It’s LK Bennett Blue in Brisbane + Another Aussie Brand for the Duchess

Today’s tour engagements were in Brisbane, about an hour away from Sydney by air.  The first stop was the Royal Australian Air Force base at Amberley.

You can see how big the engines are on the aircraft behind Kate.

Prince William Reviewing the Royal Guard.

One of the day’s highlights, Kate climbing into the cockpit of an F-18 Super Hornet jet fighter.  From the Telegraph’s Gordon Rayner:

Debrett’s Guide to Etiquette does not include advice on how to get in and out of a fighter aircraft in a ladylike fashion, but if it did, the Duchess of Cambridge could write it for them.

On a visit to a Royal Australian Air Force base near Brisbane, the Duchess, wearing a knee-length LK Bennett dress and high heels, demonstrated perfect deportment as she clambered in and out of the cockpit.

The two exchanged some lively banter regarding who sat where in the cockpit. Rebecca English has more in her Daily Mail story:

‘Do you fancy jumping in the back?’ These were Prince William’s smooth words to Kate as the pair inspected the Super Hornets at Amberley Air Base shortly after touching down in Brisbane this morning.

But the Duchess wasn’t keen on hopping in the back – instead she jumped into the cockpit after William had a turn.

Commanding Officer Chappell said Kate was fascinated by the ‘dials and gadgets’ on the Super Hornet.

Prince William also spent time in a jet simulator. Below, the Duke and Duchess received certificates for their Super Hornet training.

Kate wore the Lasa Poppy Dress by LK Bennett.

Several WKW friends recognized the frock as soon as there were images available, primarily because actress Mindy Kaling wore the dress on television.

It is a classic sheath in a cotton/rayon blend, with 1% Elastane for give and minimal stretch. Below we show the sleeve vent and some of the waistline detail.

The dress originally sold for $425 in the US, £245 in the UK. It came in a second color, a deep orange/red. Neither dress is available, they have been sold out for some time. It is one of Kate’s best looks of the tour in my opinion, combining a timeless silhouette with a vivid pattern that doesn’t overpower the dress itself or those woman wearing it, while exuding an understated elegance that is very flattering on the Duchess. (As an aside, this was arguably my favorite dress from LK Bennett’s s/s collection, so I am partial to the look.)

The color is snorkel blue, a major color story for LK Bennett this spring. Some readers may recall that Kate’s highly popular ‘Detroit’ dress was also snorkel blue. The Duchess wore that frock to an Art Room event in West London on February 14th of this year.

There was a sizable amount of merchandise in the color. Below we show one of two montages put together in February showing snorkel blue pieces, originally intended for a post that never quite got finished.

As is often said in those ‘seen on TV’ commercials, “But wait – there’s more!”

I think there are still handbags left, and a few of the tops. If interested in any of the garments and/or accessories it is probably best to act quickly, available stock seems to be dwindling.

The Duchess also had a new clutch, the Oroton Odeion bag in the Indigo colorway. Oroton is an Australian heritage brand founded in Sydney in 1938, long known for upscale leather goods and accessories. The company has expanded, they now offer everything from apparel to shoes. There are Oroton stores throughout Australia and New Zealand, and the company does ship to the United States for $19.95.

Kate’s bag is made of embossed leather, it originally retailed at $235 but was most recently discounted to $115. It is now sold out, with several savvy WKWers scooting to their local stores to purchase the clutch. Michelle of Perth Fashion managed to get the last bag at her Oroton.

Kate’s shoes are the Alexander McQueen pumps.

And her jewelry included her diamond and sapphire earrings, Mappin & Webb Fortune necklace, and Cartier wristwatch.

The crowds that gathered waiting for a walkabout were enormous. We leave you with a few photos from that portion of the Brisbane visit.

Below, two photos from The Daily Mail’s Rebecca English. On the left you see Kate handing gifts to her personal assistant, Rebecca Deacon, while the personal protection officer in the upper left corner looks understandably stressed. Below right, Kate shaking hands and being given more gifts, many of them for Prince George.

Our final two photos show what is becoming a common occurrence at walkabouts, the Marry Me George meme.

NEXT ENGAGEMENTS:

• The Duke and Duchess start their day with Easter Sunday services at St. Andrews Cathedral in Sydney, the oldest cathedral in Australia
• The couple will sign the ‘First Fleet Bible,‘ the bible used in Australia’s first Christian service in 1788
• Next on the agenda, the Taronga Zoo, located on the shores of Sydney harbour.
  • Their first stop at the Zoo is a Bilby enclosure that will actually be named after Prince George. The enclosure is to be named after the young Prince as part of the Prime Minister’s gift on the occasion of his birth. It is possible Prince George may also enjoy this portion of the day, he may join his parents at the zoo.
  • There is more of the zoo to see, including the famed Taronga giraffes, tree kangaroos, and other creatures indigenous to this part of the world
• Travel to Australia’s capital, Canberra, staying at Government House

LINKAGE:

• Gordon Raynor’s story in the Telegraph (with photo gallery) is here
• Rebecca English’s Daily Mail story is laden with photos, it may be found here
• PopSugar’s slide show of photos may be seen here
• the Daily Mirror’s live blog is here (a great way to get a recap)