Wedding Gorgeous: Pippa Middleton and James Matthews smile after their wedding--St. Marks Church Englefield England
Pippa Middleton--the sister of
Catherine, Duchess of Cambridge, married hedge fund manager and former professional racing driver, James Matthews on Saturday at a glorious wedding fitting a royal--or "Royal Adjacent". Pippa might not really be a royal but because of her very close approximation to one, I am placing her--and her wedding--in this Royal Couture blog. So let's discuss the wedding and more importantly, the Wedding Couture beginning with Pippa's wedding dress and then some of the guests...
The Dress:Pippa Gown: Pippa Middleton chose a "Princess"/A-line shaped ballgown style for her wedding day. The handmade gown of lace and pearls was designed by British designer
Giles Deacon. The dress was done in a manner that would not show any seams--by overlapping the lace--by hand--meticulously over the many seams that are in a gown of this silhouette. The dress featured a full ballgown skirt shape and UBER fitted drop-waist torso/bustier. It also had a high neckline, drop shoulder sleeve detail and heart-shaped semi-open back.
British designer Giles Deacon
Giles Deacon Couture Fall/Winter 2016, modeled by model Anna Cleveland, daughter of famed 70's Supermodel Pat Cleveland
Giles is said to have put on hold all his fashion business for the last few months to concentrate on Pippa's one-of-a-kind gown. His most recent "Couture" collection was for Fall/Winter 2016 and it showed glorious, billowing handmade gowns with exquisite applique detail. Pippa's wedding dress would probably cost in the realm of $75,000-$100,000, at least that would be the going price for an actual Haute Couture gown from the likes of Elie Saab, Zuhair Murad, Chanel or Dior. No news if she possibly got a "discount" for all the press he would receive.
The Veil:
The veil--of tulle and pearls--was done by famed milliner Stephen Jones.
Sister Fixing: Pippa's sister, Catherine the Duchess of Cambridge, was seen fixing Pippa's tulle-and-pearl veil as she was about to enter the church ceremony, just making sure that it was perfect
Shape Similar: Pippa's lace and pearl wedding gown was similar in shape to the iconic
Alexander McQueen by Sarah Burton wedding dress worn by her sister Catherine, Duchess of Cambridge
Sealed with a Kiss: Pippa Middleton and James Matthews as they emerge from their church wedding ceremony with their "Flower girls and boys", including William and Kate's children Prince George (second from right) and Princess Charlotte--St. Marks Church, Englefield England
Page Boys and Girls:Stylish George: Prince George (center), giving a "look" to the photographers--and looking very much like his father when William was his age. Prince George looked super cute in a white Peter Pan collared shirt with mini pintucks and emerald green silk shantung knickers.
Royal Style:
Mommie Kate: Catherine, Duchess of Cambridge looked chic and wedding appropriate in a dusty rose/light salmon colored silk crepe dress from
Alexander McQueen by Sarah Burton. Her dress was a lady-like tea-length and featured a v-neckline, gathered Bishop sleeves, fitted midriff and pleated front skirt details. Her daughter
Princess Charlotte looked ADORABLE in her gathered flower girl dress, with fresh flower headdress and pink cummerbund.
I have to say that Catherine looked very "Wallis Simpson Duchess of Windsor"-like in this 30's-like dress.
Dapper Brothers: Prince William, Duke of Cambridge and his brother Prince Harry in their tailcoat/morning coat ensembles.
Guests:Princess Eugenie, daughter of Prince Andrew and Sarah, Duchess of York--(seen here with her boyfriend Jack Brooksbank) wore this navy blue A-line shaped knee-length dress from French designer
Paule Ka. The cotton dress features a "split-shoulder" neckline and retails for $1,014
HERE. For Pippa's wedding she decided to "play it safe" as opposed to
her head-turning look at Kate's wedding.
Vanilla Yellow Donna: British actress--and aspiring fashion designer--Donna Air (who is on-off girlfriend to
Pippa's hottie bearded brother James for the last four years)--attended the wedding in this lemon yellow/cream coat-dress from UK designer
Emilia Wickstead Spring/Summer 2017 collection. Lots of fashion-watchers criticized her for saying that she should not have worn WHITE (a No-No as a wedding guest) but I have to disagree with these wanna-be-fashion experts...this coat-dress is NOT white and in fact more of a "vanilla yellow"-like color. I liked it! It was demure, elegant and lady-like. I also loved the matching hat and those fabulous ankle strapped pumps. The magenta colored clutch added a respite from all the vanilla/lemon yellow. Did I mention that this WAS NOT WHITE. OK. Thank you.
Tartan: A couple of male guests opted for tartan pants as part of their tailcoat ensembles. And I say "Go On Boys!". Love the tartan, love the statement and even though, yes, I know as a guest of a wedding, it really isn't about you but...I love when (especially) male guests GIVE YOU FASHION!
