The Duchess in Alexander McQueen’s Obsession Print at Wimbledon

We saw Kate in a new dress by Alexander McQueen for today’s match at Wimbledon.

The Duke and Duchess were on hand to watch Scotland’s Andy Murray take on Canadian Milos Raonic in the Gentlemen’s Final.

On the upper right of the photo above, you can see part of the iconic quote from Rudyard Kipling’s “If”: “If you can meet with Triumph and Disaster and treat those two impostors just the same…”.

The players entering a packed Centre Court.

Prince William speaking with Philip Brook, chairman of the All England Lawn Tennis and Croquet Club. Behind them, you can see London’s recently elected Mayor, Sadiq Khan, and his wife, Saadiya.

The Royal Box was filled with notable names, including actors Benedict Cumberbatch and Bradley Cooper.

The media area was crowded with photographers meeting the demand for sports photos of the tennis and entertainment pictures of the celebrities.

More celebrities are seen in the photo below: I’m not sure who is in the upper left (but am confident one of you will know) in a comment Kat tells us one of the men in the center of the upper left photo is José Mourinho, a well known Portuguese football (soccer in the US) coach and former player; Kate and William are seen in the upper right; lower right you see Prime Minister David Cameron with his mother, Mary; in the lower left it is actor Benedict Cumberbatch again, accompanied by his wife, Sophie Hunter, who was wearing Temperley’s ‘Etta’ dress.

Kate and Will are joined by a host of celebrities to cheer on Andy Murray:https://t.co/RAh7MUjvcx #WimbledonFinals pic.twitter.com/eVmQP1FBVa

— Express Pictures (@Express_Pics) July 10, 2016

For a full listing of the more famous fans, this link takes you to a Daily Mail story that has a diagram.

It rained earlier in the day but stayed dry throughout the afternoon. Fans were thrilled to see Mr. Murray take the match in straight sets, making him just one of twelve men who are two-time Wimbledon singles winners.

More from The NY Times:

Murray’s deep and evident internal drive has been as important to his success as his foot speed and phenomenal ball-striking talent. Seeded No. 2 this year, he already was the most successful British men’s tennis player since Fred Perry. He is now the first British man since Perry to win Wimbledon more than once.

Jubilant reaction to the match’s outcome in a photo that shows William’s light-colored sportcoat, quite a departure for the Prince! More from the Times piece:

 

Since winning Wimbledon in 2013, Murray has gone through back surgery and two different coaches before reuniting with mentor Ivan Lendl last month. Since 2013, Murray also has gotten married to longtime girlfriend Kim Sears and become the father of a young daughter.

Those challenges and life changes were clearly on his mind in the moments after victory.

Kate and William congratulating the winner.

If you click on the arrow you will go to a 1:20 video with Kate, William and the champ talking about the match.

The two-time #Wimbledon champion has a quick catch-up with the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge… https://t.co/WDDbmvtbCZ

— Wimbledon (@Wimbledon) July 10, 2016

More on that conversation from The Telegraph:

A joyous Andy Murray joked with the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge about the “lucky omen” that boosted him to Wimbledon victory – his baby daughter slept through for three nights’ running.

…when Murray politely asked about the royal children, Kate responded: “No, today is about you…. you played so well, well done.”

But it wasn’t just men’s singles the Cambridges watched; they stayed for the mixed doubles championship on Centre Court.

They clearly enjoyed the matches.

Below you see them applauding British player Heather Watson with partner Henri Kontinen; the pair won the mixed doubles championship.

And you can just see Kate and William behind mixed doubles runners-up Robert Farah and Anna-Lena Groenefeld. 

Kate wore a British brand founded by a man of Scottish heritage, Alexander McQueen. The dress showcases McQueen’s ‘Obsessions Talisman’ print.

Alexander McQueen notes the dress has “soft shoulders and military lines” that are a nod to the 40s silhouette.” The frock features an A-line silhouette and the placed print, as well as a jewel neckline, fitted waist and hidden zipper. Kate’s dress is noticeably longer than the OTR (off the rack) garment. That piece retails at Bergdorf Goodman for $2995, and it is available in Italian sizes 38 – 46.

This image shows some of the items included in the print: butterflies, lipstick tubes, pocket watches, cameos, skulls, and other imagery.

Our thanks to Laura on Twitter for her ID assistance, as well as Michelle at Perth Fashion and Bella, she found this black version of the piece.

Carly at Kate Middleton Style thinks the dress Kate wore today is the same length as the black dress seen above, I think she’s right.

Some thoughts on the dress from The Telegraph’s Alice Newbold:

This is quite the departure from the block colours and feminine embroidery Kate has established as her dress signatures over the years.

Today’s ‘Obsession’ dress, though avant-garde in pattern, certainly chimes with McQueen’s elegant style, through its cut and proportions.

Kate has actually embraced the skull (said with tongue in cheek) before, including in the McQueen suit worn for Trooping the Colour 2014, where the skull is visible in the jacquard pattern.

The Talisman print is used on a broad variety of items, including a selection of accessories (scarves, bags, trinkets and charms) as well as apparel. We show a small selection in motif: a Long Sleeve Tie-Neck dress ($2195 at Bergdorf Goodman), silk georgette blouse in the ivory colorway ($1245 at Nordstrom), Print Stretch Jersey Dress ($1395 at Nordstrom) and the Knot Dress ($1895 at FarFetch).

We saw another item with a Scottish link, Kate’s earrings. They are by Brora, a British company specializing in Scottish cashmere and apparel.

The earrings are the Gold Charm style in 22k gold-plated brass; they retail for £39, about $50. Kate first wore them when arriving in Bhutan and again for dinner with the country’s King and Queen.

The Duchess had on her Ballon Bleu watch by Cartier and her folding Ray-Ban Wayfarers again.

Kate carried her Natalie clutch from LK Bennett. We included the product picture showing the bag carried over the shoulder, something we rarely remember to include although Kate does not carry the bag that way.

With thanks to Alejandra on the Facebook page and Jenny for her comment here, Kate is wearing her Gianvito Rossi Praline suede heels. We show them at Net-a-Porter and as worn by Kate at the Buckingham Palace Garden Party in May.

Ms. Newbold’s Telegraph story references the rumors about Kate stepping into the Duke of Kent’s Wimbledon role:

The Duchess of Cambridge is an avid tennis fan and is expected to take over from the Duke of Kent as Patron of The All England Club next year. “It’s a huge thing for tennis and for women’s sport to have her in a high profile role,” Judy Murray told to The Telegraph of her appointment. “I’m sure she’ll be a very active patron because she’s a regular attender. It’s very clear she loves watching and playing and that can only be good for the sport.”

We’ll update the post with more photos and info as it becomes available.

LINKAGE:

• Wimbledons website is here, its Facebook page here and Twitter feed here
• The Mirror’s story is here; The Daily Mail’s story is here;
• The Express gallery of celebrities at Wimbledon is here;