New Engagements for Kate’s Calendar, Dune London Lands in the USA, Fall Footwear News & More

There are updates to Kate’s Calendar we want to share with you, followed by some fashion notes. The two new engagements for the Duke and Duchess involve the first annual Invictus Games, the Paralympic-style sporting competition kicking off in London next week. We are spending more time on this topic than we normally would with something not fashion-driven; in my estimation the event warrants the additional coverage.

Next Wednesday (September 10) the Duke and Duchess will join Prince Harry, Prince Charles & the Duchess of Cornwall at the opening ceremony for the Invictus Games. The ceremony will take place on the South Lawn of Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park, it promises to be an electrifying event with the King’s Troop Royal Horse Artillery, the Queen’s Colour Squadron and a Red Arrows flyby. More from the Games website:

The crowd can also look forward to a Competitors’ Parade featuring all 400+ wounded, injured and sick Servicemen and women – serving and veteran and from 14 nations – who will go on to compete in four days of sport from 11-14 September.

The Games will shine a spotlight on Armed Forces personnel and veterans who have put their lives on the line for their country demonstrating how they and their families are valued, respected and supported. For competitors, it will offer a memorable, inspiring and energising experience in their journey of recovery.

It looks like Opening Ceremony tickets are already sold out. For those in the UK interested in watching, the BBC is broadcasting the event live. I will keep an eye out for news about other possible live coverage sources and post them on the WKW Facebook page and also include them here.

It turns out William and Kate met an athlete competing in the upcoming Games while at the Commonwealth Games in late July, powerlifter Mickey Yule will be representing Scotland at next week’s competition.

Then on Thursday (September 11) Harry, Kate and William will attend a drumhead service. More from the Invictus Games site:

The Drumhead Service has been chosen as a fitting moment of reflection for all to remember those who died as well as the injured Servicemen and women taking part in the Invictus Games.

The multi-faith service will take place at London’s Lee Valley Athletics Centre which hosts the track and field events that afternoon.The short service will be conducted by the senior chaplains from The Royal Navy, the Army and the Royal Air Force.

The ceremony also falls on the anniversary of the September 11th attacks, and in the year when the World War I Centenary is being recognized around the world. Drumhead services go back hundreds of years, when soldiers in the field signaled each other with their drums. Following the ceremony Kate and William will stay and watch some of the competition.

The Games are the brainchild of Prince Harry, he has championed them for almost a year. When visiting Colorado last year he attended the fourth annual Wounded Warrior Games, an event that became part of his inspiration for the upcoming Games. Below you see Harry relaxing with Sitting Volleyball athletes earlier this year.

Invictus Games Facebook page

Among the 14 nations sending teams to the Games: Canada, Georgia, the Netherlands, New Zealand and Afghanistan. Below, a frame from a video showcasing what the Games mean to several participants, with a surprise visit from Princes Harry and William during a British Armed Forces training session.

Invictus Games You Tube Channel

Harry & William’s cousin Zara Phillips is also taking part, playing in wheelchair rugby exhibition match; here is more from the Express:

The two cousins, along with Zara’s husband Mike Tindall, will join stars of sport and entertainment in the televised exhibition match at London’s Copper Box arena on September 12 as part of the international games for wounded military personnel.

The Closing Ceremony Concert is also sold out, more on the lineup for that event from the official website:

With a special headlining performance by Foo Fighters, the concert will also feature sets from Kaiser Chiefs, Ellie Goulding, Ryan Adams, The Vamps, Rizzle Kicks, James Blunt, Diversity and Military Wives Choirs.

US Team selections were announced this week, 98 military athletes are taking part: 53 active duty personnel and 45 veterans. Dr. Jill Biden will be traveling with the team to London. Last night the Vice-President and Dr. Biden hosted a barbecue for members of Team USA.

Dr. Jill Biden Twitter Feed

The Games have support from the Royal Foundation of the Duke & Duchess of Cambridge and Prince Harry, and the Ministry of Defence.

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Our next item involves the shoe collaboration between Orla Kiely and Clarks.

Clarks UK

This Express article has more:

Nicknamed the “Queen of Prints” due to her love of colour, pattern and texture, Orla’s footwear collection has been heavily influenced by the Sixties and Seventies styles for which her luxury fashion line is known.

While not something I would expect to see the Duchess wearing (ahem), the shoes are sure to appeal to a younger, hipper demographic. (I swear an identical pair to at least one of these styles was in my closet in the 70s. Really.)

Clark’s UK

The shoes are available for purchase on the Clarks UK site, and available for pre-ordering at Orla Kiely’s US website. Prices run from $220 – $290.

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In other footwear news, it looks like Aquatalia is offering a new winter bootie style similar to Kate’s ‘Ruby Dry‘, as it is called at Russell & Bromley, where Kate purchases the footwear. A quick refresher, this photo is from November of last year.

