Pip & Kate Update II

It's that time again: let's see what my favorite sister combo has been up to this past month...

Kate has the interior design bug.  She is taking to doing the design on Amner Hall so it feels like their family home.  I wonder what a commoner home is like on the inside.  Or if she has been drawing on inspiration from the family homes.  I would love a Home & Garden tour of this place when it's finished!

Pippa has admitted that the dress that put her on the map may have fit a little too well.  I don't know, I think the girl should rock it.  If I could look that good, I would be wearing things like that daily.

Everyone is reporting on Wills & Kate missing Georgie's first crawl.  I personally feel bad for the parents missing such a pivotal moment in their kid's life, but I think that just proves they're real - working parents, ya know?

Get to know Maria Teresa Turrion Borrallo, Prince George's new nanny!  She trained at the school for nanny's (seriously?!) and will be responsible for taking care of the future king - no pressure lady.

The royals attended a wedding for some of their close friends.  I wonder what the family will wear to my wedding, since I'm clearly one of their besties.  I haven't decided if I like the aristocratic male wedding attire... it seems a little 80's to me.  Thoughts?

Make sure you check out Pippa's two Telegraph articles (did I mention how much I love that she has a segment?) - one on what it's like to be a rower at Cambridge and one on London's Pancake Hot Spots.

I'm super excited that Hobb's - a designer-fave of the Middleton's - is coming to Bloomy's!  Dresses are starting under $200 and will be starting in the East Coast... I'm waiting.......

Until next month :)

Pip & Kate Update I

Welcome to my new series - Pip & Kate Update!  It's just going to be a little round up of the past month in the Middleton Girls's World - what they've done, what they've worn, all you need to know.  Even though I do all sorts of different fashion on the blog, I still want to stay true to my initial drive - to emulate the Middleton classic style in my every day life.  So without further ado:

Thesbian-ism

Did you know Kate & Audrey Hepburn have more in common than great style?  Watch this video to see Kate play Eliza Doolittle from My Fair Lady in grade school.  The rainnnn in Spppaaiinnn falls mainnnly on the plaiiiinnnn.

Jet-Set Babes

Kate & George went on a family vacay to Mustique.  I guess if you are on a plane where you pick the passengers, it's not too bad to fly with a baby.  But I really enjoy these pictures of the future King and his mom.  It's so normal and I love that.  I also love his little sailor hat.  

G-L-A-M-O-R-O-U-S

Kate rewore her stunning Jenny Packham dress for the National Portrait Gallery Gala and donned a little more bling for the event, too.  The Spin reports that they believe she's going to be playing it safe with her formal wear after the Queen's rumored guidelines (that whole hemline thing).  Regardless, I love the dress, but I also have wanted Jenny Packham to make my wedding dress for years now.

Blue Puffy Smurf

Pippa has restored my faith in puffy jackets.  I love the jacket she was seen in this February.  She makes being cold look awesome.  Fact: It's not.

Blue Valentine

Kate spent V-day in blue opening an art therapy room.  She looked stunning in the Detroit Dress and what's a better way to spend the day of love than spreading it to people who find love through art.  Read more about her February 14th here.

Food of Love

Did you know Pippa is a journalist?  She has a column in The Telegraph and this month she finds out if oysters really are an aphrodisiac.  I can tell you, I don't think so.  There's nothing about garlic, horseradish, vinegar, and all the stuff being gulped down as to feel like you're not eating phlegm that is a turn on.  I'm just saying.  But read what Pippa finds, and also her 5 Valentine Things to Try.

Lady in Red at the Dramatic Arts Reception

After the BAFTA awards, the Queen held a Dramatic Arts Reception where Kate rewore her red Alexander McQueen pleated dress.  Repurposing dresses - oh Kate, you're so thrifty!

Read about Kate chatting with the hottest grandma in a bikini - Helen Mirren (I LOVE HER).

