WEDDING FLOWERS: Bruce Oldfield
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Showing posts with label Bruce Oldfield. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Bruce Oldfield. Show all posts

British Royal Outfits of the Day: March 20 (Updated)

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While I've been in a state visit coma, assorted Windsors have been doing their thing. Time to play catch up, y'all!
Will and Kate made their annual St. Patrick's Day visit to the Irish Guards, an event more about shamrocks and giant dogs and uniforms with frock coats than about other clothes.
But since "sartorial" is right in the name of the blog and all, I will duly report that Kate was in a repeated Lock & Co. hat and a new Catherine Walker coat. All brown, and while that is by its very nature not the most exciting of colors, this was quite elegant and she looked great.
The Duchess had another engagement this week too, for which she wore a new ASOS maternity dress and a repeated black coat with ruffle trim (by her mysterious "independent dressmaker," apparently).
And this was supremely cute. Polka dots are the best. I hope she went home and twirled, like this model's apparently about to do. Polka dots deserve a twirl.

Chaz and Cams embarked on their U.S. visit, which kicked off with a few meetings (oh hello there President Obama, Uncle Joe), a bit of sight seeing, and some general tourist schmoozing.
This geometric trim deal is a great outfit on the Duchess of Cornwall, no? It's from Bruce Oldfield. It didn't look quite so clean with her scarf and that fur-trimmed black hat she's been living in of late, so we don't have to look at those pics. Problem solved.
This evening reception dress is also Oldfield, but I'm mostly interested in the fact that she's rocking a cape and a selection from her magnificent collection of pearl chokers. (Those things would pull my attention in almost every situation, to be fair.)

And finally we have Prince Harry, who launched Walking With The Wounded's trek around Britain this week. Harry's got a lot going on now, what with leaving the army and all that, but I think we can all agree that the most important thing is that he continues to look really good in casual gear. #priorities

P.S.: Since we're catching up with the Windsors, let me tell you that it has been a jolly week at the Jewel Vault too. Highlights: William and QEII had a little Take Your Grandson to Work Day (for which she wore a Cambridge emerald brooch just to give those of us on the Brooch Identification Squad a chuckle), and Her Maj got a canine guard of honor, which is THE BEST.


Update: Here's Cams on the last day of the U.S. trip.
She made some new friends in Kentucky in an outfit from Dior (oh la la) and the newest addition to her pearl choker collection, one with an Art Deco sapphire clasp.
And here is an evening engagement during the trip that I missed (per the caption, it's the International Conservation Caucus Foundation Gala where Charles was presented with the ICCF Teddy Roosevelt Award for Exceptional Leadership in Conservation, March 19):
And how could I miss this one - that's my very favorite of Camilla's pearl chokers! Oh, that thing makes me happy every time I see it. So glad she brought that to the U.S. with her.

Photos: Via Getty Images as indicated, ASOS
Royal Event of the Day: March 10

Royal Event of the Day: March 10

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Yesterday was Commonwealth Day, and three Windsor couples came out to mark the day at the annual observance service at Westminster Abbey.
Leading the pack in beige tweed, the Queen repeated a Karl Ludwig coat and Angela Kelly hat. Her brooch coordination was excellent here, with the Gold Filigree Brooch (a relatively new bauble that first appeared in 2012) picking up the flecks of gold in the fabric. You can read about the brooch and the rest of Her Maj's jewels for the day (she also attended an evening reception) over at the Vault. She was accompanied by the Duke of Edinburgh. He wore a suit.
My best dressed for the event, believe it or not, was the Duchess of Cornwall. This blue Bruce Oldfield ensemble is quite flattering for Cams, with just a touch of richness from the velvet trim. And I'd say that even without the threat of an attack from her pet snake, wrapped in velvet and curled up around her Philip Treacy hat.
She accessorized with her favorite pair of pearl earrings and one of her famous pearl and diamond chokers (the larger of the two with all diamond clasps that she regularly wears). She was accompanied by the Prince of Wales. He wore a suit.
And finally, the Duchess of Cambridge, who arrived awash in pale pink. Her Jane Taylor hat was new (honestly, though, she has such a collection of these percher hats in beige and pinky beige and light pink that they all started blending together quite some time ago) and her bespoke McQueen coat was a repeat from her last pregnancy. The highlight of the appearance for me? A new pair of earrings from Kiki McDonough, morganite drops on small diamond hoops. More pink jewels always, please and thank you.
Oh, and she was accompanied by the Duke of Cambridge. He wore a suit.

Your turn: Your best dressed for the day?

Photos: via Getty Images as indicated.

Royal Plumage of the Day: June 17

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Yesterday was the annual service for the Order of the Garter, an occasion containing both feathers and capes, which automatically launches it pretty high on the delightful scale. My two standouts:

The Garter getup is quite the costume (you can read more about what they wear and the Queen's gems at the Vault), and it requires a certain amount of panache to pull it off. The Princess Royal handles it like a boss (that's the only way she knows how to handle things, let's be honest) and her brother the Prince of Wales does it well too, but my permanent favorite is Princess Alexandra of Kent. I like Princess Alexandra at any event, but get her in full-on Lady of the Order of the Garter mode, and she's so regal it hurts.
She was sorely missed at last year's service, so I'm extra glad to have her back this year. So elegant! So classy! So many synonyms!
Photo courtesy of the lovely @gabeyslave


In the category of People Who Are Not Princess Alexandra, I have just one thing to say: SOPHIE. Oh, Sophie.
Here's how I imagine this went down...
Edward: "You know, dear, this might be the one day out of the year when you couldn't possibly out-feather me, not even if you tried."
Sophie: "CHALLENGE ACCEPTED."
This is the only explanation I will accept.


