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The Queen’s Birthday, Favorite Handbag Poll, More

We are back with birthday sentiments for HM, a 2019 poll, and another fashion flashback. 

We begin with Happy Birthday wishes for Her Majesty The Queen, marking her 94th today. Below, a Tweet from the Kensington Royal Twitter account expressing good wishes.  

This year the day is being observed quietly. At HM’s request, there were none of the usual gun salutes marking the occasion, the first time in history this has been the case.  (Below, a file photo of a salute at Tower Bridge below.)  As many readers know, the Queen’s Birthday Parade, also known as Trooping the Colour, has been canceled.

To celebrate the day, the Royal Family released a chocolate cupcake recipe from the Royal Pastry Chefs.

(More lockdown baking? I’m in!) 

The Royal Family also released some delightful old family films, previously private footage from the Royal Collection Trust.  The film includes seeing The Queen (then Princess Elizabeth) with her family, including Princess Margaret.

And obviously, we send all best birthday wishes to HM!  

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Now for our poll asking for your input on your favorite new handbag the Duchess carried last year.  I have divided this into two groups: pieces that would be considered ‘daywear’ styles and then bags carried for more formal occasions.

We’ll do the daytime bags first, beginning in late January when the Duke and Duchess visited Scotland to officially open the V&A Dundee Museum.  Kate carried a Manu Atelier handbag, a leather and suede style called the Micro Bold, in emerald green. It showcased a structured design that is versatile; it can be used as a shoulder bag, a crossbody style, or carried by the handle. 

Kate carried the bag again in March when doing an away day of engagements in Blackpool

The Duchess accessorized with a new Emmy London bag at the Commonwealth Service in March, the Natasha Clutch in ‘cinder grey’ suede with gold leather piping. It measures about 4.5″ tall x 8″ long; it comes with a detachable shoulder strap. (Kate also carries an almost identical color, ‘steel grey,’ but that piece doesn’t have the piping at the flap edge.)

At the annual Anzac Day Service of Commemoration in April, Kate introduced another Emmy bag, the Natasha style in the ‘greenery’ colorway.  Below left, you see the bag in April and on the right, the piece as carried for a pre-Pakistan tour event at the Aga Khan Centre in October.   

Kate accessorized Elie Saab separates with a bag by that designer at last year’s Royal Ascot opening. Showcasing accordion-style metal strips, the piece is much the same size as many of Kate’s other clutches, about 5″ x 7″; it also has a detachable metal link chain.

When watching a July polo match, Kate had a new Mulberry bag, the Small Darley in a red croc print. This bag also measures about 5″ x 7″, has a detachable shoulder strap, and the label’s signature Postman’s Lock.

The Duchess carried a top-handled bag when attending Wimbledon in July, the Wicca Mini Satchel style by Alexander McQueen.  It can also be used with its detachable shoulder strap; Kate’s ‘raffia’ style is accented in navy leather and measures about 7″ x 5″ in size. (This style is no longer available; you can see the bag in pink here.) 

In September, the Duchess debuted a new bag at the naming ceremony of the RSS Sir David Attenborough. She carried the Asprey 1781 Pochette in ‘blueberry.’  Measuring about 7.5″ x 5.5″, the bag features the classic Asprey clasp, an optional shoulder strap, and multiple interior pockets. “1781” references the year Asprey was founded.

Let’s move to the more formal looks, starting with the white satin Alexander McQueen bag carried to the BAFTA Awards in February. The Butterfly Box Clutch is a hard-sided piece measuring roughly 7″ x 5″ and it comes with a detachable chain.   

The Duchess brought back the bag for Trooping the Colour last year

At June’s Action on Addiction gala dinner, the Duchess carried the Charlie Classic Silk Clutch in the Steel colorway by Wilbur and Gussie. The piece is 100% silk with a jeweled clasp featuring a crystal bee on the flap. Kate also has the bag in gold.

When arriving in Pakistan last October, the Duchess accessorized with a piece by Pakistani retailer Zeen, the brand’s ‘Cream Gleem’ hard-sided bag in faux leather. 

