Kate-Inspired Purchase Review: "Lauren" Pavé Leaf Earrings Replikate

The time just after Christmas and into January always tends to be very slow on the royal news front, so it seems like the perfect chance to indulge in a spot of replikating!
Today I bring you a new replikate review. This time we'll look at a replikate of the Kiki McDonough "Lauren" yellow gold pave diamond leaf earrings. The "Lauren" collection is inspired and dedicated to British ballerina Lauren Cuthbertson, a principal dancer with the Royal Ballet in London.

My replikate earrings come from The Looking Glass Shop on Etsy, they're the Kate Middleton Inspired Pave Leaf Earrings:

My readers will be familiar with the shop, as over time I've reviewed several of their pieces here on the blog, you can find more details on my Replikate Reviews page.

The Duchess debuted her Kiki earrings on 10 October 2015, when attending an engagement on World Mental Health Day on behalf of a charity she's closely involved with, Mind:

She's worn them several times since, most recently when she visited the Natural History Museum on 22 November 2016 on an engagement on behalf of another of her charities, Place2Be:

The original Kiki earrings are available in two sizes, regular, which measure 20 mm in lenght and 9 mm in width and retail for £2,200:

...and large, measuring 28 and 15 mm respectively and retailing for £3,900. Both are made of 18ct yellow gold and pavé-set diamonds:

While I'm aware that the general consesus seems to be that Kate owns the regualar size, I'm more inclined to think she has, in fact, the larger ones, as they're quite noticable in pictures from her various engagements, and it seems unlikely they could be the smaller ones, as they're tiny.

Having a look at this close-up on What Kate Wore, it does seem to me that the number of diamonds more closely matches the larger size earrings.

Still, Anna from My Small Obsessions maintains that she indeeed wears the regular size, and she's way savvier than me on things jewellery-related, so let's just say the doubt remains! 

There are a few replikates of this style out there, but most seem to feature a more decidedly heart-shaped pendant as opposed to leaf-shaped, so I was rather pleased to discover The Looking Glass Shop had come out with a decidedly leaf-y version. Even better, priced at $36 plus shipping, these, while not the cheaper out there, won't break the bank.
Shipping and handling times were perfectly reasonable, meaning my earrings, ordered on 5 December, arrived in plenty of time for Christmas. They came packaged in a no-frill recycled cardoboard box, as is typical for purchases from The Looking Glass.
So, on to the lowdown...upon first opening the box I really must admit I was significantly underwhelmed. The earrings are tiny! They seem to be a strange hybrid of the two sizes available at Kiki, measuring 23 mm in lenght, so somewhat in between the two, but with a leaf pendant just 9 mm wide as the smaller ones.

The listing at The Looking Glass Shop states that: "they feature 2 beautiful leaf charms with pave-set cubic zirconia stones. separated by 3 baguette stones. Small and delicate, they measure just under 1 inch in length and have nickle-free posts". I imagine the "3 baguette stones" is a copy and paste fail, as there are no such stones in this style, but there are in these earrings, also for sale in the same shop.
They are made of gold-plated brass, as per listing, and indeed the ear posts are hallmarked, as shown below, so should be suitable even if you have sensitive earlobes:

I was really disappointed in these, unfortunately. While they look to be well-made, and I've never been disappointed in the overall quality from The Looking Glass Shop, so I'm confident these too will last, the ear posts look extremely delicate, measuring just under 2 mm at the widest point on top, and will require careful attention when putting on or taking off.

The leaf pendant really is minuscle: I have long hair and the earrings practically disappear when I wear it down. I'd need to have my hair up for them to be visible. Measurements are comparable to the "Athena" earrings by Azuni London, also worn by Kate - I've included a side by side photo of the two so you get a better idea:

The crystals are beautiful, and the pavé setting seems to be of good quality, but the earrings are too small for my taste and, as I said, the ear posts seem very delicate. Personally, I think it would have been better if the width had also been stated on the listing, instead of just the lenght, to give a better idea.
Overall, I'd give them a 3 out of 5 and wouldn't recommend them, except if you prefer smaller earrings.

