Royalty Thread #9. Welcome Archie, the red headed heir, don’t care!

[canbelto]

I highly doubt that tailoring would result in complaints about cost. Other members of the royal family, male and female, clearly have their wardrobes appropriately tailored without one complaint by the public. In the grand scheme of royal expenses, tailoring is likely next to nothing.

If bad fit were a sudden post-partum problem for Meghan, I'd give her the benefit of the doubt. But the number of outfits the woman has worn (pre-pregnancy, pregnancy and post-partum) that fit properly can be counted on one hand. Her wedding dress wasn't even fitted well.

Meghan's shape is a bit hard to fit. She is curvy around the bust area, but extremely short-waisted, so her bust basically lies where her waist starts. This then tapers down to legs so thin they almost looks like sticks.

Kate has an extremely long torso, with no waist/hips, long thighs, and short calves. So she's gone with the tried and true of always pushing up her waistline to hide her long torso, and hiding her short calves by wearing nude/taupe shoes that extend the line of the leg. It's basically the Edith Head strategy of dressing Barbara Stanwyck, but once you see it you can't unsee it.

 

[JJH]

I recognize some of the issues with Meghan's body type. My daughter and I have some of the same issues. Meghan is somewhat short-waisted, but the real problem is that she has a broad base to her ribcage and a sway back. May daughter competed in Irish dance for over 10 years. We purchased many, many solo costumes made with measurements specifically for her for $2000 each. The bodice and waist were still invariably too tight or too loose or pulled strangely in some areas.

 

[skatesindreams]

A good tailor should be able to fit their client properly; whatever issues they have.
If they can't; I'm sure their are many who would be qualified -- and happy -- to replace them.

 

[MacMadame]

I highly doubt that tailoring would result in complaints about cost.

Oh, I'm sure some people will find a way.

 

[mella]

Oh, I'm sure some people will find a way.

Indeed some would. With boring predictability.

 

[AxelAnnie]

If that is true, the tailors are responsible.

What? Meghan did not have a mirror? Many of her dresses are bespoke, (her wedding dress) and that didn't fit well. She needs to find a new place to buy clothes, or to have them made.

It may just be something about Meghan. Kate is always aligned. No flapping coats, no droopy anything...maybe some flyaway skirts which have no been tamed with tiny weights in the hem.

Meghan is generally less "finished". The engagement picture of her in the white coat has always perplexed me. The edges didn't match in the front, the coat was scrunched tight, but was gappy in other places. And, her black outfit at Wimbledon.....did she really need the buttons right down both sides of the front, two landing right at nipple level.....not a good look for anyone.

And Kate's Dolce & Gabanna dress is the only time I have seen Kate in a dress that did not fit her well.

 

[puglover]

I can't say I remember too much about Meghan's clothes on "Suits" other than she always looked stunning. I thought she wore a lot of pencil skirts with amazing blouses that really seemed to fit her figure well. Kate has that long waisted build that works so well with the dresses she seems to like. She can also have a longer hem to fit with royal protocol without looking out of proportion and matronly because of her long mid section. Diana was bigger busted and her style really evolved over the years. No doubt Meghan's will as well.

 

[oleada]

Meghan's shape is a bit hard to fit. She is curvy around the bust area, but extremely short-waisted, so her bust basically lies where her waist starts. This then tapers down to legs so thin they almost looks like sticks.

Kate has an extremely long torso, with no waist/hips, long thighs, and short calves. So she's gone with the tried and true of always pushing up her waistline to hide her long torso, and hiding her short calves by wearing nude/taupe shoes that extend the line of the leg. It's basically the Edith Head strategy of dressing Barbara Stanwyck, but once you see it you can't unsee it.

Ugh, yes. I have a similar body type as Meghan (but even harder because I’m quite a bit shorter) and fit is a struggle.

 

[mag]

Kate had some questionable fits and alterations when she first arrived on the scene. I remember an apricot coloured coat, where a button was moved to accommodate her early pregnancy with George, that was terrible. The green dress she wore the other day fit perfectly when she first wore it in Canada, but clearly her shape has changed a bit over the years and the fit is quite terrible now.

Meghan will hopefully learn. From what I remember if Suits, her clothes fit well so it is possible. She is going to need to either hire someone with an eye for fit or develop one herself (or just not worry about it!) Her bespoke clothes don’t need a tailor, they need to be fitted properly when they are purchased. I suspect it will always be an issue for her because if you get to 38 and still can’t see a bad fit and still wear poorly fitted shoes, I don’t see that changing.

 

[Japanfan]

I recognize some of the issues with Meghan's body type.

Meghan's shape is a bit hard to fit.

I've never noticed specific details about Megan's body type, TBH.

In my view, she looks good most of the time. And maybe she is paying a bit less attention to her outfits now that she has a baby. Sure, people might say her attendants are responsible to make sure she looks spot-on. But even attendants can have an off day, or have their attention distracted.

 

[canbelto]

Kate had some questionable fits and alterations when she first arrived on the scene. I remember an apricot coloured coat, where a button was moved to accommodate her early pregnancy with George, that was terrible. The green dress she wore the other day fit perfectly when she first wore it in Canada, but clearly her shape has changed a bit over the years and the fit is quite terrible now.

Meghan will hopefully learn. From what I remember if Suits, her clothes fit well so it is possible. She is going to need to either hire someone with an eye for fit or develop one herself (or just not worry about it!) Her bespoke clothes don’t need a tailor, they need to be fitted properly when they are purchased. I suspect it will always be an issue for her because if you get to 38 and still can’t see a bad fit and still wear poorly fitted shoes, I don’t see that changing.

