Kate’s Calendar Updates & Favorite 2018 Evening Gown Poll

Hello and happy almost-weekend to everyone! We are back with a Friday fun post quickly covering some upcoming engagements for the Duchess, as well as the first of our annual polls. Here are the two additions to Kate’s Calendar, both taking place next week.

• Tuesday, January 15: The Duchess will visit King Henry’s Walk, part of the Islington Community Garden, run by volunteers for more than ten years. Kate will meet volunteers and “hear about the benefits of this urban green space” and also ” …take part in a winter planting workshop, bird box building and pizza making in the garden’s kitchen area.”

• Wednesday, January 16: Kate visits the costume department at the Royal Opera House in Covent Garden to “learn more about their use of textiles, commissioning of fabrics and supply chain.” She will see the pattern room, dye room, and meet costumiers working on new shows. The Duchess will meet three principal dancers from The Royal Ballet and hear about the way movement, lighting, and other factors impact costume design. Before leaving Kate will watch a rehearsal of The Two Pigeons, an upcoming production featuring dancers from both the Royal Ballet and the Royal Ballet School. The news release for the event points out that “textile and manufacturing industry is an area of interest to the Duchess. Her Royal Highness’ great-great-grandfather, Francis Martineau Lupton, was a mill owner who ran the family’s successful textile manufacturing business, William Lupton & Company, with his three brothers.”

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Now for our annual poll asking for your input on the evening gowns worn by the Duchess in the preceding year. We only have five to consider this time, so it isn’t a super involved poll.

The first evening gown we saw in 2018 was an Erdem design worn to a black-tie dinner at the British Ambassador’s residence in Sweden.

The silk satin ‘Stephanie’ dress featured a floral print called ‘Winter Bourne’ in a gold or mustard color. The piece had a tiered skirt, high neck with a ruffled collar, gathers at the shoulder, flared sleeves, a ruffled front placket, and a self-bow or sash.

The next design was also worn during the Sweden/Norway tour last winter. More specifically, to a February 1st black-tie dinner in Norway.

The Alexander McQueen silk dress showcased a new style for the Duchess, a caped gown with a soft, sweeping silhouette. The blush pink creation featured an empire waist and glittering crystal embellishment at the neckline and upper bodice.

Also in February, a return to the BAFTA Awards for Kate and William.

For this event, the Duchess opted for a Jenny Packham creation in deep bottle green. It featured an empire waist, deep vee neckline on the front, with a draped scoop neckline on the back. The full, flowing design also included a thin black ribbon at the waist.

Our next gown was worn to the state banquet in October in honor of King Willem-Alexander and his wife Queen Máxima of the Netherlands.

The soft blue Alexander McQueen taffeta design featured elaborate ruching on the torso, with a trumpet skirt starting above the knees in a vee-shape that descended into a demi-train.

Our final entry is the Jenny Packham gown worn to the annual diplomatic reception at Buckingham Palace.

The dress showcased a sheer overlay adorned with sequins and crystals. Arguably the most notable design element is the intricate draping at the bodice and back neckline, as well as the cap sleeves. The waistband is distinguished by crystals or rhinestones, flowing down from that is a full, sweeping skirt with pleating or folds at the back of the garment.

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And now to some very brief retail notes, almost all related to Sales & Savings opportunities. The first is not, instead offering a look at the Jane Taylor product shots of Kate’s headwear from last Sunday.

Called the Diamond Crepe Pleated Band, it is described as “Handcrafted with an exquisite bow detail at the back, it will be a long admired piece of your wardrobe.”

Now to the retail updates, glancing at the many seasonal price reductions available:

• Madderson London, one of our favorite sponsors, is offering an additional 20% off sale prices with promo code HNY20.
• LK Bennett now has price reductions up to 70% off original prices, as well as 20% off boots and coats
• Hobbs is offering an additional 30% off sale prices with promo code USA30
• Reiss is also promoting discounts up to 70% off
• J Crew is discounting final sale merchandise an additional 50% with promo code BIGGERSALE

We will see you Tuesday!