Love Locket

Kate has been seen sporting a necklace with Baby George's name.  Precious!  Rumor has it, Auntie Pippa purchased the gem   The maker is Merci Maman and I'm pretty sure they'll be out of stock very soon.

If the Shoe Fits...

Have you ever looked at a picture of Kate Middleton and thought, how does she wear those shoes all day?  How does she walk in them?  How does she look so fabulous?  Well, ladies, I'm hear to give you some tricks about shopping for shoes - courtesy of her future Majesty.  Something I picked up on very quickly when checking out Kate's style, is that she tends to have some shoe favorites.

So what can we learn from Kate's style?

[1 - Forever 21; 2 - LuLu's; 3 - Macy's; Photo c/o People]

First things first: Picking a shoe in general!  Kate definitely understands staples and the perfect black pump is a staple.  I don't know what I would do if I didn't own one pair (let alone five).  Kate's decision on the black pump is suede, and naturally that means I'm on the hunt.  When purchasing the staples, there is something that I strongly suggest.  Pick your top 5 staple shoes.  For me those include a pair of equestrian boots, black pumps, black flats, nude pumps, and every day flip flops (yes).  You should be willing to spend top dollar on these shoes.  Something I've definitely found is that you can walk MILES in well made heels.  If this is a shoe you know you're going to wear every day (like me in black and nude pumps at work), you need to make sure you look at the shoe as an investment.

[Photo c/o People; 1 - Piperlime; 2 - LK Bennett; 3 - Target]

My second piece of advice to finding the perfect shoes are the fit!  I have fat feet.  No, REALLY.  And they have crazy high arches (helped in ballet, not in life).  My mom always taught me how to find the perfect shoe by doing the toe test.  You know the one I'm talking about.  Here's the thing I recently discovered in my shoes.  My feet fit comfortably in an 8 1/2 normal shoe because they are so wide.  But if I were to buy a wide shoe, I'd be a size 7.  I have shoes that are size 9!  No wonder I constantly walk out of them!  Something I've learned is that shoes stretch out.  Make sure you are choosing a shoe that fits lengthwise, and then decide if it will stretch out.  Sometimes the shoe is tight when I try it on but I have to remember that I may wear it with hose and a little socks & blow drying action may give it some air.  Plus, I don't have to worry about walking out of the shoe.  Also, pick shoes you can walk in based on things like the base.  See how Kate's favorite LK Bennett's have a platform base?  This helps so much when wearing your heels all day.  

[1 - Monsoon; 2 - Bloomingdale's; 3 - Zappos; Photo c/o People]

The final step to finding the right shoe is making sure it's wearable to live in and versatile.  Kate's Stuart Weitzman cork wedges are her go to when she means business.  Kate wore these constantly during the Olympic Games in London because she was a busy bee!  She had to do a lot of walking and she was wearing lots of jeans.  These shoes look great for a casual look - thanks to the cork!  However, Kate has also worn these with dresses and they look incredibly appropriate.  This is where I say, I love wedges.  A couple of years ago (senior year of college to be exact) I started to change towards wedges.  I hated them.  Hated.  But then, they started to grow on me and now I wear them all the time.  They never hinder me and they are so versatile.  I can wear them at work with a dress and then wear them while I'm out bar crawling. 

Honeymoon Blue

(Picture of Kate, Courtesy of people.com)

[Cardigan, Belt & Shoes (all old) - Target; Dress (old) - Zara (found at consignment shop); Ring - Kohl's; Bracelets - Gifts]

This is the outfit that started it all.  Up until Kate wore this outfit and I saw this picture, I had vowed to never own wedges.  A couple of weeks later, I found these black & cork wedges on sale for $10 at Target and I've been obsessed with them ever since.  I had been wearing a dress I found at The Loft for almost a year before one fateful day, when I found this exact Zara dress at my local high-end consignment store... for $36!  This whole outfit cost $71 - a perfect example of looking royal (even in the exact digs) for under $100.