Royal RepliKates at Brooks Brothers and J. Crew

If you aren't familiar with Brooks Brothers, it is a prestigious clothing store in the United States, also attributed to be the oldest men's clothier chain in the country. They branched out at some point and now they dress women, as well, in classic and good quality pieces.  They have a holiday weekend sale on, and these calfskin kitten heels are reminding me of the kitten heels that Kate wore a lot right before her wedding. She had them for years, but I can't find one of the very early photos I am thinking of... In any case, I have always loved these shoes on her, and the lower heel would be great for a day on your feet.

Brooks Brothers has only a few sizes left, but they are significantly reduced in price. Browse their other sale options while you are there, they have more than one kitten heel!

Staying at the Brooks Brothers sale, they have hats! I had no idea. This blue hat, accented with lace and a sassy bow, is not as lovely or intricate as Kate's pink hat worn to Buckingham Palace and then again to Trooping, but it did instantly remind me of that hat because of the similar elements and the structure. This hat is very Kate-like. 

If you enjoyed the silky look and the cream with navy detailing of Kate's McQueen blouse, this J.Crew could be perfect. Kate's military stripes across the front might be a little much for a day at the office, if your job title isn't Fashion-Icon.

Happy shopping! Did you see Kate today promoting Poppy Day? Pop over to From Berkshire to Buckingham to get the update! 

Great Royal Style Substitutes from JCrew & Boden

We all love Kate's stunning style, but sometimes the price-tag is a little high, the item sells out too quickly, or perhaps it was a custom piece that was never available anyway.  Although, it is always fun to purchase the actual brand and style that Kate wore, the majority of the time we put together wardrobes that are inspired by Kate's past choices or look like something the Duchess would or has worn. Today I want to quickly let you know about some great pieces I think are good repli-Kates of the latter variety.

Today, JCrew is the source of two fabulous pieces that will have you feeling like a princess in no time. The Seville Wedge Espadrilles are great shoes to copy Kate's Pied-a-Terre wedges. She loves her Pied-a-Terre shoes and wears them often. She has them in blue and beige, in fact she chose the beige Pied-a-Terre when she left the hospital. Just like Kate's Pied-aTerres, JCrew's wedges aren't too high, so they are comfortable and practical for daily use, but still add a little glam factor. Unfortunately, although JCrew has these in both colors, they are almost entirely sold out of the blue, and close with the beige. If you are larger size, though, today is your lucky day! Click on the picture to be taken to the JCrew website:

If you are bummed because they are out of your size, JCrew has another fabulous item that will fit well into any women's closet anxious to emulate royal style.

With a color that closely matches Barbour's classic olive, similar pocket placement and detailing, the Downtown Field Jacket is a great substitute for the long ago sold out Barbour Kate sported much of last year. A little glossier than the real waxed jacket, it is classic and country chic. Again, click the picture to be taken to the website:

Kate's Dalmatian print dress on her last engagement before giving birth to George divided bloggers, fashion fans, and Kate enthusiasts everywhere. Some loved the look, others won't stand for animal print no matter what. 

If you were cheering Kate on in her daring fashion move, run on over to British brand, Boden. They have a tunic dress with sleeves and similar neckline in a lovely Dalmatian print. Because the print is a little larger and the spots are more spaced, this cold be pulled of by someone unsure if Kate's more intense pattern is doable.

Really Wild Boots Give 15% Off

Boot, boots, boots. Kate loves boots and so do we. You may not be thinking about your boots right now, since in the Northern hemisphere we are in the middle of summer--shout out to you all southern folks enjoying your winter--but it might be something you should give some quick thought to, because...Really Wild Clothing has released their fall collection, including new boots, and they are offering 15% off on boots if you purchase before July 31st. Which is...today. Yes, this post is late.

Kate has been a Really Wild Clothing fan for years. Most famously, she modeled for them outside of Blenheim Castle way back in 2004. I will tell you something about Blenheim Castle, although, you may wish you didn't know. It is the a film location for the 1982 Scarlet Pimpernel with Anthony Andrews and the stunning Jane Seymour. I just found that out recently, ugh. If you were looking for an awesome movie to get you through this next week, I just gave it to you.  Back to Kate...

She volunteered at one of their booths back in the day. I loved this picture of Kate. I still do, but back when it first surfaced I. REALLY. LOVED IT.

Actually, I wrote a post about the boots we are discussing, so check it out here. I had forgotten... These boots are really beautiful and she still wears them about today, so you might want to consider jumping in while the going is good. 15% off is a pretty nice deal. RWA3 at checkout! 

Pippa's Favorite Bag? The Modalu London Purse

I wasn't really thinking about Baby Cambridge when I booked my summer holiday for mid-July. I fly to France just as the birth of the century is due to take place, so yes, a certain lack of foresight on this one. In a desperate bid to stay in touch with the Royal world and with you, I rushed out and bought a MacBook Air to take with me on my travels. But, my nifty new travel computer needed a carrying case that can seamlessly drift though the most glamorous European cities without shaming me. I know, there had been a significant amount of labored shopping justification going on... I turned to those glamazons, the Middletons, to determine a suitable bag.

Pippa has been carrying this gorgeous purse around so much, Modalu has renamed the bag the Pippa. Carole and Pippa both carried the bag when they went to see Kate's portrait at the National Portrait Gallery. I don't follow Pips the way I follow Kate, so I can't say for certain when she first debuted this bag. Maybe the morning after the Royal Wedding? The Royal Wedding was arguably the most high profile moment in the Middletons lives. Never again will the eyes of the world be so firmly focused on this family, as a group, as it was the weekend they came to such public attention--for those who were not die-hard fans--after they had just partially hosted the wedding of our generation. It was big stuff, and when they emerged from the Gordon Hotel to head back to Berkshire, they were appropriately decked out. 

