Tag Archives: dress

Chit Chat Chunter # 8: Middleton-Aged?

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One of my gorgeous, oldest friends recently revealed a most unflattering photo of herself, aged around 10, sporting what she claimed to be her “Diana-phase” hair – the “Di ’do”, if you will. After first reeling at what hairdresser, even in the early 1990’s, would do such a thing to a child, I have realised that in her way, the eponymous Diana probably was something of a style-icon, even then.

And, who could forget that photo of her, nearing 40, in the simplest of black one-pieces, legs akimbo on the yacht?  A big “f&*k-you” to the world and, in that pose, iconic, I think.

Today, apparently Kate Middleton shifts clothes faster than anyone else. It seems she only has to don an Edwardian-inspired frock coat, for the masses to flock…really? Seriously, who wears a twinset and a box clutch when they’re picking up bin bags from Aldi? And the Daily Mail’s usual round of photos memorialising us glorious Brits on our New Year’s Eve “night out”, did not to my memory, show many ladies in weighted-hem, below-the-knee A-lines.

Do we also pursue our current favourite Royals’ preference for dressing their children like London refugees waiting to board a train for Wales? I mean, I love a bit of corduroy as much as the next girl, but braces and patent sandals for a boy toddler of the post-millennial age?  And surely, no male needs a receding side-parting at the img_0274age of 2? Why the imposed premature ageing?

My favourite K-Middy outfits definitely date from before her days   as a Royal: the one of her in a friend’s University fashion show is fun and cheeky; the one of her playing hockey with her sister is bold and utilitarian.

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I do make one exception here for the exquisite Catherine Walker double-breasted red dress coat and dress, that Kate Middleton wore for her arrival on the New Zealand tour of 2014. Elegant, yes, but for me there was also just enough hint of the working air hostess / Cheryl Cole’s Fight for this Love about it to elevate it to stylishly fun.

I suppose you could argue that her usual choices today are utilitarian – apparently the clutches serve to avoid unnecessary handshakes – but why no more fun? Why so ageing, again?

Of course, it is definitely positive for young women to have style icons who are resplendent in their modesty and sophistication; without a “belfie” in sight, understatement as a statement in kind.  

But, isn’t there are a more of-this-time, of-one’s-age option for Kate? If she is to be the icon for our age, I’d just love to see the styling lighten up more often. img_0275

What about some Moschino or Mui Mui or even Sonia Rykiel? Or for “off-duty/ casual” what about some Anya Hindmarch accessories for a nod to British design, or a Charlotte Olympia flat perhaps?

I’m certainly not suggesting that K-Middy should go all out Kim-K; keeping nude to a footwear choice is definitely preferable. I just suspect that for today’s most coveted, most stylish Royal, the court does not always have to be so beige.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Chit Chat Chunter #2: The importance of fashion fit

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I came to another important fashion realisation watching this year’s National Television Awards, it goes like this: if you are going to insist on wearing only half a dress, at least make sure the half you wear fits you.

I mean, poor Sam Faiers: if you’re going to wear a hideous dress love, at least wear it well.

And whilst Ms. Faiers could have benefited from putting some more fabric on, her co-star Ferne McCann could have done with leaving some of the superfluous inches at home.

Who would have thought that leaving too much or too little to the imagination could lead to the same sartorial nightmares? And yet, this dichotomy was perfectly demonstrated by the duo last night on the red carpet at The National Television awards 2015.

Both questionable choices in their own right, the dresses were made unquestionably worse by their ill-fitting awkwardness. Perhaps we can forgive celebrities their lack of style, but can’t they at least make their wrong choices in the right size?

As someone who is frequently faced with the reality of being a “size 11”, between retail stock options, I understand the predicament, really I do. But, after years of aiming to slim or plump into outfits, I have realised it doesn’t matter how amazing the item is, or how much you want it in your wardrobe; it will look hideous if it is too big or too small. Even the most beautiful, most expensive item (as no doubt the offending pieces on the carpet were last night) will look awful if it doesn’t fit you.

Yet again, I find that a few simple rules may be applied to this minefield:

  • If it doesn’t fit immediately, it probably wasn’t meant to be, so don’t buy it.
  • Try picking clothes off the rail by eye, rather than trying to label your size.
  • Consider this: it is the item that is the wrong size, not you.

And, if all else fails on a particular day, head to a shoe shop, where fabulousness is more or less guaranteed: it must have been a very bad run for Ms. McCann.

See these links for images!

http://tinyurl.com/ovz6339

http://tinyurl.com/q8epbgq