B+W Peter Pan Collar Dress from Topshop

Back in March Kate paid a visit to Child Bereavement UK, a charity to help families who have lost children.  Kate was fairly along in her pregnancy and chose a black Topshop minidress with a crisp white rounded edge peter pan collar.  The silhouette is fairly loose and kind of a "swing" style, which comfortably accommodated her increasingly changing figure.

Image via Hello.

Upon arrival Kate wore a cream colored coat from Goat.  The cashmere coat was a collarless style which when tucked under the dress collar created a sweet extra little detail and just a touch of contrast.  The coat silhouette matched the "swing" style of the Topshop dress underneath.

I am personally torn with this look.

On the one hand I really like the dress with the coat.  I think it was a nice match, I love the black and white/cream color scheme and the little detail of the collar peeking out over the coat.

However I do not like this length on Kate at all.  I think just above the knees would have been wonderful, not this thigh high mini length.  I feel it caused too many fussy moments as well since the length and coat style seemed to blow up with the wind at times.  The peter pan collar is a youthful detail and while it can be sophisticated, when paired with an equally youthful "skater" length dress it is just too juvenile a look for Kate.  I prefer when she does fun and youthful in a sophisticated way.

Both above images via StyleBistro (left, right).

Click for larger image.

Kate's dress was black with a white collar and featured short sleeves, a loose silhouette, and a thigh high mini length.  The polyester material looks fairly fluid and not too stiff.

The Topshop dress originally retailed for approximately £42 or about $71 USD.

Topshop via Nordstrom - contrast collar shift dress.

The first repliKate come from Dorothy Perkins.  It is a black mini length dress with a shorter cap sleeves and a similar contrasting white collar.  This collar however is a bit more pointed and is not like Kate's rounded peter pan style.  It is a ponte and polyester blend which appears to lend just a bit of structure to the silhouette (note how it is not as loose at the Topshop version.)  However this is our best dupe of Kate's exact look.
Originally this dress was approximately $29 USD but is currently marked down to $28 (lol, what a mark down) and is also available in petite sizing.

Dorothy Perkins - black white collared shift dress.

Next up are two Merona options from Target.

The first is this peter pan collar sweater dress from Merona women's sweater dress collection.

It features short sleeves and a rounded contrasting white peter pan collar on a black bodice, although it also comes in grey and navy.  It is a cotton/rayon blend knit so it will drape slightly different than Kate's and it is also an above-the-knee length.

Retails for approximately $34.99 USD, currently on sale for $27.00.

Merona at Target - peter pan collar dress.

The other Merona option is this women's ponte dress.
It features short sleeves and a contrasting white collar on a natural waisted shift bodice in navy.  This one is a bit further removed from Kate's version but it fully retains the same stylistic influence.  It is also in a similarly draping polyester/rayon ponte fabric.  The collar is pointed, the sleeves are a bit longer, and the silhouette is more structured and work appropriate.  For the record I would have absolutely loved Kate's version if it had been closer to this length since it is much more professional.
The only other major difference from Kate's dress is the color - this comes in navy.
Retails for approximately $29.99 USD.

Merona at Target - women's ponte dress in navy.

Jaeger Yellow Shirt Dress

Nearly a year ago now the Cambridges were in the midst of finishing up their Asia tour.  One of their last stops included a visit to the Solomon Islands, where Kate debuted this bright yellow shirt dress from Jaeger.  The dress features a collar, gathered cap sleeves, button-up bodice, self sash at the waist, and a drop-waisted pleated skirt.

Via DailyMail.

I really like this look on her, I love her in bright yellow.  Although I don't like how the dropped waist flattens out her already slim hips from certain angles, I do like Kate in a fuller silhouette.

The cotton dress is from British luxury brand Jaeger and although now it is out of stock, it originally retailed for approximately £180, or about $278 U.S.D.  That's a pretty penny for a fairly simple cotton dress!

Jaeger yellow shirtdress via Grazia.

