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May 6, 2015

Let's start with my favorite Repli-Kate to date: the yellow dress.  To compare...

Kate
Dress - Bespoke Roksanda Ilinic $1,385
Earrings - gold and diamond hoops by KKiki McDonough $770 with Annoushka pearl drops $455
Necklace - Mappin & Webb Fortune White Gold Drop Pendant $6,082
Watch - Cartier Ballon de Bleu $4,550
Shoes - LK Bennett Sledge Pumps $345
Total: $13,587

Alyssa
Dress - Ellen Tracey at Marshall's $39
Earrings - Faux Pearls from Banana Republic Outlet $5
Necklace - Lia Sophia Elude Necklace $52
Watch - Anne Klein - Christmas gift from Chris a few years ago, we set a $200 limit
Shoes - Bandolino at Marshall's $29
Total: $325
I won on price, but Kate wore her dress while checking out Sydney Harbor (while I wore mine while checking out the steps of my building's loading dock) so there's that.

Some questions I know you have:

Do you already have these clothes and accessories, or do you buy them because of Kate?
Both.  I've had the necklace for a while, and I bought the earrings because they were on super sale, and you can never go wrong with classic pearls.  Tan heels are on-trend with or without Kate, and I have a few pairs, just like I have a few pairs of black shoes.  The dress, on the other hand: I saw her and thought "she looks good in yellow--we both have dark hair and lighter skin, I bet I could pull that off!"  I didn't run right out and buy one, but when I saw it on the rack, I definitely made a point to try it on.  And since K-Middy made an even more famous yellow dress appearance with Princess Charlotte, sales of yellow dresses have gone up over 200% on Ebay.  So it's not just me. ;)  Repli-Kating also makes me put accessories together in a way that I normally wouldn't, and it's fun to branch out.

Is this creepy?
I don't think so.  It's not like I'm hanging out in the bushes of Kensington Palace, hoping to steal a lock of her hair so I can try to brew Polyjuice Potion and turn myself in to her.  Think about the ways that others replicate looks that don't violate societal norms: sports jerseys, running costumes, Marilyn Monroe dresses, Jackie O pillbox hats and suits, Halloween, Comicon, etc.

How do you know so much about what she wears?
The internet--duh.  My main source is What Kate Wore.  I like the Kate community--they're generally a polite bunch that rationally discusses both her clothes and the charities she supports.

Couldn't you find a better spirit animal than a privileged princess that lives in a castle?
Oh probably.  But there's a lot to be admired about Kate besides her style.  I'm in love with her support of initiatives to end the stigma of mental illness, especially in children.  She does a LOT of work with children, the homeless, and military families (having been a military wife herself), often behind the scenes.  She routinely bucks the wishes/traditions of "The Firm" aka The Royals in a confident but classy way, for example, taking Prince George to her mom & dad's house after he was born, and having her dad take their family photo.

On to what I ate.  Don't worry, we'll discuss Repli-Kating more soon.


Breakfast was raspberries and coffee with 1% milk. Sorry, I'm just not a big breakfast eater.  Then I went to the gym and did HIIT, during which time I went a little off the rails with the medicine ball.  Which is why I have two disgusting popped blisters, one on each thumb.  Cleaning those suckers out was...not pleasant.
Statement ring by Lia Sophia.  Bandaids by Curad.
Lunch was a turkey sandwich, green salad, 5 apple chips, and a small handful of jellybeans.  


Snack was homemade trail mix of almonds, craisins, and banana chips.  So good.  It hits the spot for something sweet, and the protein in the nuts keeps me from being hungry an hour later.

Dinner was Turkey Porcupines (small meatballs in an onion sauce and not a new animal), brown rice, and a salad.

And finally, here's a picture of one of our cats in a laundry basket.  Say hi to Roxy!

It was a good day, exercise and food-wise.  We'll give it a Beyonce.

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