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More Dates for Kate’s Calendar, Product Updates & One Sale Item You’ll Want to Know About

We are back with updates to Kate’s Calendar as well as several retail notes.

  • Thursday, February 12: In her role as Patron of the 1851 Trust the Duchess visits the town of Portsmouth. She will visit the Trust’s new headquarters located at Ben Ainslie Racing, meet students who created a giant mural at the headquarters and add her own touch to the artwork.

More about the Emma Bridgewater pottery unveiled at last November’s EACH luncheon, the reason Kate is visiting the Bridgewater factory. Below you see the Duchess with Ms. Bridgewater at that November event.Paul Rogers/PA Wire

There was a spot of confusion for some regarding the tableware and its use for the EACH Nook campaign. Because the entire line of pottery showcasing two new Bridgewater patterns, “Ladybirds” and “Insects and Flowers,” was shown during the Nook Appeal luncheon, a few thought all pieces in both new designs were part of the fundraising effort. That is not the case, the event organizers merely wanted guests to see the full line of items being made in the new patterns.

It turns out that 2 mugs from the new patterns are part of the fundraiser, one in the Ladybirds design and the other in the Insects and Flowers pattern.

Emma Bridgewater

Emma Bridgewater

There is also a Ladybirds Baby Mug that will be sold as part of the campaign; £5 from the sale of all three items will go to the Nook Appeal. Items may be pre-ordered starting February 18, sales online and in-store start March 2nd. Here is how the things being offered are described on the EACH website:

The prices are as follows: Ladybirds ½ Pint Mug £19.95 with a £5 donation, Ladybirds and Insects & Flowers boxed pair £39.95 with a £10 donation, Ladybirds Baby Mug £15.95 with a £5 donation.

You can also sign up for the Emma Bridgewater mailing list here. I expect these will be very popular items; if planning to purchase any, pre-ordering may be wise. (Hopefully this lead time before Kate’s visit will allow the Emma Bridgewater internet pooh-bahs to reserve extra server space should the Kate effect strike, lol.)

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Next, word about what Kate wore on Mustique one day during vacation, for those few who may not have yet seen the information. As could be expected, photos have been published in a US newspaper of the extended Middleton family on vacation. The Duchess was wearing a local brand, Lotty B.

Lotty B/Pink House Mustique & Latitude 11

Lotty B/Pink House Mustique & Latitude 11

Owned by English-born Mustique resident and designer Lotty Bunbury, the label showcases Ms. Bunbury’s designs in caftans, dresses, sarongs and other pieces. Kate’s dress is 100% silk crepe-de-chine; it features a mandarin collar, three-quarter sleeves, and a button front. Originally offered at £302, but most recently selling at £108, the dress is now sold out. However, there are loads of other colorful pieces designed by Ms. Bunbury still available at the island’s Pink House Boutique. The brand is also carried at Selfridges, as well as other boutiques around the world. There is a list of retailers carrying Lotty B viewable here.  This is not the first time the Duchess has worn Lotty B.; WKW Facebook friend Trisha Snyder pointed out in this post that Kate wore Lotty B in 2006 when vacationing on Ibiza.

Kate accessorized with a panama hat and her ‘I am not a plastic bag’ tote, the bag that was a partnership between Anya Hindmarch and Sainsbury’s supermarkets (Whole Foods carried the bags in the US).

Design Transitions

Design Transitions

A special tip of the tiara to Ashley Marie for her quick identification of Kate’s dress and bag.

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Next, an update on the Kenneth Jay Lane earrings Kate wore with her Beulah London ‘Amara’ dress during the New York visit. Readers may remember this was Kate’s attire for a private reception and dinner hosted by the American Friends of the Royal Foundation.

Jackson Lee/Splash News

Jackson Lee/Splash News

The earrings are now available for purchase at the CZ by Kenneth Jay Lane website.  They have been renamed the Duchess Clover Earrings and they are priced at $175.

