[Updated July 7, 1:41 p.m.] Your Morning Fashion and Beauty Report: Duchess Kate's shoes, Sarah Jessica Parker's wallet and Hugh Laurie's face make news

 
Catherine, Duchess of Cambridge, is offering up lessons in what one can and can't do in heels on her visit to Canada. In Yellowknife, Northwest Territories, on Tuesday, she gamely wielded a shovel to plant a shrub, despite being dressed in heels and a Malene Birger cream linen dress. But she drew the line a bit later, when invited to take some shots during a street hockey game. Not while wearing heels, she reportedly told some of the players, although she did throw out the soft ball that was used in place of a puck, above. But husband William gamely took a few shots -- one of which hit a cameraman. [People]

At left, you can see just how high Kate's heels were. Too high for hockey, too high for walking, or fashionably de rigeur? You tell us.

Meanwhile, as the Paris couture shows go on in Paris this week, observers are noting fashion editors and celebrity attendees such as Katie Holmes and Cate Blanchett reportedly are dressing like Duchess Catherine, whose every style move has been watched since her engagement and wedding. Bookmakers are even laying odds on which designer Kate will wear to the star-studded BAFTA dinner in Los Angeles on Saturday, with Victoria Beckham the 3-to-1 favorite ahead of Sarah Burton for Alexander McQueen (who designed Kate's wedding gown) 4 to 1. [Telegraph]

Sarah Jessica Parker not only got to wear great clothes and shoes during her "Sex and the City" run, but the series also is making her rich. According to Forbes, She tied Angelina Jolie for top-earning actress in Hollywood due in large part to royalties as well as to her beauty endorsements, bringing in $30 million from May 2010 to May 2011. Just behind Jolie and Parker were Jennifer Aniston and Reese Witherspoon, each at $28 million. [Forbes]

Ok, this just seems wrong: crotchety Dr. House as the new "face" of beauty? Actor Hugh Laurie, who embodies the television character, was just named celebrity face of L'Oreal's men's Expert line of products. "At first I thought it was a mistake," says the modest Laurie. [StyleList]  

The mini-trend toward using plus-size models is, ahem, increasing. The somewhat greater demand has prompted Models1, the London-based agency that launched Rosie Huntington-Whiteley and Yasmin Le Bon as supermodels has joined forces with plus-size-model agency Excel because more clients are requesting models who can show larger sizes. [Telegraph] 

When it's time to shop for fall, many of us turn to the all-important September issues of fashion magazines to get a clue. But there's a new game in town, thanks to the digital world. An increasing number of fashion brands are using their own websites and iPad apps to show customers their looks for fall. [WWD]

-- Susan Denley

Photos, from top: Catherine, Duchess of Cambridge, throws out the ball in a street hockey game Tuesday. (Credit: Chris Jackson / Getty Images); Kate's platform stilettos were OK for planting shrubs but a bit too high for taking hockey shots. (Charlie Reidel / Associated Press); actor Hugh Laurie, who has been named as celebrity face of L'Oreal's men's Expert line. (Kevork Djansezian / Getty Images)

[Updated to add new related link, Beverly Hills plastic surgeon won't be on call for Prince William after all]

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[Updated] William and Kate in North America: The royal fashion tour begins

Prince William and wife Kate (The Duke and Duchess of Cambridge) have boarded a Royal Canadian Air Force plane to travel to Ottawa, Canada, the first stop on their nine-day North American tour.

No sloppy plane sweats for Kate. She chose a sleek Roland Mouret navy blue sheath and double-breasted Smythe blazer for her travel outfit. The bag is the new Polly Push Lock style from Mulberry. It's one of her higher-end outfits, for sure.

It will be interesting to see what Kate  wears during the trip. She reportedly hired a personal shopper from Selfridges to help her plan but says she will only wear one look per day. In other words, no diva outfit changes.

Someone on the news Thursday morning suggested she don a Toronto Maple Leafs sweatshirt while in Canada. Maybe not. But Kate could wear an American designer or two while she's here. The couple will visit Los Angeles for a gala on July 8, so Rodarte perhaps? If sticks with a British designer, my pick would be Erdem.