I know I already did a half-post on this dress, but I realized that I hadn't properly catalogued it and also I happened upon this pretty good dupe so I figured I'd get around to giving this item its own post.
This repliKate from ModCloth is pretty spot on as far as the bodice and sash.  The half-cap sleeve is actually spot on since Kate's version the same style of sleeve.  The skirt and waist are a bit different and it doesn't button down all along the front but I actually think this type of silhouette would actually have been more flattering on Kate and is more universally flattering.
This dress retails for approximately $44.99 U.S.D. which I think is much more reasonable for a cotton frock.

Soda Fountain dress in Ginger - via ModCloth.

Blue Jenny Packham Post-Maternity

This week the Duchess gave birth to a healthy baby boy.  For the official hospital departure "photo call" Kate stepped out in a powder blue Jenny Packham dress with little white polka dots.  Apparently she was on a bit of a polka dot trend for her pregnancy.

She looks great but of course since the occasion certainly merited it, she did with a bit of help from a hair stylist!

The dress was a high-waisted cut with short sleeves.  Its very simple and there's not much to say about this look in retrospect since if we take away the circumstances its a rather boring and safe look.  If she's going to go with a custom designer piece, I'd at least like the dress to scream quality and I don't think this does.  I'm not saying she has to go couture glamazon but his dress just looks so plain and home-made.  I really think that with all the lovely looks that come out of Jenny Packham, the design house could have done a bit more.

However I like her in this shade of blue, I love the casual-ness of the outfit.  Above all I love the comfort of it, I really love that this look does away with the vanity (fantasy!) of having to be pin-thin immediately after giving birth.  Like all mortal women she has a bit of post-pregnancy related belly that the high waist helps accommodate. 

Image via StyleBistro.

There were rumors among the media and bloggers that Kate paid a "Diana" tribute of sorts by emerging in a similar blue polka-dotted dress just as her predecessor had done.  In that sense I must admit I am a bit of a dissenter since if it is true, I really wish she had chosen to do her own thing.  She already has the ring, she can afford to be her own royal.

There were also rumors that it was a tribute to "blue for boy" since the Cambridge couple had opted to not know the sex of the baby beforehand and there was another of the same dress in pink on stand-by.  If that rumor is true then it was a cute play on a public "gender reveal".

For you non-post-maternity style mavens out there, here are a couple of similarly suited blue-with-white-polka-dot frocks.

First up is this one by Fred Flare.  Since we are talking non-maternity, this one is decidedly in that category with a belted natural waist and "skater" (mini) length.

The color is less the powder blue shade of Kate's but the overall neckline, sleeves, and skirt - with the exception of the non-maternity waist - is a pretty good dupe!

This dress is available for pre-order from Fred Flare for approximately $44 U.S.

Fred Flare - "Blue Me Away" polka dot dress.

As long as we are on the subject of non-maternity looks, I really love this next dress from Modcloth by Emily & Fin.

Okay so it is a bit further removed from Kate's very simple dress.  However it is so cute with the collar, key hole neckline, and banded waist that I couldn't resist adding it.  It is still Kate-inspired with its round neckline, sleeves, and gathered waist, it just much cuter!

This one is available from Modcloth and retails for approximately $99 U.S.  It is so cute I might just have to get it for me!

Emily & Fin via Modcloth - "Set Me Free" dress in dots.

Polka Dot Dress from Topshop

Back in April, the Cambridges and Harry popped into Warner Bros. studios in Leavesden.

Kate wore a polka dotted dress from Topshop, and according to various outlets opting for a maternity style of dress for a change.  She paired it with a black Ralph Lauren 3/4 length sleeve jacket that you may recall from various previous outings but most notably their honeymoon exit.  The Duchess also opted to repeat this outfit again fairly quickly at a recent wedding.

Image via StyleBistro.

I think she looks marvelous here, comfortable and visibly at ease but still put together.  Its an easy and safe combination but appropriate.  While I am still not liking her choice in hem length and I personally do not think this looks like a maternity style dress.  But I think this dress is looks better than than her other custom maternity dresses as of late, which I have to admit I am just not liking.

Image via StyleBistro.

The dress was identified as being the maternity "Florence" style from Topshop, seen below right.  While the polka dot placement clearly matches the non-maternity "skater" style dress on the left the waist on Kate's dress looks to be a bit higher.  Also note that both dresses below have the skirt about the same length as the bodice while Kate's skirt is clearly much longer than the bodice on her dress.  It s definitely Topshop since it matches other maternity styles on Topshop's website and I wager it is a maternity version of the dress below left (since it matches Kate's polka dot pattern) rather than the right as is the popular opinion, I just can't find the actual dress for comparison.