James Whatling/Splash News

This year the Ruby Dry comes in 11 (!) colors at Russell and Bromley.

Aquatalia ‘Ruby Dry’ at Russell and Bromley

Over the years the boot’s name has changed: back in 2011 when we first saw Kate wearing it the name was the ‘Rouge.’ Then it became the ‘Royal,’ followed by ‘Royalty’ the next year. There were also minor style details that changed over the years for the booties. This fall the ‘Royalty’ is not being offered. The closest style is the ‘Riyan,’ shown below at Aquatalia; the Dorotea is also similar. Again, the biggest difference between these styles and the Ruby Dry is the hardware.

Aquatalia

The Riyan is available in eight colors at Aquatalia, the Dorotea is only carried in espresso & black suede. It is very difficult to see, but the Dorotea has a covered heel while the Riyan’s heel is stacked. Otherwise they are very much alike: both styles come in Aquatalia’s weatherproof suede, both have a 2.5″ walking height and both sell for $495. Here is a side-by-side look, we show the Dorotea at Nordstrom ($495, free shipping) and the Ruby Dry at Russell & Bromley. While close to Kate’s style, the covered heel and arch are obviously different.

Nordstrom/Rusell & Bromley

Below we compare the Riyan at Nordstrom in navy blue ($495 and free shipping) and the Ruby Dry in blue; the booties almost look identical, but the heel is a tiny bit narrower on the Ruby Dry. To my eye the better repli-Kate is the Riyan.

Nordstrom/Russell & Bromley

I also thought it timely to update the Rhumba boot colors this year: taupe, black, brown stretch suede, navy, dark grey and plum at Russell & Bromley.

Aquatalia ‘ Hi and Dry’ at Russell and Bromley

At Aquatalia the colors are almost identical, there is also a black leather version of the boot offered.

Aquatalia Rhumba

The black calf style sells for $895 while the other colors are priced at $725. Nordstrom is offering the Rhumba again this fall. Both the taupe and wine suede colors are $698; the black, charcoal, espresso and navy suede all retail for $725 with free shipping.

Also this week, word that Dune London is opening its first US store. The new emporium is on Broadway in SoHo.

The footwear and accessories retailer is said to be planning a “major expansion” in the United States, Retail Week has more:

Dune executive chairman Daniel Rubin said: “We see a massive opportunity to open Dune London stores in the US. This is a key element in our international retail expansion plans.

Kate’s Pied a Terre espadrille wedges are sold at Dune. In addition to its stand-alone stores and concessions, the brand is carried at large UK department stores like John Lewis, House of Fraser and Debenhams.

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Finally, a few tidbits about Temperly London. The first is word of a capsule collection Alice Temperley has designed for The Outnet, the less expensive sister site of luxury retailer Net a Porter. More from Women’s Wear Daily (subscription required):

Launching through the luxury discount e-tailer on Oct. 7, the line will include 21 pieces and represents Temperley London’s shift towards focusing on tailoring and daywear.

…the collection, which will retail for $225 to $1,095, was priced to remain competitive with the site’s core merchandise without sacrificing quality.

It will be fun to see how the collection does.

The designer continues with her collection for UK retailer John Lewis, Somerset by Alice Temperley. Below several styles from that line: the Lace Tiered Dress in black (£160) Long Pintuck Shirt in cotton and silk (£89), Organza Peplum Top in black (£89), and Sequin Jacket in gold (£199).

Somerset by Alice Temperley at John Lewis

For a limited time John Lewis is doing free shipping to the US and Canada for purchases totaling more than £100 (that’s about $166 USD at today’s exchange rates, and roughly $178 CA$), see the details here.

John Lewis

We have just begun Fashion Month, as we call it here at Planet Kate, it takes more than that to get through London, Milan and Paris Fashion Weeks following the New York shows and presentations. Whatever you call it, the Temperley London Spring 2015 collection will be shown a week from Sunday at London Fashion Week. Another label Kate has worn, although not nearly so frequently, Zimmermann, showed in New York today. The label has posted behind the scenes photos on its blog, Facebook page, and Instagram account. Actual runway styles should be on their Facebook page shortly.

NEXT ENGAGEMENT:  On Monday (the 8th) Kate and William officially open The Dickson Poon University of Oxford China Centre Building at St. Hugh’s College.

LINKAGE:

• Visit the Invictus Games website here, follow the Facebook page here and Twitter page here
• Read the USA Warrior Care blog post about the Games, it has a great list of US social media accounts to follow for the Games
• See all 98 US team members competing at the Invictus Games listed in their entirety here
• The NY Fashion Week schedule is here, London FW schedule is here, Milan Fashion Week schedule is here and Paris FW schedule may be seen here