The unofficial face of McQueen: Duchess of Cambridge steps out in another design by Sarah Burton

By Maysa Rawi





London was recently voted the fashion capital of the world thanks to the Kate Middleton effect and her love of Alexander McQueen.



And it seems the Duchess of Cambridge is also single-handedly raising the British label's profile.



For an official visit to Birmingham today, Kate wore another Sarah Burton design.



Radiant: The Duchess of Cambridge wore a pencil skirt and blouse by Alexander McQueen



In the navy: Kate opted for a brand new £1,375 outfit and her Prada blue court shoes





Known for fondness of recycling outfits, she this time opted for brand new attire.



Although Kate once favoured British label Issa, it is clear McQueen is now at the top of her list.



The brunette wore a navy blue £580 pencil skirt with gold button detailing teamed with a matching £795 cream blouse from the current collection.



Official duty: The Royal couple visited an area in Birmingham hit by last week's riots





Both items are available to buy online and it is surely only a matter of hours before they sell out.



Kate did however slip into blue Prada court shoes seen before during her trip to the U.S and Canada.



The outfit unsurprisingly bore a striking similarity to the McQueen coat she wore for to present medals to soldiers who recently returned from serving in Afghanistan.



Because she's worth it: Kate's hair was immaculately blow-dried as usual





Made-up: Kate has been criticised for her heavy use of eye-liner





Kate wore a similar outfit to present medals to soldiers who recently returned from serving in Afghanistan in June



Despite McQueen's reputation for outlandish designs - the late Alexander was known as the 'enfant terrible' of fashion - Kate has managed to find a collection of demure and subdued pieces.



The sharp tailoring and muted tones are typical of Kate's signature style but she become slightly more adventurous with her wardrobe choices.



However, she continues to divide opinion.



British designer Vivienne Westwood recently criticised the Duchess for her beauty routine, telling The Sunday Times she 'has a problem with eye make-up.



'The sharp line around her eyes make her look hard. Either she should be smudgy or wear none.'



Kellly Osbourne slammed Kate for repeating outfits on Jay Leno, claiming 'If I had that job I would only wear (the coat) once.



'I'm not going to wear that dress once because I'm giving up the rest of my life.'



Actress Anne Hathaway however defended Kate, praising her for 'dressing like a lady'.



It seems whatever Kate does, a debate will swiftly ensue.



And with the recent release of a Kate doll, she will now be a permanent fixture in people's homes.



Either way, she is doing wonders for her country - and the industry.



She contributed to London being voted the fashion capital of the world, replacing New York, according to a study by Global Language Monitor



Bekka Payack, fashion correspondent for the Texas-based organisation, said: 'We are seeing what the impact of two genuine media stars... Kate [Middleton] and Alexander McQueen can have upon a global ranking.'







source:dailymail

Keep fighting, William and Kate tell victims rebuilding their lives in riot torn communities

By Rebecca English





The Duke and Duchess of Cambridge became the latest members of the Royal Family to lend their support to riot-torn communities.



Surprisingly Kate swapped her usual High Street favourites for a designer outfit by Alexander McQueen costing almost £2,000.



The blue and white military-style blouse which is on sale for £795 was tucked into a £580 pencil skirt with flirty kick pleats and finished with a pair of £500 Prada heels.



The Duke and Duchess of Cambridge arrive in Birmingham today to visit the areas affected by last week's riots



The centre the royal couple visited was close to where Haroon Jahan, 21, and brothers Shazad Ali, 30, and Abdul Musavir, 31, died in August 10. They were buried yesterday after an open-air funeral service attended by more than 20,000 mourners





She and the Prince received a warm reception as they promised to help those attempting to rebuild their lives.



One of those they met was shopkeeper Ajay Bhatia whose shop was ransacked – but who spoke of his pride that he had won British citizenship yesterday.



First, however, they met the parents of the three young men who died defending their community from looters in Birmingham.



Haroon Jahan, 21, and brothers Shazad Ali, 30, and Abdul Musavir, 31, were killed last Tuesday when they were struck by a car as they tried to protect local shops.



Kate wore a silk blouse and matching pencil skirt by Alexander McQueen designer Sarah Burton





At a community centre in Winson Green, a short distance from the scene of the tragedy, the royal couple spent 15 minutes speaking with the bereaved families, including Tariq Jahan, Haroon’s father, who has moved the country with his dignified reaction.



The meeting was private but a spokesman for the couple said: ‘The Duke and Duchess are full of admiration for the dignified way which the families have shown they are dealing with their losses.’



There was also time to meet community leaders and members of the emergency services.



William comforted a woman who broke down in tears as she told him of the moment looters attacked her and ransacked the business she was working in.



Lorraine Wells, 52, an assistant at Cashino in Birmingham, later told how the prince, 29, tried to reassure her.



Genuinely interested: Kate chatted with local dignitaries and emergency service workers at the centre



Sympathetic: The duchess also had a private meeting with relatives of the three men who died during last week's violence





‘Don’t let them beat you,’ he said. You have gone through a terrific ordeal. Keep fighting. We will get them. I am here to help and here to listen to what you have to say.’



Afterwards the couple met Mr Bhatia, 52, and his wife Monika. The couple have two children at university aged 19 and 21 and opened their Machan Express Shop and Café on Newhall Street only last year.



Their shop was attacked last week by a gang of more than 50, some as young as ten.



‘They smashed open the till and were helping themselves to handfuls of sweets and crisps and drinks,’ said Mr Bhatia. ‘Can you imagine what a child of ten who is capable of that will turn out to be when they are 18 or 19?’



