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Alexander McQueen is one of the most iconic fashion designers in the world. Known for his exquisite designs and elaborate runway shows, McQueen has become a household name in the fashion world. From his early days at Givenchy to his own eponymous label, McQueen has left an indelible mark on the fashion industry. Here, you can find the latest news and articles about McQueen and his work. You can also find videos featuring McQueen's designs, interviews with the designer, and more.
As many readers know, Wimbledon is underway. This weekend, the Princess of Wales posted a message to Andy Murray on social media after it became evident the Scottish champion had played his last match at the All England Club. More from this Vanity Fair story. On Thursday, he and brother Jamie were knocked out of the men's doubles tournament by John Peers and Rinky Hijikata. He was scheduled to compete in the mixed doubles tournament alongside Emma Raducanu, but Raducanu announced that she would withdraw to prioritize her performance in the women’s singles event after dealing with wrist stiffness. Murray, for his part, has said that the Paris Olympics will likely be his final matches, if he’s able to compete. “It is hard because I would love to keep playing, but I can’t. Physically, it’s just too tough now,” Murray said in an interview Thursday after receiving a standing ovation following a video tribute of career highlights. “I want to play forever, I love the sport. It’s given me so much, taught me loads of lessons over the years that I can use in the rest of my life. I don’t want to stop, so it is hard.” Here is the video tribute Wimbledon posted. You made us dream. You made us believe. You made us cry. And you made us proud. pic.twitter.com/yNsnkEsEhc — Wimbledon (@Wimbledon) July 4, 2024 There has been no shortage of notable names and royals in the Royal Box. Today, Princess Beatrice and Edoardo Mapelli Mozzi watched Jannik Sinner of Italy play Russia's Daniil Medvedev in the men's singles quarterfinal. Behind the couple, you see comedian and presenter Michael McIntyre (navy jacket) and actor Stephen Fry (khaki jacket) Also taking in today's action, Lady Sarah Chatto and her husband, Daniel Chatto. Embed from Getty Imageswindow.gie=window.gie||function(c){(gie.q=gie.q||[]).push(c)};gie(function(){gie.widgets.load({id:'0YiGq2hIQgBgDHdpHNH2KQ',sig:'-sxCZDNzPcNwy8uxwnErgP1G837NNY1efTaqfHS84ic=',w:'594px',h:'396px',items:'2161332472',caption: true ,tld:'com',is360: false })}); Yesterday, Prince Albert of Monaco was on hand to watch the competition on Day 8 of the Championships. As was the Duchess of Gloucester. For anyone wondering about her pin, she is the honorary president of the Lawn Tennis Association. On Sunday, Dame Mary Berry was one of those watching from the royal box. Actress and producer Salma Hayek was also there. On July 4, the Princess's parents, Carole and Middleton, enjoyed a match. The gentleman on the left in the photo is Lord Sebastian Coe. We don't know if the Princess will attend the Championships, but if she does, it will likely be at the Ladies' Championship match on Saturday or the Gentlemen's Final on Sunday. I thought it would be fun to look back at her Wimbledon style over the years. We start in June 2011, when the Duke and Duchess watched Andy Murray outplay Richard Gasquet. Kate was in the Moraiah dress by Temperley London and she carried a brown jacket that remains unidentified. The Duchess also carried a Stuart Weitzman Muse clutch and wore her LK Bennett Sledge pumps. She also wore her diamond and sapphire earrings and cipher bracelet believed to have been a gift from the then-Duchess of Cornwall. It is shown below as worn on another occasion. When watching Roger Federer in 2012, the Duchess brought back an Alexander McQueen look first seen during the 2011 North American tour. She also wore her navy suede heels, carried her Jaeger ‘Kate’ bag, and wore her sapphire and diamond earrings. The sailor-style dress was first worn on July 4, 2011, in Charlottetown, Prince Edward Island, during the couple’s North American tour. Kate was joined by her sister, Pippa, when watching Andy Murray take on Roger Federer in July 2012. She wore other repeated styles for this match: her Vanessa dress and Nessie Tweed jacket, both by Joseph. The jacket was initially seen at the Epsom Derby in June 2011. The cropped design is 100% cotton with a modified Nehru collar, button front, and decorative pocket flaps. The Vanessa dress was first noted during the 2011 Canada tour. It is a sleeveless design that features grosgrain banding and ruching at the waist with serged edges at the neckline and arm openings. The Duchess carried her Diane von Furstenberg