--Booth Moore

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Photo: Catherine, the Duchess of Cambridge, arrives at London's Heathrow Airport to travel to Ottawa, Canada, on June 30, 2011. Credit: Steve Parsons / AFP/Getty Images

[Updated at 11:30 AM July 1, 2011 An earlier version of the post named the Mulberry bag Polly Push Love.]

Your Morning Fashion and Beauty Report: Designers recommend California looks for Kate and William's U.S. visit

 

 
-- How fun is this? In preparation for Prince William and Kate (formerly Middleton) Duchess of Cambridge's visit to California in July, Women's Wear Daily asked 14 California designers to come up with appropriate outfits for them. The designers brainstormed everything from Vans shoes and O'Neill board shorts for him; a beach bag (also Vans), gypsy-like Tarina Tarantino jewelry an d elegant Kevan Hall evening dress for her; and Olivier Peoples sunglasses and complete 7 for All Mankind outfits for both of them.

 
I'm pretty sure the only things we can count on them wearing for sure are a polo uniform for him, (when he plays in a charity match at the Santa Barbara Polo Club on July 9) and an elegant evening gown for her that evening, at a black-tie dinner hosted by the British Academy of Film & Television in Los Angeles. Maybe that Kevan Hall dress, left, would be a good choice. A host of locals (such as actor Ryan Reynolds and vintage store owner Cameron Silver) also made recommendations about what the couple should see and do while they're here. [WWD]

-- The much-touted exhibit "The Fashion World of Jean Paul Gaultier: From the Sidewalk to the Catwalk" has opened at the Montreal Museum of Art, and it is not a retrospective, the museum says, since the designer is very much alive and thriving. The exhibit includes 130 outfits plus accessories, and includes corsets designed for Madonna's "Blonde Ambition" tour. The faces of those close to Gaultier -- and even his face -- are projected onto the mannequins for a far-from-boring display. The exhibit goes until Oct. 2 in Montreal and then goes to Dallas and on to the Fine Arts Museums of San Francisco, where it is scheduled March 24 to Aug. 19, 2012. [StyleList]

-- Meanwhile, Gucci has brought its 90th anniversary celebration to Japan and is putting on an exhibition in Kyoto. [WWD] (subscription required)

-- Vogue's September issue -- always the biggest of the year -- is to feature supermodel Kate Moss on the cover and an inside spread of her upcoming wedding to rocker Jamie Hince, to be shot by fashion photography star Mario Testino. [Styleite]

-- Recently engaged Kim Kardashian paid a visit to Vera Wang in New York City -- with a camera crew in tow. It seems a pretty good bet that the reality star will be wearing a Vera Wang gown at her wedding. [OK]

-- "True Grit" star Hailee Steinfeld, at age 14 already notable for her just-right red carpet appearances, stars in Miu Miu's fall ad campaign, and -- no surprise -- a shot has leaked out online. She's shown standing near a rural rain track, wind in her hair, dressed in a swallow-print skirt and matching top. [Telegraph]

-- MAC has signed Olympic skater Johnny Weir as the face of its holiday advertising campaign, Glitter and Ice, this year. Seems weird till you consider that the cosmetics giant has previously had Elton John and RuPaul as brand ambassadors. [New York Post]

-- One of former British prime minister Margaret Thatcher's Asprey handbags sold for $39,800 at a charity auction Monday night. [WWD]

 -- Susan Denley

Images: Sketches of clothes that would be just right for Prince William and the Duchess of Cambridge on their California trip, from top: 7 for All Mankind's casual looks for both; O'Neill's board and walking shorts for the prince; Kevan Hall's off-the-shoulder jersey gown with silk satin-faced organza skirt. Credit: Women's Wear Daily

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Meeting Prince William and Catherine on the polo field

On July 8, Prince William and his wife, Catherine, come to Southern California for three days. We were disappointed to learn their trip will be more business than pleasure--palace officials say the goal of the trip is to “support the interests of the United Kingdom through the prism of the royal couple’s interests." That doesn't sound so fun.

