Familiar Pieces at Commonwealth Games & What Kate Wore to a Wedding Saturday

Kate was in familiar styles today in Scotland.

The Duchess joined Princes Harry and William for the Commonwealth Games in Glasgow. Their first stop today was at the gymnastics competition; the Daily Express has more.

They sat in the family section of the arena shortly before 3pm as gymnasts from across the Commonwealth competed in the men’s and women’s team finals.

Their arrival at the Hydro went almost unnoticed by the crowds until cameras showed them on the arena’s big screens.

After gymnastics, the trio went to the boxing venue, where they watched England’s Scott Fitzgerald take on Azumah Mohammed of Ghana.

Mr. Fitzgerald was triumphant over Mr. Mohammed, winning the welterweight match.

As the Duke, Duchess, and Prince departed the Scottish Exhibition and Conference Centre after the boxing match, Kate thanked volunteers. (Our thanks to John Cushing for allowing us to use his photograph.)

Photo: Kind Permission John Cushing, Global Radio (@JohnCushing)

Thus far the Games have been enormously successful. More from the Daily Mail:

Since the Queen opened the event last week, the Commonwealth Games has proved popular with royal visitors, starting with Prince Charles and the Duchess of Cornwall, who kicked off a week of royal visits the day before the event got underway.

Other royals to be seen cheering on the athletes in Glasgow include the Queen, who joined the crowds at the hockey and the swimming on last Thursday, and the Earl and Countess of Wessex, who were seen over the weekend at the hockey and the rugby sevens.

The Glasgow games have already broken Scottish visitor records with more than 350,000 spectators watching events yesterday on so-called ‘Super Sunday’.

In these pictures via Michael Kurn, you see the royals arriving for field hockey competition.

Photos: Via Kind Courtesy Michael Kurn (@MichaelKurn)

Stephen Lock / i-Images / Polaris

Whether watching competition, traveling between events, or meeting athletes, Harry, William and Kate seemed to enjoy themselves immensely. Here we see Kate and William reacting to action in the hockey game.

Having this generation of royals supporting sports initiatives makes perfect sense. The Duke, Duchess & Prince Harry are all athletic, with a particular affinity for team sports. They have all volunteered time for other sporting endeavors, especially those benefiting charitable organizations. Kate is royal patron for SportsAid, an organization providing financial support to young athletes who ultimately want to compete at the Olympic, Paralympic and Commonwealth Games level. 

Readers won’t be surprised at what Kate wore at the Games today, many will recognize her clothing and accessories. The jacket is by Zara, we first saw the Duchess wearing it in Auckland, New Zealand, during the royal tour.

Zara / Rebecca English, The Daily Mail & Mail Online Twitter Feed (@RE_DailyMail)

She also wore skinny jeans and a blouse we have yet to identify.

Andrew Parsons / i-Images / Polaris

The button-front top is sleeveless and appears to be done in a tone-on-tone stripe. Below, a better look at the collar.

Splash News / Polaris Images

It also has domed buttons and vertical tucks from the shoulder seam to the bustline.

If/when the blouse is identified we’ll update the post with that information.

UPDATE May 17 2018:  At last, an ID ! The answer came from Lady Coventry on Twitter when she shared a link to an eBay auction. 

The Alena top by Reiss was recently offered in an eBay auction, allowing us to read more about the piece and see better photos of the garment. It is a blend of 78% cotton/22% silk, with a stand collar, pin tuck pleats on the front and back, button front with contrasting buttons, and binding at the armholes.

It’s wonderful having this piece identified.

Kate was carrying her Stuart Weitzman for Russell and Bromley Muse clutch in navy suede (£255, about $430). For those not as familiar with the handbag, a snippet from the product description.

In blue suede, the chic minimal design and simple flap closure make this understated evening bag the last word in luxury.

With thanks to those questioning the handbag ID in this post (and on Facebook, Twitter, as well as via email), I raised the question with several closeup photos in Tuesday’s post on the Commonwealth Games. Kate is carrying an Emmy clutch, not the Stuart Weitzman Muse.