Leopard Print Clutch, first noted in Los Angeles in 2011, and wore her LK Bennett Sledge pumps and an acorn necklace by Kristin Magnusson. When expecting Prince George in 2013, the Duchess did not attend Wimbledon. When attending the Gentlemen’s Quarter Final match in 2014, she brought back the Roamer Day Dress by Australian label Zimmermann. The dress is made of broderie anglaise material (often called eyelet), with a round neck, elbow-length sleeves, and an exposed zipper. It was seen at several engagements during the 2014 Tour of New Zealand and Australia. She accessorized with her Anya Hindmarch Fan Clutch (seen below) and LK Bennett Sledge pumps, as well as her Annoushka Pearl Drops suspended from her Kiki McDonough Hoops. A few days later, at the Men's Final match, the Duchess showcased another tour repeat, the Evelyn dress by Jonathan Saunders. The cotton/viscose blend dress has a sheath silhouette in an aqua, forest-green, and white textured geometric print. Design elements include a modified boat neck when seen from the front, with a deep V on the back, short sleeves, and a self-belt. It was first worn during the 2012 Jubilee Tour. The Duchess carried her LK Bennett Avona clutch and wore a necklace featuring charms from the Woodlands collection by Asprey, along with Kiki McDonough's Oval Green Amethyst and Diamond Drop Earrings. In July 2015, the Duchess chose LK Bennett's Cayla dress to watch Scotland’s Andy Murray play Canadian Vasek Pospisil. The Cayla was a fit-and-flare style; its length hit well below the knee, and it had elbow-length sleeves and a hidden zipper. She wore Jimmy Choo's Gilbert pumps, carried the DVF Leopard Print Clutch by DVF seen above, and sported the Lolita Earrings by Mirabelle. In 2016, the Duchess of Cambridge was named Patron of the All England Lawn Tennis and Croquet Club. That year, we saw the return of another tour favorite in July when the Duchess watched a match between Serena Williams and Elena Vesnina. The Duchess first wore a custom version of Roksanda Ilincic's Ryedale dress in Sydney, Australia, during the 2014 tour. Made of 100% wool crepe, the dress incorporates many features Kate is fond of in a dress: the off-center slit at the hem on the front, an exposed back zipper, and a defined waistline. Accessories included the Quincy Tote by Victoria Beckham, the Soru Baroque Pearl Earrings (which were first seen the previous evening), and Rupert Sanderson's Malory pumps. We saw the Duchess in an Alexander McQueen design at the Gentlemen's Final match a few days later. Her dress showcased the brand's Obsessions Talisman print, with an A-line silhouette, the placed print, a jewel neckline, fitted waist, and hidden zipper. The Duchess accessorized with her Gianvito Rossi Praline Pumps, Brora's Gold Charm Earrings (first worn in Bhutan), and her LK Bennett Natalie Clutch. The Duchess chose a Dolce and Gabbana design when watching the opening round of Gentlemen’s Singles play in July 2017. The silk polka-dot silk design had a fitted bodice with a full skirt, three-quarter sleeves, a scoop neckline, and a concealed zipper The Duchess carried the Victoria Beckham tote seen above, her Nina Block Heel Sandals, and Oscar de la Renta Gold-Plated Earrings with Faux Pearls. When it was time for the 2017 Gentlemen’s Singles final, the Duchess was in a Catherine Walker design. The white frock was a classic fit-and-flare design with the Fleurs Sauvages, or “Wildflowers” pattern covering the skirt. The Duchess carried her ‘Quincy’ tote by Victoria Beckham again, pairing it with Stuart Weitzman Nearly Nude Sandals and her Cassandra Goad Temple of Heaven earrings. This was also one of the first times we saw the Duchess wearing a ribbon pin in the Wimbledon colors, purple and green. More on its significance from this Today piece. A representative for the AELTC told TODAY Style the duchess's bow is reserved for the club's patron, president, committee of management, vice presidents and four members of their executive staff. For the Duchess's first Wimbledon visit in 2018, she wore a bespoke design by Jenny Packham. Done in a cream and black print that resembled tennis balls, the midi-length style featured distinctive ruching at the shoulder and hip. Accessories included the Gianvito 105 Praline Pumps and a new bag by Dolce and Gabbana, the Miss Sicily in Rose Pink. The Duchess's earrings were first seen in Sweden during the January 2018 tour, the Baroque Pearl Drop Earrings by In2Design. For her next Wimbledon engagement in 2018, the Duchess chose another Dolce and Gabbana piece for the Gentlemen's Final match. The knee-length design in a vibrant yellow hue had a fitted bodice, round neck, and ruffled sleeves. The Duchess carried her Miss Sicily handbag