The dress features a round scoop neckline, sleeves, and slightly gathered skirt in a white and black polka dot print.

Both of these dresses retail for $76 USD.

Left: Topshop polka dot skater dress in cream, via Nordstrom;

Right: Topshop "Florence" dress, via Nordstrom.

You can find lots of polka dotted dresses in a wide variety of styles but for this repliKate I stuck with dark dots on light backgrounds and dresses with round necklines and sleeves.

This look-a-like from Dorothy Perkins is the non-maternity style closest to Kate's with a gathered round neckline and sleeves.  Its my favorite out of all the repliKate dresses.
This dress retails for $49 USD.

Billie and Blossom ivory black spot dress via Dorothy Perkins.

This ASOS dress, also non-maternity, in jersey fabric is a bit further removed and a bit more casual than Kate's.  Though it is grey with flock textured polka dots it still features cute little sleeves, a round neckline, and a gathered skirt.

This dress retails for $47.52 USD.

ASOS Collection mini skater dress in grey flocked spot.

This same dress is also available in a midi length from ASOS for $50.91 USD.

ASOS Collection midi dress in grey flocked spot.

I'll admit right away that this Anne Klein dress is a higher end version since it is even more expensive than Kate's, but it is probably the highest quality of the bunch.  It has a similar rounded neckline, cap sleeves, and a tiered swing skirt.

This dress, in light tan with black polka dots, retails for $129 USD.

Anne Klein honeycomb dotted dress.

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A commenter recently alerted me to this last look-a-like of Kate's post-wedding Zara dress, as seen in this original post.  It is a pleated sleeveless dress worn with the same black Ralph Lauren jacket seen above.

Image via StyleBistro.

This Calvin Klein dress is an almost exact dupe with a fully pleated bodice and skirt, and even matches the length and fabric of Kate's.

This dress is currently on sale for $169 AUD (the retailer is Australian in origin), or approximately $169 USD.

Calvin Klein blue chiffon dress via Royal Tag.

Many thanks to the anon contribution, as always feel free to leave comments or email me your repliKates!

Kate-Inspired by... Lace Gowns

Full credit for this post goes to the eagle eyed commenter who alerted me to this look-a-like, thanks again!  Remember you can always leave a comment to submit your repliKates!

For reference here is the teal lace Jenny Packham gown from the last post.

This lace and chiffon gown from Tadashi Shoji is a dead ringer for Kate's original, save for the pale french blue shade of course.  I'll admit that the color was enough of a distraction that I can't say I would have picked up on the similar design myself, so thanks again to you commenter!  

Same pleated bodice and gathered skirt, strikingly similar lace raised neckline and sleeves, and an exact imitation of the jeweled waist and gathered skirt.

Credit: Tadashi Shoji, crinkle chiffon and lace gown in blue stone.

It also comes with a sheer back panel to boot.

This gown retails for approximately $488 USD.

Tadashi Shoji's website is filled with amazingly lovely gowns so of course I had a look around and one gown in particular struck a familiar chord.

This chantilly lace gown features a lovely contrasting lace illusion neckline, long sleeves, and a godet skirt and comes in a stunning "blue lagoon" color.

It retails for approximately $548 USD.

Credit: Tadashi Shoji, chantilly lace long sleeve gown in blue lagoon.

It is definitely "in the style of" Kate's navy lace Erdem shift dress but in a gown version.  It has similar sheer lace sleeves, a similar bateau neckline, and even a similar shift silhouette, with the addition of godets to add fullness and shape to the floor length skirt.
She most famously wore her lace dress on the Cambridge's 2011 (?) tour of Canada and at least one other time since.

Matthew Williamson grey embellished peplum

This one is an oldie but a goodie.

Back in April of 2012 Kate attended the premier of Disney's "African Cats" in a grey Matthew Williamson dress.  The dress has 3/4 length sleeves, a peplum detail, and turquoise embellished trim at the neckline and sleeve cuffs.