UPDATED FRIDAY AUGUST 1: Kate was actually carrying a bag by from a favored firm, LK Bennett: the retailer’s Frome Suede Clutch, described as “our wear-anywhere favourite clutch. Smart, sleek and the perfect size for any occasion, it’s crafted in soft suede.  It initially sold for £185 (about $300) but most recently it was discounted to £110, roughly $185.

LK Bennett ‘Frome’

Cindy, Sara & Anna of My Small Obsessions have our thanks for their identification of the piece.

At times Kate could be seen holding a pair of sunglasses, but we haven’t yet seen photographs allowing a firm identification. And she was also wearing her trusty Corkswoon wedges by Stuart Weitzman.

We show them at Stuart Weitzman above, but they are also available at Zappos. Both retailers charge $398 for the shoes.

The Duchess accessorized with her Kiki McDonough Citrine Drop earrings, Cartier Ballon Bleu wristwatch and Asprey charms necklace featuring charms from the company’s Woodland Collection.

Kiki McDonough/Cartier/Asprey

Not everyone was thrilled with what Kate wore: a look at Twitter, the WKW Facebook page, other blogs, and some of the comments on this post is all one needs to verify that sentiment. Why? Because many feel Kate settles for a ‘uniform’ when she should be showing variety, at least a little bit, in her wardrobe. A look at the headline and montage from Dhani Mau’s post today in Fashionista:

Fashionista.com

From Dhani’s story:

“…fashion-wise, it was not very exciting. That’s because she was wearing an outfit that she’s worn literally a dozen times and seems to choose for every occasion that calls for something casual — i.e. not a dress.”

It’s a good point. Except I think Kate wants to be “boring”: she wants attention on the occasion/event/function she is attending, and the people involved with that event. She doesn’t want the focus on her and what she is wearing. I respect her feeling that way (if, in fact, it is how she feels, obviously it’s mere speculation on my part). Unfortunately, one need only look where all the cameras are pointed when Kate is present to realize the noblest of intentions can be overwhelmed by the reality of a wired world demanding its pictures. Now. They want them now, as in I wanted-them-yesterday-now.

Would there be even more buzz and tweeting and chatter if the Duchess wore something new? I don’t know, but my instinct is there would be; the old Tweet-o-Meter would be peaking in the red zone. While I am not a fan of everything Kate wears in this sort of ensemble, I respect what appears to be her determination to not feed the beast, if at all possible, and to stay in the pleasantly ‘uninspired’ category.

Kate and William watching swimming this evening.

And William fanning her with her credentials because it’s warm at the swimming venue.

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Also today, a very quick update on what the Duchess wore this Saturday when attending a wedding with Prince William. They were in Batcombe, a small village in Somerset, for the marriage of Alexander Vaulkhard and Sarah Nicholson. The Prince became friends with Mr. Vaulkhard when both were attending Eton. There are no photos available for licensing, although you can see a few images here. The Duchess was in a Jenny Packham frock we have seen before, worn to a polo match in California during the 2011 N. American tour.

Jenny Packham

We did not see the dress again for almost a year, when Kate wore the silver and marble grey hand-painted silk frock to the June 2012 wedding of Prince William’s cousin, Emily McCorquodale. 

Kate also appeared to be wearing the ‘Sliver’ sandal this weekend, the same shoe originally worn with the dress in 2011, it is by LK Bennett.

LK Bennett

LINKAGE:

• visit the Historic Royal Palaces website here, you can follow their Instagram feed here, or visit their Facebook page here
• the Tower of London website is here, the page about the poppy installation is here, and the organization’s Facebook page is here
• the Commonwealth Games website is here, its Facebook page is here and online shop is here
• the BBC‘s microsite for the Games is located here & its photo gallery is here, the Daily Mirror’s story & photo gallery may be seen here, the Daily Mail’s story is here (with 56 photos)