UFOs Identified, Fall Frocks from Reiss & LK Bennett, Upcoming Engagements

We wanted to share a few UFOs that have been resolved, beginning with that black dress worn by Kate when she was out with William & Pippa in Mayfair back on October 11.

Thanks to the detective work of WKW Facebook friend Julia G, she shared her belief two weeks ago that this was a Reiss dress from 2009, the style is the “Rozalia”. Below we show it as seen in a current eBay UK auction (images below left and center), thank you to Beth for commenting with a link to the auction. The picture on the right is from Julia G, it really shows the sharply angled edge of that top layer of fabric, a distinctive design element many of us were looking for as we sought to locate the dress.

The eBay dress is described as a dark navy or purple, while Kate and Julia’s version looks to be black, as does this version from a previous online auction. (We have digitally altered the photo in an effort to better show that angled fabric overlay.)

An additional tip of the tiara goes to Rachel, Isabella and Elizabeth B, they noted that Kate’s sister Pippa wore the same dress back in 2009 at the “Snowman In Africa” for UNICEF book launch; to see Pippa in the dress click here.

Many thought it might be Temperley’s Simonette, others thought it could the Issa black short sleeve dress Kate wore while out shopping just days before last April’s wedding (now re-issued by Issa and available), another idea was the Reiss Nanette in black.

Many thanks to the fashion savvy and eagle-eyed WKWers on Facebook for the work on this one.

Another ID we are behind in sharing is the Breton stripe top worn by the Duchess at this summer’s Olympic Games underneath her navy Smythe blazer, the blazer has also been re-issued and available for purchase again.

Many will remember Kate wore the piece to watch Zara Phillips in the Team Eventing Jumping Final of the Games at Greenwich Park.

This Instagram image showed the back of the piece.

The always-sharp Anna of My Small Obsessions felt strongly from the beginning the top was by Alexander McQueen.

Anna’s instincts were spot-on, the knit top is a past-season McQueen piece.

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This fall was so chock-full of Kate appearances we never took a look at many of the new fall styles offered at some of her favorite retailers. We share a few pieces today, beginning with items at Reiss.

This retailer always seems to have several dresses on hand that “seem like Kate,” for lack of a better term. Below we show several, from left to right: the Ilda Fitted Pencil dress in Pacific Blue ($360) has multiple details found on pieces the Duchess favors; the Bridge V-Back dress (originally $360, now $240) has a deep veed back, we show it in Oil Blue but it also comes in Cream and Fawn; the Venna Boat Neck dress has an awful lot going on, including ‘cross-over, folded and exposed seam detail,’ but I could easily see Kate wearing it in many of the four colors available; the Shari Asymmetric Cowl Neck dress (originally $300, now $150 in the magenta color we show below) is probably more ‘Kate-like’ in the black colorway.

Next, a more neutral palette, left to right: the lacy knee-length Marjorie ($320) available in two colors (deep violet and soft grey), below right, the Levento in black/pewter($285) offers sheer short sleeves and more ruching, the Brandy has similarities to the Shola with yet more ruching at the waist & small of the back, the three-quarter sleeve Rebecca (originally $340, now $227) has asymmetric lines and partially sheer sleeves.

Below, two dressier frocks. On the left it is the black sequined Emma ($500) in what Reiss calls its ‘body-con’ style, on the right, the Nolita ($370), with multiple elements Kate favors: an embellished overlay, cap sleeves, and ruching at the waist. I don’t really see Kate in the Emma as much as I see possibilities in the Nolita.

And finally, from Reiss we show the Fifi, looks like something the Duchess *might* select with its lace detailing ($425), although to be honest, Kate has opted for more upscale pieces from McQueen, Temperley, Beulah London and Amanda Wakeley when wearing full-length gowns.

We also share a few styles from LK Bennett, we are converting the British pound to US dollars for pricing, so it is possible the price in US stores and/or online might be slightly different.  We start with the Elysia Wool Tailored dress in light grey (£195/$345) shown below left, it also comes in orchid and a dogtooth print, below right we have the Sabrina Tailored Pleat dress (£225/$400) in Petrol, this one is available in a pretty aubergine as well.

From the company’s Black Ribbon collection we see the Dee Hip Pleat dress (£395/$635) below left, it has that notched neckline Kate enjoys (it is also available in red), below right we show the Electra Wool Tailored dress (£395/$635).  The Electra is really too short for the Duchess, at least in terms of official appearances, another 2 inches are needed to make it fully appropriate.

Hopefully no one’s eyes will glaze over from the sameness of silhouette and detailing (there is a reason they looked ‘Kate Like’ to your faithful scribe), below left LK Bennett’s Gianna Wool V-Neck dress (originally £225, now £150/$240-ish), on the right we show the Corvina Crepe Tailored dress in grey (£225/$360-ish), also offered in lipstick red and a smokey quartz.

This certainly isn’t the brightest of color palettes, but then, it is winter. The Davina that we have seen Kate wear remains available in a variety of jewel tones.

The Lizzie Jersey Wrap Dress holds appeal (£145/$240-ish), we show it in green/emerald on the left and grey/mid-grey on the right, it is a silhouette Kate likes in a fabric she also finds appealing.

New shoe styles include the Sofia Suede and Lace pump in black and teal, as well as the Dottie Platform Sequin shoe in bordeaux and gold.

The Janna shoe looks like something we might see the Duchess wear, we show it in Black and in Rose Gold (£225 / $365-ish), it does come in a variety of additional colorways, but none that yours truly found terribly appealing. (Ahem.)

I wouldn’t be surprised to see Kate sport the Molly Point Toe shoe, not because of what you see from the front or side, but from the back, it seems to offer that fillip she enjoys.

Finally, an update on the Sledge shoe at Nordstrom ($345), there are two new colors, both exclusive to this retailer, one is Navy, the other Red.

New bags with merit include the Nina leather box bag (described as “the sister to our popular Natalie clutch”), the Alne beaded clutch in gold or silver, and the Waldon long suede clutch, shown top to bottom.

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Upcoming Engagements:

1) There are a few engagements in the royal appointment book, beginning with next Thursday’s fundraising dinner for the St. Andrews 600th Anniversary Campaign. More from St. Andrews:

“The Duke will be accompanied at the black tie event by his wife, and fellow St Andrews graduate, the Duchess of Cambridge. The royal couple first met at the University of St Andrews and both graduated in 2005. The Duke graduated with an honours degree in Geography and the Duchess with an honours degree in History of Art.”

Many will remember Kate and William’s visit to the University in February 2011, that is when the Duke officially launched the fundraising campaign, he serves as its Patron.

There is a silent auction as part of next week’s dinner, items available include excursions like the Ultimate Safari Adventure (below), and a Nantucket Holiday for Eight.

Click here to see other items in the auction, including a lot of Robert Burns books that I am much-too-interested-in. The dinner is at Middle Temple Hall, the couple visited Middle Temple October 8 to meet with students.

2) Also on the calendar, next Sunday’s Remembrance Day events, take place at 11 am on the 11th.

3) There is another black-tie function on the horizon, I believe it is the 24th, we’ll post more information as we have it and we get closer to the date.