Kate Wears Sneakers As She Shops Chelsea for Lighting

Do you know what we don't see Kate wearing often? Sneakers aka trainers!  The beautiful Duchess was dressed down yesterday to shop in Chelsea for all manner of home goods, as her new Kensington apartment continues to be readied for the move.  Kate was out and about despite the poor weather.  The pictures are not all that good, unfortunately, but they do allow us to see she was wearing jeans and sneakers, an as yet unseen Zara coat, and the Aquascutum scarf she seems to love so much. Kate first debuted that scarf in Canada, I think, and is often spotted wearing it when out for a spot of shopping.

From the look of the umbrella, she didn't come prepared with her own umbrella. E!online reported on Kate's shopping day:

According to a source, Kate had breakfast at the Dome Cafe in Chelsea Harbour around 11 a.m. She then spent a couple hours at the Design Centre, also located in Chelsea Harbour, where she was apparently looking at lighting.
After that, Kate went to a carpet shop on Lots Road, where she stayed for approximately 45 minutes.

Unfortunately, it seems unlikely we will get a guided tour of the couples private apartment, but with all the shopping Kate has been doing, I am sure it will be absolutely fabulous.  As usual, i love these shots. She just looks so great in candids!

Love the hair:

Meanwhile, Pips was out to lunch with Vanity Fair and noted fashionista/os, including Tom Ford and Jemima Khan--don't miss the Princess Diana connection there, folks. I kid. Really. Don't bring that up.

 
As is her wont, Pippa went edgier than I might be fully comfortable with myself, but I sit here on the sidelines and applaud. I like, even if I do not dare.  That being said, our faux-Princess, as I think some like to refer to her, was out clubbing earlier this month in the same jacket, but very eye-catching trousers. I won't tell you what I think of these, because I know you can guess.

Kate Attends Wedding in Polka Dot Dress

Whenever I travel, I always bring my computer case along so I can blog at a moment's notice. I never want to miss a Kate appearance. I have schlepped that machine through more airports and foreign streets than I care to consider. But, that can get tedious, and I thought I could sneak away for the weekend with an iPad in the purse and call it an easy day. So, Kate showed up at a wedding...of course.  Kate has been in Anglesey with William following her engagements at the end of April.

You can overdo vacations, so I am happy to back on my own cozy couch, with a steaming cup of tea and some good royal action to soak up.  Kate rewore the entire outfit from Warner Bros. with the addition of a hat. Here is the problem as I see it. it seems to me that when your figure gets a little fuller due to pregnancy, you don't want to overdo yourself in the styles stakes. Too much rarely helps, and I know a lot of pregnant women right now on which to base the theory. What I mean to say is, simplicity is slimming. We all can think of a certain pregnant individual, whose initials may or may not be KK, who often overdoes it, with disastrous and headline grabbing consequences.

The billowy polka dot dress incorporates several pregnancy danger zones in one outfit, so I found this choice daring for Kate the first time around. I thought she pulled it off at the time, but not so much here. The hat only furthers the problem. She was right at tipping point before, but that hat is breaking the camel's back for me. What is up with this hat? It is a little wild, un peu adventurous, in short, exactly what she should avoid with this outfit.

I never thought I would say this, but I think Kate is a little lost in the whole maternity wear department. She has kind of ricocheted around. She wears something flattering and beautiful one appearance, and then something that really raises the brow in the next. I don't really understand why she hasn't shifted to clothes specifically designed for her changed body. Interestingly, the custom clothes she has worn have all flattered her beautifully.  I am particularly thinking of the blue Emilia Wickstead.  When she wears clothes that are off the rack she has had some real disasters. The plaid Moloh coat comes to mind first.  There is a time and a place for everything and I hope Kate gets this under control as she rolls into the last few months of her pregnancy.

I don't want anyone to take this as harsh criticism. Before her pregnancy, Kate rarely put a foot wrong. I might not always love the outfit, but there is a distinction between what isn't always fully to my taste and what is actually a bona fide fashion miss. She has had a few of those, too, as have we all, but not often. Even now, she has more hits than misses, but in my mind her misses are unusually high for our mostly flawless Duchess of Cambridge. I have every confidence she will soon be back on track!

Meanwhile, while I wasn't posting this weekend I was following the news and Kate and William were spotted a nice little restaurant -after the wedding for a quick bite to eat. The Mole and Chicken says:

The 60 cover restaurant offers a blend of British and Mediterranean food using classical cooking techniques and fresh local produce. A well chosen wine list accompanies the light lunch and a la carte menus and there is also a finer wine and drinks list for the connoisseur.