Pippa was toting a really beautiful bag that might have been admired and forgotten if it weren't for the fact that she just kept carrying it! And not just that exact bag, she loved it enough to buy the same design in multiple colors!! These are just three different shots. I cannot count the various shades and styles she has this bag in, these are just three:

What's the good news for us? Modalu is having a sale right now! Yes, half off on the Modalu bag. As you can see from the pictures, this bag has three separate sections, two on each side and a center compartment. I bought an 11" MacBook Air and it fights perfectly in either of the two outside compartments. It is a snug fit, you will never be able to stuff in a 13", so don't even try. Even if you don't need this to schlepp your computer around, this is a sturdy, trendy bag. It really is too beautiful.

I am entirely in love; it is not hard to see why Pippa has so many.  Thanks to the Modalu bag I will be stylishly in touch with you all for the next four weeks as we welcome Baby Cambridge--you should snag some Middleton style, too!

Modalu

What Do I Wear to a Polo Match?

It is summertime, which means polo clubs are in full swing, so it is time to pack your picnic and head to a game.  Whenever I head to a match with friends who haven't gone, or rarely go, to a polo game, the inevitable agony of "what to wear" comes up.

The good news, or bad, depending on your perspective, is that there is a very large range of appropriate things to wear to a polo match, anywhere from jeans to Jimmy Choos. Obviously, the first question to ask is, are you attending a charity game, or just a normal season match. If you are going to a charity match than you are welcome to ratchet your attire up a notch or two, but unless you have just splashed out thousands of dollars to watch William play at the Santa Barbara Polo Club, don't overdo it or you will end looking a bit of a newbie.

Let's look over what Kate has deemed appropriate. Kate has been photographed at multiple matches over the years and has displayed the full gamut of choices. Starting at the casual end...

Jeans or an Airy Dress

Kate could be relied on to show up at many matches in jeans and a pullover. Polo seasons stretch into the early fall, and in the Northern climate of the UK many days can be on the cooler side. When temperatures spike, Kate often opts for a cool sundress in a summer shade. Below are several instances where Kate wore jeans to polo.

Kate Middleton Wearing Jeans to Polo Matches

And the dress route...

Kate Wearing Dresses to Polo

There is no faster way to pull down the condescending attitudes of your fellow fashionistas at a polo match than to wear heels and not wedges. This is a sport played on grass and the spectators are on grass as well. You can't stomp divots very well in spiked heels. Kate has only been to polo with heels about three times. Once when she wore her heeled boots, and the second two times as the Duchess of Cambridge when she was really dressed for a more formal match. Case in point, Santa Barbara and the Jimmy Choos:

Should I wear a hat to a polo game? If you mean a hat like Kate has worn to various horse events, by all means, stay shaded. If you are asking about hats along Royal Ascot lines let me just say, have you ever seen Kate wear such a hat to match? Any match?  Food for thought... That being said, some clubs like to do the whole hat day thing, and if the spirit moves you to join the crowd, by all means jump in!

Yes!

Uuuuhhh, no. 

Summary: Almost anything goes. Keep in mind temperatures you will face while trying to enjoy the match. A light airy dress might be better for a scorching day, but also bear in mind wind--no one wants to overexpose themselves...Also consider whether you will be sitting on the grass or have a chair along. Pack a picnic lunch and some cold champagne and have a lovely afternoon!

Update in progress

New content coming soon...

Color Me Green: Kate's Various Shades of Green for 2013

Every year the experts at Pantone choose an official color for the year.  This color can often inspire or influence designer collections and eventually trickle down throughout the fashion industry. Emerald has been chosen as the official color of 2013, so green, in various shades, will be just a tad hotter this year.  Thankfully, for those who take their sartorial cues from the Queen of Style herself, HRH the Duchess of Cambridge, she has worn plenty of green and we can all steal some inspiration from her past choices.

Kate dazzled last year in this aqua green Jenny Packham gown at the Our Greatest Team Rises Gala in support of the British Olympic team. Jenny Packham may not be McQueen or LK Bennett, but she has certainly had her fair share of royal attention. Kate has worn Jenny P on a number of high profile occasions, and the label has essentially filled the evening gown gap left when the new royal quietly distanced herself from her pre-wedding favorite, Issa. This intricate dress, modified from the designer's bridal collection, checks many of Kate's boxes, including graceful movement in the fabric, her penchant for feminine lace, and the exquisite detailing on the bodice and back.   

On the job, Kate wore a deeper teal when she joined the Queen and the Duke of Edinburgh as they kicked off the Diamond Jubilee Celebrations.  Some women have the ability to see pieces on a hanger, looking only ordinary or rather dull, and yet pull them together to make something stunning. The separates were from favorite brand LK Bennett and the retro vibe was cutting edge chic. Highlighting the suit with a black structured beret, Kate created absolute magic. That being said, the next time Kate appeared with her grandmother-in-law, they had coordinated their outfits to complement in color just a little better. Even veteran royals learn on the job, it would seem. 

In a very unusual move, Kate went American in an olive green Ralph Lauren (Blue Label) knit dress when she visited Centrepoint with William. This look is classic Kate Middleton.  A streamlined silhouette in an understated color, black stockings and her iconic black suede boots. Before her engagement, it was not unusual for her to be seen in very similar ensembles shopping Kensington High Street. These are her Aquatalia Rumba boots she has worn countless times since she first debuted them in Scotland on her engagement tour of the UK. 

Last year on St. Patrick's Day, Kate wore a lovely forest green coat dress. With emerald green the official color of the year, it will be interesting to see if she opts for a brighter shade this coming March!