Hats Off!

It wouldn't be a proper wedding without a sea of hats in Westminster Abbey.  And I wouldn't be me, if I didn't have something to say about the good the bad and the ugly!















The standouts of the day had to be the daring duo, Princesses Beatrice and Eugenie.  These two royal brats' hats were startling to say the least.  Beatrice's hat looked like it was inspired by Georgia O'Keefe- if I had to title her hat, I'd call it, "Vaginal Bulls Eye."  Oh, and her poor sister Eugenie.  An over sized, ultra-marine, pill box hat with everything and the kitchen sink thrown on top!  Hmm, were they protesting the fact that their mother, Fergie was not invited?  Or don't they own a mirror?

 On to Miriam Gonzalez Durantez.  Is this a hat, or a turban?  She is being swallowed from all ends!  Don't even get me started on the polka-dots...

Hail to the Queen.  She was perfectly understated in a canary yellow silk shift paired with a matching hat adorned with hand made roses. By the way, did you check out her Queen Mary's True Lovers Knot?

Kate's mother, Carole was simple, classy and looked perfectly lovely (as the English would say) in a piece designed by Catherine Walker, one of Diana's favorite designers.  Her hat was a disc designed by Jane Corbett.  All in all, it was refreshing and a great choice for the Mother of the Bride.

Now for the step-mother of the Groom, Camilla.  Let's take an unbiased look here, forgetting all that we know and may or may not like about her.  She does look somewhat matriarchal - and not in a good way...a little too fuddy-duddy.  I almost thought that her hat had the look of a fancy, folded restaurant napkin coming off the top.  She could have done better (but let's face it- based on some of the hats from her past, she could have done worse).

David and Victoria Beckham- bravo.  Each with their hats in tow.  Victoria's hat was fab!  Dainty and daring all at once.  On the other hand, Posh designed her own maternity dress, and I did feel it was a little drab for the occasion...

Here comes the next royal bride, Zara and her fiance Phillip.  I'm torn over her ensemble for the day.  Her overcoat makes her looks as if she's prepared to defend off heat seeking missiles, or hop the next shuttle to the moon.  I do like the hat...from the profile, but not straight on.  Straight on you get the sense that the hat's eaten all of her hair and about to consume her face!

Something old, something new, something borrowed and something blue...clearly Tar Palmer-Tomkinson was something blue today!  Shocking, electric blue from head to toe.  She matched her diamond pill box hat, to her opera length gloves, to her dress, to her wrap down to her shoes...matchy matchy is a no no.

In general, Autumn Phillips and Lady Frederick Windsor basically sum up the look of the day.  Ladies in shift coats (in case of rain), dressed in pastels or simple singular color schemes.  Men were required to wear Dress Uniforms or Mourning attire and of course every woman must don a hat in the abbey.  But for every rule, there is always someone to disobey...

This time around it was the British Prime Minister's wife, Samantha Cameron who spit in the face of tradition and opted not to sport a hat in favor of a beaded barrette and platform heels from Aldo!

Finally, I would be remiss to end this entry without commenting on Kate, err Catherine's gown.  It's a classic silhouette with modern construction detail.  Absolutely timeless.  It immediately reminded me to the scene from the Sound of Music when Julie Andrew is walking down the aisle to marry Captain Von Trapp (that and it had a Grace Kelly feel).

If you would like to learn more about Catherine's dress, or anything else regarding the wedding, Wills and Kate have their own Royal website with tons of details!  here's the link:

http://www.officialroyalwedding2011.org/static/results?cx=005746601494426182989%3Aaqv-9welgwk&cof=FORID%3A10&ie=UTF-8&q=wedding+dress&sa=Search

 Cheerio!


"Women wearing hats are at once sophisticated and whimsical....Their faces are younger and softer.  They carry themselves differently, daintily, like deer.  Their voices flutter a bit...even when they are talking about things like money and power and work, even when it's clear they're very much in charge of their lives." (from "O" Magazine)