I've added quite a few new custom made replikates to the Etsy shop the past few weeks. Especially love how the red Jubilee dress and the military suit turned out! 

Just click on the pictures to go to their listings in the Tatiana's Delights Etsy shop. I know, I know! Etsy has dramatically changed the shop's layout. I am still getting used to it myself :-S 

There are also a few items that have additional or new images. I love the way the Lady Mary purple blouse turned out!

And last but not least: of course don't forget to get your own limited edition replikate earrings and/or necklace!

When it comes to blogging, it is easy to only write the things about yourself that you feel are the most appealing to others, and you'll often take several more photos, just to be sure that there is one that shows your very best angle.  But often the most quirky habits and facts about someone define that person a lot more than their best angles. So, for the sake of you getting to know me better, here are 15 random facts about me.

T.G.I.F everyone! 

P.S. Don't forget to enter in the Gasparre Cashmere sweater giveaway! 

In warm weather, maxi dresses are the ideal way to be comfortable and stay elegant at the same time. As I am going on holiday to Sicily in a few short weeks, I've been searching for that one perfect maxi dress. Luckily, I found eight!

1 / 2 / 3 / 4 / 5 / 6 / 7 / 8 

PS: Don't forget to enter the Gasparre Cashmere giveaway for a chance to win the pink 3D knit sweater in a size of your choosing!

Kate always knows how to pick out the best garments! During the recent Royal Tour, when the royal couple coached children playing a game of rippa rugby in the Forsyth Barr Stadium in Dunedin (New Zealand), she looked perfectly 'sporty chic' in her trusted dark navy skinny jeans and Mint Velvet plimsolls, combined with a gorgeous new pink and cream knitted sweater with 3D effect.

Inspired by her look I searched for a loooong time to replikate the sweater, and then finally, I came across the 'Pink 3D effect sweater' by Gasparre Cashmere. 

This Australian label was founded in June 2010 (Happy 4th anniversary!) by Rebecca McGeoch in a mission to create high quality garments that are a fusion of luxury, style and comfort. Since then, the brand has become increasingly popular, and no wonder! Obviously I couldn't resist buying the sweater, and when I received it I was amazed by the quality of the fabric and detail of the design!

Since I am so in love with this sweater myself, I am very happy to say Gasparre Cashmere is giving the opportunity for one of you to win this sweater, in a size of your choosing (S, M or L)!  

HOW TO ENTER:
In order to enter you will need to complete two mandatory entries via the Rafflecopter Widget below: 

1. liking Gasparre Cashmere on Facebook
2. liking Tatiana's Delights on Facebook

For more chances to win you can earn three additional entries by: 

1. following Gasparre Cashmere on Twitter
2. tweeting a message about this giveaway
3. following Tatiana's Delights on Bloglovin'
   

NB! You absolutely must enter via the Rafflecopter Giveaway Widget below, otherwise your entries won't be registered. 

OTHER INFO:

• this giveaway is open internationally.
• the contest ends at 12 AM 1 July 2014 (Eastern Daylight Time). The winner will receive an email within 24 hours after that, and we will announce the winner as soon as the winner has responded. 
• the winner must be available to respond to my email within 48 hours. 

Ever since I saw Kate wear her green amethyst dangle earrings for the first time on Christmas Day 2011, I wanted them so badly! But sometimes, it is just impossible to find a great replikate! So what do you do when you can't find something? You make it! Or have it made. So fortunately, last year I was able to find a factory in China that could make earrings inspired by the one's Kate wore for a reasonable price, and in a relatively small quantity of 50 pairs. I found 49 other Kate maniacs who were experiencing the same Replikate deficiency, and I've been wearing my own pair with great pleasure ever since!

Placing this order proved to be a positive experience, so I am now doing the same with two other jewellery pieces of Kate that I just can't find great replikates of: her green and light blue oval studs, and her silver necklace with infinity loop pendant. Both are now available to pre-order at the Tatiana's Delights Etsy shop for respectively US$ 54 and US$ 59. Both items will be available as a so-called 'limited edition' of 50 pieces. Since yesterday quite some orders have already been placed, so if you're interested, I recommend not hesitating too long ;-) The factory is currently working on them and plans to have the order finished around mid-July. Shipping will be US$ 9 to everywhere in the world. 

I'll share pictures of the sample pieces as soon as I have them! Can't wait!

Back by popular demand is also a small quantity of the green crystal dangle earrings (see picture above), this time even gold-plated! They are available to pre-order as well at the Tatiana's Delights Etsy shop for US$ 53. 

Finally, there she was again: casual Kate. The beautiful dresses and hats of the Royal Tour and Trooping the Colour are always great to admire, but it is the Duchess' casual outfits that really inspire. On Father's Day last Sunday, Kate brought Prince George to the Cirencester Park Polo Club to watch William and Harry play polo for a charity match. 