It's business as usual for the Royal Family on Christmas Day, despite the Queen still recovering from illness

First of all, let me say a big Merry Christmas to all of you who are celebrating today!
We're back with our traditional Christmas Day post here at Books, Birkins & Beauty (you can read about last year's Christmas here, 2014 here, 2013 here and 2012 here), for a recap of what the Royals wore in years past!

It was a more subdued celebration than usual this year for the Royals, with the Queen missing the traditional church service at Sandringham for the first time in decades, as she continues to recover from a heavy cold. Zara and Mike Tindall were also absent, as a spokeswoman for the couple announced on Christmas Eve they had sadly lost their baby. The Duke and Duchess of Cambridge, together with Prince George and Princess Charlotte, were in Bucklebury, spending the holidays with the Middletons.

For the first time we saw Peter and Autumn Phillips' girl, Isla and Savannah, attend church with the rest of the Royal Family.

Prince Philip, who himself has been recovering from a bad cold, seemed in splendid form making the short walk to the church:

Princesses Beatrice and Eugenie both wore festive hats in shades of red:

As had been announced beforehand, the Cambridges elected to spend Christmas away from Sandringham, at the Middleton family home, to mark Pippa Middleton's last Christmas as a single woman, before her wedding on 20 May 2017.
It was the first time ever Prince George and Princess Charlotte attended church with their parents - and they looked predictably adorable with their candy canes!

You can find the Daily Mail coverage here (Cambridges) and here (rest of the Royal Family).

A Right Royal Christmas

With the big day just around the corner, I thought I'd take a break from all the prepping and have a look at some Christmas traditions enjoyed by the Royal Family! 🌲

Senior royals usually decamp to Sandringham House in Norfolk, where the Queen and the Duke of Edinburgh host their immediate family.

While the Duke usually goes by car, and the Queen travels via scheduled train service from King's Cross, this year saw a change of plans: the couple travelled together by helicopter, a more direct and comfortable way to make the journey, given both were reportedly suffering from heavy colds.

Perhaps unsurprisingly, the Queen starts signing her Christmas cards during her summer holidays. She will write on a stack of around 800 cards during her annual stay at Balmoral, signing off "Elizabeth R." (for "Regina," the Latin word for queen) to politicians and fellow heads of state, "Elizabeth" to friends, and her childhood nickname of "Lilibet" to her cousins.
Her staff usually receive gift vouchers and Christmas puddings, and she has Christmas trees from the Sandringham Estate sent to local schools and churches (these are also available to buy for the general public, should you fancy a tree with royal pedigree!).

A special Golden Jubilee exhibition of the Queen's Christmas cards to her friends and employees over the years since the accession in 1952 took place at Sandringham in 2002. The royal Christmas cards usually feature a photograph of the Queen and the Duke of Edinburgh, sometimes surrounded by their children and grandchildren (below, the cards sent in 1955, 1996 and 1998):

The Prince of Wales and the Duchess of Cornwall's choice of Christmas card is also usually made public (this year it featured a photograph taken in March 2016 during TRH's official visit to the Western Balkans and Croatia, shown below), while it's less likely we'll get a glimpse of the other Royals' cards, including those of the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge, who didn't share the photograph they chose for their card this year.

Another well-loved Sandringham Christmas tradition is the football match that takes place on Christmas Eve between estate workers and members of the Royal Family, including Princes William and Harry, who usually wear the socks of their favorite teams (Aston Villa for William and Arsenal for Harry):

Presents are exchanged on Christmas Eve, not not on Christmas Day, which the Queen regards exclusively as a religious festival. At teatime the family gathers in the White Drawing Room, where the Queen will encourage the younger royals to help put the finishing touches to the Christmas tree - a 20 ft Norfolk spruce from the estate. 

Much like in any other family, where treasured baubles are passed down through the generations, glass angels dating back from the time of Queen Victoria are still in use. The Duke of Edinburgh reportedly puts the finishing touch to the tree by placing a gold star at the top, although one does wonder whether he has renounced this particular tradition in recent years, due to his advancing age.

Trestle tables are laid out in the nearby Red Drawing Room, with sections marked off with tape showing where each family member's gifts should be placed.

Princess Diana's first Christmas with the Royals in 1981 proved somewhat a minefield, as she had bought cashmere and other luxury items for her in-laws, unaware that the key to success in royal present-giving is parsimony, with joke gifts particularly appreciated even by senior royals. 

