In attendance at the 10th (Absolute Return for Kids) Ark Gala, were William and Kate, at what was their first official engagement together. While William looked dapper in his black tie dinner jacket, all eyes were really on his wife.

Dressed in a blush sequinned Jenny Packham ball gown with ruffled shoulder detailing, the Duchess shone. Accesorizing her ball dress with matching clutch and LK Bennett shoes (we loved the cute bows on the ankle!), Kate’s entire ensemble was floorless.

What we were most excited about here at GMD was that Gala marked the first occasion since wedding her prince, that Kate has coveted a designer outfit/dress! (A £3,500 one at that!)  Not that normally we don’t admire Kate staying true to her love of the high-street.   Wonder if Kate paid for it? Or did she borrow the designer dress? It’s not like she can wear it again; think the press might notice!

Which is why we think Kate would make a model Girl Meets Dress ambassador for designer dress hire.   She could wear designer and then simply return it.  A much cheaper option for the Duchess.  And given her eye for a bargain, that resides in Kate’s everlasting love for the offerings of the high-street, we dare say she’d think it worthwhile to be saving a penny or two.  We know we’re biased, but is anyone with us on this?

Here are some dresses from our ball gown hire and prom dress hire collections to which we think the Duchess would be rather partial!

Dina Bar-El Penelope Ball Gown. Hire: £109. RRP: £700

Dina Bar-El Gold Silk Ball Gown. Hire: £99. RRP: £558.

Dina Bar-El Dina Ball Gown. Hire: £109. RRP: £600.

Dina Bar-El Deborah Ball Gown. Hire: £109. RRP: £520.

Fit for a Duchess but is Kate’s Outfit for the Races fit for the Rest of Us?

The Duchess of Cambridge’s outfit for the races choice couldn’t have been better. Albeit she looked, well, like the usual Kate: beautiful but with a touch of the ‘frump’ about her dress for the races.  Colour-wise however, Kate’s Reiss Peacock dress and matching white Joseph jacket looked sublime on the Duchess, accentuating her (‘naturally’, spray-tan sporting among us take note ) tanned complexion.

We love how Kate’s embracing the trend for white dresses currently having a summer moment.  Let’s face it, unlike some of her royal family counterparts (we won’t mention names!) Kate has the natural beauty to carry off anything. What’s more, the Duchess has no need whatsoever to let her flesh do the talking.

Although, we have to say that we’re with the Telegraph on the Duchess wearing tights with her outfit for the races- take them off Kate, you’ve got pins to die for and summer is well and truly upon us!

Dressing for the Races: Kate Shuns Designer Once Again

While the Duchess could have gone for a designer dress when it came to dressing for the the races, there’s something great about her choosing to keep her fashion choices local-i.e. going for British brands.  And we love that Kate hasn’t abandoned her love for the high street just because she’s joined the FIRM. With such an eye for quality and craftsmanship at reasonable prices, the Duchess would no doubt delight at the thought of being able to hire a designer dress.  We wonder if, in dressing for the races, Kate would approve of the following dresses? Rent dresses for the races like these directly from us. And we’ll even take care of your accessories!

Blaguette Cordelia earrings. Buy: £290.

Tuxedo Waist Coat Dress. Hire: £49. RRP: £649.

Fendi silk belted dress. Hire: £69. RRP: £840.

Roland Mouret dress

M Missoni dress. Hire: £89. £405.

Bex Rox suede cuff. Buy: £137.

The Glamour Woman of the Year Awards 2011- The Night in Dresses: Dresses That Got our Vote

Make no bones about it, there was many a ‘foxy’ lady at last night’s Glamour Woman of the Year Awards 2011…

1. We love Ellie Goulding (winner of the Breakthrough of the Year Award) in her Jonathan Saunders dress! A monochrome floor-length gown with cream bustier and mesh detailing on the upper body, Ellie’s dress worked well with her peroxide up-do and colour pop of bubblegum pink lipstick.

Jasper Garvida dress. Hire: £89. RRP: £520

Zimmerman maxi dress. Hire: £79. RRP: £250

2. Rosie Huntington-Whiteley pretty much stole the show in her nude Stella McCartney dress.  The model wore the halterneck draped detailing dress with thigh slit (a Rosie staple for this season) to collect her Editor’s Special Award.  What’s more, the sand colour of Rosie’s dress is bang on the neutral’s trend.  You can hire white dresses /neutral dresses such as this Zimmerman dress or this oh-so-cute Nina prom dress to hire by Jasper Garvida.

3. Film Actress of the Year Award winner Gemma Arterton played it

Krystof Strozyna dress. Hire: £49. RRP: £850

safe in a perfectly balanced LBD with waist-tie bow.  Although we think she could have accessorised what might otherwise be a bit of a plain look for this type of event, that she chose an up-do over having her hair done makes the look a little less predictable.  We heart the dress though! Rent a black dress like Gemma’s such as this laid-back sexy ‘peplum’ dress by Krystof Strozyna.

At last night’s CFDA Awards a whole host of designers and their muses gathered for the ceremony, which saw Marc Jacobs awarded the Geoffrey Been Lifetime Achievement Award while the gong went to Gaga as this year’s Fashion Icon.  And whilst we admire Lady G’s courage (although let’s face it, in Gaga-land sporting bondage-esque PVC in the form of custom Mugler and a green bob isn’t an act of fashion bravery, it’s ‘Gaga’), it was really these dresses that caught our eye on the red carpet.

Marc Jacobs Dresses Sophia Coppola & Anna Wintour

How could we ignore his greatness Marc Jacobs, or for that matter, his muses.  Sophia Coppola looked her usual demure, kooky self, in a simple yet elegant white, strapless silk Marc Jacobs dress.  Anna Wintour followed suit, appearing in an asymmetric collared silk white blouse and a black high-waisted embellished skirt also by the American designer.

Jess Opts for DVF – Rent Jess’s DVF dress

Meanwhile Jessica Alba’s custom Diane von Furstenburg two-tone salmon pink and purple wrap dress accentuated the actress’ tanned and pregnant glow to a tee.  We especially love Jessica’s Reara silk dress as we happen to stock a non-maternity version of the dress here at GMD! Rent this Diane von Furstenburg dress as worn by Jessica for £109. (RRP £345).

Liv Tyler: Stunning in Schouler

Liv Tyler showed up to the awards looking ravishing in a multi-coloured Proenza Schouler silk dress.  She’s a girl after our own heart; we heart Proenza Schouler here at GMD.  Check out all our Proenza Schouler dresses to rent including this Proenza Schouler reptile print dress.  A high flyer like Liv certainly knows her luxe- Proenza Schouler doesn’t come cheap.  Which is why this Proenza Schouler reptile print dress would have cost £900 full price.  Hire the dress from us for a fraction of that- £159. What with Schouler designer duo Jack McCollough and Lazzaro Hernandez snapping up the gong for Women of the Year, Proenza Schouler pieces are set to be hotter than ever.  So why not get yours now?