again and wore the Aspey Woodland Charms necklace shown above. Her earrings were the Oak Leaf Hoop Earrings, also by Asprey. July 2019 brought a dress by Suzannah London, the brand's Flippy Wiggle Dress. The style is made of Italian silk crepe with pintucks at the front yoke and waist, half-sleeves with a button cuff, and contrasting silk-covered buttons. The Duchess carried a new bag, the Wicca style by Alexander McQueen. Her belt was also an Alexander McQueen design, and she brought back her trusty Piper 85 Suede Pumps by Gianvito Rossi, along with her Catherine Zoraida Fern Hoop Earrings. When attending the 2019 Women’s Finals, the Duchess repeated a Dolce and Gabbana design with a fitted bodice, flared skirt, goldtone buttons, and ruffles at the upper shoulder seam. This was another tour design, a dress first worn in September 2016 during the Canada tour (photo on the right). In the center, you see the off-the-rack version of the dress. The Duchess wore her Asprey Oak Leaf Hoop Earrings and her Rupert Sanderson Malory pumps and carried her Miss Sicily handbag again. At her final 2019 Wimbledon match, the Gentlemen’s Finals, the Duchess chose an Emilia Wickstead design. This was the first year the Duchess presented trophies at the historic tournament. Her dress was a custom version of the brand’s Jordin style featuring a classic fit-and-flare design, one of Kate’s favorite silhouettes. It also had a fitted bodice with a squared neckline, twisted strap detail, a midi-length hem, and a full, pleated skirt. Accessories included the Duchess's vintage Josef handbag and a new pair of ALDO shoes, the Nichole style. Her earrings were the In2Design pair shown above. The pandemic meant there was no Wimbledon in 2020. However, the Duchess of Cambridge sported a tennis-themed dress for a July Zoom call with tennis students. She was in the ‘Maria’ dress by HVN, a label founded by British model and DJ Harley Viera-Newton. The Championships returned in 2021, and the Duchess wore a mix of separates for her first visit of the year to the All England Club. Her midi-length pleated skirt was a silk design by Alessandra Rich featuring a drop waist and knife pleats. Her blazer was a familiar piece dating back to 2011, the Duchess One-Button Blazer by Canadian label Smythe. Among the day's accessories were a new Mulberry Amberley Crossbody Bag, new Jimmy Choo Romy 85 pumps, and the return of the Simone Rocha Faux Pearl Curb Chain Earrings. For the 2021 Ladies' Singles Final, the Duchess was in a dress by Emilia Wickstead, a modified version of the designer's Denver dress. It was made of cloqué fabric, a textured crepe material, with a round neck, cap sleeves, and concealed back zipper. She repeated the Mulberry Amberley bag and the Jimmy Choo Romy 85 pumps shown above. She brought back her Kiki McDonough Green Tourmaline, Green Amethyst, and Diamond Earrings and wore a Halcyon Days bangle seen a week earlier at the Championships. When attending that year's Gentlemen's Final, the Duchess opted for a soft pink dress by Beulah London. The Ahana Blush Short-Sleeve dress showcases that fit-and-flare silhouette we see so often on the Princess, with a stand collar, puffed short sleeves, a darted bodice featuring a loop and button front closure, self-belt, and a keyhole opening at the sleeve hems. The Duchess carried the vintage Josef ‘Point de Beauvais’ Beaded Clutch shown above, as well as the ALDO Nichole block heel sandals. She also wore her ‘Empress’ earrings from British jeweler Mappin and Webb. The Duchess wore an Alessandra Rich design for her first engagement at Wimbledon 2022. It was a modified version of the azure blue Alessandra Rich Pleated Embellished Silk Crepe de Chine dress. Crafted in silk crepe de chine, the midi-length design features pleating, gathered sleeves with button cuffs, shoulder pads, a hidden side zipper, and a self-belt with crystal embellishments. The dress worn by the Duchess has fabric-covered shoulder buttons instead of crystals, and her belt does not have crystals on the buckle. The design was first seen in photos from the Big Jubilee Lunch in early June. She accessorized with a new pair of shoes by Alessandra Rich, the Fab Two-Tone pumps, her Mulberry Amberley Crossbody bag, and the In2design Earrings seen above. The Duchess attended the 2022 Ladies' Singles Final in a sunny yellow dress by Roksanda Ilincic. Her custom version of the Brigitte dress showcases a bow-effect bodice and neckline, short sleeves, a fitted waist, a full skirt, and a hidden back zipper. The dress was first worn during the 2022 Caribbean tour. The Duchess debuted a new hat by LK Bennett. It was the British label's Saffron Straw Hat. She also wore her Kiki McDonough Eden Citrine Drops and her Gianvito 