For the occasion, the Duchess wore her Breton Top from ME+EM (£48, first seen during the recent Royal Tour), a pair of blue skinny jeans and her trusty Sebago 'Bala' boat shoes ($95). As for jewellery/accessories, Kate kept it simple with her Givenchy 'Obsesia' sunglasses ($205) and Cartier 'Ballon de bleu' watch ($4,750). 

The skinny jeans / breton top and boat shoes combination is pretty much my signature look (minus the baby of course :-P), so I am loving this outfit very much! And Prince George is walking (*awwwwwww*)!

If you're looking to replikate this outfit, below are some options. I have the original Sebago Bala's (number 2) myself, and they are great! Very comfortable fit. I can also recommend the Number 4 jeans from H&M, their washing is very similar to Kate's and they're quite stretchy, so very comfy!

Pfff, can't wait to be done with the exams in a couple of days! Luckily the weather is nice, so I've been able to study in my parents' garden, combining it with a little work on my tan ;-) But of course I couldn't resist searching for some replikates after yesterday's 'two outfit' treat!

OMG! Did I LOVE this outfit. It's like all of my favourite things combined: white and navy, sheath dress, linen, suede, sapphire... I think the shape of the dress (crew neck, short sleeves, emphasis on the waist and the just-above-the-knee-length) is perfect for Kate, and the white gives her a fresh, summery look. I am very much hoping that Jaeger will be restocking the dress, because this one's on my wish list for sure! If not, I am going for one of these replikates below: 

Meh... I'm sorry, but I am just not enthusiastic about this outfit. In my opinion the dress worked better with the pink hat and bag when Kate wore it during the Diamond Jubilee. There is just too much lace going on. Although I love lace as a detail, I am not a big fan of an actual lace dress. But it didn't bother me when Kate wore it the first time. So maybe it's the missing belt... 

I would have loved to see her wearing a brighter colour, like the yellow Roksanda dress (love that dress!). Don't get me wrong: Kate still looks very elegant and beautiful, but I don't think this is one of her best outfits :-( Do love the new shoes though!

So, which of the two outfits did you like the most? 

Two weeks ago I posted on the TD Facebook page about a great new pair of replikates of Kate's Beaut 'Ava-Eva' earrings, that are now for sale for only $ 50 at The Looking Glass Shop on Etsy. I had been saving for the real deal, but the replikates looked so similar that I decided to buy these instead and let you know my findings. 

So, first a short comparison.

We have seen Kate wearing her Beaut 'Ava-Eva' earrings on two occasions. First on 10 November 2011 during a fundraising reception and dinner at St. James' Palace in support of the National Memorial Arboretum Appeal, when she wore that gorgeous grey/silver one shouldered Jenny Packham gown (picture at the top of the post). The second time she wore the earrings was on 8 May 2012, when she and William attended an exclusive dinner of the Thirty Club at Claridge’s hotel in Mayfair. During that event she wore that gorgeous cream 'Lombard' gown by Roland Mouret. 

Apparently, Beaut has supplied jewellery for the Jenny Packham wedding designs for several years and that's why the 'Ava-Eva' earrings came into Kate's possession through Jenny Packham, who selected it as a choice to compliment the silver gown. The design is Mid-European circa 1930 and part of Beaut's Vintage Collection. I very much hope Kate will wear them again soon, because they are one of my favourites. I LOVE art deco jewellery!

So, the verdict: First of all, shipment from the US to the Netherlands was incredibly fast! I ordered them two weeks ago and received them within one week! The earrings came in a small sheer bag, together with a business card, well packed in a small padded envelope. Considering the earrings are quite glamorous I would have loved it if they came in a more matching glamorous packing, like a small velvet box or something, but I can imagine that would increase the price with 2 or 3 dollars. I wouldn't mind that, but I know I am a sucker for cute packaging :-P

Then the earrings themselves. Obviously there is a difference in quality: sterling silver vs. rhodium plated brass. Both have fake gemstones though. And of course there are some minor differences in design:

• The Beaut ones have a hook while the LGS ones have a butterfly closure (I prefer butterfly closure). 
• The Beaut ones have a smooth setting while the LGS ones have a ribbed setting (I prefer smooth). 
• With the Beaut ones the middle leg is attached to the bottom, while with the LGS ones the middle leg is unattached (I don't really care). 

All in all, the earrings from both shops look almost identical. The price of the Beaut earrings was a bit too high for me. One I was willing to pay, but reluctantly, considering the fact that these earrings are quite striking in design, and therefore not something I would wear everyday. 

If you have some money to spare, a splurge on the real deal is of course great (maybe I still will some day), but I'd say you have a very good buy with the ones from the Looking Glass Shop as well!

P.S. While I was taking pictures for this blog post, Taiyo was desperately trying to get my attention, so here he is :-P