CZ by Kenneth Jay Lane

CZ by Kenneth Jay Lane

Also today, the Jenny Packham/Laura Mercier clutch is available again. This is the bag that is such a great ‘copyKate’ of the bespoke Jenny Packham bag Kate carried with her teal Jenny Packham gown at the 2012 Greatest Team Rising dinner. And it’s really better than a ‘repliKate,’ the product description explains why: “we are happy to be able to offer you the clutch in the same shape and identical silk satin…”, I can’t think of any Kate product replicas made from the actual fabric used in the Duchess’s original garment/accessory.

Laura Mercier

Laura Mercier

The bag is $95 and 100% of sales of benefit the Laura Mercier Ovarian Cancer Fund. Here you see the bag with the matching dress. (Yes, I’m seizing the moment to showcase this gorgeous gown again!)Both Photos by Splash News

We move now to an outstanding Sales and Savings Opportunity, this one about Kate’s Aquatalia Rhumba boots.Both Photos by Splash News

Nordstrom is offering the always-popular boot at 35% off its regular selling price of $725, it is now priced at $449.90  There seems to be an excellent selection of sizes as of this writing, the primary reason we referenced the Rhumba sale in the post title. BTW, shipping is free for the boots.

Next, Kate’s ME + EM Breton-stripe top appears to be restocked in all sizes on the ME + EM site. Below you see the Duchess wearing the piece during a yacht race in Auckland on last year’s royal tour.i-Images.co/ME + EM

For those interested in the retail trade, there is an interesting ME + EM profile in the Evening Standard, including coverage on how Kate’s wearing their top has impacted the business.

One more quick retail note: LK Bennett plans to open another US store. More from Women’s Wear Daily:

L.K. Bennett is taking Manhattan — again — with a store set to open at 59-60 Madison Avenue at the end of March. The unit, which spans about 2,000 square feet, will be in the former Brian Atwood space, across the street from Barneys New York.

The WWD story also references a collaboration between American actress and model Laura Bailey. More from LK Bennett:

The colour palette is taken directly from the beach, with ocean blue and sandy yellow in bold zig-zags and stripes alongside nautical tones of navy and red, punctuated with linen white. The limited edition collection…features a statement block heeled sandal, pointed crossover strap flat, ankle-strap kitten heel, playful summer flat and a sharper pointed stiletto”.

That collection launches on March 25th.

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Katie

Friday 6th of February 2015

"Photos have been published in a US newspaper"

Did you mean the NY Daily News?

Here is the link: http://t.co/bZagjWmY8S

Julie

Thursday 5th of February 2015

I wish Kate would wear more evening gowns like the Jenny Packham turquoise dress. It looks more 'princess-y'.

ElizaMo

Thursday 5th of February 2015

Great to hear of more upcoming dates for the Duchess, sounds like we should get all-day pictures. I’m looking forward to ordering my Bridgewater mug.

I think it’s a shame about the holiday snaps being published, I can’t see why the family can’t be left to take a private holiday, so I’m afraid I’m not keen to comment on what may have been worn.

Good news about the earrings and boots – I like the earrings more now I see them again and they’re a good price. I think they work on Kate, though I’d find them too fussy myself. And I’m just delighted to see pictures of the fabulous teal Jenny Packham again – you need to wait for an excuse?

Leslie

Thursday 5th of February 2015

Does anyone have any information on the teal bikini that Pippa was wearing in Mustique? It looks like it might be by Vitamin A, but if it is it's not their recent collection. It's lovely, and I want it.

Esti

Thursday 5th of February 2015

A brand is taking credit for it on twitter: https://twitter.com/Biondi_Couture/status/563309308893753344

Lili

Thursday 5th of February 2015

I like that little silk dress --perfect for a beach holiday. Alas, I'm not likely to be taking one anytime soon.

I'm already making tentative spring/summer shopping lists, so boots are no longer on my mind. No clothing purchases until April, not even on sale, that's my current vow. We'll see how well I do.

I knew I was really aging when I stopped recognizing the majority of celebrity names. I have no idea who Laura Bailey is! I'm off to look her up.

admin

Thursday 5th of February 2015

You aren't alone in not know about Ms. Baily Lili, I also had to look her up! :)

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