Zara Phillips' Wedding Dress & Kate Middleton Recycles at the Wedding

Kate Middleton looked beautiful, if understated, in a largely recycled outfit at the wedding of Zara Phillips to Mike Tindall today. First, let's start with the bride...

Zara Phillips looked like a very happy bride in a somewhat simple Stewart Parvin, which did suit the Queen's granddaughter's laidback style.

We love Zara's choice of the Meander Tiara,

on loan from mom Princess Anne.

Kate wore the same neutral gold brocade coat by Day Birger et Mikkelsen (from their Resort 2006 collection) that she wore to Laura Parker-Bowles' wedding and to the wedding of Oli Baker in 2010 (when she accessorized with black shoes and fascinator). Not sure if she's wearing the same lace dress underneath (Update: Other photos do show the same hint of lace, so we're saying it is the same dress Kate wore to the LPB wedding, the Charlie Savory wedding and the Young Stalin book party, which Collette Dinnigan has now confirmed as one of hers, something we previously suspected). We like that Kate added a different chapeau for a fresh, new look.

Kate accessorized with her L.K. Bennett Natalie clutch and Sledge2 pumps, as well as what looks like the same diamond drop earrings the Duchess sported with that purple Issa dress on Canada Day.

The dramatic hat (we're definitely fans) is by Gina Foster Millinery.

Above you can see the same hat, from Foster's Kensington W8

S/S 11 collection, in a different colour.

Kate's slanted "potato chip" hat had a similar feel to the

black one that Zara sported at Kate and William's wedding in April.

We think this type of recycling works much better than the DVF dress that Kate wore yesterday. More time has elapsed, plus the addition of all new accessories--including the dramatic hat--makes the outfit fresh again.

We also think Beatrice and Eugenie looked better last night.

We're not big fans of all Bea's sequins today.

And look at these royal ladies jumping on the nude platform

pump bandwagon. L.K. Bennett can't stock 'em fast enough.

Some pretty wedding guests...

Some background on the Meander Tiara,

which we really love:

via knowingtheroyals.wordpress.org

According to Wikipedia: "This tiara was a wedding gift to then Princess Elizabeth from her mother-in-law Princess Andrew of Greece and Denmark (born Princess Alice of Battenberg). The Meander Tiara is in the classical Greek 'key pattern' featuring a large brilliant cut diamond in the centre surrounded by a diamond wreath. The tiara also incorporates a central wreath of leaves and scrolls on either side. The Queen has never worn it in public and it was given to Princess Anne around 1972. Princess Anne has frequently worn the tiara in public, notably during her engagement to Mark Phillips."

Also from Kate and Camilla to Bea and Eugenie, the Countess of Wessex and other guests, everyone seemed to be wearing a pair of nude, platform heels. Does everyone have Kate Fever?

Photos via The Daily Mail

Old School Stylings: Kate Middleton at Charlie Savory's Wedding

Can we say hot mess? Not sure that any of the individual pieces here are offensive (except for maybe the hair flowers), but Kate Middleton looked kind of horrible at the wedding of Charlie Savory in 2010.

KMidd sported the same pink double-breasted jacket she wore to Peter Phillip's wedding in 2008 (with the same pink satin heels) paired with the lace dress (likely Collette Dinnigan) she wore to Laura Parker-Bowles' wedding. Kate accessorized with what looks like the Asprey button pendant necklace and a beaded clutch.

We're thinking that what really throws this whole outfit off is happening from the neck up. Whatever it is, it's not working. No. Just...no.

Kate was seen wearing the same dress at the Young Stalin

book party that she attended with Pippa in 2007.

And she's wearing a watch, something we haven't seen in awhile.

Old School Stylings: Kate Re-Wears Gold Brocade Coat to Oli Baker Wedding

For the wedding of old flatmate Oli Baker in Scotland, Kate Middleton recycled the champagne gold Day Birger et Mikkelsen brocade coat that she wore to Laura Parker-Bowles' wedding. Kate changed up the accessories -- opting for a black fascinator from Jane Corbett (the same she wore to Peter Phillips' wedding sans net), black patent heels and a black clutch.

Old School Stylings: Kate Middleton in Blue Brocade Coat at Nicholas van Cutsem's Wedding

Kate Middleton looked regal in cornflower blue at the 2009 wedding of Nicholas van Cutsem to Alice Hadden-Paton. Kate paired the blue brocade Jane Troughton coat with a silvery dress, white and blue floral hat by Jane Corbett, and a pair of mystery navy suede court shoes.

The coat-over-frock really is Kate's favoured wedding look and one that makes sense. Not only can she preserve the mystery of the dress underneath, but she can also get two looks in one--more conservative for church and a flirty dress for dancing later.

Kate was also seen wearing what looks like the Asprey button necklace, a citrine cocktail ring and a patterned blue leather frame clutch.

Old School Stylings: Kate Middleton at the Astor-Van Custem Wedding

A fresh-faced Kate Middleton appeared at the 2005 wedding of Hugh Van Cutsem and Rose Astor in Oxfordshire, England wearing a trim blazer and pretty lace pencil skirt.

