Kate Dazzles in Sparkly Jenny Packham at the ARK Gala

Photo Credit: Samir Hussein/WireImage

There are certain times when you see someone in a particular dress or outfit and you just know that the sartorial gods are pleased. Such was our reaction when we spotted Kate Middleton in pale pink and sequined Jenny Packham at the ARK Gala. The Duchess looked relaxed, young, happy, feminine--in short, this dress was made for her (although not, you know, literally).

Photo Credit: Samir Hussein/WireImage

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Anyone still think that Kate can't do high fashion as well as she does high street? This is your notice. The Duchess seems to be ready to play in the big leagues, and while we'll likely never see her in anything too fashion forward this definitely seems a step in the right direction.

via ibtimes.com

Kate's pink ankle-strap shoes with bow are the Agata from fave L.K. Bennett and her pink satin box clutch is via Prada. Kate once again wore Links of London jewelry, this time the Effervescence Bubble Stiletto Earrings.

Photo Credit: Giovanni Ruffino/CW

And have we mentioned that we're almost as obsessed with Gossip Girl as we are with KMidd? Well, we are. And we just know that somewhere Blair Waldorf is smiling (and scheming, naturally) knowing she bested Middleton by donning a very similar Packham first, although if you'll recall Blair's wasn't floor-length.

So who do you think wore Packham better - Kate or Blair?

Or do you love both princesses-in-waiting equally?

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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