105 pumps in white leather. The next day saw a return to polka dots for the 2022 Gentlemen's Final. This was the first time Prince George joined his parents at the Championships. The Duchess's dress was another Alessandra Rich design. The silk dress had a wide collar, puffed and gathered sleeves, a peplum waist, and a bow at the neckline. The Duchess carried her Victoria Beckham tote again and repeated her Alessandra Rich two-tone heels, sapphire/diamond earrings, and pendant. For Day Two of the 2023 Championships, her first appearance at the All England Club as Princess of Wales, the Princess chose a minty green ensemble. Her ensemble featured a piece by Balmain, a brand she hadn’t worn previously. The Princess was in the Two-Tone Crepe Blazer (no longer available), a style showcasing the French fashion house’s signature double-breasted silhouette. The 100% viscose jacket features contrasting white satin lapels and buttons, flap front pockets, a welted chest pocket, princess seams, and a row of five buttons at the cuff. The skirt hasn't been identified. The Princess repeated her white Mulberry Amberley Crossbody Bag and Gianvito 105 pumps in white leather. She also brought back a bracelet by Sézane that was first noted in July 2020 at a Sandringham Royal Foundation meeting, the Stéphanie Cuff style. And she repeated her Shyla London Chunky Knot Baroque Pearl Earrings. It was a Self-Portrait design at last year's Ladies' Singles Final. The Lime Boucle Collared Chiffon Midi Dress by Self-Portrait includes design elements seen in other Self-Portrait designs worn by the Princess, including a tailored top with a full, floaty skirt and the appearance of wearing separates when it is just one piece, a dress. The fabric for the upper portion of the garment is a blend of wool, acrylic, and polyester. The skirt and lining of the dress are polyester. A closer look at some of the details. The Princess carried her Emmy London blush suede Natasha handbag by the chain handle, something she doesn't often do. It was paired with Gianvito Rossi's Ribbon Sling Pumps in the 85mm heel height. (I show them below right in another color and fabric.) We saw a new Halcyon Days bracelet, the Salamander Torque Aquamarine and Gold Bangle (also available with a hinge), and repeated earrings, the Cassandra Goad Cavolfiore Studs. Our final ensemble was worn at the Gentlemen's Singles Final last year. It was the first time Princess Charlotte attended the event. The Princess wore a rich green design by Roland Mouret. The designer's Ruffle-Detail Asymmetrical Midi Dress is made of a viscose/elastane blend. It features draped fabric at the shoulder, short sleeves, a lined bodice, a concealed back zipper, and a back vent. The Princess repeated her Emmy London Natasha handbag and Gianvito 105 Bisque Suede Pumps. She wore a new Halcyon Days bracelet, the Salamander Torque Bangle in Forget Me Not. Her Milina London earrings were also new, the Green Onyx Gemstone style.
Hello, and welcome to a post with a poll on the Princess's Wimbledon style and a look at designs she has worn in purple. After seeing the Princess in a purple dress at Wimbledon, many of us tried to recall other instances where she has worn that color. I thought it would be an excellent exercise to see just how frequently or rarely the Princess has chosen purple designs. It turns out she has not selected this color as often as I thought she had. We begin with the Issa dress worn in Canada in July 2011. The occasion was a concert on Ottawa’s Parliament Hill to celebrate Canada Day. The Duchess of Cambridge's dress featured a deep vee-neck, horizontal and vertical gathers at the front, a fitted waist, long sleeves, and a concealed back zipper. She accessorized with her bespoke Anya Hindmarch ‘Maud’ clutch (£485) in black silk and her black Prada pumps. The Duchess wore deco-style diamond earrings and a matching bracelet believed to be a wedding gift from then-Prince Charles. She also wore the late Queen’s diamond Maple Leaf brooch. In April 2016, the Duchess of Cambridge wore a purple half-Kira when receiving a ceremonial welcome in Bhutan. A woman's Kira (also spelled Kera) is an ankle-length dress that is a traditional Bhutanese look. The Duchess and Queen Jetsun Pema. Her wool cape was by Paul and Joe. The Duchess did not wear a full Kira or dress but a skirt. The purple and teal fabric for the piece was sourced and woven in Bhutan by noted artisan Kelzang Wangmo. She wore LK Bennett's 'Floret' heels ($375) with Lavender Amethyst & Diamond Earrings (£4900) by Kiki McDonough. In February 2017, the Duchess debuted a suit by Oscar de la Renta when attending a health writer's conference with Prince William. The skirt suit was from the label's Fall 2015 