The royal itinerary includes a dinner at the British Consular-General residence in Hancock Park, a black tie  reception hosted by the British Academy of Film & Television Arts, and a visit to the Inner-City school on skid row.  These events are all invite only, but if you want to see the couple in person, you can catch them at the Santa Barbara Polo and Racket Club where Prince William will play in a match for charity and Catherine (who will always be Kate to us) will hand out the trophy at the end of the game.

Tickets for the game are still available for those willing to pay between $400 and $4,000 per ticket. But  Jaime Geffen, a spokeswoman for the event, says they are going fast.

Over email I asked Geffen to describe appropriate attire for the day. She wrote:

Think chic, flowy summer dresses, pops of colors and big floppy hats with a bit of "Pretty Woman" flare. The Royal Wedding really brought unique hats back into the forefront of fashion and we are encouraging hats on July 9th! Because the polo club has a lot of grass and unpaved areas, the footwear of choice will be comfortable wedges, stylish ballet flats and perhaps some platform booties from the more daring set.

For inspiration, see the three photos of then Kate Middleton at polo matches pictured at the top of the post.

Tally-ho!

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--Deborah Netburn

Photos from left to right: Kate Middleton watches Prince William compete in the Chakravarty Cup charity polo match at Ham Polo Club on June 17, 2006, in Richmond, England. Credit: Indigo/Getty Images. Middleton watches William play in the Chakravarty Cup polo match at the Beaufort Polo Club on July 10, 2010, in Tetbury, England. Credit: Indigo/Getty Images. Middleton watches William and Prince Harry compete in the Dorchester Trophy polo match at Cirencester Park Polo Club on June 7, 2009. Credit: Indigo/Getty Images.

Your Morning Fashion and Beauty Report: Duchesses of Cambridge and Cornwall don oh-so-chic hats for Order of the Garter

 
I admit it. With all the uproar over Princess Beatrice's odd-looking Philip Treacy fascinator at the British royal wedding recently, I've become -- well, fascinated by fascinators. And over-the-top hats. too. So here's a treat: Camilla, Duchess of Cornwall, left, and Catherine, Duchess of Cambridge (nee Kate Middleton) appearing together at Monday's Order of the Garter Service at St. George's Chapel in Windsor Castle. I like 'em both and could see wearing them on the right ceremonial occasion (if I ever went to a ceremonial occasion), though Camilla's does seem a bit overwhelming. [Telegraph] [People]

And the fascinators were out in force early Tuesday with the opening of the Royal Ascot races. [Telegraph] 

Meanwhile the British fashion world is having something of a tennis moment:  The British Fashion Council enlisted a host of British fashion designers to design exclusive outfits for the world's top female tennis players for this year's pre-Wimbledon party, scheduled to take place Thursday. Designers including Stella McCartney, Vivienne Westwood, Giles Deacon, Burberry, Richard Nicoll, Matthew Williamson, Hussein Chalayan and David Koma have all offered their services for the project, aimed at raising the off-court profile of the stars of women's tennis and the international profile of British fashion design. Later, the dresses will be auctioned off for charity. [Telegraph] 

"Sometimes geeks can be chic." So said Vogue editor in chief Anna Wintour on Monday night as she accepted the "People's Voice" prize at Monday night's Webby Awards ceremony. [The Cut]

Blogger Rachel Kane has decided to leave her satiric WTForever21 site up, despite the retailer's statement of intention to sue her for trademark infringement. Last week, she had said that she was shutting down, and would no longer be making fun of Forever 21's clothing online. This week, she has lawyers -- no surprise there -- and plans to fight for her right to freedom of speech, and for fair comment. "If the company continues to makes threats that have no basis in law, my attorneys are prepared to vigorously defend me and seek all available legal redress against Forever 21," she said. This could be fun! [Jezebel]