Flower Prints and Hats: These two guests stood out for their Wedding Fab printed dresses, perfect for a Spring/Summer wedding. I love the canary yellow flower printed dress on the left as well as the blue one on the right. Both looks are great examples of chic Wedding Guest Style, especially for a May wedding. If I had to chose my favorite of the two, it would be the blue; the waist-tie shirt dress style was elegant, fun and I loved the feminine ruffle details.
Fab Dressed: These two guests get my Wedding Guest Best Dressed points--the left one, for that fab pheasant feather-topped hat and blue-and-white ensemble as well as those navy-and-white pumps. I also loved the guest on the right in the pink pleated silk dress with Bishop sleeves and delicately appliqued detail. The gold pumps were a super chic addition.
Uh No Part One: Two female wedding guests that were not on my Best Dressed List were these printed ladies. Now, there's a way to do printed dresses for a wedding (scroll above) and this is a way to not do it. The guest on the left wore this drab Autumn-like printed dress that not only, looked dowdy but also said "I'm not happy at this wedding". And then, somehow, in the middle of May, the guest on the right thought it was fine to bring out her gray fur chubby/mini coat. All I can say is #GURL ! But kids, these two weren't the only ones who went Wedding Koo Koo Couture...
Happy Hands At Home Dress and Lifesaver Fruit Dress Guest: Well, look what we have here--the guest on the left looks as if she took her old Laura Ashley 80's bed sheet or window drapes and felt fine in making a dress out of it. And then, in addition, decided an iridescent organza shawl would make a fine accessory. Speaking of accessories, what in the name of the FASHION GODS are those putrid brown shoes??? Let's move on to the guest on the right--I give this woman points for being "sassy" in this colorful striped ensemble. And the big hat screams "I'm a good friend of the Gays" and I will bet a couple of British pounds that she's a hoot at the open bar, but...this is just too 1992 for me. Especially those "Lifesaver Fruit Flavor"-like buttons.
Oh well, at least, I can still go back to this gorgeous dress:
Congratulations to the Happy Couple--Pippa Middleton and James Matthews!
First we go to the UK: Sarah Ferguson, Princess Eugenie and Princess Beatrice at the 13th Annual White Tie and Tiara Ball to Benefit Elton John AIDS Foundation in association with Chopard. Sarah wore a black beaded and embellished Escada Gown with lovely delicate tulle accent. Eugenie wore a fiery red Vivienne Westwood corseted gown from the Couture Collection and Beatrice looked amazing in a blush colored, beaded Elie Saab Gown. All three looked absolutely STUNNING! (Loving the evening clutches too!!) Good job ladies!!! Show those other royals that even after all you've been through, you've still got some (Fashion) Class!
Now, we are off to Spain and the ever-so-chic Princess Letizia of Spain attends the Principe de Girona Foundation meeting in this flower printed silk high-neck shift tunic/dress.
She accessorized with blush-colored peep-toe pumps (Letizia LOVES her high heels darling!), a belt to cinch the tunic dress and a very "Boho-Chic" chocolate brown leather purse with chain and pink flowers.
And now, onto The Netherlands: Argentine-born Crown Princess Maxima of the Netherlands arrives at the Royal Concert Building to attend a concert in Amsterdam in a very un-Royal "Egyptian blue"-colored JUMPSUIT with a rather "kooky" patchwork knotted shrug. It's all about a mess to be honest!!! I know she was going for "young, hip, cool" but instead she looks like she runs a Tarot Card Reading establishment in the "Red Light District" of Amsterdam. Stick to Haute Couture and Valentino Maxima. They do Daytime ensembles too!!! They cost $30,000 but they still do Daytime my dear!
And now, we are off to NY with the Belgium Royals: Prince Philippe And Princess Mathilde Of Belgium visit Central Park in New York City. Both look dashing and très elegant. If you are a royal and you're "touring", this is the way to do it! I didn't expect Princess Mathilde to be in tacky white capris and Croqs!!! (and thank Goodness she didn't go there!). The hint of orange color in the belt and shoes is FAB!
Back in London England, here we have Her Majesty Queen Noor of Jordan attending the Gala Screening of "Countdown to Zero", a documentary film that traces the history of the atomic bomb from its origins to the present state of global affairs. But let's get to American-born Queen Noor: She is one of the most elegant women in the world and always has been. The white pantsuit is both chic and effortless. This woman knows how to dress.
Finally, staying in England, we go to the Reception at 10 Downing Street to Celebrate The Duke of Edinburgh's 90th Birthday. Now, I know that Samantha Cameron, wife of the UK Prime Minister David Cameron, is not a Royal, but in the photo above, she's next to one (LOL!). Anyhow, Mrs. Cameron did a Re-Do. In terms of fashion. In the photo above with Her Majesty Elizabeth II, she is wearing the same Jonathan Saunders dress she wore with....
Michelle Obama to serve the military at a BBQ at 10 Downing Street last month when Mrs. Obama and President Obama made their official visit to the UK. I think it might be too soon to do a "Re-Do" but maybe she forgot. Maybe next time, her press office should put Polaroids/photos of when and where she wore her dresses so she is reminded. On a good note: Samantha is quite a Recycle-ista!!!
