Things We Missed in the Last Week & Other NewsBytes

We are back with a couple of quick follow-ups, our look at some inventory updates/Sales & Savings opportunities, and then some Memorial Day photos.

We’ll start with the Erdem dress worn by Kate to the Chelsea Flower Show preview.

A number of commenters noted the dress was seen a year earlier, and worn by another royal. That was Katherine, Duchess of Kent, as she arrived for Meghan and Harry’s wedding last May.

The Duchess is married to Prince Edward, Duke of Kent, who is a first cousin of HM. For anyone noting the sneakers, I believe those were worn because of a health issue.

I received a few questions wondering if there was a side shot of Kate’s hair at the Chelsea Flower Show. These two pictures give us a pretty good look at the braid details.

In the flower show post, I mentioned the last-minute check William and Kate did to make sure the Back to Nature garden was tidy before the Queen arrived. This photo shows how intent the couple was on tending to details before she got there.

We have two notes about items worn by Sophie, Countess of Wessex. First, the Suzannah dress she wore to the flower show preview, the Stormy Hearts Midi-Length Tea Dress.

Many noted how much it looked like a Suzannah dress Kate wore for George’s first birthday photos, the Budding Hearts Tea Dress.

Many of us immediately thought of Kate’s dress when seeing Sophie. The fabric used for both garments is a rich green shade, but Kate’s pattern doesn’t have any black. The dresses also share similar bodice designs, but different sleeves, length, and I think the fullness of the skirts is different as well.

The second Sophie piece we’re covering is Emilia Wickstead’s Dionne Macramé-trimmed Crepe Dress, worn to last week’s garden party.  

Several comments on social media and here on the blog noted that Sophie was in the same dress worn to the first day of Royal Ascot last year. Thank you to Ashley for sharing a link to a Hello! story on Royal Ascot. 

Also related to the garden party, a question I received from several readers about the challenges encountered when walking on grass in heels.

There are products that provide some measure of assistance, although I can’t recall ever seeing Kate using anything like this when at an event. However, Natasha Archer, believed to be Kate’s stylist, wore them for part of her reception following her wedding to Getty royal photographer Chris Jackson. In this photo posted by Chris on his Instagram page, you can clearly see something on her heels. 

One of the products available to mitigate damage to your heels is by a company called Solemates.

A closer look. 

A single pair of heel protectors is $10; a set of three is $20. They come in clear, black, silver, and gold. 

There are two other products I have heard about. Below left, GoGoHeel Stoppers ($9.99) as shown at Amazon; on the right, Heelettos, $12 for a set of two at Walmart.

For me, posting about the items just underscores that I really don’t have a clue how Kate and many of the other royals manage heels in the grass!

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Also today, a few restocking updates and some Sales & Savings updates.

Our friends at Madderson London, long a favorite sponsor here at WKW, have some outstanding bargains in the Outlet section of the site. Some styles are discounted by as much as 80%. 

While not on sale, we do have news that Kate’s Smythson Midi Mayfair Bag ($645) can now be pre-ordered for mid-June availability.

And there are some cute styles on sale at Aspinal, including pieces from the Giles Deacon collection. Below left, the Silk Twill Pocket Square (now $45, was $75) and the Accordion Card Holder (was $150, now $75); in the center, the Micro Hat Box (originally $650, now $390); and on the right, the Regent Tote (originally $720, now $432).

Kate’s Gianvito Rossi ‘Piper’ pumps are in stock in almost all sizes at My Theresa. 

Roland Mouret has the spring/summer collection discounted 40%.

I’m including this for fans of eyelet fabric. Talbots has a selection of eyelet pieces. If you buy two sale items they’ll take 50% off; buy just one and the discount is 40%. There is also 40% off a single full price item. Use promo code SUMMER to receive your discount. They’re not stellar repliKates, but an option if looking for something summery.

At Stuart Weitzman, it’s the brand’s annual summer sale.

• J. Crew is promoting 50% off sale merchandise and 40% off everything else with promo code WEEKEND.  This makes the price for Kate’s Mockneck in Supersoft Yarn just $34.49. One note about the sweater: not everyone has been thrilled with the quality. 

• J. Crew Factory is promoting 60% off all women’s and men’s clothing, with 50% off children’s items. That brings the price on the 3-Strap Scalloped Suede Heels to $57.50. The style was suggested by Audrey as a repliKate for both pair of Prada sandals; I think it was a terrific find!

• The Hobbs US site is promoting 30% off a select line of merchandise, no promo code needed.
• Nordstrom has a sizable amount of merchandise discounted in its summer sale
• Nordstrom Rack is taking an extra 25% off sale merchandise in its Clear the Rack Event
• Boden is taking 30% off Women’s, Men’s, and childrenswear styles.
• Net-a-Porter is offering up to 50% off in its sale section 
• The Outnet (Net-a-Porter’s discount arm) is doing its end of season sale, with an extra 50% off a sizable group of merchandise.
• At Neiman’s Last Call everything is an additional 40% off, with an “extra 60% to 75% off clearance goods”

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For those here in the US, we’ll wrap up the post with images from Memorial Day activities honoring those who died serving our country. Below, headstones at Arlington Cemetery.

Soldiers from The Old Guard, the Army’s official ceremonial unit (officially the 3rd US Infantry), placed flags in front of more than 228,000 headstones on Thursday.

It takes about four hours to accomplish the task.

Once the flags are placed it is time to put flowers at headstones. 

Here you see US Naval Sea Cadets with flowers.

4-year-old Matthew Murphy helps his father Kevin place flowers. 

Some of the 70,000 riders taking part in Rolling Thunder as they arrive in Washington, D.C.

As part of the ride, boots symbolizing fallen soldiers are displayed by the road. 

Here you see the USAA Poppy Wall of Honor, with more than 645,000 poppies behind glass on the National Mall. Each one represents an American service member who has died since World War I.