collection. Made in stretch wool boucle, the tailored jacket had a fitted bodice with a pleated, flared hem. The full skirt was constructed of the same material; it featured box pleats and a hidden back zipper. The Duchess accessorized with her Mulberry Bayswater Wallet Clutch, Gianvito 105 Black Suede Pumps ($795), and her Mappin & Webb Empress earrings. The Duchess repeated the look in January 2019 for an engagement at the Royal Opera House. On that occasion, she wore black patent Rupert Sanderson pumps, carried her black Aspinal Midi Mayfair bag ($865), and had on her Asprey Woodland Oak Leaf earrings ($12500). The Duchess wore the suit for the third time when formally opening the EACH (East Anglia’s Childen’s Hospices) Nook Hospice. The Duchess wore her Gianvito Rossi Piper Suede Pumps ($795) and Catherine Zoraida ‘Fern hoop’ earrings ($181). She also carried a clutch from the Aspinal/Beulah London handbag collaboration; a portion of the profits were donated to the UN’s Blue Heart Campaign Against Human Trafficking. Below, a look at the three different engagements. Initially, I wasn't planning to include this in the post because the color looks more magenta than purple, but in certain light (particularly the January 2019 engagement), the color seemed close enough for inclusion. The brand's name for the color was ultraviolet. In March 2019, the Duchess wore a Gucci blouse in a color called ‘pale violet orchid.’ The engagement was at a children's center. The Gucci Silk Crepe Pussy Bow Blouse blouse was 100% silk satin georgette. It featured a loose silhouette, covered buttons on the back, a high collar with bow, and a straight hem. The Duchess wore her blouse with the buttons to the front (backward per product descriptions). We saw another shade of purple in September 2021 when the Duke and Duchess were in Northern Ireland. The separates were by Emilia Wickstead. The double-breasted Dida Jacket and slim-cut Gus Trousers were created in a custom color for the Duchess. The Duchess repeated the styles in November of last year for an early childhood symposium. In 2021, the Duchess wore her Emmy London Josie Block Heel Pumps ($595) in navy and carried a navy Jaeger handbag. In 2023, she wore her navy suede Gianvito 105 pumps ($795) in navy suede. The Princess wore a close-to-purple design, believed to be by Emilia Wickstead, during welcoming ceremonies for the South Africa State Visit in November 2022. The midi-length design featured a fitted bodice, peaked lapels, an applied waistband, and a pleated skirt. The Princess wore Queen Alexandra’s Three Feathers Brooch for the first time and the Collingwood Pearl Drop earrings. Her hat appeared to be a Sean Barrett design. Her other accessories were all in the burgundy family: her Gianvito 105 Pumps in Bordeaux suede, Mulberry Bayswater clutch, and UFO gloves. The Princess has worn lilac and lavender designs, including the Alexander McQueen gown worn in Los Angeles in 2011 and again in 2021 at the Earthshot Awards. There is also the Emilia Wickstead dress worn in Germany in 2017. and then again for a 2018 mental health summit. But they are not purple. This brings us to the Princess's Wimbledon appearance in a purple Safiyaa dress. The Safiyaa Cecilia Dress name for this dress color is lilac. The A-line midi dress has structured sleeves, an applied waistband, and gathers across the bodice. As you can see, purple has not played a significant role in the Princess's wardrobe. UPDATE 7:30 PM JULY 26: Here are three additional dresses I did not include in the post because I did not think they fit the purple description. In a comment, Cam asked about the LK Bennett Dee Crepe Shift Dress worn to an Early Years function in June 2021. In the center, the LK Bennett Madison seen in June 2022 for engagements in Cambridgeshire. On the right, the Marie-Louise Midi Dress by Faithfull the Brand worn when the Duchess helped plant the garden at The Nook Hospice. It is great to have your input in the comments and via email because you never know what I'll forget and leave out! The designs shown above weren't included because they were not strong purple pieces, much like the Alexander McQueen gown and Emilia Wickstead dress shown just above the Wimbledon Safiyaa dress. One dress I should have included that is definitely in the purple family: the Prabal Gurung worn in Singapore on the first leg of the 2012 Jubilee Tour. Thank you to Janet on Facebook for her comment mentioning this one. +++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++ And now for our poll on the Princess's Wimbledon outfits. Because we're looking at a total of 25 ensembles, I have divided the poll into three sections. The first is on repeated styles, and the second and third are on new