P.S.: It's a two post day! Keep scrolling.

Photos: Chris Jackson via Getty Images and @gabeyslave

Royal Balcony Appearance of the Day: June 16

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Trooping the Colour, the Queen's official birthday parade, went on in London this weekend. Hats and the upper two-thirds of outfits, here we come:
The Queen and her Duke first, of course (more on her gems at the Vault), followed by her Royal Colonels on horseback. (Shown at right are the Prince of Wales, Duke of Cambridge, and the Princess Royal. William's in the middle.) Everybody's all very smart and such, not my favorite of the Queen's outfits but there are enough uniforms around her to distract me.

Any time Camilla wears her pink topaz pearl choker, she wins, those are the rules. The Duchess of Cambridge wore a brooch that looked pretty faux to me, but she still stood out as her smart suit was quite a bit smarter than what's going on with Sophie and Eugenie, I'm afraid to say. Yeah, I'm on Blergh Patrol today.

Over on this side of the balcony, we've got a selection of Kents for you, looking very neat and tidy all around. Well, I'm not sure what's happening with Lady Helen's outfit (she's the one in raspberry), but I'm sure it's all very fashion-y. Anyway, it's always nice to see Lady Gabriella (center) hasn't lost her fondness for a proper hat.

And finally, a selection of Gloucesters and some trailing Kents. We could talk about all of them individually but we won't because CAPE ALERT! Princess Michael has arrived. Dramatic (so we know it's still her), but tasteful too. Well played.

P.S.: Garter Day is on tap for tomorrow!

Photos: BBC1 video

Royal Outfit of the Day: March 11

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Yesterday, the British royal family attended a service at Westminster Abbey to mark Commonwealth Day. The Countess of Wessex was present, wearing a Jane Taylor hat and Alexander McQueen coat.
Here's an interesting take on those love 'em or hate 'em peplums: the back support belt! I kid, but this is an interesting coat - I may not be entirely sure about this peplum style, but without it, it wouldn't be worth a second glance. It's signature McQueen, toned down by the covered up coat underneath.
Top folded down: better or worse?
We're featuring Sophie because I hear those of you that feel she's being ignored, but Camilla's hat is an interesting discussion piece too - click the link in the tweet above, or click here for pictures (plus more from the first engagement of the day for the Wessexes - it was Edward's birthday!) from the Daily Mail. And for the colorful Queen's jewels, you can find those at the other blog (she wore an interesting brooch to the evening reception too).

Photos: Alexander McQueen/Net-a-porter

Year in Review: 2013's Honorable Mentions (...and Some Worsts)

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We tackled the bests from the roster of royal women usually featured here, but they weren't the only ones accomplishing feats of sartorial splendor in 2013. Today's honorable mentions are for the stand outs among the rest of the royal crew! Excellent looks, plain and simple, left to right:
  • Princess Charlene is trying, bless her heart, and she seems to know that purple and jewels are the quickest way to my heart. She simply killed it with this appearance.
  • Speaking of killing it, the Countess of Wessex had an amazing year. Take your pick - this red number was just one of several bests.
  • Princess Marie's sleek take on a Little Red Dress also needs to join my best list.
  • I can't always pinpoint what I love about an appearance, and Princess Caroline's simple black dress is one such situation. Maybe it's the slightly longer necklace? Whatever it is, I thought she looked absolutely tremendous here.
  • It wouldn't be a favorites list for me if it didn't include some Elie Saab, so Princess Madeleine's pre-wedding sparkles will cover me quite nicely there.
  • Likewise, I require a dose of the couture mastery of Sheikha Mozah, so we'll go with this Valentino in the Netherlands.
  • Plus, the Duchess of Cornwall got to make her big foreign royal event debut. I really enjoyed seeing her out and about this year, more and more regal and ready to step up when the time comes.
And just a few sentimental favorites, because it isn't all about the fashion...even here.
  • Queen-to-Princess Beatrix was full of win this year, particularly the strong front she formed with Princess Mabel as they said goodbye to Prince Friso. On a more superficial note, the fact that she added an extra row of pearls to her big pearl tiara for the first time in a long time on her final night as queen wins all the things.
  • The return of Crown Princess Masako to the international royal stage was completely lovely, and I hope we'll see more of her to come.
  • WEE ESTELLE is my spirit animal. That is all.

And...The Worsts
Wouldn't be a proper year end wrap up without one last glimpse back at what made us cringe this year, would it? And then we never have to think about them again. Until one of these women decides to haunt us with a reappearance, that is.
  • Princess Märtha Louise set the standard for the worst list early in the year in this number.
  • Queen Máxima did a particularly bad thing with an ill-fitting dress and some black stockings recently, but for me, this Valentino (which she is the third royal to wear) is the year's true crime. It's the one time a tiara actually made things worse.
  • Crown Princess Mary also wore the H&M mullet dress sported by Crown Princess Mette-Marit, but the addition of heavy black tights, SHOOTIES, and a jacket is such a peculiar look. She's managed to be both blergh and baffling, all at once.
  • Princess Charlene at Princess Madeleine's wedding looks less a mess than the rest of those in this row, that is true - but. But. This one makes me sad. It's not just that she didn't wear a tiara to a tiara event, it's that this dress really could have used a tiara. Something, anything, to liven up this drab color which felt like a thud on the red carpet of a summer royal wedding.
Who makes your list of honorable mentions and worsts this year?

Photos: Getty Images/PA/Scanpix/Kungahuset/ANP

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