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Archive for April, 2011

Catherine’s Wedding Dress: Sarah Burton of Alexander McQueen

Posted in Events, Fashion, tagged , , , , on April 29, 2011| 2 Comments »

Catherine in Alexander McQueen wedding dress with her Maid of Honor and sister, Philippa Middleton. Photo: Getty Images.

Yes indeed, the lovely Catherine Middleton, now a princess and a duchess, donned an elegant and traditional gown designed by Sarah Burton of Alexander McQueen.  Here are the details:

  • designed by Sarah Burton from the British house of Alexander McQueen  
  • six-foot train
  • made of ivory and white satin gazar
  • bodice lace applique handmade by the Royal School of Needlework
  • the back is finished with 58 gazar and organza covered buttons fastened by Roulleau loops
  • other than the lace, fabrics provided by British companies
  • veil is made of ivory silk tulle
  • tiara made in 1936 by Cartier – loaned to Catherine by the Queen
  • earrings, designed by Robinson Pelham, oak leaf with drop diamond – inspired by the Middleton coat of arms and a gift to the bride from her parents
  • shoes were hand-made in satin by House of Alexander McQueen
  • the Maid of Honor’s dress was also designed by Sarah Burton (in non-traditional white)

Word is that Catherine worked closely with Sarah Burton in creating a dress that combined modern with traditional. Catherine chose House of Alexander McQueen for its excellent craftmanship and artistic vision.

Check back for Jydonne Bynum-Breiterman’s review.

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Talking Catherine (Kate) Middleton and Wedding Dresses with Jydonne Bynum-Breiterman

Posted in Events, Fashion, Vintage, tagged , , , on April 25, 2011| 2 Comments »

Jydonne Bynum in her 1930s-style wedding dress by Lazaro. Photo: Amaranth Wedding Photography.

The fashionable Jydonne Bynum-Breiterman has been closely following Kate Middleton and her style since the engagement announcement last November. Having just planned a wedding herself, she’s got her finger on the pulse of current wedding chic and definite ideas about what we all might see come this Friday, April 29. I spoke with Jydonne via e-mail about her predictions for Kate’s dress. 

Jydonne keeps track of Kate and the latest news of the royal wedding from the Huffington Post Style Section and WWD. She feels Kate will strike just the right balance of staying true to her sense of simple and chic style, while also adhering to royal traditions and protocol. “Kate has a tall, slender frame,” says Jydonne. “The most flattering silhouette for her would be a simple yet form-fitted gown with a flare a little above or below the knee, accentuating her small waist and long lean proportions.” 

The dress, Jydonne points out, will have to have a large enough presence to be seen in the vast space of Westminster Abbey.” For this reason,” she says, “I think the bottom of the gown, although low waisted, will have a bit of volume.” Jydonne predicts there will be a train, but nothing like the seemingly endless train Princess Diana sported for her 1981 wedding to Prince Charles.

Jydonne has a passion for vintage fashions so when she was choosing her own wedding dress, she looked for a 1930s-style and found it in a strapless Lazaro gown. But she says strapless would not be the best choice for Kate. “Although I know she would rock a strapless dress, I find a bare shouldered gown to be a bit inappropriate for the grandeur and protocol of the Royals and Westminster Abbey.”

To keep the options open and in case of a designer spoiler, Jydonne surmises that Kate is having at least three dresses made and she won’t choose until the day before or day of the wedding. Jydonne also says Kate might have one or more costume changes throughout the day. “Numerous costume changes have become prevalent among the elites’ lavish wedding occasions.”  

As for the designer – well, that’s the big question on every fashionista’s mind. Jydonne’s top three:

  1. Sarah Burton of Alexander McQueen
  2. Bruce Oldfield (a favorite of Princess Diana)
  3. Sarah Cranston of Libelula

 The choice of Burton would be a fitting final tribute to the beloved British designer Lee Alexander McQueen, who took his own life in 2010. Oldfield would be a nod to Kate’s deceased mother-in-law, which might please the groom. Cranston is a long-time Kate favorite. Jydonne says it’s close, but she’s going with Burton for several reasons: 

“Burton has done a tremendous job continuing the style of McQueen, while providing softening and femininity yet maintaining the edginess that was McQueen.  Burton has given the line the romantic touch of a woman, fit for dressing the world’s contemporary princess-to-be.”

Jydonne will rise at 4am this Friday to watch the festivities live.  Just like she did as a young child with her grandmother 30 years ago, when Princess Diana emerged from her carriage.  “I can’t wait,” she says.

Check back with Over Dressed for Life next week for Jydonne’s Royal Wedding Review.

Jydonne Bynum-Breiterman has a BFA in Art History from the University of Oklahoma. She currently lives in Washington, DC with her new husband and she’s working with Oatlands Plantation in Leesburg, VA helping to archive their antique clothing collection. In addition, she’s setting up her own fashion blog (http://www.vintageleisure.com/) and researching a masters programs in fashion.

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Catherine (Kate) Middleton Gets a Coat of Arms

Posted in Fashion, tagged , on April 19, 2011| 1 Comment »

Catherine Middletons Coat of Arms. Image courtesy of the Press Association.

The Middletons now have a Coat of Arms and a lovely one it is.

A Coat of Arms is a crest or set of images meant to identify an individual, family, corporation, or organization. The images chosen reflect the values and traits of the bearer. In Britain, The College of Arms regulates the dispensation of such an honor. (Not just anyone can get one, although, Donald Trump did).