Less well-known examples reportedly include the light-up pepper mill that Prince Philip received one year, the leopard-print bath mat that Princess Diana gave Sarah Ferguson, and a shower cap that Harry gave the Queen with "Ain't Life a B*tch!" printed on it.

If you favour slightly less jokey presents, be sure to check out my Christmas gift guide inspired by the Duchess of Cambridge, if you haven't already!

While Prince George and Princess Charlotte will this year be spending the festivities away from Sandringha, in Bucklebury with their parents and the Middleton family, it's been reported that they'll be opening some rather special present sacks: the Letterpress Christmas Sacks by Dulwich-based company Harrow & Green, made with hessian and grosgrain ribbon and stamped with the little Princes' names:

After early morning Holy Communion, which is taken privately, Christmas morning is dedicated to church (the Queen goes by car, while the rest of the family makes the short walk from the house to the church of St Mary Magdalene, where Princess Charlotte was christened in July 2015):

After the service, the family sits down to a traditional Christmas meal, which has a local free-range turkey with all the trimmings as its centrepiece. Food is served on a blue and white Copeland dinner service and drinks in crystal stemware engraved with the royal monogram, "EIIR".

Later the Queen retires and leaves the family to sit down and watch her televised Christmas message, a tradition begun in 1932 by her grandfather George V, which is nowadays broadcast at 3pm on television and online. 

Dinner is a much less formal affair, and consists of a buffet supper.

Most guests leave after the traditional Boxing Day shoot to see other family members. The Duchess of Cornwall, for example, will head off to spend time with her children and grandchildren, while the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge remain at home in nearby Anmer Hall, but the Queen and the Duke of Edinburgh remain until the second week of February or thereabouts, to commemorate the anniversary of her accession on 6 Feburary 1952, and the Christmas decorations stay up until then (so no qualms if you're late taking down your own decorations - I know I usually am! - you can always say you're following the Queen's lead!).

I'll see you on Christmas Day with a look at what the Royals wore for church, meanwhile I wish you all a very Merry Christmas!

Kate-Inspired Christmas Gift Guide

With the festive season fast approching, I have put together a list of Christmas gift ideas to help you shop for the royal watcher in your life. Put the finishing touches to your list to Santa while there's still plenty of time for shipping! I'll admit some of these ideas made my own Christmas wishlist 😀

Just click on the pictures to be redirected.

Kate's beloved Breton tops get a festive makeover courtesy of this cute Boden Baubles Print Christmas Breton Top, £24.15;

York Scarves Maple Leaf Tartan Scarf, as worn by Kate, £10.95;
Missed out on the "Encore" dress? Fear not, as you can still channel the look with the Kate Spade "Encore" Rose Silk Oblong Scarf, £106;
Ok, that's quite a lot of scarves, but I have a special penchant for the accessory, and it seemed highly appropriate to also include this Palaces Scarf, part of the Palaces Collection at Hobbs in collaboration with Historic Royal Palaces - it showcases all the 6 Palaces that belong to HRP, including Kensington Palace, printed on a delicate silk chiffon fabric, £69.

  

Buckingham Palace Shop Canadian Maple Leaf Brooch, £85;
If you're looking for an affordable replikate of the diamond and pearl drop earrings the Queen loaned to the Duchess of Cambridge, then look no further than this great pair by Heavenly Necklaces, featuring  detachable freshwater pearls, £41 (pearls only £23);
An alternative to Kate's Kiki McDonough lavender amethyst earrings, as seen in Bhutan, for the price of a takeaway coffee? Yes, please! Aliexpress purple and clear cubic zirconia earrings, $4.04. True, the stone shape is not exactly the same, but for that price, and free shipping, you can't do better!

Historic Royal Palaces Kensington Palace Gates Mug, £12.99;

Sandringham Shoulder Bag, £9.95;

Bombki Little Royal Crown Glass Bauble, £20.83.

 

Skinfix Hand Repair Cream, reportedly used by Kate, £12.79;
From a beauty brand famously beloved by Kate comes a new limited edition offering, the Bobbi Brown London Palette, $65 - I 💗 (and I bet Kate would, too!).