Tobey Maguire looked good in a Spider-Man costume, so he's bound to look good in Prada. The atelier must think so too. On Monday they announced that Maguire will be the face of Prada's fall/winter advertising campaign. [Telegraph] 

Alber Elbaz premiered Lanvin's new collection for little girls at the end of his resort show Monday, and they are indeed dresses fit for little princesses. Think poufy bouffant skirts in cream, rose or scarlet. No word on pricing yet, but as a friend of mine would say, "It won't be cheap." [The Cut]

Photo: The Duchess of Cornwall, left, and Duchess of Cambridge at Monday's Order of the Garter service. Credit:  Kirsty Wigglesworth/AFP/Getty Images

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Your Morning Fashion and Beauty Report: Kate Middleton's wedding dress goes on display. Nikki Reed shows off engagement ring at MTV Movie Awards.

The wedding gown Sarah Burton of Alexander McQueen designed for the Duchess of Cambridge (nee Kate Middleton) will be on display this summer at Buckingham Palace. Just one more reason to plan a vacation in Britain! [Telegraph]

"Twilight: Breaking Dawn" actress Nikki Reed showed off a brand new sparkler of an engagement ring at Sunday's MTV Movie Awards. She and her beau, "American Idol" alum Paul McDonald, were all smiles at this turn in their whirlwind romance. [People] 

Diane Von Furstenberg launched her new fragrance, "Diane," with a party aboard husband Barry Diller's 300-foot-plus yacht. [Telegraph]

Josie Natori is designing a limited edition of lingerie and loungewear for Target. [WWD] (Subscription required.)

Donna Karan has created the Urban Zen Stephan Weiss Apple Awards to celebrate the life of her late husband, the artist and sculptor Stephan Weiss. The first honorees are President Clinton, Dr. Mehmet Oz and Courtney Ross. [WWD] (Subscription required.)

Serena Williams and OPI have added some new colors to their Grand Slam England nail polish collection. The metallic silver and metallic purple shades will each come packaged with a shimmery silver glitter coat. [StyleList]

Emma Stone, naturally a blond, is a redhead now, getting in on the fun of the hottest color around. [StyleList]

-- Susan Denley

Photo: The former Kate Middleton in her wedding gown by Sarah Burton of Alexander McQueen. Credit: Pascal Le Segretain / Getty Images

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[UPDATED] Your Morning Fashion and Beauty Report: Justin Bieber's new perfume bottle looks familiar; Duchess of Cambridge causes (another) fashion frenzy

In Britain, the Duchess of Cambridge has created a frenzy for High Street retailers such as Reiss. Just a couple of days after the duchess wore the brand's body-hugging, nude-colored "Shola" shift dress to meet the Obamas, the style went flying off the racks and sold out. Even knockoff versions in British stores are going quickly, indicating that the Shola likely will be seen everywhere this summer. [Daily Telegraph]

Pop star Lily Allen must have been bitten by the fashion bug while posing as the face of Chanel. She has a vintage store in London called Lucy in Disguise, and she's launched a vintage-inspired clothing line by the same name. Think '70s-style jumpsuits, '30s-inspired tea dresses and frilly and full '50s-style skirts. [Vogue UK]

LRG co-founder Jonas Bevacqua was found dead on Monday in his Laguna Beach home. The Irvine-based clothing label fused a West Coast skate lifestyle with streetwear and hip-hop sensibilities, creating a new and influential genre that struck a chord with music and sports stars. [Los Angeles Times] [Updated June 8 at 11:13 a.m. This item originally incorrectly said Bevacqua was found in Laguna Hills.]

