Kate in Alexander McQueen for Christmas Party (No Pix), Weekend Bits & Bytes

We are back with a brief post covering a few news tidbits as we head into the weekend.

The first is what Kate wore to the Kensington Palace Christmas party this week. As reported by The Daily Mail’s Katie French, the event was at a Notting Hill club/restaurant called Beach Blanket Babylon.   

The annual event is generally held the third week of December; from the way I read the story, the party would have been Wednesday night. More from the Mail’s story:

Last night Prince William and Kate were spotted leaving Beach Blanket Babylon in Notting Hill after it was hired out by Kensington Palace for their annual workers’ bash.

Diners quaffed on three courses starting with a choice of salmon, avocado vignette, and wild mushroom soup before tucking into a choice of five main courses. For dessert, guests chose from Christmas pudding, chocolate cake and cheesecake.

Others attending the get-together included Prince Harry, Meghan Markle and Prince Charles. There are a few more photos of Kate and William in the back of a vehicle; they can be seen here on the Daily Mail’s site. (They are much like the picture in the tweet shown above.)

With thanks to Sophia (@RegalRepliKate on Twitter) for her speedy ID work, it looks like Kate was in a piece by Alexander McQueen.  

The dress shown above is called the Petal Print Oversized Mini Dress ($2150). Made from a silk crepe de chine, the design features a jewel neckline, three-quarter sleeves with a ruffle detail at the cuff, hidden back zipper and an asymmetrical flounce at the hem. The dress is also available at Neiman Marcus ($2050) and at Saks ($2045). The oversized design makes sense for Kate at this stage in her maternity wardrobe.

I think there’s also a chance Kate could have been wearing this dress. It is made from the same fabric, it is also a mini dress and it is referred to as being “cut for a loose fit.” The primary distinctions: the tie at the front and the buttons down the front of the piece.  

Here is a better look at the print. According to the collection notes, the petals are inspired by the gardens at Great Dixter House in East Sussex and Sarah Burton’s thoughts about “the healing power of flowers.”   

The pattern is a significant element in the McQueen 2018 pre-spring collection (also referred to as the resort collection). Pieces incorporating the motif include several scarves; more apparel, like this silk shirt; and even a pair of sneakers.

++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++

Next, a new date for Kate’s Calendar.

There are multiple reports from credible sources that George and Charlotte will have a role in the wedding party next May. My expectation is that Kate will act much as she did at her sister Pippa’s wedding.

She clearly did a stellar job corraling all the kids. I imagine in May she will provide support and assistance wherever needed.

+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++

I have been asked recently about the likelihood of a new Christmas photo from the Cambridges; it would be terrific if Kate and William elected to release a new family photo. In our latest post at What Kate’s Kids Wore we look at the family’s Christmas photos over the years. Remember these faces from George?

In that post, we also talk about when we next expect to see George and Charlotte as we head into the holidays.

+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++

There have been a couple of pieces published recently that you might find interesting and I thought I would share the links.

The first is a Telegraph column by Georgina Lewis looking at possible designers for Kate to consider when visiting Sweden and Norway. “How the Duchess of Cambridge can master Scandi chic on her visit to Norway and Sweden” lists a number of brands, including several I wasn’t familiar with. I doubt we will see Kate wearing very many Scandinavian designers, but we should see a few, and it was lots of fun learning about the brands. Here are a few styles seen in the article.  

• PopSugar has a piece looking at the ‘best shoes in Kate’s wardrobe‘ and it features more than 60 slides.

• The Telegraph also offers “The 12 looks which have defined fashion in 2017,” and one of Kate’s looks is on the list.   

I hope everyone enjoys a splendid weekend!