Kate Middleton attended the 100 Women in Hedge Funds (100WHF) gala in London on the 27th of October, 2015.
The gala dinner took place at the V&A museum in Kensington and benefited The Art Room, a charity that uses art therapy to build the confidence of vulnerable children experiencing emotional and behavioural difficulties. As you may recall, Kate became patron of The Art Room in 2012. Since then, Kate has visited the charity and attended engagements in benefit of the charity on several occasions.
Prince William became Patron of the 100WHF organisation in 2010. Kate and Prince Harry joined William as Patron in January 2013.
Each year, the 100WHF organisation holds gala fundraising events in New York, London, Hong Kong and Geneva. This is the third time Kate has attended to date.
Kate presented Elizabeth Corley, chief executive officer of Allianz Global Investors, with the 100WHF 2015 European Leadership Award. She won the award for her work mentoring future leaders of the investment banking industry.
In 2015, the 100WHF gala raised over £550,000 for The Art Room. This total included money raised during an auction that took place during the evening. The auction lots included an “Art Room Party,” seven nights in a luxury Scott Dunn staffed chalet for eight people, a private dinner with Channel 4 News presenter Jon Snow, and a personal styling session with fashion designer Stella McCartney in London.
The former Duchess wrote a letter thanking the 100 Women in Hedge Funds organisation for supporting The Art Room:
Kate’s outfit:
The Duchess wore a floral printed gown by one of her favoured designers, Erdem. It’s the Alouette Tired Silk Gown from the designer’s Pre-Fall 2015 collection.
The dress is made from silk-gazar fabric and printed with Erdem’s “Ohana Tulip” design, said to be inspired from 1960s Japanese prints. From Erdem’s website:
Inspired by early 20th century Japanese graphics, white orchids are strewn across a deep crimson base whilst vibrant blue irises burst through, creating a statement print ready for the summer months.
Here’s how Net-A-Porter.com described the dress:
Flawlessly cut from lustrous silk-gazar, this elegant piece is fitted at the bodice and flares below the waist into a voluminous peplum skirt. Show off the low V-back with an updo.
The dress retailed for $4,560 at Net-A-Porter.com (£2,660 on their UK site). It’s long sold out/
Kate’s clutch bag will feel familiar to some of our regular readers. It’s the Anya Hindmarch “Maud” bag. The Princess has carried this bag for a number of years. It’s still available from AnyaHindmarch.com where it retails for £475 (approximately $726 USD).
More about the bag –
Handmade in one of the oldest purse frame workshops in England, the Maud was one of the first bags Anya designed. A popular choice for weddings, it’s made from soft satin silk and can be personalised with an embroidered monogram and embossed handwritten message.
Kate’s Jimmy Choo “Cosmic” heels made a return during the evening. The black suede shoes feature a large heel, a chunky platform and an almond-shaped toe. This is a style that Jimmy Choo no longer manufactures, unfortunately.
Noticeably, the Princess wore a new pair of sparkling earrings with her floral gown: a pair of sapphire earrings surrounded by a diamond fringe, with small sapphires suspended below.
They originally belonged to The Queen Mother. If you’d like to read more about the earrings, click here.
Kate finished the look with a diamond bracelet. She’s worn it several times in public since the 2011 Canada and USA tour. It’s commonly believed this bracelet was a gift from her father-in-law. Then known as Prince Charles.
Firstly – I love Kate – but WHAT WAS SHE THINKING! Starting at the top – I wish Kate would be more creative with her hair for formal events – I think it should be worn up on this occasion. Her makeup is very bland/pasty and the dress! This is more a spring/summer number and that frill at the bottom….. It’s a this time I’m afraid…..
I love Kate as well but who is dressing her lately. Kate used to look so stylish but recently has gone for very conversative frumpy gear. Hair needs to be swept back behind her shoulders and off her face as well as it totally swamps her. Why is she not taking style tips from Princess Mary or Queen Letizia who both never put a foot wrong, stylish, elegant and extremely fashionable.
I thought she looked lovely at the Spectre premiere and Jenny Packman makes outfits perfect for Kate. But this Erdem number is just plain dowdy! Forget the earrings, was the dress from the QM’s closet too? And who keeps telling Kate she looks good with bangs? They don’t flatter her face and actually end up just hanging in her face making her look like some high school girl trying to play dress up. Wear your hair in a beautiful updo to show off that gorgeous jewellery and neckline! Or really be a trend setter and cut it ala Letitzia – gorgeous and age/position appropriate.
Karen – my thoughts exactly! These women do wonderful work in their respective countries and still manage to be edgy, fashion forward and imaginative with their clothes. Whoever is advising Kate on her hair needs a wake up call – beautiful though it is, I’m so bored with it just hanging down her shoulders all the time. Her makeup seems to be pared back too – very pale and “uninteresting”! Note all these frumpy outfits are very high end and very expensive!