THE most trivial, superficial Royal thread ever! Click only if you're into royal fashion!

[senseandsensibility]

You were warned, people. Okay, it's like this: on some sites that I clicked on while reading about the wedding yesterday, I saw pictures of the wedding dress. Then on other sites, I saw Kate in another white dress, which was identified as a separate dress she wore for the reception. She wore an "angora" white sweater over it.

It was apparent to me that the reception dress was the same dress, with the lace bodice removed and the white angora sweater put on top. Agree? Unfortunately, I can't find the sites I linked to, but maybe some of you remember.

Just for the record, I loved both dresses, and although I did not get to watch any of the live coverage or participate in any of the royal threads here on DU because of work, I'm glad that so many DUers had fun with this yesterday!

[xchrom]

1. The wedding dress was great.

Loved the addition of the sweater.

The hats were to die for.

[senseandsensibility]

2. Did you really like Princess Eugenie and Beatrice's hats?

They certainly aren't timid when it comes to fashion, are they? I did see some other hats that were nice, though.

[xchrom]

22. i really liked them all.

you can't really wear an outrageous couture outfit to a wedding -- but a couture hat?
oh hell yes.

[eowyn_of_rohan]

45. I think if she had worn her hair up, and worn less makeup

she may have pulled it off better. She could use a few tips from a stylist, as could Eugenie, who I think she would have looked better had her skirt been longer and less full.

(only my opinion of course ;)

[xchrom]

47. i thought she was just right. nt

[eowyn_of_rohan]

48. I'm sure she woud appreciate your compliment. she is getting trashed

and I feel sorry for her.

[xchrom]

53. yeah. i know. no accounting for the tasteless

:evilgrin:

[eowyn_of_rohan]

79. Princess Beatrice's hat looks like an embellished toilet seat

from the front that is. I am beginning to wonder if this was her little joke!

[malaise]

3. Possibly - not sure

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-1382015/ROYAL-WEDDING-Kate-William-leave-Clarence-House-wedding-reception.html


http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-1382178/Royal-Wedding-pictures-The-official-Royal-Wedding-album-released.html

[Cassandra]

5. They said it was a different dress.

[senseandsensibility]

8. Thanks for the links!

In the pic with Kate in the sweater, she looks sooo thin...and Camilla looks so old. Poor Camilla having to stand next to her. I'm sure I'd look like %%### too, standing next to Kate.

[lunatica]

49. I think Camilla looked quite nice in that photo

Her dress was very elegant. I guess for some people, older women look bad no matter what.

[blueamy66]

51. SHE looks okay, but

that dress looks like a housecoat.

[lunatica]

55. I don't see that. I see an older woman dressing nicely for her age.

Good thing there aren't laws about taste. We'd probably both be arrested.

[blueamy66]

59. Hey, I think that I have wonderful taste!

I just like more form-fitting dresses...even for older women.

[Lars39]

63. She chose comfort over form-fitted.

Body-shapers and girdles can only do so much, too.

[blueamy66]

66. True.

Just my opinion though....

[malaise]

73. Well I'm an 'older' woman

and I wouldn't be caught dead wearing that at a party. :D

[jaxx]

60. I thought she looked nice too.

I had read some place on this web that Camilla was a big help to Catherine all throughout the wedding planning. And Prince Charles helped with the music and other things.

[CTyankee]

70. I don't care what she's wearing, she has an ugly soul and it shows on her face.

Some older women look fine, just older, as if they have aged softly. This horse faced wretched woman and her equally wretched husband both show them to be the nasties that they are.

[Vanje]

16. Damn!

That woman has a huge head!

[Stevenmarc]

40. Good God Camillas dress is a Moroccstrosity

[lunatica]

52. I like Camilla's dress a lot.

It's quite nice, especially in contrast to Kate's dress. Of course, Kate is young and beautiful, and therefore perfect in the eyes of ageists.

[Stevenmarc]

69. Just because

you toss a few beads on a schmatta doesn't elevate it to anything more than a beaded schmatta, it's not a dress one would wear to a royal wedding reception at best it's a Palm Beach hostess attire.

Oh and by the way I liked what she wore at the actual ceremony.

[Generic Other]

43. OMG what a hoard of photos

Loved it! Thanks.

