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Pippa Wedding Wrapup Bits & Bytes

Hello and Happy Friday to everyone. I imagine most readers are looking forward to a 3-day weekend with Monday being Memorial Day here in the US and a bank holiday in the UK. We start with an addition to Kate’s Calendar.

  • Wednesday, June 7: According to Flanders Today Kate & William will visit Mesen, Belgium to take part in ceremonies commemorating the 100th anniversary of the Battle of the Messines. From the article: “The commemoration of the First World War battle, which took place from 7 to 14 June 1917, will involve a joint British-Irish delegation as well as groups from Australia and New Zealand. The British-Irish commemoration will take place at the Irish Peace Park on the afternoon of 7 June.”  Another Belgian newspaper, Het Nieuwsblad, is reporting Kate will accompany William on the trip. There is more background info here on the event.

Thank you, Veronique, for your comment letting us know about the engagement.

Now, updates to our coverage of last Saturday’s post about Pippa Middleton’s wedding, beginning with a note about what is a major feat for this day and age: an utter lack of photos from the second reception, held at the Middleton’s Bucklebury home. I am still hoping we’ll see an exclusive magazine (People? Hello!?) cover story, but at this point, we have nary a clue about Kate or Meghan Markle’s party frocks. There has been speculation that Pippa’s second wedding gown was by Pronovias, but we’ve not heard any verification that was the case.

However, we now have the time to consider more closely some items worn by family, members of the wedding party and guests. Our first look is at the bodice of Kate’s dress, as it generated significant discussion last weekend. Several comments here and on social media referenced its similarity to the ensemble worn by Wallis Warfield Simpson when she married the Duke of Windsor in 1937. The tight waist and shirring are evocative of the Mainbocher jacket worn by Duchess of Windsor (as she was titled after her marriage). There the similarities end: the Duchess of Cambridge’s dress has a deep vee neck and no collar, while Mrs. Simpson’s jacket has a high neckline, creating a continuous line of color from her waist to the collar.  

The ensemble was donated to the Metropolitan Museum of Art by the Duchess of Windsor. If interested in learning more about the dress and jacket click here to visit the Met site.

Next, Carole Middleton. It looks like the mother of the bride wore a hat by Juliette Botterill Millinery. More specifically, the Twist Detail Upturn style “in sinamay straw with silk abaca bow knot twists and a single ostrich feather.”

©Nunn Syndication, Polaris / Juliette Botterill Millinery / i-Images, Polaris

©Nunn Syndication, Polaris / Juliette Botterill Millinery / i-Images, Polaris

I wasn’t familiar with this brand and learned more from the designer’s website:

After gaining a masters in Fashion Design at Glasgow School of Art in 2006, Juliette worked for London milliner, Philip Treacy. Since starting her own business 4 years ago, Juliette’s hats have been worn by Princess Beatrice, Princess Eugenie and Zara Tindall to name but a few. 

 Many thanks to Gabi of the Catherine-Duchess of Cambridge blog for her ID work on the hat. 

One other note about Carole Middleton; all day Saturday I kept thinking her Catherine Walker coat dress looked familiar, but couldn’t figure out why.  A comment by Laura provided the answer: it is reminiscent of an Alexander McQueen maternity ensemble worn several times by the Duchess. The collar, front buttons, three-quarter sleeves and color are similar. ©Nunn Syndication, Polaris /N

Princess Eugenie also wore a hat by Juliette Botterill. Her dress was a Paule Ka, the Open Shoulder Cotton Dress ($745 at Harvey Nichols, $468 at Farfetch); her clutch was an Anya Hindmarch ‘Crisp’ bag; her shoes were the Kurt Geiger Cobey style ($90).

©Jason Dawson/Nunn Syndication/ Polaris

©Jason Dawson/Nunn Syndication/ Polaris

Mirka Federer was in an Oscar de la Renta gold cloqué lamé cropped jacket and A-line dress (click here to see it in pink).©Stephen Lock / i-Images / Polaris

Claudia Bradby wore the Suki Bias Cut Midi Dress by Rixo (£315) and carried a Chloé bag; it looks like the ‘Marcie Mini’ style ($890) in “cashmere grey.”©James Whatling/Rixo/Saks

The outstanding mysteries remain the ensembles worn by Sophie Carter and Lady Laura Meade.©James Whatling

UPDATE: The ever-fashionable-Joyce on Twitter pointed out that Sophie Carter’s dress for Charlotte’s christening bore similar design elements. You can see the cuffs in this photo from that event.©Chris Jackson/WPA Rota/Nunn Syndication/Polaris

This shows a bit of the collar.