I was surprised to read that William had mushroom risotto while Kate opted for Fish and Chips. Kate has been known to love her comfort food, but in recent years most menu choices have been reported as lighter fare.

Fun stuff. Hopefully, we will be seeing Kate again sooner rather than later, and she will be in something specifically designed to highlight her loveliness.

Happy Anniversary to Kate as She Wears Apricot Tara Jarmon to Naomi House Children's Hospice

Well, I was not expecting this one. On the 2nd anniversary of her wedding, Kate showed up at Naomi House Children's Hospice in...apricot!  Certainly a major pop of color from Kate who has favored more subdued colors for some time, particularly for daytime events.  It was a really fun change of pace, and a nice, cheerful color for her visit.  The paler dress contrasting with the deeper hue of the Tara Jarmon coat was perfect. The colors are bolder than usual, but remain delicate, and she accessorized with LK Bennet sledge shoes and matching clutch, both in neutral. I can't say for certain, but I have absolutely no recollection of Kate ever wearing this designer before, so that in itself is a little exciting.  Also of interest is that the designer is based in Paris, France, although she is Canadian.  Does that make her a Canadian or a French label?

I really do think this is a perfect outfit for the occasion. I really am enjoying the spring colors and Kate was really glowing.  I know I lightly criticized her video message for lacking personality, but Kate always shines so brightly at these functions.  Particularly when children are involved. You can see she is genuinely engaged by them, and really does empathize, not just sympathize with their plights. Her video addresses can improve with practice, but she is 10 on these public appearances.

Kate also performed a walkabout to greet the children of a local primary school:

People often mention how tall Kate is, but she met her match today. :)

Today is, of course, her anniversary, and I hope everyone is taking some time to relive just a little of the magic of that day!

Our first glimpse of the dress after so many months waiting and wondering...

Kate's last look back at the throngs of spectators as she entered the Abbey:

William and Kate's little smiles throughout the ceremony:

The heart-stopping moment the ring wouldn't slip on:

Emerging from the church as the new Duke and Duchess of Cambridge:

And of course the balcony time, and TWO kisses, not just one. It was our lucky day--and William's, too.

A video of the exchange of vows:

The Telegraph's highlights:

Balcony kiss and flyover:

William and Kate were spotted out in London this weekend for a quiet dinner together, and most speculate they were celebrating a little early since Wills is on duty in Anglesey today.  Have a wonderful rest of your Royal Wedding Day/Evening!

P.S. One of my readers left a comment on my earlier post, it was deleted when I reposted that entry, but I wanted to thank you for your kind words and your concern. I do appreciate it and took your advice into consideration. So far, so good. ;)

[New Photos] Kate and Carole Buy a Moses Basket

The Hello! photos are out, published today at the Daily Mail, (see all photos on the DM's site) with details of the baby shopping excursion.  One of my readers, Stefanie, commented on the earlier post about these photos, that the basket was a Moses Basket!  And that is confirmed today!  Kate and Carole were out for lunch and baby shopping, it is reported, and these are some fun shots of mother and daughter dressed almost identically.  Do they do it on purpose, or are their tastes so simpatico?

Is Kate carrying her mother's purse, or is she carrying a purse and a "briefcase" around?

Other odds and ends on this Royal Wedding Weekend, Kate was spotted leaving KP yesterday, and it appears she is chewing her nails?

I don't like teddy bears as royal gifts, but some little girl gave one to Harry recently on a walkabout, and he was pictured walking into KP still holding it after his helicopter dropped him at home. How cute! I still don't think Wills and Kate will keep it, but I think it is cute anyway...

Much was made in the news recently, that William had announced he would be leaving Anglesey this summer, but I am not sure how that is a surprise, given the privatization of the Search and Rescue division.  he big news remains, what will he do next?  And that has not been announced yet...

I am a little surprised by the mostly negative response to the Pippa post. I know that a lot of people don't like the Middleton girls, but I assumed Kate fans would also, for the most part, be Pippa fans as well.  I can understand why she rubs some women the wrong way, so this isn't so much a judgement on any of you who do not like her, more of an observation.  I like to track not just Kate, but the Middleton family, so when the fancy takes me, I will be posting about Pippa, too.  Hopefully, that is ok... And in that line, Pippa was out in this blue dress that I thought was pretty. :)

Pips was at a society wedding over the weekend, and opted for something a little more streamlined,  à la her sister Kate. She wore this blue dress, with grey suede pumps, also very reminiscent of the shoes Kate wore so recently. As is not unusual with Pippa, she gets a lot right, but maybe just a little wrong.  The necklace is too much. You would think this look is simple enough that it could take a bold statement piece, but I wish she had left it alone, or added something more delicate.  At first I wasn't sure about the hat, but I like how it works with the clutch and shoes.  Still, all past choices considered, this is a win for Pippa in the wedding category.