[malaise]

72. Well if you want the fashion and the comments

to go with it the Mail is the place.

[blueamy66]

50. Now I love that dress.

Too bad she didn't wear it to the wedding.

[lunatica]

56. I like it too

[cali]

4. nope. it was an entirely different dress- same designer though

[senseandsensibility]

9. I think you're right

Yesterday I could not get a good view of the skirt.

[patrice]

27. The wedding dress looks like silk damask & the evening gown double silk crepe de chine, I think. nt

[jaxx]

6. I think it was made like the wedding gown too.

But without the embellishments on the skirt, or the train, or the lace. She looked great. If you look at the formal wedding pics you can see the skirt on the wedding dress had a lot of stuff on it.

Nothing superficial for this wedding second day discussion...happy times are few and far between. It was nice to watch and nicer that they shared it with the world instead of hiding out.

[senseandsensibility]

10. Thanks

And so far no complainers posting to tell us how much they hate royal threads.:) Of course, that could change.

[sufrommich]

7. It was beaded at the waist. I think it was a different dress. nt

[patrice]

11. Note the difference in the construction of the skirts. Also different fabrics.

[senseandsensibility]

12. Yes, I see that now.

And (sorry, I'm way behind on this because I worked yesterday and have seen no TV coverage), did Kate have a traditional "going away" outfit. like a suit, as they left for the honeymoon?

[malaise]

13. No BBC showed them leaving

for some part of England.

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-1382174/Royal-wedding-honeymoon-Prince-William-Kate-Middleton-fly-helicopter.html

[patrice]

15. I haven't been following very closely, but there is a "going away" pic on one of those links above.

Kate appears to have a sense of good taste, unlike some of the guests. There's a thread around here somewhere about UFOs & hats. One thing that surprised me was how poorly some of the expensive clothes fit the wearers.

[tblue37]

34. That particular shade of blue seems to be her favorite color to wear.

It goes well with her hair color and complexion.

[rusty fender]

14. I was surfing the various channels

in the evening to catch some of the highlights so I didn't see anything about the reception dress. However, the wedding dress itself was gorgeous! Baba Wawa showed clips of Diana's dress and it looked awful in comparison to Kate's dress. I really enjoyed the pageantry, tradition and the genuiness of the William and Kate's affection for each other.

[patrice]

17. So sad, but true, about Diana's dress. I've tried to appreciate it, but just can't. It was awful. nt

[jaxx]

26. It was kind of frumpy.

Way too much.

[patrice]

29. Yeah, a case, as some people would say, of the dress wearing the person. nt

[jaxx]

30. That was it.

She was surrounded by dress.

[patrice]

31. Lost in it and even if you were going to go with something like that, the fit seemed ALL wrong and

then there was her hair too, another unfortunate style decision, especially with that dress. Diana got really bad advice.

[tblue37]

38. The fit was wrong because extreme of stress-induced weight loss

prior to the wedding. I remember reading about that at the time.

[senseandsensibility]

54. While I agree with you and cringe every time I see

photos of Diana in her wedding dress, we have to remember that this was the eighties. Everything was BIG and overdone, including hair and clothing. Big puffy sleeves and/or shoulder pads were required. Diana's hair certainly looks dated now, but at the time? It was stylish as I recall. Still, I agree with you that for weddings it is always better to go simple and classic. That way your photos won't look ridiculous in a few years. And I am surprised that no one advised Diana of this. She was only twenty years old, and could have used the advice!

[sarge43]

46. 1980's excess.

The other problem with it, it was a blivet. Stuffing the dress, her and dad into the glass coach insured it would look like she slept in it and it did. Rumpled was the kindest thing that could be said.

Surprising they weren't smothered.

[tblue37]

37. Yes, and she was so stressed before the wedding that she lost a lot of weight, so

the dress, which would have overwhelmed her normal frame, looked like it was simultaneoulsy swallowing/drowning her and hanging on her like an old bag.

[patrice]

20. Kate's dress was perfectly gorgeous (and that's coming from someone who

has had an interest in such things ever since being given out-of-date Vogue pattern catalogs to make paper-dolls from as a child.