I thought this was a good look for her.  The length is nice and I think she looks great in peplums as they give her straight frame a bit of shape.  The dress photographed beautifully and surprisingly bright even though the weather was dreary and it is a pale grey color.  I also really love the contrasting pop of the bright turquoise on the trim and it definitely brightens up her face a bit.  From certain angles it looked a bit big on her from the shoulders but it is nicely balanced by the peplum and you can't tell too much since she wore her hair down.

Image via StyleBistro.

The dress is from Matthew Williamson pre-fall 2012 collection and retailed for approximately £995, or about $1,500 USD.  You can see that some customization was done for Kate's version as the original doesn't have the added embellishment at the neckline.

Via the Mirror.

This look-a-like is right on the money with its pale hue and bright trim.  There are modifications such as  no trim on the sleeves and a different style of peplum but over all its a pretty good repliKate.

This dress retails for approximately $179 USD, currently on sale for $89.50.

Eliza J via Macy's - beaded peplum sheath.

Yellow Eyelet

Back in September of 2012 the Cambridges' Asia tour was in full swing.  During a stop on Guadalcanal Island Kate wore a fresh yellow eyelet dress.  She seemed to favor the fresh fabric on this trip as this was her third such dress on this tour alone.
The dress was made by an "independent maker" (I take that to mean Kate's personal dressmaker.)  It features a bateau neckline with wide sleeves and is fully lined throughout the bodice and skirt.  The skirt is pleated and is finished in some sort of narrow waistband which defines Kate's slim waist.
While I can appreciate the fresh look - bright yellow eyelet - but I am just not digging those big loopy sleeves.  They look bulky and just a bit stiff, not to mention big wide sleeves on cotton dresses are a bit dated.
I love that she put her hair up and away from her face and neck since it shows off her matching citrus colored earrings and that lovely bateau neckline.  And I really think Kate's narrow figure benefits so much from a fuller skirted silhouette I wish it was just a tad longer.  You have to be careful with those fuller skirts since depending on the shortness you veer into juniors "skater dress" territory.

Via StyleBistro.

Amazingly enough I managed to find a pretty decent look-a-like of this dress from The Limited for approximately $89 USD.

It is technically a shirtdress style although the buttons and placket only come down halfway on the bodice.  Just like Kate's this one is fully lined in the bodice and skirt with unlined sleeves and even a similar shade of primrose yellow!

The Limited - eyelet shirt dress.

Kate Inspired by... Yellow Shirt Dresses

Hello to anyone out there, just wanted to let you know progress here has been slow I know and I am sorry about that.  I don't have any intention just yet to let this blog go completely but I still am planning some changes.  In the mean time let's continue on to the fashion!

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The Duchess seems to like yellow shirt dresses for those famous worldwide traveling tours.  Yellow, according to Color Wheel Pro, is a color that promotes cheerfulness, energy, spontaneity, and attracts attention.  Fitting for Kate then as it seems she very much enjoys attention.

First was this pale yellow Jenny Packham for the Cambridge's Canada tour of 2011 with short sleeves, collar, high waist, and A-line silhouette.
My first post on it was here.  In a nutshell, I was not too big a fan of this dress.  I found it a bit boring, the color not very interesting, and the thin, silky skirt inappropriate for the windy setting since it provided various uncomfortable oops moments for Kate.  I think she would have preferred being able to concentrate on the day's events instead of constantly being worried about her skirt (and her hair) flying everywhere.

Via DM.

For the Asia tour of 2012 Kate wore this bright yellow dress by Jaeger with gathered cap sleeves, collar, drop waist pleated skirt, and self belt.  The material on this dress looks to be a fresh cotton or a cotton blend, which helps hold those stiff pleats and collar.
I was a big fan of this dress, both for the bolder color and the cut.  I also think Kate looks best in fuller silhouettes like this pleated skirt and the fabric and style was a good choice for the tropical Asia climate.  I think a pony tail might have kept her cooler but overall the modified shirt dress style was great for the setting.

Via StyleBistro. 

The first repliKate is this shirt dress by thie Limited with button placket, bodice pockets, and gathered skirt.  This is a little bit of the Jenny Packham dress shape with the bolder almost acid yellow of the Jaeger dress.

The Limited short sleeve shirt dress yellow.

