The Queen of Hearts, She Wore Some . . .

Tartan, actually.  Or Black Watch, to be specific.

I wore some tartan myself, during my boarding school years in Canada.  Our school was part of the Black Watch Cadet Corps, so we were automatically enlisted and, when we went on parade, decked ourselves in Full Highland Dress, complete with a heavy, scratchy Black Watch kilt.

Black Watch did not make a stylish statement for me back then, but when I moved to Ottawa for university, I bought a Black Watch winter scarf from Roots and l.o.v.e.d. how it brought a touch of Scottish moor to my Robe di Kappa down jacket (essential for skating to class every day on the Rideau Canal).

I've gone on to buy a Black watch shirt from J Crew, which couldn't be more opposite of my original kilt.  It's made of the thinnest cotton that I'm positive will rip with every move.  So far, so good, though.

I was contemplating a Black Watch purchase just the other week; in fact, I bookmarked the shoe below at Saks, a McQ patent monk-strap with a BW inlay.  There were three sizes left, and mine was one of them. What stopped me? The *sale* price, which seemed excessive.

But I kept going back to visit, thinking I might splurge for a Christmas gift (and I could use a gift right now, as a very expensive and well-loved bag was stolen from me last week).

Then Kate wore her McQueen tartan dress to St. Andrews, bloggers blogged about McQ's other tartan items, and likethat! the shoe disappeared in my size. It's easier to mourn a loss when it wasn't yours to begin with.

Still, the shoe is available in one size up.  One does not want to flop about in sloppy monk-straps, but I wonder whether McQ shoes just might run small. Or maybe I should just eat a tart.

Drip Dries: Mrs. Prince Edward's Dress

When I was little (say, 6-7), I wanted to marry Prince Edward.

It's not because I thought he was cute (using the language of my youth); even then I knew that he wasn't my "type," but because I lived on Prince Edward Island. I was destined to to be royal.

Well, I am not secretly Sophie Wessex, so obviously I did not join that royal family.  But I am sharing a sisterly affection for a recent fashion choice that Mrs. Prince Edward made: the terrific Dries Van Noten jungly dress above and below. 

Fit for a Princess? The L. K. Bennett Sledge Saga Continues

My favourite fairy tale growing up was The Twelve Dancing Princesses.  The very idea of "dancing slippers" conjured up soft, velvet-y leather, slippers that were beautiful and comfortable.  And just imagine the princesses receiving a new pair of slippers every day, after wearing out the previous set during the night!

I yearned for a pair of princess dancing slippers.

Gentle readers may recall that I received a pair of princess pumps a couple of weeks ago, a generous birthday gift.  They were the L. K. Bennett taupe Sledge court pump worn, in seemingly great comfort, by the Duchess of Cambridge, affectionately if inaccurately known as Princess Catherine.

My pair was too tight, so I sent them back for a half size larger and today received them.  This time I was able to get them on (notice I didn't say "slip" them on) and, after wearing them for approximately a minute, was happy to take them off and return them to the box.

For the L. K. Bennett Sledge pumps are profoundly uncomfortable, even if they "fit."  The leather is stiff and unyielding, such that it felt like it cut into my foot.  The heel is high, with a platform, and, though high heels are no stranger to me, my high arch did not fit into the shoe, but revealed itself from the side.  Indeed, the shoes wore me.

And I think they may have worn me out, too, not out dancing, but they wore out my optimism that these would be a perfect pair of neutral heels for fall, when the right size arrived.

So L. K. Bennett now reminds me of the difficult cousin of Lydia and Kitty Bennet, and the Sledge pumps recall a revised Sister Sledge song, "We Aren't Family." 

I guess that's fitting, even if the shoes aren't.

Sister Sledge, or; Stepping out with the Duchess

A review from Nordstrom insists one will "feel like a Duchess" in them!

In what, exactly?

The Duchess of Cambridge's taupe L. K. Bennett patent platform "Sledge" heels, of course, the ones she's worn to many a function over the year (and worn them winningly, I add).

A box containing a pair of L. K. Bennett Sledge pumps arrived on my doorstep today, a slightly belated birthday gift from my wonderful family. 

But let's forget the Duchess for just a minute, for the scene chez moi was more Cinderella as I tried to slip on the size 39 shoes (my usual size).  Only one would go on, and it was very tight indeed. 

And unlike my character in Into the Woods (Cinderella's stepmother), I was not about to take a Sledge-hammer to my feet to secure a fit.

Plus, since I'm not planning on Pelicaning any time soon, I have, on the advice of the gentle assistant at L. K. Bennett, wrapped up the pair of pumps and popped them into the post for a half-size-up exchange.

Until they return, I'll be a Duchess-in-Waiting.

Afternoon of the Garter: Kate's Red Dress

On the heels of her first wedding anniversary, I like how the Duchess of Cambridge wore this red Alexander McQueen dress to celebrate the Diamond Jubilee. 

It recalls, for me, the red jacket that her groom wore as the Knight of the Garter on their wedding day.

Of Sebastian Flyte and the Duke of Windsor

Sure, it's Rex Mottram, the cadish Canadian in Brideshead Revisited who's labeled chic, being pals with the Duke and all, but I'll take the ex-Pat position and venture that the sometimes Oxfordian Sebastian Flyte would look better in the Duke's tartan "lounge suit."

I think it would be fantastic if tartan suits and trousers for men had a resurgence.

Not like these:

Rag and Bone has given it a go:

For a more feminine version, here's Linda in her tartans:

And Mrs. Simpson, though not known for tartans, exactly, does decorate with a mean pug pillow, particularly formidable in packs:



A pug bowl would also be very nice with a side of tartan:

Pug images from here; tartan trousers from here.