[Misskittycat]

36. I disagree about Diana's dress. To our eyes, now, it looks over-the-top,

but in 1981, it was perfect, and she was stunning in it. That wedding -- being the wedding of the immediate heir to the throne -- was a "state" wedding, and it was bigger and grander. A fairy-tale princess dress was appropriate. Recall, also, that the '80's were big and poufy generally. Diana was also younger, so it was more appropriate. Her bridesmaids' dresses were also bigger and grander than the ones for the current wedding. Those dresses, the bride's and the bridesmaids', were copied like crazy back then -- even though the brides copying them were not married in ancient cathedrals and were not princesses.

The same is true of Diana's dresses and hats from her early years of marriage. Now, they look a bit ridiculous, but at the time, they were just brilliant for her.

[BOG PERSON]

18. off with their hats!

[suffragette]

19. The captions with this video says it's a second dress

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-13244550
Clarence House has released footage of the Duchess of Cambridge wearing her second Sarah Burton creation, a strapless dress for the evening celebrations at Buckingham Palace.


I like this blue dress she wore the next day in this video:
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-13249677


Didn't watch the coverage or post on yesterday's threads, but, yeah, why not have a spot of fun now and then.

Been watching "House of Eliot" lately and would love having some of the great cloches from it.

[Duppers]

21. No, two different dresses

Two different fabrics but nearly the same design.

Ck these side by side pics:

http://www.popeater.com/2011/04/29/kate-middleton-second-wedding-dress/


Here's a great up-close of the reception dress:

http://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/royal-wedding-watch/post/kates-sarah-burton-reception-dress-williams-tux-and-more/2011/04/29/AFS7WhGF_blog.html



And yes, she is too thin. Ten lbs. would look good on her. ;)

[xchrom]

23. man, is she lovely. nt

[Duppers]

44. Indeed!

:)

[patrice]

24. It looks like maybe the gores in the skirt of the wedding dress were cut a little more fully,

while the evening gown is a little more sleek at the waist.

[senseandsensibility]

25. Great links

Thanks. Definitely not the same dress.

[tblue37]

39. When I was young and pretty, back when the Appalachian Mountains were still

pointy, I often chose more than one garment in similar styles and shapes just because I liked the silhouette and felt it flattered me. I imagine she did just that.

[Duppers]

41. :)

Me too, on both counts! ;)

I remember when I was also too thin. And yep, the Smokies had points then too. :)

[tblue37]

57. I must admit that being 60 years old and no longer pretty enough--or

svelte enough, or distracted enough--to be overly concerned with "fashion" or "allure" (at least as either pertains to me) is quite liberating. I get to wear comfortable shoes instead of high heels that destroy my feet and back, and I also get to wear clothing that doesn't feel like a medieval torture device.

But I still like to look at fashion--from a safe distance!

[Cleita]

28. The hats were the fun part. Not the wedding party but

the attendees. They were pretty outrageous. The slanted flying saucer and the rounded box with a brim and bow, like the Queen wore, seemed to be the most popular styles.

[1monster]

32. Similar style, different dresses

wedding dress:



reception dress:

[patrice]

33. Really like this choice in veils too!!! Beautiful, perfect for the dress. nt

[blogslut]

35. Disagree

The wedding gown (as can be faintly seen in the skirt) was made of a brocade-type silk with some fancy name I can't remember:



The reception dress was made from smooth/satin material that I'm going to guess is also silk:



The structure of the underlying wedding dress and the reception dress might even be from the same pattern but I do not think they were the same dress.

[cherish44]

42. I thought the whole thing was perfect but kind of boring

Was hoping they'd suck face like a couple of rednecks at a NASCAR race on the balcony just to liven things up. Her dress was very elegant. I LOVED Pippa's maid of honor outfit, she was a knockout

[Iggo]

58. The hats were entertaining...

...but the thing that'll stay with me is the look on Ms Middleton's (Mrs Windsor's?) face during most of the after-stuff.

She wasn't just smiling. She seemed to be practically laughing. Now THAT is how a bride should look on her wedding day!

[Manifestor_of_Light]

61. Lovely dress, very simple.

We never got to see the back of the dress because of the veil in the way. I would like to see a close up of the lace flowers and the buttons on the back of the bodice.