Jessica Biel spills her beauty secrets, including the power of Dove soap and the use of a gray eyebrow pencil to fill in her brows. The Revlon spokeswoman is promoting the cosmetics brand's new line of eyelash-growing makeup, called Grow Luscious. [Bella Sugar]

Justin Bieber just unveiled his first women's perfume, called Someday, and the rose-shaped top looks strikingly similar to the bottle for Marc Jacobs' Lola. Apparently, both have fruity floral notes too, but Jacobs isn't phased. Let's see what he thinks when thousands of screaming teens are clamoring for the Bieber bottle. [Style List]

Stretch out that long-weekend tan with a bevy of golden bronzers that add a hint of shimmer to the skin. [Style.com]

The street-style factor at the Sasquatch music festival in Washington state may have Coachella beat. Concert-goers were slightly more rugged and certainly inspired by the indie vibe of the Pacific Northwest. [Style.com]

 

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Photo: The Duchess of Cambridge, wearing the Reiss "Shola" dress, meets First Lady Michelle Obama. Credit: Associated Press

Your Morning Fashion and Beauty Report: Lady Gaga on 'The View.' Michelle Obama meets Kate Middleton.

Two men escorted Lady Gaga to a seat on the couch on "The View" Monday, helping her negotiate the walk in her 12-inch platform shoes. Her mom watched from the audience -- and occasionally answered questions from the shows hosts. ("Mom, was she really born this way?" "Yes.") Lady G talked about fashion, hair color, nails and -- oh, her new album, of course! [The Cut] [The View]

Maria Shriver had at least one moment of joy last week when her daughter Katherine Schwarzenegger, 21, was honored at the Girl Power Awards luncheon for being an inspiration to young women.  As an undergrad at USC, Katherine wrote the book "Rock What You've Got: Secrets to Loving Your Inner and Outer Beauty From Someone Who's Been There and Back." She also works to raise money for Best Buddies, her uncle Anthony Shriver's organization for the developmentally disabled. The luncheon, at the Beverly Hills Hotel, was a fund-raiser for a Place Called Home, a nonprofit youth center in Los Angeles. [People]

Two women whose style we like to watch met Tuesday. Catherine, Duchess of Cambridge (née Kate Middleton), wore a neutral-toned bandage dress from retailer Reiss to meet Michelle Obama. The first lady, in London for a two-day visit along with her husband, wore a shimmering blue floral brocade "prom" dress by one of her favorite designers, Barbara Tfank, topped by a metallic pink silk bolero. [Telegraph]

Queen Latifah acts, sings and fronts for CoverGirl. Up next: She's designing a fashion collection for HSN. The Queen Collection will include clothing in sizes 2-24, accessories and hair extensions. It's scheduled to debut on HSN on Aug. 27. [People] 

Elle MacPherson Intimates has launched a line of wedding lingerie. [WWD] (Subscription required.) 

-- Susan Denley

Photo: Katherine Schwarzenegger, who was honored at the Girl Power Awards luncheon. Credit: Mario Anzuoni / Reuters

 

Your Morning Fashion and Beauty Report: Kate Moss on the former Kate Middleton. Nicole Richie on shoes. And David Beckham designs.

The three women who topped Forbes' recent list of top-earning models also were the only three to make it onto the magazine's list of the 100 most powerful celebrities: Gisele Bundchen (No. 60), Heidi Klum (No. 83) and Kate Moss (No. 94). Forbes compiled the list based on pre-tax earnings, online exposure, media mentions, magazine covers and Twitter and Facebook followers. Who ranked No. 1? Why, Lady Gaga of course. [Telegraph]

I think the above proves that Kate Moss is something of a royal in the world of fashion. Besides her Forbes' rankings as one of the world's most powerful celebs and the third highest-earning model in the world, photographs of her are the subject of an exhibition and she's been a collaborator and muse for retail giant TopShop. So when she weighs in on a real royal -- that other Kate, nee Miss Middleton -- we listen. "Oh I love her! She was so chic and seamless," Moss said of Catherine, Duchess of Cambridge in a rare interview. "And just beautiful, it was just as a royal wedding should be." [Telegraph]

Speaking of the royal wedding, sister and maid of honor Pippa Middleton is getting quite a lot of attention since her stunning appearance as part of the wedding party. Now a bookmaker across the pond has set 4/9 odds that she'll win Rear of the Year, a reportedly "hotly-contested" award due to be announced June 8 in London. [Telegraph]