Kate accessorized with a cross necklace, kicky black fascinator, and black kitten heels and clutch.

Old School Stylings: Kate Middleton Wears Blue Issa at Harry Meade's Wedding

Okay, so this one isn't really old school, but it definitely is pre-engagement. Well, pre-engagement announcement anyway, as reports suggest that by this point Prince William had already popped the question.

At Harry Meade's wedding in October 2010, William and Kate made an appearance walking in together--something they rarely did before--suggesting that their relationship was being kicked up a notch.

We l-o-v-e Kate's electric blue Issa dress, mostly for the cobalt blue colour, and we think KMidd really pulled off that understated sophisticated chic she does so well. We're liking the addition of the simple black blazer, clutch and pumps too. The wide brimmed Philip Somerville hat is also pretty fab. What we're not feeling? The pinky ring. Sorry, Kate.

Old School Stylings: Kate Middleton at Laura Parker-Bowles' Wedding

Kate Middleton wore a pretty gold brocade coat (by Day Birger et Mikkelsen from their Resort 2006 collection) to the wedding of Laura Parker-Bowles, daughter of Camilla, to Harry Lopes, the nephew of the late Lord Roborough and grandson of the late Lord Astor of Hever. Kate's accessories included a feathered fascinator and what looks like a suede clutch.

Update: Coolspotters has located a photo of the coat from a

now-ended eBay auction.

You can also see a hint of the lace dress (we're thinking that Kate's

gold lace dress is perhaps by Collette Dinnigan).

Above, a photo of the happy couple.

The now-Laura Lopes wore a Sarah Burton design.

An influential choice, we'd say.

Old School Stylings: Kate Middleton at Peter Phillips' Wedding

via dailymail.co.uk

In the run up to the royal wedding we thought we'd take a look back at some of Kate Middleton's iconic looks through the years, in no particular order, really. Let us know if there are any great Kate outfits we miss! The first we'll touch on is the ensemble that Ms. Middleton sported at the wedding of Peter Phillips, first cousin of Prince William and the son of Princess Anne, to Canadian Autumn Kelly. The couple came under intense fire after they sold their wedding photos to Hello!, but what can you do.

Photos out of the pages of Hello!

We did think it was a bit weird that Wills skipped his cousin's nuptials in favour of attending a wedding with his ex-girlfriend, but, whatevs. I guess royals really are that much different than the rest of us. Kate looked fresh, chic and pretty in a fabulous pink satin double-breasted jacket worn over a black Issa dress that featured some slightly risque (for a future princess) sheer panelling. There's a better view of the dress itself in the third photo above. Kate accessorized with a black hat (we could have done without the funerary netting), pink satin shoes and a pink satin box clutch by Prada.

This is also the wedding where Princess Beatrice appeared in a multi-coloured McQueen dress that she topped off with a turquoise clutch and a butterfly fascinator.

The groom's sister, Zara Phillips, sported a strapless green Vera Wang gown just like the other attendants. Wang? Really? We could have sworn we have a few of these typical bridesmaids dresses in our closets. In that damn wedding green shade (you know the one...pretty but almost a non-colour). And what was with all the girls and those awful tan lines?

Peter Phillips and Autumn Kelly exiting St. George's Chapel.

The bride wore a pretty tiara loaned to her by the Princess Royal.

Otherwise we're kinda underwhelmed.

Wedding Kate: Velvet & Sheer

Kate Middleton and some of the young royals were seen out and about this weekend at the wedding of Harry Aubrey-Fletcher and Louise Stourton. While William was busy being an usher (and driving himself to the reception) Kate hung out with future in-laws like Prince Harry.

Kate has taken quite a bit of flak in the press for the sheer panel on her black dress and for the fact that she wore black at all. The sheer doesn't bother us, future princess or not, and neither does the black. Maybe it's a cultural thing, but who doesn't wear black to weddings? The boring, however, does bug. Something about the whole outfit just makes us want to close our eyes and...What?! Oh! Sorry...we must have dozed off there for a second.

As we were saying, even with the risque panel and the addition of velvet (such a very hot fabric this season) the outfit doesn't wow. We do like Kate wearing up-and-coming designers, though. The only thing we loooved about this outfit were those kicky purple shoes with bows on top (and clutch to match). And usually the shoes are the one part of Kate's outfits we don't really care for (they tend to be pretty staid and, dare we say, boring).

The Libélula silk velvet Dulwich frock coat that Kate wore was held together by a sparkly pin. Designed by Sophie Cranston, who has previously worked under Alexander McQueen and another Kate favorite Alice Temperley, the Dulwich coat is sold for £310.

The sheer dress that caused such a stir is an oldie, one that Kate also wore to Peter Phillips' wedding to Autumn Kelly (that time under a pink blazer). The dress is designed by Issa. Kate is quite well known for recycling pieces, pairing them with other things and making whole new outfits. You know, like us regular people do.

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