That is all for the moment. I have to get back to my tea and Royal Wedding soundtrack... See you all tomorrow!!

Kate Releases First Video Message to Mark the Start of Children's Hospice Week

Kate has appeared in her first video message today, released to highlight the beginning of Children's Hospice Week. Kate is wearing the black Topshop dress with the peter pan collar that she wore to the children's hospice with William. The coat was a little quirky that day, but I love the dress. It was a good choice for this video.

Kate wearing Topshop dress in March

I will risk the wrath of many readers and say that I don't think Kate is doing so well in terms of her public addresses. She seems stilted and fake, as if she is being too careful   None of her personality, which we know is bubbly and humorous, comes through.  Of course, the topic is not a happy one, and I am sure she will improve with time.

Kate, William, and Harry Travel to Visit Warner Bros and Step into the World of Harry Potter

Today, William, Kate, and Harry attended the opening of the Warner Bros Studio.  Kate wore a TopShop polka dot dress with her black Ralph Lauren jacket.  Yet again, she barely looked pregnant from certain angles!  Polka dot pieces are very tricky things. I am personally into stripes right now, which are also tricky, you can so easily end up looking like a little five year old french boy, mignon, mais... Polka dots are even more dangerous, nevertheless I have to say Kate pulled it off with aplomb.

In his brief speech, William asked that more, and more, and more Batman films be made, so it is obvious he is quite the fan. He spent a lot of time touring around the various paraphernalia of that film, including this bat bike? and the bat mobile. I am not an expert, I think that is what they are called. I have actually not watched all the movies.

William tries out a prop while Kate stands by laughing.

I think we all know the highlight of the visit was the time they spent on the Harry Potter sets.  William and Kate visited Diagon Alley where they stood outside the Scribbulus Writing Implements shop. I didn't know that shop, I had to Google it--I had this mixed up with Ollivander's Wand Shop. I am a fan, but not a groupie. 

Here William and Kate have a battle of the wands in Gryffindor's common room. You can't really see it in this picture, but the walls are decorated with The Lady and the Unicorn tapestries, iconic medieval art. (The tapestries can be seen at the Musée de Cluny in Paris.)  Kate appears ready to stupefy some folks, but William looks like he is tripping out of The Three Broomsticks after a pint or two, too many. 

Watch a short video of their duel.  William needs to work on hiding that I-am-very-uncomfortable face:

William, Kate, and Harry also toured Hogwart's Great Hall:

Kate looks like she is having a blast, and I have to say, this looks very, very cool. No wonder Harry tagged along, that dude knows a good time when he sees it. Back to reality:

Kate looked lovely, the polka-dots were appropriately playful for their outing, and the jacket just the right grounding--not to mention useful given what appears to be overcast weather. No royal visit is complete without some flowers. Ever. So there were flowers.  The perks of being a princess.

We are very close to William and Kate's 2nd wedding anniversary, which they will celebrate on Monday.  We get a treat of our own, since they have scheduled a public engagement that day!  

Pippa Middleton Takes on Charity Work for Mary Hare School in Tory Burch

Pippa has recently been in the news thanks to her column in Waitrose's magazine, where she writes a cooking section.  But, it looks like Pips also enjoys jobs a little more in line with those engagements carried out by her royal sister. Pippa has become an ambassador for the Mary Hare School in Berkshire--a school for deaf children.  The website states that Pippa will be lending her support to fundraise for the school. In that capacity, she opened the school's new boarding facility.

Americans will be interested to know that Pippa chose a Tory Burch suit for the occasion, although, she should take a tip from her public-engament-experienced sister, and carry a clutch.  Something to do with awkward hands...  I think that Pippa will probably take a lot of flak for this, and I can't help but feel the palace won't be pleased either. This will fuel the "Pippa thinks she is a royal" attitude, but frankly, every movie star on the planet does the same thing. Pippa is a celebrity--thanks to her sister--and so she can be an effective ambassador.

The above photo is on the Mary Hare website.

Last week Pips was out in London with her BF, Nico, for a party at LouLou's:

And just recently she took to the town with a friend, dressing up her jeans with a jacket from Beulah, a label Kate and her mother have worn in the past.