 

Budget won't stretch to a real sapphire? (An issue common with replikaters everywhere, I'm sure 😉). Then the next best thing is probably this Historic Royal Palaces Sapphire A5 Notebook, £9.99;

The Girl on the Train, by Paula Hawkins, from £3.85 for the paperback edition - Kate herself confided she had been reading it during an engagement in August 2016;

Want to re-create that Norfolk Christmas look for your own home? Sandringham House - Norfolk Cross Stitch Kit by Riverdrift House is just the thing! £12.95, and it even features a couple of pheasants, reminiscent of the Boxing Day shoot the Royal Family traditionally take part in.

Kate-Inspired Purchase Review: L.K. Bennett Addison Dress

As far as iconic looks go, you can't get much better than the outfit Kate selected to host the President and First Lady of the United States for dinner at Kensington Palace in April 2016. It was not the first time the Cambridges had met the Obamas (hello, Reiss "Shola" dress 😉), but the April visit proved to be a historic occasion in more ways than one. The final visit to the UK at the end of President Obama's eight years in office, it came just after the Queen's 90th birthday and provided a chance for a bathrobe-clad Prince George to be introduced to the presidential couple - a fabulous photo op for us royal watchers!

Given the historic significance of the occasion, it comes as little surprise that I was keen to replikate the outfit Kate wore, particularly as back in 2011 I had missed out on the "Shola".

Kate's dress was quickly identified as the "Addison" printed silk dress by L.K. Bennett.

Described on the L.K. Bennett website as "an eye-catching dress, timeless in its style and fashion forward in its execution. Addison is ideal for events, both formal and casual, with its jewel-toned print, feminine transparent sleeves and ankle grazing length. A dress you'll wear for seasons to come", the dress is made of a semi-sheer 100% silk gauze, while the bodice and skirt are lined in 100% polyester.
Still available in very limited sizes on the L.K. Bennett UK/International website (it's sold out on the US site), the "Addison" does not come cheap, retailing for £325/$525 plus shipping (now reduced to £243 on the UK website). So, what's a replikater on a budget gotta do? Scour the web for a more affordable version, of course!

Thanks to the invaluable help of a lovely Instagram friend, I was able to locate an ebay seller who offered "Addison" dresses at a fraction of the price. Sounds exciting, doesn't it? Listed at £179, with free shipping, that's a saving of about 45% on RRP. The catch? The label is missing. I can definitely live with a missing label, so I took the plunge and placed an order. I was slightly doubious to begin with, as the seller is based in China, and the photos on the ebay listing were mainly stock photos lifted from the L.K. Bennett website, and the ones of the actual dress for sale were very poor quality. However, I figured I'd take the risk.

I emailed the seller for more details and got another £10 off the total price, bringing it at £169, including DHL shipping. Result!

Shipping was very quick and straightforward: the dress was posted on a Saturday and I received it on the following Monday afternoon; I could follow its progress all the way via text message updates and there were no nasty surprises in terms of hidden customs charges, because the seller had stated a very low value on the export declaration (I know you're not supposed to do that, but I really, really love it when sellers do that!).

So, what did I think when I finally opened the parcel? The dress is breathtakingly beautiful, and definitely, 100% authentic. I'm leaning towards thinking it's a factory sample...It's certainly not the first time I've heard of Chinese sellers dealing in un-branded designer goods, and it makes sense in this case as even the original, labelled "Addison" is made in China anyway (see photo below of a shop-bought dress offered on ebay, although I have never seen a "made in..." label attached so prominently in an L.K. Bennett item):

The dress I bought does retain the internal care and composition labels, as seen below:

Some details of the dress, which has grey mother of pearl buttons at the cuffs and neckline:

To give the dress the final replikate touch, I added a belt which I made from a lenght of navy velvet ribbon and a couple of metal snaps. The whole thing cost about €5 from my local haberdashery, but if you prefer to buy ready-made, you can find some alternatives on Etsy:

 And now how this beauty looks tried on:

Overall I'd give the dress a big 5 out of 5! If you're planning to treat yourself this Christmas, you've still got time to place an order. Personally, I'll be channeling my inner Duchess at the office Christmas party - now I just need to find the perfect replikate of her tanzanite earring and necklace set!