Touching moment: Prince William places a reassuring hand on his beaming bride's shoulder



Kate's hair looked flawless as usual, she accessorised with earrings and her engagement ring





The couple greet members of the police force at Summerfield Community Centre





Mr Bhatia explained to the couple that he only found out he had obtained British citizenship yesterday and, while he was shocked at what had happened, still felt proud that he had chosen this country to live in.



‘The community here has rallied around me in a way I did not think was possible. That is what being British is about. I love this country. I don’t feel ashamed, I feel proud.’



William replied: ‘It hasn’t put you off? Good, good. That’s the main thing. This is a wonderful country and we have much to be proud of.’



He then cheekily asked Mr Bhatia who he supported in the cricket – India or England. Kate hit him on the shoulder and said: ‘William! That’s naughty, that’s naughty!’ ‘Sorry, I had to ask,’ the prince said.



The controversial ‘cricket test’ was coined by former Tory minister Norman Tebbit who suggested that immigrants should root for England, not their original nation.



Mr Bhatia diplomatically said he was proud of the way both sides played – but made clear that he hoped India would bounce back in the one day games.





source:dailymail

Duchess of Cambridge is stylish on duty as she and Prince William visit riot-torn area of Birmingham

By DAILY MAIL REPORTER



The Duke and Duchess of Cambridge arrive in Birmingham today to visit the areas affected by last week's riots



The Duke and Duchess of Cambridge today visited a community centre near the spot where three men were killed during last week's riots.



William and Kate chatted to local residents and business people at Summerfield Community Centre in Winson Green, Birmingham.



The royal couple also met local dignitaries and emergency services staff.



The centre is a short distance from the scene in Dudley Road where three men were struck by a car as they tried to protect shops and homes from looters.





The centre the royal couple visited was close to where Haroon Jahan, 21, and brothers Shazad Ali, 30, and Abdul Musavir, 31, died in August 10. They were buried yesterday after an open-air funeral service attended by more than 20,000 mourners





The Duke and Duchess were greeted outside the community centre by Paul Sabapathy, Lord Lieutenant of the West Midlands, Councillor Anita Ward, the Lord Mayor of Birmingham, and Chris Sims, Chief Constable of West Midlands Police.



They began their visit with a private meeting with the parents of the men who were killed.



The couple spent 15 minutes speaking with the bereaved families before moving into the centre's sports hall to meet members of the emergency services and local dignitaries.





Kate wore a silk blouse and matching pencil skirt by Alexander McQueen designer Sarah Burton





Kate wore a nautical themed outfit of a navy blue pencil £580 skirt with gold buttons on the front, teamed with a £795 cream blouse with matching buttons and navy blue military style detailing. It is from a current collection designed for Alexander McQueen by Sarah Burton.



The outfit, which accentuated her slender frame, was finished with a pair of high-heeled navy blue court shoes.



William wore a navy blue suit with a pale blue shirt and a blue patterned tie.





Kate's hair looked flawless as usual, she accessorised with earrings and her engagement ring





Mandy Sankey, nurse manager at Birmingham Children's Hospital, said William and Kate seemed 'genuinely interested' in how hospitals in the city responded to the disorder.



She said: 'William said "We're sure you have already heard how grateful we are but we wanted to come here to say thank you in person".



'They seemed genuinely interested in how we dealt with it.'



Lesley Clare, a nurse at Birmingham's City Hospital, said: 'Kate was saying it must have been really hard to keep the services going.



'I asked her if it was still OK to say congratulations on the wedding and she laughed and said "Yes, it is still OK to say it, thank you".'





The couple greet members of the police force at Summerfield Community Centre





source: dailymail

Dripping with gold! Step inside for a tour of Donald Trump's magnificent $100m 757 jet

By Daily Mail Reporter





If you've got it, flaunt it - and Donald Trump certainly did that on Thursday by releasing a video tour of his amazing $100 million Boeing 757.



Presented by the beautiful Amanda Miller, who appeared on his hit reality show The Apprentice, the video gives us a three-minute glimpse into this presidential suite on wings.



Decked out in his trademark black and gold livery, the plane is a shrine to decadence.



Scroll down for video



Gold plated heaven: Amanda shows off the 'first class' area





If you've got it, flaunt it - and Donald Trump certainly did that on Thursday by releasing a video tour of his amazing $100 million Boeing 757.



Presented by the beautiful Amanda Miller, who appeared on his hit reality show The Apprentice, the video gives us a three-minute glimpse into the presidential suite on wings.



Decked out in his trademark black and gold livery, the plane is a shrine to decadence.



Welcoming: Mr Trump's master bedroom which, naturally, features a lavish home theatre system



King of the tarmac: Donald Trump's new 757 is twice as big as his old 727, but twice as quiet





It's double the size of the property tycoon's previous Boeing 727 and every detail has been attended to.



The plane is a riot of 24 carat gold, from the sink and faucets in the master bathroom right down to the seat belts.



The bathroom features a circular shower and pillows and cushions throughout are embossed with the Trump family crest.



What to watch: The 57in TV and electronics control system giving access to hundreds of channels and a thousand DVDs plus CDs



Plush: The Boeing 757 features high ceilings and wide, cushioned seats in the main cabin, in addition to swivelling chairs that face a boardroom table or flat-screen televisions





Mr Trump's master bedroom is dressed in cream with gold accents.



The television room features a 52in flatscreen TV and a control box that has a button that instantly gives Mr Trump access to over a thousand of his favourite movies.



The jet was bought for $100 million from Microsoft co-founder Paul Allen in February.



The master bathroom: Comes complete with circular shower and a sink that you don't see too many of





The new Trump 757 has room for up to 230 passengers, 80 more than its ageing 727 predecessor.



Trump's 727 has been on sale for $8 million since 2009.



But the property mogul seems unfazed by the lack of a buyer.



Never one to do things by half, he has said he may keep the old plane as a spare.











source:dailymail