This Eshakti dress is in poplin cotton with a shorter bodice and button line, cap sleeves, slightly high waist, and pleated skirt.  This is a good look-a-like of the Jaeger dress right down to the slightly similar pleated skirt and capped sleeves.

Eshakti retro poplin dress in yellow ochre.

Alexander McQueen blush lace shift

Back in June of 2012 the Duchess donned a lace sheath for some final Jubilee festivities.

This one features nude/blush lace with a white underlay.  The long sleeved sheath is finished with a ribbon waist and KMidd accessorized with a Jane Taylor fascinator, Prada clutch, and her signature L.K. Bennett Sledge pumps in nude.

I mean the outfit is okay, its pretty, but its a snore.  The lace and the color is nice and the dress itself is modest.  

Credits: DM online.

I also happen to like Kate in fuller skirts because I feel it balances her long shoulder line and  straight hips better; if you're on the thin side like Kate a little optical illusion goes a long way in adding shape to your silhouette.  I also think high waists just further elongate her already long torso and think this might have worked better with no waist detail or something that sits just a bit lower.

I take issue again with the construction of this McQueen creation, namely that such such a slim pencil skirt as this has no slit or even a kick pleat to make walking easier.  Unless you are dealing with stretchy fabric that has some give, you have to compensate such a narrow skirt with some sort of slit to make walking easier; otherwise the wearer has to compensate in some way by either taking very short steps or angling the lower torso.  In the stair picture it looks like Kate had to compensate by angling her hip to be able to take a stair.  Miss Burton really ought to do better, both for Kate's ease of comfort and her own brand's sake.

I also take a bit of issue with that ribbon waist; if you look closely there is a part that was added to the back and I just think that's a bit messy.

I found was this Eliza J dress, very similar in that it has an almost identical neckline, silhouette, waist, and nude lace/white underlay construction.  The glaring difference is the sleeve length and of course the lace pattern - KMidd's has a bit of a scallop hem finish.

Boy Eliza J has really jumped on the Kate Replicas haven't they?

Credits: Eliza J via Macy's 3/4 length sleeve lace sheath, $199.

Another look-a-like is this Dorothy Perkins lace dress in pale pink.  This one is also similar in construction as Kate's with lace overlay and white lining and in a pencil silhouette; it also makes an effort of mimicking the original's scalloped hem.  This version also has 3/4 length sleeves.

Credits: Dorothy Perkins pink lace dress, $59.

White Eyelet Peplum Skirt Suit

Sept. 12, 2012 was day 2 of the Duke and Duchess' Asia tour.  Of particular interest to me was this white peplum number in broderie anglaise, which in American translation is eyelet.  The suit, from Sarah Burton for Alexander McQueen* features a peplum top with Queen Anne neckline - that is, raised in the back of the neck and leading down to a v-neck - and a slightly full A-line skirt.  The top also has cuffed sleeves and is belted.

I'm taking the liberty of calling this a suit because well, in my opinion it is, but its a casual one both because of the fabric and silhouette.

* I don't know officially what to call the label since it was identified both as Alexander McQueen and as a custom Sarah Burton piece, so is it Alexander McQueen, Sarah Burton for Alexander McQueen, Sarah Burton for the Duchess, I dunno.

All picture credit: StyleBistro.

Overall I think this was a great look.  The peplum and skirt really work wonders add shape to her linear figure and she still looks slim just not straight.  Also the fabric looked airy and fresh for the climate.  The v-neck is a tad low especially in some angles but with her less endowed proportions she mostly gets away with it.

Things I did not like: I really wished she had worn her hair up in a fun pony since it did have that high collar and also because of the heat, and I wish she had chosen other shoes since the sky high wedges looked a bit clunky.  With a pony and with different shoes she could've looked a lot "fresher".

Also in some angles it appeared that only the front of the bodice was lined and her bra was visible from the back; I really would expect a) such a high end garment to be fully lined front and back or b) Kate's handlers to get on the ball and pack her a slip.

A bit of a time finding an exact repliKate - maybe when spring rolls around we'll see more eyelet - but I did manage to find a white peplum dress.  Bonus: it is belted and has sleeves.

Liz Claiborne via J.C. Penney - belted peplum dress in white.