REISSUING SEPARATES:

From the Daily Mail:

The suit that sold out minutes after it was worn by the Duchess of Cambridge in London last Thursday, has been re-released by New York-based designer Rebecca Taylor.

The tweed jacket and skirt from the resort 2011/12 collection had been on sale at Neiman Marcus and Bergdorf Goodman, but promptly sold out in just half an hour.

But this morning, the garments were available to buy again on the Rebecca Taylor website – albeit at the original full price.

Rebecca Taylor’s flirty, modern designs have inspired legions of loyal customers and celebrity clients to indulge their feminine wiles.

The designer has been in business more than fifteen years. Her collections are shown at New York Fashion Week, and the company is also headquartered in the city. Ms. Taylor sold her firm to retailing conglomerate Kellwood last year, they own other upscale lines like XOXO, Vince, and David Meister.

CORRECTED TO SHOW PROPER JEWELRY COMPANY. The fine eye for design is clearly a family gift, Victoria Taylor’s firm, Tory and Ko., offers lovely pieces.

Ms. Taylor and her business partner, Kirstin O’Brien, showcase New Zealand flora and fauna, including a splendid collection of charms.

There are other collections in addition to the charms.

Now back to Rebecca Taylor, here are pieces from this spring’s collection.

Ms. Taylor’s line includes ready to wear, shoes and other accessories. The designer is carried in the US by most upscale retailers (Bergdorf, Saks, Neimans, Nordstrom, etc.), at Holt Renfrew and Lane Crawford in Canada, Selfridge’s, Harvey Nichols, in the UK and at many other locations. There are also free-standing Rebecca Taylor stores in the United States.

I have been vocal in hoping the Duchess would wear designs by this designer, recently Ms. Taylor spoke of her desire to see Kate in her styles, the following is from Time’s NY Fashion Week coverage:

What celebrity would you love to dress that you haven’t yet?
Catherine Middleton. I just think she’s beautiful; I think she’s doing a great job, and I love William.

Today Ms. Taylor learned Kate was wearing her creations, British Vogue has the designer’s reaction.

“I got out of the elevator this morning and my team had stuck a picture of her wearing the outfit on the wall opposite,” Taylor told us on the telephone this afternoon. “I am a Catherine Middleton freak – ever since she came on the scene I said: ‘I want to dress that girl.’ It’s a dream come true.”

For those wondering how the process works for designers, here is more from British Vogue’s story:

Taylor’s team were contacted by St James’ Palace in February and expressed that the Duchess was a fan of the brand and requested to see a selection of clothes – paid for by the Palace. The designer was later sent a letter of thanks, which she plans on having framed along with the relating cheque.

Back to Rebecca Taylor’s thoughts on dressing Kate.

“We get requests like that all the time, so I didn’t know whether she’d actually wear any of it,” said Taylor. “She is a perfect model for our clothes. It fits her so well, it had a grown-up appeal – but it still looks youthful.”

“She always dresses so appropriately, she’s very polished and chic. I really loved her in that lilac McQueen gown she wore when she was in LA with William – she looked gorgeous. I’d like to see her in more flowing outfits and actually Rebecca Taylor does lots of those!” laughed Taylor.

Read the entire British Vogue story here.

Kate accessorized with earrings we’ve not previously noticed, pearl drops. We have seen the other items, her blue Prada pumps and Anya Hindmarch’s Marano clutch.

The clutch is out of stock, but you can put your name on a waiting list.

The couple also made a previously unannounced stop today, following the British Legion fundraiser, they paid a visit to Britain’s renowned MI6 Secret Intelligence Agency. The BBC’s Peter Hunt put it very well on Twitter.

Some felt the look was too much like other styles Kate has worn, while others thought the jacket didn’t fit properly, that the waist hit too high on Kate, or that the ensemble was too ‘matchy matchy’. I liked the look, the texture of the fabric was very attractive, and this particular shade of blue is very flattering for Kate.

EDITOR’S NOTE: I mistakenly showed the incorrect jewelry brand in the post, I want to thank Victoria Taylor for being so very gracious about my error, and apologize for the mistake.