For today’s Order of the Garter events Kate was in a coatdress by Scottish designer Christopher Kane.
The Daily Mirror’s Victoria Murphy shared a look at some of the 7000 guests gathered inside Windsor Castle, hoping to see the annual procession of Knights.
Victoria Murphy/The Daily Mirror (@QueenVicMirror)
This is what they were waiting for, the Knights walking to St. George’s Chapel.
Bowed heads and curtsies as Her Majesty passes.
A brief refresher on the Most Noble Order of the Garter:
- It is the oldest of all British Orders of Chivalry
- It was founded by Edward III in 1348
- Membership is limited to only the sovereign, the Prince of Wales, and not more than twenty-four other members
Kate and Sophie, Countess of Wessex, leaving after the procession and service.
Just a bit more background, from a previous Garter Day post:
The honor is determined solely by the Queen, input from Ministers and others is not required. It is HM who decided in 1987 that women should also be included in the Knighthood, Lady Margaret Thatcher is one of those so honored.
Simon Perry of People magazine posted this photo on Eye.Em showing (left to right): Prince Andrew, Prince William, Prince Edward, and Prince Charles. Behind Andrew you can see just a teeny bit of HM.
Simon Perry, People Magazine
The Duke and Duchess of Cambridge riding with the Prince of Wales after the service, our thanks to Victoria Murphy for sharing another photo from today’s events.
Victoria Murphy/The Daily Mirror (@QueenVicMirror)
The coat was first worn to the Opening Ceremony of the London 2012 Games, as well as a Palace Reception immediately preceding that Ceremony.
Dominic Lipinski (L) & Michael Kappeler (R)/Press Association Images
Described by the designer as a coatdress, the fitted style has multiple gores front and back, four panels per side. The silk satin piece also has a covered placket down the front, slanted pockets, self-belt, and peak lapels. The long sleeves have an invisible zipper on the seam.
Kate’s hat today is from John Lock and Co., the Sweet Delight style.
Lock and Co.
Our thanks to Anna of My Small Obsessions for her identification.
Many readers will recognize Kate’s handbag, the ‘Natalie’ from LK Bennett. (Above we noted the presence of zippers on the sleeves of the coat dress, you can just see the pulls in the photo below.)
PA Wire/LK Bennett
The Duchess also appeared to be in a new pair of heels. The intrepid Ashley Marie believes they are another pair by Jimmy Choo, the label’s ‘Gilbert’ heels in nude kid leather. Below we show them at Jimmy Choo ($595).
Jimmy Choo ‘Gilbert’
The shoes have a pointed toe (also described as an ‘almond toe’), the heel is lower than many pair Kate wears, it measures about 3.5″. The Gilbert is also available at Net-a-Porter ($575), where there is a very good selection of sizes. You can also find the Gilbert at Saks ($595) as well as Neiman Marcus ($595)
PA Wire / Nunn Syndication-Polaris
With apologies for the tiny photo, we wanted to at least try and show Kate’s earrings, the diamond and topaz/aquamarine/other stone earrings.
This was Kate’s third time attending the Order of the Garter as a senior member of the Royal Family. Below you see her wearing Katherine Hooker in 2011 and Alexander McQueen in 2012. (In 2013 she did not take part as she was so close to expecting Prince George.)
The Duchess of Cornwall wasn’t able to take part this year, she is reported to have a dreadful cold.
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Also today, an update on the Zimmermann Roamer Day Dress worn by Kate in Australia when attending Sydney’s Royal Easter Show.
Zimmermann offers a variety of pieces in its Roamer line. Below, a Zimmermann Roamer Halter Dress ($360), also in broderie anglaise.
Zimmermann Roamer Halter Dress
The Roamer pieces are also colorful.
Zimmermann
And the company also offers a significant number of pieces in broderie anglaise. Below, Zimmermann’s Vivid Broderie Anglaise Cotton Beach Dress at Net-a-Porter. (Actually, it is quite a bargain, originally priced at $440, the dress is now just $220.)
Zimmermann ‘Vivid Broderie Anglaise Cotton Beach Dress’ at Net-a-Porter
Vogue Australia featured an interview yesterday with Nicky Zimmermann, co-founder of the eponymous Australian brand. The format is Q&A and the topic was primarily Kate and the dress she wore.
Where were you when you were first told that Kate Middleton was seen wearing your dress?
I was in the Blue Mountains for the weekend and my phone reception kept dropping in and out. Then suddenly I had all these messages and texts and found out. It was an amazing thing for us and we felt really lucky
You can read the entire story on the Vogue Australia website. The story notes the dress will start selling online and in-store tomorrow, Tuesday, June 17. Below we show the dress at Austique, the boutique has been taking pre-orders for some time.
