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Another Royal Wedding on the Horizon & Jenny Packham’s Bridesmaid Dress Collection

We have a quick post today. In advance of Kate’s engagement tomorrow it made sense to get this published so tomorrow’s post isn’t of epic length. 

Our first item is happy news: the engagement of Princess Eugenie to longtime boyfriend Jack Brooksbank. 

Here is one of the formal photos released by Buckingham Palace today. 

Princess Eugenie Jack Brooksbank Engagement Photo #1 Erdem Hetty Dress

More from The Telegraph’s story: 

Princess Eugenie, 27, and 31-year-old Mr Brooksbank began dating in 2011 after they met while skiing in the Swiss resort of Verbier.

Princess Eugenie’s parents, the Duke of York and his former wife Sarah Duchess of York, were “delighted” to announce the engagement, while Mr Brooksbank’s parents said they were “completely over the moon”.

Another photo released by BP. 

Hello! has more about Mr. Brooksbank’s background: 

Jack is a Brand Ambassador of Casamigos tequila, which was founded by George Clooney, and worked in bars and pubs, including the celebrity hotspot Mahiki, for several years.

Eugenie’s ring features peachy-salmon stone called a padparadscha sapphire. The stone is evidently very scarce; the Natural Sapphire Company writes it is “so rare that consumers may have to sacrifice high clarity in order to obtain a stone with brilliant color.” 

Many found the style and stone so similar to the ruby engagement ring worn by Eugenie’s mother, Sarah, Duchess of York, they wondered if it was the same ring. But as Victoria Murphy explained in this tweet, it is not the same ring.     

The Telegraph has more on the proposal and HM’s reaction: 

Princess Eugenie has described how she was left in tears of happiness after her boyfriend Jack Brooksbank proposed in front of a Nicaraguan volcano…. [she] said she had been taken “completely” by surprise by the proposal, “even though we’d been together seven years”.  

Asked about the Queen’s reaction to the news, she added: “Granny actually knew right at the beginning. She was one of the very few people right at the beginning.

“We left her this weekend [after a visit to Sandringham], and had a lovely time. She was very happy, as was my grandfather.”

The formal engagement photos were taken by Jonathan Brady in the Buckingham Palace picture gallery.  

Eugenie is wearing a dress by one of Kate’s go-to designers, Erdem. Michelle of Perth’s Fashion identified the piece as the “Hetty,” from the designer’s pre-fall 2016 collection. Katherine noted on the WKW Facebook page that Princess Eugenie has worn the dress before in a Harper’s Bazaar feature. 

 

Laura noted that previous appearance and also pointed out the Princess wore the dress to a 2016 UNAIDS gala. The shoes are a Jimmy Choo design. 

Here’s one more picture, it was posted on Twitter today by the bride’s mother, Sarah Ferguson. 

 Congratulations to the couple! 

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Our other topic today, a look at a new Jenny Packham collection, a line of bridesmaid dresses. 

The Kate-favorite designed has launched the collection in partnership with Dessy. We posted about the collection on Facebook over the holidays and I mentioned it on Retail Roundup, but several readers have said they didn’t know about it, and I realize not everyone is on social media, so here is a look at the line.    

There are nine dress designs in the collection, with extended sizes that range from US size 00 – 30. This crepe style ($290) has a sweetheart neckline and marquis lace cap sleeves and bodice; it also has a belt with beaded detailing. 

Here is how Dessy describes Jenny Packham

One of the UK’s most successful and independent fashion brands with global recognition, Jenny Packham has become the design house of choice when it comes to social dressing. Red carpets the world over are graced with Packham’s designs worn by the most iconic, talented and influential women of our generation including: Taylor Swift, Uma Thurman, Angelina Jolie, Emily Blunt, Kate Winslet, Dita von Teese, Kate Hudson and Oscar winner Adele Adkins 

This halter-style dress ($273) has beading at the neckline and a modified circle skirt.  

Many of the dresses come in a huge variety of colors, including some very bright shades. This chiffon style ($292) has a shirred bodice and mirrored beading trim. 

Prices for the collection start at $260/£250.  More from the designer via a news release: 

“I am delighted to be launching our Jenny Packham Bridesmaids collection, exclusive to the Dessy Group. Designing bridalwear is one of my greatest pleasures. Jenny Packham Bridesmaids is an extension of our signature style and design aesthetic: a beautiful, elegant collection inspired by the English country garden,” said Jenny Packham.

Here are two soft floral designs ($292).The sleeveless chiffon dress ($305) has a criss-cross shirred midriff with a “vintage inspired necklace” at the neckline.   

Pick a style and then you can pick almost any hue to match the event’s color palette. This strapless style ($271) has a sweetheart neckline and mirrored beaded trim at the waist.Or you can go with basic black.

The collection is available online in the US, as well as the UK, on the Canada site, and also the European site (which I believe is HQed in Germany)

A reminder that the LK Bennett x Jenny Packham collection launches in just 2-1/2 weeks! If interested in that collaboration, you can sign up at LK Bennett to be emailed when more information on the line is available. (Our original post is here.) 

We’ll see you tomorrow for Kate’s Heads Together engagement at Roe Green Junior High where she will launch a new mental health program for young children. The new undertaking is a joint project done in partnership with the Anna Freud National Centre for Children and FamiliesPlace2Be and Young Minds.

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SaraF

Wednesday 24th of January 2018

What lovely news and what a lovely bride-to-be! Eugenie looks lovely and so happy - both of them look in love and thrilled. I'm so glad for them.

TravelingBlush

Wednesday 24th of January 2018

Interesting news on Jenny Packham. Their business side of things seems to be very strong. I havent googled the Dessy group, but it sounds Indian. A smart business model, if so.

Madeleine

Tuesday 23rd of January 2018

Eugenie looks so stylish and absolutely gorgeous in this ensemble. THIS is how Erdem is done well.

Wikipedia is claiming that Eugenie and Mr. Brooksbank are third cousins twice removed through the 2nd Earl of Leicester. I wonder if this is actually true? Although it seems this is not frowned upon in many royal families. For instance, the Queen and Prince Philip are cousins (both direct descendants of Victoria) as well.

Mary B.

Wednesday 24th of January 2018

Third cousin twice removed is a pretty distant relationship. I suspect we would all be amazed at how many cousins we had if we traced them all!

SaraF

Wednesday 24th of January 2018

Third cousin twice removed is a really distant connection. That means that the grandparent of one of them was the great-grandchild of the grandparent of the other. I don't think we need to worry about consanguinity here.

Maureen C

Tuesday 23rd of January 2018

How exciting! And, wow, Eugenie has never looked more beautiful. That dress and those shoes are gorgeous. It's turning into an exciting year for the royal family!

SSM

Tuesday 23rd of January 2018

I think Eugenie has grit and resiliency, as demonstrated by her move to NYC, which took her away from family and a boyfriend for a period of time. I love that she's pushed herself in that way, and she also seems down to earth and warm. I love a royal wedding, and aren't we all spoiled this year?

This is a winner of an Erdem dress and I love those shoes!

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