Friday, October 11, 2013

B+W Peter Pan Collar Dress from Topshop

Back in March Kate paid a visit to Child Bereavement UK, a charity to help families who have lost children.  Kate was fairly along in her pregnancy and chose a black Topshop minidress with a crisp white rounded edge peter pan collar.  The silhouette is fairly loose and kind of a "swing" style, which comfortably accommodated her increasingly changing figure.


Upon arrival Kate wore a cream colored coat from Goat.  The cashmere coat was a collarless style which when tucked under the dress collar created a sweet extra little detail and just a touch of contrast.  The coat silhouette matched the "swing" style of the Topshop dress underneath.

I am personally torn with this look.
On the one hand I really like the dress with the coat.  I think it was a nice match, I love the black and white/cream color scheme and the little detail of the collar peeking out over the coat.
However I do not like this length on Kate at all.  I think just above the knees would have been wonderful, not this thigh high mini length.  I feel it caused too many fussy moments as well since the length and coat style seemed to blow up with the wind at times.  The peter pan collar is a youthful detail and while it can be sophisticated, when paired with an equally youthful "skater" length dress it is just too juvenile a look for Kate.  I prefer when she does fun and youthful in a sophisticated way.

Both above images via StyleBistro (left, right).
Click for larger image.

Kate's dress was black with a white collar and featured short sleeves, a loose silhouette, and a thigh high mini length.  The polyester material looks fairly fluid and not too stiff.
The Topshop dress originally retailed for approximately £42 or about $71 USD.


The first repliKate come from Dorothy Perkins.  It is a black mini length dress with a shorter cap sleeves and a similar contrasting white collar.  This collar however is a bit more pointed and is not like Kate's rounded peter pan style.  It is a ponte and polyester blend which appears to lend just a bit of structure to the silhouette (note how it is not as loose at the Topshop version.)  However this is our best dupe of Kate's exact look.
Originally this dress was approximately $29 USD but is currently marked down to $28 (lol, what a mark down) and is also available in petite sizing.


Next up are two Merona options from Target.
The first is this peter pan collar sweater dress from Merona women's sweater dress collection.
It features short sleeves and a rounded contrasting white peter pan collar on a black bodice, although it also comes in grey and navy.  It is a cotton/rayon blend knit so it will drape slightly different than Kate's and it is also an above-the-knee length.
Retails for approximately $34.99 USD, currently on sale for $27.00.


The other Merona option is this women's ponte dress.
It features short sleeves and a contrasting white collar on a natural waisted shift bodice in navy.  This one is a bit further removed from Kate's version but it fully retains the same stylistic influence.  It is also in a similarly draping polyester/rayon ponte fabric.  The collar is pointed, the sleeves are a bit longer, and the silhouette is more structured and work appropriate.  For the record I would have absolutely loved Kate's version if it had been closer to this length since it is much more professional.
The only other major difference from Kate's dress is the color - this comes in navy.
Retails for approximately $29.99 USD.

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