Zimmermann Roamer Day Dress via Austique
Austique has the dress priced at £410 (about $700 USD, $740 Australian). From the Vogue story:
“The Zimmermann Roamer day dress retails for $495. It is part of the Summer Swim collection, and drops in stores and online globally from Tuesday 17th June.
Zimmermann clearly offers a more appealing price.
UPDATED MONDAY NIGHT (June16):
The dress is now available on the Zimmermann US website. The photos have been sweetened (altered digitally) to better show the detail of the fabric.
Zimmermann Roamer Day Dress
From the product description:
Roamer Day Dress, from our Summer Swim 14 collection, in white cotton broderie. Fitted waistband and fitted, elbow-length sleeve. Natural cotton cross insert trim at waist, through bodice, sleeve and hem. Dress falls to the knee. Centre back invisible zip closure. This dress is unlined and we recommend it to be worn with a slip. 100% cotton, cold gentle hand wash.
A look at the bodice, again enhanced digitally to show detail.
Zimmermann Roamer Day Dress
The frock is priced at $520 on the US site (I am unable to ‘see’ the International site), as opposed to the $495 AUD mentioned above; I imagine that price point is specific only to the Australian market, but can’t definitively say that is the case. Some of our WKW Facebook friends page report purchasing the dress, one at the brand’s Soho store. Corrie V., who bought the dress this afternoon, reminds us the garment is unlined; she believes a nude bra and half slip should do the trick, but promises to report back tomorrow.
* information and/or quotes are from the St George’s Chapel website
LINKAGE:
- our 2012 Garter post can be seen here, the 2011 post is here
- the British Monarchy posted a quick vine video, for a 2-minute video from the Palace, click here
- learn more about the Order of the Garter here, visit the St. George’s Chapel Garter page for this year’s information here, enjoy a 360° tour of the Chapel by clicking here
- the Windsor Castle website can be seen here
- Pop Sugar’s photo gallery can be viewed here,
- Simon Perry’s story in People may be read here, Victoria Murphy’s story for the Daily Mirror is here (including photo gallery)
Melissa
Saturday 21st of June 2014
I love her hat it's gorgeous and fits her thin face perfectly. The outfit is so so but truly elegant.
Nancy Robertson
Thursday 19th of June 2014
Kate looks lovely, but Sophie's feathered dress looks silly and fits badly.
Mary
Wednesday 18th of June 2014
It looks better than the previous time she wore it. Still, I can't really like it because of the fabric. I just don't like satin. Too shiny, too ''synthetic'' looking and unforgiving.
Minda
Wednesday 18th of June 2014
In regards to the curtsy, it is so interesting to me how each member of the family does it because none seem to do it quite the same. And, am I wrong, or are Catherine and Sophie putting different legs back? I have heard Sophie's criticized for not being elegantly done, but at the same time, Kate's crossover seems off (though her back is perfectly straight!). I wonder if they practice to make sure they can curtsy in a particular dress.
It is nice to see her in a new shoe. I often wear heels to feel more confident and have considered that maybe those platforms, with their extra height, do the same for her? In older pictures, she often wore flats and kitten heels. Maybe this is a sign she is feeling more at ease with it all? Or it is a sign I am reading way too much into her choices. :)
Kate & Zena
Sunday 22nd of June 2014
The correct leg is back on both Sophie and Kate. Kate's curtsy is more elegant in this case but it looks like Sophie might have been in an awkward stance beforehand. Back in the old days, a person would put their left foot behind their right and curtsy down and I still think that is done in places with royalty (most people are taught right behind left here in the States. I learned both having been in ballet.)
MsL
Wednesday 18th of June 2014
I'm a big fan of Kate. But I find her three recent event outfits (the Christopher Kane, the new McQueen suit, and the McQueen lace dress) very dull and not representative of her personality given the way that she dressed up until the birth of Prince George. Kate is a woman in her very early 30's who can afford to let her youth shine through in a sophisticated way. In my opinion, the three outfits I've referred to here, or at least the way they were accessorized, are more appropriate for a woman in her 50's. I agree with the previous poster who made the distinction between "conservative" and "sophisticated". Longer hemlines do not necessitate a matronly appearance.
As for the Zimmerman dress, I was one of the lucky ones to see Kate wearing it up close at Manly Beach during the Australia tour. I think the dress was very fresh and youthful in person, although I can see how some of that effect is lost in pictures.
Penelope
Wednesday 18th of June 2014
I think it is to be expected that any woman and the duchess in particular will feel more mature with the birth of her first child and it is not surprising to me that she is dressing in a more mature way. She didn't have to but she obviously feels like doing so.
I didn't think the outfits were too old for her given who she is and the events she wore them at. I was expecting her to wear sth a bit more light and/or floaty at the garden party, like her blossom beulah dress for example, but for the order of the garter I was surprised by how much I liked the whole look, I think she pulled it off. On a lot of women it would have looked too much.