Bits & Bytes, Retail-Related Notes, Final Poll on Kate’s Maternity Style, More

Now that some of last week’s frenzy has diminished it seems a good time to share a few updates and also wrap up our polls on what Kate wore during her pregnancy.  We begin with our newsbriefs.

Upcoming engagements:

• It’s believed Kate, William and Prince George continue their stay in Bucklebury at the Middleton’s 18-acre estate. William has a week+ remaining of his paternity leave before he returns to RAF Valley in Anglesey.
• There are no formal engagements on the calendar, but there has been chatter about a possible photocall with selected media to allow pictures of the newborn and his parents.

Christening:

An autumn christening continues to be the expectation, after the Queen and Prince Philip return from the couple’s annual two-month trip to Balmoral. The precise location remains unknown; Richard Palmer’s story in the Express offers more information.

Prince William was christened in the Music Room at Buckingham Palace and Prince Harry was baptised at St George’s Chapel at Windsor Castle.

Those two venues remain a possibility but other options under consideration, according to sources, are the Chapel Royal at St James’s Palace and the Queen’s Chapel across the road.

We’ll keep you updated on the plans for this, as well as any other events.

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Next, news sure to please those who like to ‘repliKate’ styles seen on the Duchess. An abbreviated lookbook for the Issa-Banana Republic collaboration was released this week, and there are several dresses that will hold appeal.  One design sure to delight many, a frock very similar to that now-iconic blue engagement dress.

With apologies to those who already read all of this on our WKW Facebook page last Thursday, the Banana Republic version shown above will sell for $130. There are two other dresses in the collection with very similar lines: a short sleeved style in blue and a maroon piece with three-quarter sleeves.

The collection launches August 8 online and in Banana Republic stores. The marketing thus far includes efforts to capitalize on the Issa connection to Kate. Below, a snippet from an Elle interview with BR’s creative director, Simon Kneen.

Below, another image from the BR Facebook page.

It’s more than unlikely Kate will wear anything from this collection, or any other Issa creation, past, present or future.

Not only has the label’s founder, Daniella Helayel, left the company, but prior to her departure, she sold a controlling interest in the brand to Camilla al-Fayed. Why should that matter? Because her father, Mohamed al-Fayed, previous Harrod’s owner, has been vocal in his belief the Royal Family is responsible for the death of his son, Dodi al-Fayed, along with Princess Diana. That topic is the subject of a film he financed, Unlawful Killing. In the movie, the Queen is referred to as ‘a gangster in a tiara’ and Prince Philip is called a psychopath.

Regardless of that baggage, it appears there could be a lot to like in the upcoming collection, with price points sure to please many a pocketbook.  To see several more styles, click here to visit She Finds.

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One other quick shopping update of note: Nordstrom is holding its semi-annual Anniversary Sale, one of the few times I see Aquatalia discounted. Below, the Royal boot, it is on sale for $298, 25% off its regular price of $398. Sale prices run through August 4.

The style is known as the Ruby Dry at Russell & Bromley, where it is priced at £245, roughly $380 at today’s exchange rates.  There are other Aquatalia designs on sale, but not all are marked down. Nor do I see Kate’s Rhumba boot available at Nordstrom, known as the Hi & Dry on the far side of the pond .

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Next, a look at results from those polls that kind of got lost in the shuffle of all the goings-on this past ten days, as well as one final survey to determine the most popular style worn by the Duchess during her pregnancy.

I don’t think anyone will be surprised by the look you selected as your favorite for Kate’s first trimester. Capturing almost 24% of your 3049 votes, the runaway winner was Kate’s McQ by Alexander McQueen Black Watch Coat, worn for a visit to her old prep school in November of last year. The blue blue plaid Simyonette coat by Diane von Furstenburg Kate wore when released from the hospital received the second-highest number of votes.

Moving to styles seen in Kate’s second trimester, after 2700+ votes the look you liked the most is the By Malene Birger teal coat worn when the Duchess joined HM and Prince Philip for a trip to Baker Street Station this March.  In second place, the MaxMara Studio wrap dress worn to Hope House.

We divided the voting in Kate’s third trimester into two categories. The first involved pieces worn at formal events where we had clear photographs of what the Duchess was wearing. In this voting you selected the Topshop Polka Dot dress worn for the Warner Brothers Studio in late April. The blue Emilia Wickstead came in with the second greatest number of votes.

Our fourth poll included looks worn on occasions when we had poor photos, or none available that I could license for the site. The big winner in this case is the Séraphine Wrap Dress with Tie.

We have combined these four ensembles into our final poll on Kate’s maternity style. Here are visual reminders of your top choices, beginning with the McQ Black Watch coat and Aquatalia boots.

Kate in her By Malene Birger coat and Whiteley hat.

The Topshop Polka Dot dress and Ralph Lauren jacket.

And the Seraphine Wrap Dress with Tie as seen (barely) on the cover of Australia’s Woman’s Day magazine (photo is in lower left corner of magazine).

And our poll.

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Today’s final note, a mention of our current Baby Cambridge Fundraising auction currently underway on eBay. All proceeds from the auction go directly to one of Kate’s patronages, EACH (East Anglia’s Children’s Hospices). This is an amazing auction, with a bit of a twist for us (the four bloggers running the Fundraiser): we are showcasing items and brands Kate’s younger sister is fond of, although they are sure to hold equal appeal for anyone who enjoys beautiful jewelry and elegant apparel!

The auction includes a dress not even available for purchase yet from a brand Pippa is frequently seen wearing, Logue London. The garment is 100% silk jersey, crafted in a shirtdress style that is part of the label’s upcoming fall/winter collection.  Also part of the auction, an item that is available now and something Pippa has been seen wearing: the Peapod Necklace by jeweler Argent of London.

The third item is an autographed copy of Pippa’s book “Celebrate”. This copy is actually signed by Pippa herself, originally purchased from a stock signing at Foyles for Books, and kindly donated by Pippa-Middleton.co.uk. We want to thank Carly of Pippa Middleton Style, along with Argent of London and Logue London for their generous donations!

We are making great progress, as of this evening (Saturday, July 27) more than $6100 has been donated via our Just Giving page.

Thank you to everyone who has so generously donated thus far.