I saw the pleated ruffle that took the place of a bustle, and liked it.
And the unpressed box pleats on the flower girls' dresses went nicely with the bride's dress.

I saw that they called the material "gazar". I have never heard of that weave. Had to look it up.

The choir and orchestra were excellent. The music was strange and dissonant. (I'm into music and art both.)

I LOVED the trees in Westminster Abbey and the green and white floral arrangements.

The Archbishop needs to trim his eyebrows! He is WAY beyond Brezhnev eyebrows.

Somebody mentioned Vogue Patterns in this thread.

My prom dress back in the early 70s was a Vogue Bridal pattern that a family friend made. It had a solid jewel neck, white lace bodice made up of daisies close packed. The lace went to short sleeve length. Below that was puffy silk organza to the wrists. The skirt was a complete circle, yellow polyester crepe, with an over skirt of white silk organza, and an orange velvet bow.

All the girls were shocked that a nerd who couldn't get a date had such a nice dress. Well, I had a date but he was a nice Catholic boy who wasn't going to sully his purity in any way, no kissyface......darn. But I digress.

Sarah's daughters don't look like the brightest bulb in the pack, not to mention their strange hats and dresses. They need some education in basic fashion proportions and flattering silhouettes. Pup tents are good, when you don't have a shape.

Everybody's a fashion critic. That's my 2 cents. I liked the traditional big hats that were level on the head. I didn't like any of the terribly skewed ones nor the ones that looked like a bird died on the head.

[senseandsensibility]

71. Love the details you mentioned.

Missed all of that because I was working yesterday, and I don't see that kind of detail in the photos.

[Manifestor_of_Light]

80. That was from a description from Vogue I read.

Otherwise I would not have known about the buttons and lace flowers. I still want to see pictures!!

[MorningGlow]

62. The reception dress

I would just like to say, for the record, that Kate's second dress, the one for the reception, looks almost exactly like my own wedding dress (except mine had a scoop neck and back and cap sleeves instead of being strapless under an angora sweater). So hot damn--I gots royal taste! :evilgrin:

Seriously, I love the girl's style and look forward to seeing how it develops as she gets older. She also seems strong enough to withstand all the criticism and flat-out bitching that's going to come her way from the "know betters"; she's already getting it from all sides. I remember one "style maven" at the Daily Mail who ripped apart several of her outfits which were simply beautiful and classy. The ironic thing is the woman recommended replacement outfits...and they were hideous!

[Lars39]

64. I think Kate has more of a classic taste in clothing.

She's going to be a clothes horse, but it won't be anything risque or too far from the norm she's shown already. She's going to drive the designers wild when she doesn't take to edgy fashions. :)

[sarge43]

65. All the royals and their hats

http://orderofsplendor.blogspot.com

[patrice]

67. Some NICE stuff in there. I don't have much against wild hats, except at weddings, which it seems,

if "you" don't have respect for the bride and groom, as the center of attention because of their VOWS, what are you doing there? It appears petty and, hence, really beneath any reason one might have to claim to be superior somehow.

Thanks for the link!

[sarge43]

68. Seems to be the accepted thing with English gentry and aristos.

If you thought the wedding hats were over the top, check out the Ascot races. We're talking total bat shit here. English understatement is left at home.

You're welcome. Good site for royal watching.

[malaise]

75. That peach suit is divine

[sarge43]

76. Crown Princess Victoria has become a fashionista

Marriage seems to agree with her.

[malaise]

77. I know nothing about the royals

from anywhere.

[sarge43]

78. Well, some years ago she had a weight problem and

suffered a lot of cruel publicity. Of course, that seemed to make her uncomfortable in her public appearances; she is heir apparent to the Swedish throne. The last couple of years as you can see she got a handle on her weight and now appears very self confident and even happy in her role.

[Misskittycat]

74. What is the significance/reason for the Archbishop of Canterbury

to have taken off and then put back on his hat/head covering while he was officiating during the vows? Anybody know?

[JohnnyLib2]

81. Hmmm. Removing the lace bodice is an intriguing idea.

:evilgrin:

[OmmmSweetOmmm]

82. I believe they were 2 different dresses. Same basic design. The party dress doesn't

have the embroidery details on the skirt that her wedding gown had. The bodice sans the lace neck and sleeves appears identical.