Protocol dictates that the request be submitted by an individual on behalf of the family. Kate’s father made the request and the family worked closely with The College of Arms in the creation process.

  • The acorns symbolize the three Middleton children – Catherine, Philippa, and James.
  • The thick gold chevron is for Mrs. Middleton’s maiden name – Goldsmith (We can hear Granny Goldsmith’s cries of joy from the grave.)
  • The thin white chevrons represent the mountains and outdoor activities the family enjoys together.
  • Blue and red are the colors of the United Kingdom flag.

(The Coat of Arms pictured above is Kate’s version, which has the addition of the blue ribbon that stands for “unmarried daughter.” Once she’s married to Prince William, another Coat of Arms will be created for her.)

Coat of Arms can be very busy with large animals and clashing colors, but the Middletons have created something simple and elegant. Using just a few images that are appealing and meaningful, their Coat of Arms says it with style.

So how might the Middletons don their Arms?  Most likely in the form of a signet ring. Apparently, it’s also acceptable to display one’s Arms on formal wear for special occasions. Such as, perhaps, a wedding?

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Fabulous Hat at the St. Vincent de Paul of Alameda Artist-in-Residence Exhibition

Posted in Arts, Events, Fashion, tagged , , on April 13, 2011| 1 Comment »

Fascinator created by Sarah Padgham from a silk blouse. Photo: Richard Aiello.

This past weekend I attended St. Vincent de Paul of Alameda Artist-in-Residence Exhibition. SVDP offers local artists the opportunity to create art from unwanted donations. In 2009 they added fashion and the 2011 Fashion Artist-in-Residence is milliner Sarah Padgham. I was really impressed with what Sarah created out of old clothes.  

Click here to read my Examiner.com column on Sarah, her hats, and the exhibition.

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A Look Back at Princess Diana’s Wedding Dress

Posted in Events, Fashion, tagged , , on April 12, 2011| 1 Comment »

Catherine Middleton is not the first princess bride to keep her wedding dress a secret. Lady Diana Spencer also kept her frock under wraps, which required fake clues given to the press, a code name and around-the-clock security.

In 1981 Princess Diana's wedding dress and all her bridesmaids dresses cost a mere $1700.

The now iconic dress was designed by the London design team, David and Elizabeth Emanuel. Apparently Diana had seen one of their blouses and asked them to do a few sketches. The dress itself is early Victorian inspired with large puffy sleeves and a full tulle petticoat. It’s made of cream silk taffeta with bows, lace, and pearl detailing. Today the dress is exhibited around the world. During the summer the dress returns to the Spencer Althorp Estate  for display.  

The Emanuels designed the frock thinking fairytale princess and happily ever after. They also needed to create something that wouldn’t get lost in the expansiveness of St. Paul’s Cathedral.  Hence the train … 25 feet of train.

So what will Kate’s dress be like? Something modern no doubt, perhaps sleek without a lot of frills. Will she wear white? Diana wore the Spencer tiara – Kate doesn’t have one of those but perhaps a tiara will be the something borrowed. Or she might go with her favored fascinator. The speculations are endless and all part of the fun leading up to the big day.

What do you think, readers? What would you like to see Kate wearing?

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Five Facts about Catherine (Kate) Middleton

Posted in Fashion, tagged on April 11, 2011| 2 Comments »

Kate looks good in a hat but not sporting a hunting rifle.

  1. Her grandmother, Dorothy Goldsmith (a carpenter’s daughter), was called Lady Dorothy and thought to be a snob.
  2. Kate has never been invited to spend Christmas with the royal family.
  3. Kate was bullied at her boarding school.
  4. The wedding couple has requested that in lieu of gifts, donations be sent to an anti-bullying charity.
  5. My fave – Kate is allergic to horses, which means limited hunting for her.

Kate loses major style points with me for going on hunting trips with the royal family. Hunting as well as any other inhumane treatment of animals is not stylish.

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The Lovely and Chic Ines de la Fressange

Posted in Fashion, tagged , , , on April 7, 2011| Leave a Comment »

Tres chic Ines de la Fressange. Photo: Reuters

Former French model and now author Ines de la Fressange is the perfect example of a chic older woman. At 53 she’s recently returned to the catwalk and she’s been nominated Most Stylish Woman in Paris.  Way to go, Ines.

Fashion for women-of-a-certain-age is tricky. One doesn’t want to look like a teenager, but the matronly look middle-aged women tended toward 50 or even 30 years ago, isn’t going to cut it for the boomers.

What’s a women to do? Well, Ines says the French lady has it right:

  • for starters she’s not worried about getting older, she does so gracefully
  • she sticks to the classics and adds trends in accessories
  • she sports the right attitude, which would be one of confidence
  • she keeps fashion fun  

In the 1980s Ines was the CHANEL house model and muse of Karl Lagerfeld. In her book, Parisian Chic: A Style Guide (Flammarion, 2011) Ines shows readers how to build a complete chic look based on seven “brilliant basics.”  

  1. men’s blazer
  2. trench coat
  3. navy blue sweater
  4. tank top
  5. LBD
  6. jeans
  7. leather coat (I don’t agree with this one.)

She suggests not fretting about height and weight, “… everything is a question of proportion and attitude,” Ines recently told BBC Radio Four’s Woman’s Hour. “It’s nice to be tiny, it’s sweet and feminine.” (You said it.)

Vive Ines!

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