At the annual Festival of Remembrance, Kate carried a new bag by Alexander McQueen that looks very much like the brand’s Mini Crystal-Embellished Clutch. The piece is a hard-sided design showcasing an ornately embellished closure with two layers of crystals surrounding black center stones. (It is similar to the product shown below.)

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For today’s fashion flashback I chose a look that is a personal favorite and also a favorite for many Kate followers.

Yep, it’s the Lasa Poppies dress by LK Bennett.  The Duchess wore the dress during the 2014 tour for a visit to the Royal Australian Air Force base in Brisbane.

The dress is a classic sheath in a cotton/rayon blend, with 1% Elastane for stretch.  The design includes a polyester lining, darts at the bust, back zipper, and deep slit at the back hem.

The dress was also offered with reddish/orange poppies.  

The vibrant poppies in a color called ‘snorkel blue’ against the white background made the colors pop, especially when outside in the sun on that broad expanse of the runway.

Kate accessorized with the Oroton Odeion bag in the Indigo colorway. Oroton is an Australian heritage brand founded in Sydney in 1938, long known for upscale leather goods and accessories.

She also wore her suede heels by Alexander McQueen. 

The Duchess’s jewelry included her diamond and sapphire earrings, Mappin & Webb Fortune necklace, and Cartier wristwatch.

In 2016, Kate brought back the dress for engagements in Luton, Bedfordshire

She used nude accessories on this occasion, her LK Bennett Nina clutch (on sale for $221), and Fern Heels.

Here is how the ensembles looked in 2014 and 2016. 

Do you have a preference between the two looks? 

With Prince Louis celebrating his second birthday Thursday, we are hoping for a new photo, so with any luck, I’ll see you soon! 

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Rebecca

Thursday 30th of April 2020

Oh how I miss the days when Kate would wear dresses slightly above the knee, instead of her newly quite conservative hemlines ...

This dress and hand bag are gorgeous on Kate. One of my all time favorite outfits. More chic sheath dresses please!

Sue

Thursday 23rd of April 2020

I always liked that dress (and indeed that 'sheath' style on Catherine, it suits her, and so much better than those interminable mumsy dresses we had in the last year!) and it was much better with the blue accessories. The nude did nothing for the look.

Someone mentioned not being keen on the navy shoes: considering Catherine usually does matchy-matchy with shoes and bags (not always a great look) this time she should perhaps have had a shoe in the brighter blue of the bag in Australia? Or any blue shade between that but stopping short of navy.

With regard to all the cluches, I have to say that 90pc of the time they leave me cold. Most of the time they are so flat/thin that one is pretty sure there is nothing inside and to me it doesn't elevate the look of the bag. As most of them seem to come with a chain strap I can never understand why Catherine never uses that. Holding the little clutches so defensively in front of herself in both hands always looks so awkward. It wasn't included here but the style of the little Chanel bag (I think it was) was a better look.

I'd still love to take the Duchess shoe shopping........!!

Rebecca

Thursday 30th of April 2020

Very much agree on the “ interminable mumsy dresses“ point. And I think bright blue shoes would have been stunning, as you suggest

Maluhia

Thursday 23rd of April 2020

Your fashion flashback choice for today, which is definitely a favorite of mine as well, makes me realize how long it's been since we've seen Kate in patterns like that! She used to wear such decorative patterns quite often, but I can't think of the last time she has. Maybe such pattern just aren't quite on trend at this exact moment. But I still love them and can't wait to see them again!

Amanda

Wednesday 22nd of April 2020

That dress is still one of my all time favorite dresses on Kate! This current season, Banana Republic had a white dress with blue flowers (it is now sold out so I couldn't find a link), that reminded me of Kate's dress. It is amazing that a dress she wore 6 years ago can still stick out in our minds!

Sansa Stark

Wednesday 22nd of April 2020

I voted for the Asprey for daytime - I know navy is not the most fun of colors but it is a favorite of mine, and I think the lines are sharp and clean but keep some interest too. I have to say that the Elie Saab bag looks much too industrial to have gone with such a pretty, feminine, delicate outfit, but I don't remember it sticking out like such a sore thumb on the day!

As always, many happy returns of the day to Her Majesty! She is a personal hero of mine and I'm sure of many others as well. I hope she lives to 100.

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