designs. Next week, we'll take the top two from each category and do one final vote. We'll begin with Wimbledon ensembles that were repeated looks. From left to right, you see the Alexander McQueen sailor-style knit dress, the Joseph Vanessa Dress and Nessie Tweed Jacket, the cream Zimmermann Roamer Day Dress, the Jonathan Saunders Evelyn Dress, the yellow and white custom version of Roksanda Ilincic’s Ryedale Dress, the green Dolce and Gabbana dress, the polka dot Alessandra Rich skirt paired with the oft-worn One-Button Blazer by Smythe, the azure blue Alessandra Rich Pleated Embellished Silk Crepe de Chine dress (initially worn in early June), and the yellow Roksanda Ilincic customized Brigitte Dress. Here is the poll. https://poll.fm/14124314 And now for our first batch of new looks worn to Wimbledon. From left to right, the white Temperley London Moraiah Dress, the red LK Bennett Cayla dress, the Alexander McQueen Obsessions Print dress, the Dolce & Gabbana black and white polka dot dress, Catherine Walker's Wildflowers Print dress, the Jenny Packham ivory Tennis Ball dress, the yellow Dolce and Gabbana dress, and Suzannah London's white Flippy Wiggle Dress. And now, the poll. https://poll.fm/14121946 And now, our final group of dresses. On the left, the Emilia Wickstead light blue dress, the green Emilia Wickstead Denver Dress, Beulah London's Ahana Dress in blush, Alessandra Rich navy and white polka dot dress, Balmain's minty green Two-Tone Crepe Blazer and UFO pleated skirt, the Self-Portrait Boucle Collared Chiffon Midi Dress in lime, Roland Mouret's green Ruffle-Detail Asymmetrical Midi Dress, and the Safiyaa lilac Cecilia Dress. And here is the poll. https://poll.fm/14122024
Hello, and welcome to an August post! We begin today with a new video released by the Prince and Princess of Wales yesterday afternoon. In the video, the royals congratulate Team GB on their showing at the Paris Olympic Games. Great Britain’s Olympians won 65 medals, including 14 gold medals, 22 silver medals, and 29 bronze medals. Here is the message accompanying the video when it was posted on social media. Snoop Dogg opens and closes the video. More from this Telegraph piece by Hannah Furness. Snoop Dogg, 52, who has become something of a star of the Paris Olympics Games for his unexpected and enthusiastic appearances, opens and closes the video. “Thank you Great Britain from the Big Snoop Dogg, the Prince and his lovely wife,” he says, on the short film published on social media. The video includes many notable names: David Beckham, gold medalist in running Dame Kelly Holmes, cyclist and gold medal winner Sir Chris Hoy, gold medalist in swimming Rebecca Adlington, Scottish sports broadcaster Andrew Cotter, and others. Here is the full video. Well done @TeamGB, what an incredible journey! Every athlete showed immense dedication, heart and passion. You made us all so proud! Here's to celebrating every triumph at @Paris2024 and looking forward to more from @ParalympicsGB later in the summer 🇬🇧🥇 pic.twitter.com/oCLz7HuuLG — The Prince and Princess of Wales (@KensingtonRoyal) August 11, 2024 As you can see, Prince William wears a Team GB polo shirt in the video. The Princess of Wales was wearing a familiar top, her Tori striped tee by Ralph Lauren. The all-over horizontal navy blue stripes sit atop a cream cotton base; the piece also has long sleeves and a boat neckline. It was worn when the Duchess was seen grocery shopping in Anglesey, at a 2013 SportsAid workshop where she played volleyball (below left), and when watching the Houghton Hall Horse Trials in 2016 (below right). I have added some styles to the repliKate Tops page. In the video, the Princess appeared to be wearing a thin gold or silver necklace. She also had on a different ring, not her usual eternity band. In these images, you see a blurry closeup from the video, the Princess's Eclipse Eternity Band ($1900) by royal favorite Annoushka, and on the right, two photos from previous engagements showing the Eclipse ring. One suggestion is that this is a new eternity band. Another is that it's the Victorian-style gold ring the Princess was first noted wearing in 2005 at university graduation events. That ring features tiny pearls (presumably for William's birth month) and garnets (presumably for the Princess's birth month). Without better photos, we may never know what ring the Princess was wearing. It was a treat to see a new video with the Princess! One note on comments: I had to delete some comments about William's beard on the Facebook post and would like to avoid that topic in comments on this post. ++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++ Next, we move to poll results, starting with your favorite Chelsea Flower Show