Many thanks to Michelle of Perth’s Fashion for her amazing ID skills. (If you identified pieces and I neglected to mention you, let me know so I can include you in the post.)

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We learned more about the tiara Pippa Middleton wore via this Vogue story.

As Robinson Pelham cofounders Zoe Benyon and Vanessa Chilton share exclusively with Vogue, the piece was meant to radiate romantic simplicity, in keeping with the wedding theme

 “It’s all about balance,” Benyon says. “You do not want the dress and tiara to fight, so one has to take a back seat.” Perhaps more importantly, they were tailored to Pippa herself. “Tiaras are like sunglasses; not every one suits every shape of face,” Benyon adds.

Thank you, Irish Sara, for pointing out the story, I had completely missed it.

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Our final note involves one of the pageboys. Several readers here and on What Kate’s Kids Wore commented/messaged that one of the boys modeling Pepa & Co.’s new ‘Celebrations’ line was also in the wedding party. I *believe* this is Casimir Tatos; Pippa is his godmother.  UPDATE JUN 2: The boy modeling the Pepa & Co. clothing is William Ward, not Casimir Tatos as I originally thought. 

If not, then it is either Edward Sebire or William Ward.

We’ll leave you with a few photos that didn’t quite make it into either post before publishing: a smiling Prince George.©Stephen Lock/i-Images/Polaris

And a precious Princess Charlotte, it appears she is mimicking her mother.©Retropix / Splash News

I hope everyone has a safe, enjoyable weekend.

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Adrienne

Sunday 11th of June 2017

Hello Susan, I am pretty sure that Lady Laura Mead wore a cream jacket by Zara ( old collection, would say from 2012). I have the same and she already wore it at Charlotte s christening if I am not mistaken. cheers Adrienne

Larissa

Sunday 4th of June 2017

I didn't comment on Kate's dress on the original post and I still don't know what to think. At first I hated it. It's growing on me a bit. I think the concept was good but the execution poor.

Pippa was absolutely stunning so I'm glad the focus rightfully stayed on her during the wedding. Looking at the others' fashions afterwards, I think Carole looked lovely, that coat is very well-tailored. I think the best dressed guest was Princess Eugenie, she looked stunning from head to toe. That crisps clutch is such a fun addition without being kitschy! Great pop of colour in the shoe as well - I love Kurt Geiger's styles but unfortunately I doubt we'll be seeing the Duchess in them any time soon. Such a shame!

Jen

Monday 5th of June 2017

I agree: I loved the colour on her and the hair/makeup/accessories, but fit in the bust was off. She's worn variants of the style before and those dresses fit better on those occasions.

nicoleT

Thursday 1st of June 2017

I don't know whose choice this was, but it was a fail. The color is horrible on the Duchess. The dress is matronly. The fabric holds a wrinkle. The breasts are ill fitted, and what in the world is going on with her waist? What is under the dress to make those patterns. There is one too many details - the gathered shoulder, the full sleeve, the huge cuff, the peplin, the gathered breast....I am both exhausted and bored at the same time. And Kate, please stand up straight.

The good news is she definitely did not upstage her sister.

Laura

Friday 2nd of June 2017

Totally agree!

Donna Marie

Wednesday 31st of May 2017

That last picture of Catherine and Princes Charlotte is SO PRECIOUS!

Another blogger has some details about the wedding if anyone is interested....the website is Cote de Texas.

Penny

Wednesday 31st of May 2017

Sophie Carter's dress - plaid dress dreary and neither midi nor anything else, and flowery collar and cuffs? No really? Neither smart nor flattering, and not a good ad for the designer whom ever it is

BerlinLondon

Thursday 1st of June 2017

I agree that this ensemble looks very odd. I wouldn't be surprised if she made it herself.

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