Tuesday, June 14, 2011

Catherine, Duchess of Cambridge, Impresses





Duchess of Cambridge Makes 
a Huge Fashion Statement

The Duchess of Cambridge, Catherine Middleton attended the ‘Annual Ark Charity Gala’ tonight wearing an ethereal gown by Jenny Packham. The Duchess selected the pearlescent rose sequin gown with Swarovski crystal by the British designer. The dress was selected from Jenny Packham’s New York Spring 2011 runway show. She also wore sweet "pink rose" suede LK Bennett sandals, The Agata, which is currently out of stock on L.K. Bennett's website, but originally retailed for (what would convert to)  $285.01. The sandal was also available in black and red lipstick suede.

Catherine (Kate Middleton), Duchess of Cambridge, and her husband, Prince William attended the 10th annual Absolute Return for Kids (ARK) gala dinner at Kensington Palace in London. Tickets for the black-tie event reportedly went for 10,000 pounds ($16,400) a head.

The dinner included  carpaccio of long-line caught yellow-fin tuna, Pacific Ocean black cod fillet, roasted Australian Kobe beef and organic blackcurrant souffle.

After dinner, the  crowd bid for auction luxury items with buzzers at their tables. Prizes included a “bespoke luxury tree house”. It went for £140,000. One table bid £450,000 to take nine friends on a private jet to Monte Carlo where they would race the world’s largest sailing yacht – The Maltese Falcon – in the Perini Cup.

“An afternoon with the renowned designer Tom Ford” was sought after and a guest paid £165,000 for the designer and director of "A Single Man."As The Mirror noted, cardboard packaging used for a diarrhoea medicine – signed by the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge, rockers the Kings of Leon and David Cameron - went for £120,000. Ark chairman Ian Wace held up the packet, declared it "“f*** all."

Other lots included lunch with US Vogue editor Anna Wintour (£180,000) and a ticket to movie mogul Harvey Weinsten’s Oscar Party at Soho House (£250,000).

The LK Bennett website describes Kate's evening shoe: ”The Agata sandal has a slender design with a stunning bow, for feminine elegance. In suede, to soften the clean lines of this high-heeled shoe” Currently sold out, original retailed for 175 pounds.