looks. No surprise here; the overwhelming favorite is the dress worn to the 2017 show, the darker green silk style by French fashion house Rochas. Second place went to the pink ME + EM Color Block Silk Shirt Dress. Here are the numeric results. We now move to your favorite garden party look. Your favorite was the Elie Saab separates and Philip Treacy hat worn to last May’s Buckingham Palace party. Coming in second are the vibrant coral Emilia Wickstead design and Jane Taylor ‘Lyssa’ hat seen at a May 2022 party. Your third choice was worn to an April 2022 party, the pale aqua dress by an unknown dressmaker and another Philip Treacy hat. With almost 2300 votes, here are the numbers for the top three vote-getters. Next on the hit parade, favorite Trooping the Colour styles. The clear winner was the updated Jenny Packham dress and Philip Treacy hat from this year's celebration. Coming in second, the green Andrew Gn dress and Philip Treacy hat worn to last year's event. Your third choice was the hot pink Alexander McQueen dress and Lyssa hat by Jane Taylor worn for Trooping the Colour in 2017. We now move to results for your favorite Garter Day ensembles. The Alessandra Rich dress and Philip Treacy hat worn for last year's Garter Day events was your favorite look. Your second choice was the cornflower blue coatdress by Alexander McQueen at the 2022 Garter Day ceremonies with a Juliet Botterill hat. Following very closely in third place, the 2016 ensemble featuring a red Catherine Walker coat initially worn in Canada in July 2011, topped by a Lock and Company hat first worn to the Diamond Jubilee River Pageant in 2012. With almost 2200 votes cast, the numbers show how close the voting was for the second and third-place picks. We look at Royal Ascot outfits now. Another Alessandra Rich takes first place, the polka dot dress paired with a Sally-Ann Provan hat worn to Royal Ascot in 2022. Your next favorite look was the red Alexander McQueen dress at Royal Ascot 2023, topped by a Philip Treacy hat. The Elie Saab separates and Philip Treacy hat worn to Royal Ascot 2019 came in third. Here is how the voting broke down. And now our final annual summer events poll, this one for your favorite Wimbledon ensemble. You may recall that the number of outfits (25) prompted me to split the voting into three groups: one voting on your favorite repeated style, and the other two narrowing down the new looks. This poll covers the top two vote-getters from those three polls. Your favorites included the Zimmermann Roamer Day Dress seen at Wimbledon in 2014, the Catherine Walker Wildflowers Print Dress worn to the 2017 Championships, the Suzannah London Flippy Wiggle Dress worn in July 2019, the icy blue Emilia Wickstead Jordin seen a few days later in 2019, the rich yellow Roksanda Ilincic Brigitte dress worn in July 2022, and the Safiyaa Cecelia Dress worn to this year's Championship. Now it is time to vote. https://poll.fm/14203557
Hello-Hello and happy almost end-of-summer! Who would have thought Labor Day would arrive so quickly? We begin with news that the Prince and Princess of Wales attended church services on Sunday. The couple joined the King and Queen at Crathie Kirk, Balmoral's local parish church in Scotland. Several stories from mainstream media outlets say Prince George also attended the service with his parents. Hello reports other royals in attendance included the Duke and Duchess of Edinburgh, James, Earl of Wessex, and Sir Tim Laurence. More on the ties between the royal family and the church can be found in this post on the church site. It was to this church that Queen Victoria came in 1848 on coming to Balmoral Castle. This began the custom, which continues to this day, of members of the Royal Family and their guests worshipping with local people in the parish church. Queen Victoria laid the foundation stone of the present church in 1893 and the new church was completed and dedicated in 1895. Funds for the new building were raised by subscription and gifts from parishioners and members of the public. A gift of £2,000 was made by Queen VIctoria's daughters Princess Beatrice and Princess Louise who raised the money at a Bazaar held in the grounds of Balmoral Castle. Photos were very limited. Hello has pictures, as does the Daily Mail. Below, a Sunday social media post by the Mail. King Charles and Kate Middleton publicly seen together for the first time since Trooping the Colour as they attend Sunday service at Crathie Kirk with family - after both have battled cancer diagnoses https://t.co/8JqBhpDnMu pic.twitter.com/fdWlklNkKV — Daily Mail Online (@MailOnline) August 25, 2024 The Princess appeared to be wearing almost the identical ensemble she wore when attending church at Crathie Kirk last