Updates & Your Favorite Caribbean Tour Ensembles

Hello and Happy Friday. Today I have a couple of updates and two new Caribbean tour polls, along with the results of the tour ‘Favorite Formalwear Look’ voting.  

We begin with word of a new patronage for the Duchess accompanied by a video message. Last night, Kensington Palace announced the Duchess is the royal patron of the Maternal Mental Health Alliance.  

The Alliance is “a network of more than 100 organizations dedicated to ensuring women and families affected by perinatal mental health problems have access to high quality, comprehensive perinatal mental health care.”  The announcement comes during the UK’s Maternal Mental Health Awareness Week.

From the video:

We all know that pregnancy, childbirth and the first months and years of a child’s life can be hugely demanding. Parents often feel lonely and overwhelmed by these early years. Around 20% of women in the U.K. are reported to experience perinatal mental illness. Sadly, we also know that many more are suffering in silence. 

In the new video, the Duchess wears the Max Mara Studio Zaza dress (£565), a white and blue floral print in 100% polyester. 

The midi-length design features a button front, point collar, pleated skirt, hemstitch embroidery along the bodice and sleeves, and a slip to wear underneath the garment.

Thank you to Middleton Maven for this ID.

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

Also today, a quick update of additions to Kate’s Calendar. 

• Wednesday, May 11/Thursday, May 12: The Duke and Duchess of Cambridge will be in Scotland for engagements focused on homelessness and mental health. They will visit Glasgow and Kennishead.  

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

Now for our final two tour polls. The first category covers five ‘less formal’ daywear looks, including three dresses and two trouser ensembles. To some degree, I separated out these first three dresses based on the footwear worn by the Duchess, thinking that was one way of categorizing how formal the looks were.    

We start with the first full day of engagements in Belize when the Duchess wore a floral dress by Tory Burch, Sézane’s Charlie earrings ($70), her Stuart Weitzman ‘Minx’ espadrille wedges, and Stella McCartney’s Hestia espadrilles when walking on the beach. She also had on the Ray-Ban ‘Chris’ sunglasses ($155) and carried her Anya Hindmarch ‘Fan’ clutch.  

When departing Belize, the Duchess surprised us with a vintage Yves St. Laurent jacket with large plastic logo buttons, flap pockets, tabs at the sleeve cuff, and a self-belt. She paired the piece with a pair of trousers that remain unidentified, the Aquazzura Cece 105 Pumps (£605), her Mulberry Small Amberley Crossbody bag, the Halcyon Days Maya Torque Aquamarine & Gold Bangle, and Anthropologie’s Coral Shell Drop Earrings (€55, now sold out).

The first night the royals were in Jamaica, the Duchess wore another vintage piece, a dress and wrap from Willow Hilson Vintage (£369).  The dress had a squared neckline with a turned-down collar, fitted bodice, cinched waistline, and small gathered pleats along the waistband.  She was in Russell and Bromley’s Impulse Slingbacks (£195), a bracelet by Jamaican jeweler Lashawndla Bailey-Miller and the Cha Cha earrings ($188) by Maria Black. 

For the first full day of events in Jamaica, the Duchess opted for separates by Alexander McQueen, including the label’s Classic Single-Breasted Blazer and coordinating trousers. Beneath the jacket, Ridley London’s Alicia Top (£249) in tangerine silk crepe de chine with a tie neckline and frilled elastic cuffs. She carried a vintage handbag from Willow Hilson (£229).  The Duchess brought back the Maria Black Cha Cha earrings and Lashawndla Bailey-Miller’s “She’s Royal” Bracelet (J$9765, about $65) seen earlier in the day, adding a pearl bracelet by Ms. Bailey-Miller.

For the final day of the tour, the Duchess selected the bubblegum pink Izzy Dress ($290, now sold out) by RIXO. Made with FSC-certified viscose (Forest Stewardship Council), it had bracelet-length puffed sleeves with elastic at the cuff, a button-front bodice, a pleated skirt, and hidden side zipper.  The Duchess carried Emmy London’s Natasha Clutch ($370), brought back her Castañer Carina Suede Wedge Espadrilles ($189), and Nadia Irena Maya earrings, and wore Finlay’s Henrietta Light Tortoise Sunglasses ($256).

Now for your vote. 

 

Now for the dressier styles worn by the Duchess during the tour. We begin with the Jenny Packham design selected by the Duchess for the couple’s arrival in Belize.  The v-neck dress featured raised shoulders, an applied ribbon at the waist, three-quarter sleeves, a pencil skirt, and eyelash lace at the sleeve, peplum, and hem.  The Duchess carried a scalloped clutch by Anya Hindmarch and had on Emmy London’s ‘Rebecca’ pumps in cobalt ($415) and her sapphire/diamond necklace and earrings.

When the royals arrived in Jamaica, the Duchess was in a sunny yellow version of Roksanda’s ‘Brigitte’ Dress.  It showcased the fitted bodice and full skirt the Duchess is fond of, with an elaborate fabric bow at the left shoulder and short sleeves. She carried a Ferragamo clutch, kept on the Aquazzura Cece 105 Pumps worn when leaving Belize, and added another pair of earrings by Sézane, the French retailer’s ‘Celeste’ style ($85).

At a military passing-out parade in Jamaica, the Duchess wore an Alexander McQueen lace dress with a squared neckline, puffed sleeves at the shoulder seams, a center-back vent, and what looked like a petersham ribbon at the waist. She accessorized with a Philip Treacy hat, the Maud Clutch ($523) by Anya Hindmarch, the Rebecca pumps ($415) by Emmy London, pearl and diamond earrings on loan from HM, and the three-strand pearl bracelet that belonged to Diana, Princess of Wales.

As the couple departed Jamaica, the Duchess brought back an Emilia Wickstead design previously seen at Wimbledon last year.  The dress featured a fit and flare silhouette, round neck, cap sleeves, and concealed back zipper. She also wore a pair of heels that look like the Gianvito 105 Pumps in Bisque Suede ($725), Kiki McDonough’s Cushion Citrine Drops (£800) with unidentified gold hoops, and the Queen’s spectacular Jamaican Hummingbird Brooch. 

The Duchess also wore Emilia Wickstead for the couple’s arrival in the Bahamas, an intricately constructed design with multiple segments for the fitted bodice and panels in the full skirt. She carried an unidentified handbag, had on the Gianvito pumps worn when leaving Jamaica, and sported a new pair of earrings by Sézane, the Taylor style ($130). 

For the next day’s early engagements, the Duchess opted for Self-Portrait’s Faux Pearl Embellished Midi Dress ($510), made of recycled polyester. It featured gathers, pintucks, and pleating, with a v-neck, sheer puffed sleeves, and a full skirt. She also wore the Jimmy Choo Romy 85 Pumps, the Annabella mask by Amaia Kids, and Nadia Irena’s Maya earrings (sold out).

When departing the Bahamas, the Duchess wore an Alessandra Rich design described as a “nod to classic styles from the ’70s.” The polka-dot dress was crafted of lightweight silk crepe de chine with a pleated peplum at the waist, puffed mutton sleeves and bow-detailed ruffled collar, drop-waist pleated skirt. It also showcased a crystal-embellished buckle and faux pearl buttons.

Now for your vote. 

And now for the results of our first Caribbean Tour poll, which covered the three formal ensembles.
With more than 4300 votes, the winner is the green Jenny Packham gown worn in Jamaica, followed by the Philippa Lepley design and the Vampire’s Wife dress.