Made in Buckingham

I watched the film Made in Dagenham for the first time right around the time when the Duchess and the Duke of Cambridge were leaving Calgary. 

In both productions a red dress featured prominently. 

The Duchess wore a Catherine Walker design, accentuated by her mother-in-law's large, glittering maple leaf pin.

Rita (Sally Hawkins' character) wore a borrowed Biba, with large, diamond-shape buttons.

The more I thought about it, the more the two narratives began to intersect.

Both Kate and Rita work for well-known institutions (The Firm and Ford Motor Company); both are commoners (though I dislike that word) who emerge as public figures while wearing a designer red dress.

Most importantly, both speak out on behalf of the oppressed: in lieu of wedding gifts the Duchess invited guests to donate to an anti-bullying charity, and Rita's persuasive speeches led to women receiving equal pay for equal work.

I read some reviews after I had screened the film and learned from a male English critic that the plot device of a posh, highly educated and bored wife (Rosamond Pike, the wife of a Ford exec.) lending a working-class gel the red Biba dresss is a "clunky attempt at female solidarity across the class divide."
But I think that dresses are a fitting way to bridge the class divide. Just look at how easily Rita and the female politician Barbara Castle (brilliantly played by Miranda Richardson) bond over frocks. Both working women share a recognition of quality (Biba) but own the much lesser priced C&A.

I'll argue that although women can and do unite over social and political issues, we can also build alliances through dresses. I know that I'm looking forward to seeing more of those dresses that are made in Buckingham.

Princess Kate and Northwest Territories Style

UPDATED with a runway photo of Isaac Mizrahi's superb totem pole dress.

Today Kate and Will were in Yellowknife, a city in Canada's Northwest Territories.  Her look was understated, a taupe unembellished dress and heels.

But the native people she met provided plenty of sartorial colorful, textural contrast, as in the image to the right. 

The Dene people are well known for beautiful embroidery, using both moose tufts and porcupine quills.  One of their celebrated designers is my hero from the mid-1980s, D'Arcy Moses, who made a glorious totem evening dress that I cannot find an image of, try as I might.

However, other designers have been employing (dare I say appropriating?) the totem motif to beautiful effect.

Perhaps the best known is Isaac Mizrahi's gown, worn by Naomi Campbell in 1991:

on the runway:



and by a humble mannequin:

But there's also Erin Wasson's very cool dress:


as seen on thefujifiles.com

and a similar one by Lindsey Thornburg:

Even Versace makes a totem-inspired frock:

and Copenhagen designers Tine Winther Rysgaard and Trine Maja Kristoffersen  borrow elements as well:

But don't forget the stunning dress worn by Kathy Hartman, Miss Alaska-Universe, in 1971:

It's actually missing and its designer Leah Clemmons-Madonna would like it back.

I would love it if Princess Catherine would purchase some clothing from the Northwest territories--a parka? an embroidered pair of moccasins?  a moose-tufted barrette (like I did) and wear it at home.  Or wouldn't it be smashing if she wore a totem evening gown?

Kindred Spirits: Kate Recollects Diana in Charlottetown

Readers of Anne of Green Gables will know that Anne's "bosom friend" is the raven-haired, beautifully dressed Diana Barry.

The Duchess of Cambridge is one such reader, and, while in Charlottetown, she seemed to have been conjuring another "kindred spirit" named Diana: her husband's mother.

In 1983 the newlywed Princess Diana wore a sailor-inspired drop-waist light blue dress with white accents to Province House.  I was lucky enough to snap this Polaroid of her:

And here is a full-length image, not taken by me:

Princess Kate (as my daughter calls her) wore the mirror image to Province House: a cream drop-waist sailor dress with navy trim:

Planned or not, these looks are "pretty" similar, and just plain "pretty."

The Duchess in Ottawa: Maple Leaf Rad

It's not easy to look chic draped in a flag, but I love how the Duchess of Cambridge wears our Maple Leaf colours on Canada Day.

Kate's wearing her ivory Reiss engagement portrait frock; her fan clutch is by Anya Hindmarch.

And her fascinator?

This topper is no "Maple Leaf Rag" . . .

This look is clearly "Maple Leaf Rad":

Happy Canada Day!

American friends beware: I may break into the Canadian national anthem randomly throughout the day.

The Duchess of Cambridge has been hitting the right notes, sartorially speaking.  She and the Duke are celebrating Canada Day (as well as Princess Diana's birthday?) in Ottawa today.

I graduated from the University of Ottawa and soooo miss the Rideau Canal (for running and ice-skating) as well as Parliament Hill, where we used to throw softballs on the lawn, in gentler times.

I thought that the Duchess looked so very elegant yesterday in her blue lace Erdem dress (Canadian-born designer!) and demi chignon.  And my, she looks so genuinely happy, which elevates her natural prettiness to another level.

I'm looking forward to following the royal Canadian visit this week.  Shall we tip our glass of good Canadian beer in celebration?  What's your favourite brew?

Cheers!

Royal Wedding Planners: At Liberty?

Lest gentle readers fear that I have Lego of my senses, let me reassure you that I am not at all obsessed with the upcoming royal wedding.

However, in a story recently Tweeted by NYT journalist David Carr (@carr2n), there are some individuals in this country who are organizing their April 29 schedules particularly carefully.

Me, I plan to rise, commes toujours, about 6:15, drive my children to school (or maybe Mr. C will take that shift :-) ), and watch a little bit of the wedding festivities on my computer, provided they're available online.

If I want to get truly decadent, then I might have my morning coffee rest on one of these Liberty of London coasters (detail above):

while enjoying a crumpet spread with jam from one of these Liberty trays:

Are gentle readers planning anything special with their April 29 schedules?