August. Her coat looks like the Holland Cooper Full-Length Marlborough Trench Coat (£849, about $1120 at today's exchange rates). She also brought back the Hicks and Brown Suffolk Fedora ($155) seen last year. The Princess's earrings appear to be the Dina style (no longer available) by Sézane, shown here when worn on a previous occasion. Now to the second portion of today's post, a look at ways to create your own repliKates, or have a seamstress/tailor make one for you. The original suggestion for this post came from a comment left by Nancy back in late May, and it has been fun putting it together. We'll begin with one of the most well-received gowns the Princess of Wales has worn, the one-shoulder Alexander McQueen design first worn to the 2019 BAFTAs. One way to replicate the look is through Butterick's B5987 pattern (prices started at $5.20 when I did a search on Etsy). The pattern is also offered by several sellers on eBay (prices vary). In the montage below on the far right, I show the original McQueen gown used for the basis of the Princess's look. The Roland Mouret 'Nansen' cold-shoulder gown worn for a Kensington Palace gala has long been a favorite for many. The McCall's M786 pattern ($15.36) offers a great way to create your own version of the style. The link above is for purchasing the pattern at Joann. It is also available at Amazon ($9.25), as well as at Etsy ($7.95) and from a variety of sellers on eBay (prices vary). If very brave and not put off by an intricate design, Vogue 1982 offers the chance to go for the look of the cape-effect Jenny Packham gown worn to the November 2022 state dinner. I say 'brave' as someone who has sewn since childhood, and I imagine the cape element may be a complex part of the design. The pattern is available from a number of eBay sellers and also from Etsy sellers. This Wedding Guest Dress pattern ($3.12 on sale, usually $12.50) from La Verart Design is a digital download that looks like an okay option for the much-loved teal Jenny Packham gown first worn to the 2012 pre-Olympic Team GB gala. For those interested in doing your own version of the Roland Mouret gown ($1300) worn to the Top Gun premiere, the Emma Dress Pattern ($1400) is an option. Creating a basic gown with embellished fabric (sequins, beads, crystals, oh my!) can be a lot of fun. McCall's 8038 gives you a starting point to work from with a round neckline and clean lines. It is priced as low as $6.50 on Etsy, it is $15.36 at Joann, and $19.95 at Amazon. The Suzannah London shirtdress worn for an outdoor meeting at Sandringham was a popular look. The Vogue 1783 pattern ($22.40 at Joann, $11.16 at Etsy) provides a pretty good jumping-off point for copying that look, although you will need to take some of the volume of the sleeves as shown in the pattern. We know how much the Princess enjoys a fit and flare silhouette. McCall's 7313 offers an opportunity to recreate that look. The pattern is available for as little as $4 on eBay, starting at $6.50 on Etsy, and is also offered at Amazon ($9.77). Other fit and flare patterns with potential: New Look 6567 (starting at $6.95 on Etsy, $8.99 at Amazon, $12.95 at Walmart) and Simplicity 9176 ($8.48 at Amazon, as low as $9.99 on eBay, starting at $5.86 on Etsy). The Princess also appreciates a classic sheath silhouette, and Butterick 6849 provides that in two basic designs. It is available at $7.95 on Etsy, starts at $2.50 on eBay, is $12.27 at Amazon, and sells for $15.36 at Joann. McCall's 8268 is a vintage pattern offering both a sheath style and fit and flare designs; I found it for $7 on Etsy and $11.99 on eBay. McCall's 7085 also provides a basic style with princess seams. It is as low as $7.99 on Etsy, starts at $7.50 on eBay, and is priced at $9.56 at Amazon. Two more possibilities come via Etsy. On the left, a Pencil Dress Pattern ($3.50) available via digital download from seller Witeson Patterns. On the right, the Women's Dress Pattern ($8.12) from SewistCAD. It doesn't copy a specific dress so much as it has design elements seen in many of the Princess's coatdresses and regular dresses. I will wrap up the post with two oldies but goodies, the first being the Butterick pattern replicating the Princess's wedding gown. It is available from multiple sellers on Etsy; it is also offered at Amazon. And the second is the Butterick pattern ($12.99 on eBay, $10 on Etsy) for a dress very closely resembling the McQueen gown worn by Pippa Middleton Matthews at her sister's wedding. The pattern is also available from multiple eBay sellers. One caveat if buying patterns via eBay and Etsy: be sure to check the patterns include the sizes you want and that it is complete. If older or vintage, buying patterns described as uncut is ideal.