Kate in Rich Red Pieces & Diamond Wedding Earrings for Order of the Garter

Kate brought back several key styles for today’s Order of the Garter ceremony.

The weather impacted the day’s events. For the first time since 1971 the usual procession to St. George’s Chapel was canceled. Below, part of last year’s procession.

The Scottish Guards on duty today at Windsor.

HM arriving.

You can see just a bit of the iconic velvet robes and plumed hats worn by the Knights in this image of Prince William and Prince Charles.

Kate, the Duchess of Cornwall, Knights, and guests.

The Order dates back a very long time. From the Royal Family website:

In medieval times, King Edward III was so inspired by tales of King Arthur and the chivalry of the Knights of the Round Table that he set up his own group of honourable knights, called the Order of the Garter. Nearly 700 years later, the Order is the oldest and most senior Order of Chivalry in Britain. The Knights, now both male and female, used to be limited to aristocracy, but today they are chosen from a variety of backgrounds, in recognition for their public service

Now to what Kate wore for this year’s event, a bespoke ensemble by Catherine Walker. The coat features a fitted bodice, shawl lapels, oversized self-covered button closure, and three-quarter sleeves.

Kate’s coat has elements of multiple Catherine Walker pieces, so we did another Fun with Fashion Math. The garment incorporates design components from the Chloe, Rouleau and Loire coatdresses. The diagram really doesn’t have the proper skirt as seen in Kate’s bespoke version.

Olivia Marks has a fashion piece in The Telegraph about Catherine Walker:

French-born Walker first started working with Diana shortly after she married Prince Charles and went on to design over 1,000 dresses for the Princess, including the black dress she was buried wearing.

The Duchess first wore the ensemble in July of 2011, as she and William were leaving Canada during the North American tour.

This portion of The Telegraph story addresses the topic of the designs ‘aging’ Kate, or appearing ‘matronly,’ a topic generating substantial debate almost any time Kate wears this label.

“No one could ever accuse Catherine Walker of making her clients look youthful but impeccable dependability is the signature of this designer – and of the house that bears her name,” explains The Telegraph Fashion Director Lisa Armstrong of Walker’s enduring Royal appeal.

“The label guarantees a statuesque perfection that looks as good in photographs as it does across a crowded cathedral or state ballroom.”

Kate wearing Catherine Walker at Friday’s Service of Thanksgiving, and Carole Middleton in two of the company’s designs.

Kate’s vibrant red hat is by Lock and Company, initially seen when worn to the Diamond Jubilee River Pageant in 2012.

A closer look at The Duchess’s intricate updo.

We saw a new pair of heels, another Gianvito Rossi style.

The heels are available at a variety of retailers with two different heel heights, 105mm (about 4.1″) or 100mm (roughly 3.9″).  I’m not sure we’ll ever know whether Kate wears the 105mm or the 100mm. The pumps (also called ‘court shoes’) also have different color names at some retailers. And at one, Net a Porter, the shoe is referred to as both claret and burgundy.  Below, the 105s.

• Bari suede court shoes in ‘red’, 10.5cm/105mm/4.1″ heel, $660 at Harrods
• Suede pumps in ‘claret,’ also called ‘burgundy’,  105mm, $675 at Net-a-Porter
• Gianvito 105 in ‘tamarindo’, 105mm, $670 at Gianvito Rossi

When it comes to Gianvito Rossi colors the names can be confusing, especially when styles may only be called the Gianvito 100 or Gianvito 105. Tiffany C. pointed out on the Facebook page that while multiple retailers take delivery of the the same shoe, some may use their own color name, or be given an ‘exclusive’  color name by a vendor. Below, the 100mm heel height.

• Gianvito suede pumps in ‘red,’ 10omm, £450 at Harvey Nichols
• Gianvito suede pumps in ‘red,’ 100mm, $675 at Luisa Via Roma

She carried the red clutch by Alexander McQueen again, it was also first noted at the River Pageant.

It was in the jewelry department that Kate really wowed today, surprising many of us by wearing her diamond acorn drop earrings by Robinson Pelham for the first time since her wedding.

The Duchess wore the diamond bracelet we have seen on important occasions.

A look at Kate’s past Order of the Garter ensembles, along with today’s style. In 2011 she wore a Katherine Hooker coat; at the 2012 event we saw the return of her much loved Alexander McQueen ‘Samurai Folds’ coat; in 2014 the Duchess was in a bespoke Christopher Kane coat. (She did not attend last year because of Princess Charlotte’s birth. In 2013 Prince George’s impending arrival precluded her participation.)

A new engagement for tomorrow has been added to Kate and William’s calendar:

• Tuesday, June 14:  Kate and William will be in Northern Ireland, where they will attend the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland‘s Garden Party.

We will see you then.

LINKAGE:

• Learn more about the Order of the Garter at the Royal Family website; the St. George’s Chapel website is here; there are some nifty 360º views of the Chapel here
• The Daily Mail’s coverage is here;  The Mirror’s fashion article is here; a Telegraph ppiece about Kate’s reli
• Pop Sugar’s gallery is here;