Nicole Richie's Winter Kate and House of Harlow 1969 shoe collection has arrived at Nordstrom, and she's making the rounds of stores for personal appearances. "My main goal for this particular collection -- and for all the footwear that I design -- is I want the shoes to look great but be comfortable at the same time," she said at the launch at Fashion Island in Newport Beach over the weekend. "Who doesn't want to make exactly what you want?" [People]

Derek Lam is planning his first diffusion line, 10 Crosby, to be in stores in November. It's designed for women age 20 to 45, and pieces will cost $195 to $895. Senior designer Elizabeth Giardina describes the line as "urban, but in a soft way." [The Cut]

And David Beckham, the celebrity face for Emporio Armani underwear for several years, plans to launch his own line of "bodywear" and a men's fragrance. We're sure the soccer star will get a lot of help from designer wife Victoria. [Telegraph]

-- Susan Denley

Upper photo: Kate Moss at the launch Tuesday of Mango's new collection. Credit: Julien M. Hekimian/Getty Images

Lower photo: Pippa Middleton's bottom, on display in her sleek gown during the royal wedding, is now the subject of gambling odds. Credit: Martin Meissner / Associated Press

Your Morning Fashion and Beauty Report: Victoria's Secret model Rosie Huntington-Whiteley tops Maxim's 100 hottest women list

Maxim released its annual list of the world’s 100 hottest women. Coming in at No. 1 is Victoria’s Secret model Rosie Huntington-Whiteley, left, who is also starring in "Transformers: Dark of the Moon." The former Kate Middleton came in at 26, ahead of Sofia Vergara at 29 -- huh? I mean, Kate's pretty but Sofia is a bombshell. Jennifer Lopez, recently named People magazine's most beautiful in the world, didn't make the list. Nor did fashion "it" girl Blake Lively -- though her "Gossip Girl" cast mate Leighton Meester did, at No. 16. Among others on the list are All the Rage regulars Kim Kardashian, Mila Kunis, Emma Watson, Katy Perry, Lindsay Lohan, Christina Hendricks and January Jones. [Entertainment Weekly]

Christian Dior's new men's scent Leather Oud joins a host of other fragrances touting the ingredient: Oud Wood, Oud & Bergamot, Secret Oudh, Crystal Oud. So what is oud? It's a resinous heartwood that forms in some trees when they are infected by mold. And it is often burned or used for scent in parts of the Middle East. [Telegraph]

Speaking of scents, the one worn by Catherine Duchess of Cambridge (aka Kate Middleton) on her wedding day has already sold out worldwide. But those who want to smell like a future queen can preorder from the next batch at luckyscent.com.  The fragrance, White Gardenia Petals by Illuminum, contains notes of coconut, muguet (otherwise known as lily of the valley), ylang ylang, amber wood and jasmine, and retails for $140. [People] 

Bally marks its 160th anniversary this year with a capsule collection, the launch of an online site in China and new brick-and-mortar stores.  [WWD] (Subscription required.) 

Next up for Target? A capsule collaboration with Missoni, scheduled to be in stores Sept. 13 through Oct. 22. [Vogue]

Missoni's been busy collaborating. Emili Vesilind told All the Rage readers earlier this week about the Italian atelier's baby buggy accessories for Bugaboo. [Los Angeles Times]

Marie Osmond had gotten remarried -- to her first husband Stephen Craig. And she wore the same wedding gown as she did at their original nuptials in 1982. Recycle a husband, recycle a dress. [People] 

For Mother's Day, Bloomingdale's on Lexington in NYC has decked its windows with photos of fashion designers' moms. One, for instance, shows Michael Kors as a kid with his mother Joan. [WWD]  

Eva Mendes and Naomi Watts are new "faces" of Pantene -- or maybe we should say "manes," since it is their lovely locks the hair care brand will be showing off.  [People] 

U.K.-based retailer Superdry plans to roll out stores in the United States. [WWD] (Subscription required.)

 -- Susan Denley

Photo: Rosie Huntington-Whiteley at CinemaCon in April. Credit: Steve Marcus / Reuters