A lot of actresses are actually quite bad at dressing themselves on their own. Same thing as models. They're used to wearing what designers give them, and especially TV actresses are often shot from the waist up. But on Suits she basically wore a winning combo -- a button down shirt which emphasized her curvy top, and pencil skirt which gave some definition to her less curvy bottom. It was also character appropriate as she played a lawyer.

All Meghan Markle Suits bloopers (gag reels) seasons 1-7

All Meghan Markle Suits bloopers seasons 1-7

www.youtube.com

Now that she's royalty and has access to all the top designers my feeling is she is like a kid in a candy store and doesn't quite know what look is best for her. She could probably go back to the "Rachel" look on Suits and everyone says she'd look amazing, but it doesn't look "royal" enough.

I like the way Kate dresses but I must say I HATE her never-ending array of beige/taupe shoes. There's this idea that beige shoes goes with everything. I think that unless you're wearing something totally neutral they go with nothing.

 

[mag]

Prince George and Princess Charlotte Were Spotted Out at a Local Festival With Carole Middleton

While the Duchess of Cambridge was at Wimbledon, Grandma Carole took the kids for a day full of fun.

www.townandcountrymag.com

So George and Charlotte recently attended a county fair with their Grandma, Carole Middleton. At this point, no photos has surfaced. People knew who they were, but the press does not appear to have shown up and, at least so far, there have been no reports of security people asking people not to hold their cell up any where near the kids. So I am assuming that there is some sort of agreement between the press and W&K about not photographing the children without consent. So it would assume that the day at the Polo match was an approved photo op.

So, this brings me back to all the talk of privacy from H&M. In the 20 years that W&K have been together I would say there have been maybe a dozen or so published photo taken without consent. Obviously the topless ones were an issue, but the snap of Kate heading into her mom’s birthday party a while back seems to have been taken in stride. Could H&M not do the same thing? Are photographers really that more interested in them and that much more intrusive?

 

[aftershocks]

Now that she's royalty and has access to all the top designers...

Meghan Markle began developing a 'relationship,' as you call it, with top designers during her tenure on Suits. She didn't need to become 'royal' for that to happen. There are serious lapses in your knowledge of Meghan's biography, her career pre-Harry, her understanding of fashion, and her preference for the styles, colors, and silhouettes she feels suit her body. But whatever...

HRH The Duchess of Sussex is definitely evolving and having fun sartorially and otherwise, and working hard, and enjoying her life and her fascinating love story with Harry, and their baby son, Archie.

Yep, and we of course can only speculate what it's like to be a member of the British royal family, while Meghan is living and breathing what it's like every day. There are perks and there are challenges which not everyone could handle. Meghan has been handling it all with aplomb, grace and dignity, even if she's not perfect, because no one is exactly perfect who is human.

Still, considering everything Meghan has been dealing with and at the same time accomplishing so much admidst remarkable life changes, IMO it's been rather amazing. Meghan's father-in-law, Prince Charles, doesn't call her 'Tungsten' for no reason. Of course, there are those ubiquitous negative narratives about Meghan the press keeps driving relentlessly. The RR are so pissed that the Sussexes won't and don't need to kowtow to them.

 

[mag]

Meghan Markle began developing a 'relationship,' as you call it, with top designers during her tenure on Suits. She didn't need to become 'royal' for that to happen.

Meghan has gone from being a B rate actor to one of the top ten photographed women in the world. Her access to top designers and advisors has definitely increased. As for “...her understanding of fashion, and her preference for the styles, colors, and silhouettes she feels suit her body...” that too will grow and change with her new role and her exposure and access to more information about fashion, style, colour, and silhouettes. You seem to greatly underestimate the resources available to senior members of the BRF.

 

[MsZem]

There are serious lapses in your knowledge of Meghan's biography, her career pre-Harry, her understanding of fashion, and her preference for the styles, colors, and silhouettes she feels suit her body. But whatever...

That is such an important topic, hopefully canbelto can address these serious lapses sooner rather than later. Perhaps there should be a quiz before further posts are allowed.

Crown Princess Victoria just turned 42, and the birthday pictures are a delight.

Prince Pieter-Christiaan

Prince Pieter-Christiaan. Photo: Moniek Bloks/Royal Central

royalcentral.co.uk

Crown Princess Victoria of Sweden cuts elegant figure in floral frock

Crown Princess Victoria of Sweden cut a sophisticated figure in a floral dress as she celebrated her 42nd birthday at the Solliden palace in Öland with her family.

www.dailymail.co.uk

 

[PDilemma]

Oh, I'm sure some people will find a way.

Given that other senior members of the family are rarely, if not never, seen in anything that is not appropriately fitted, it is safe to say that they are all using tailors to make sure their clothing is not sloppy. And never a word from the press or public about it. Tailoring, actually, is something that isn't noticeable until it is missing.

Of course, bespoke items like her wedding dress not fitting tells me that Meghan either doesn't understand fit, doesn't care, or thinks that there is something stylish about ill fitting clothing. Or some bizarre combination of all three. I'm sure the people at Givenchy can properly fit a custom dress. That's on the client.

@Zemgirl Perhaps someone should provide us with a list of resources before the quiz, a study guide of sorts.

 

[taf2002]

Crown Princess Victoria just turned 42, and the birthday pictures are a delight.

Prince Pieter-Christiaan

Prince Pieter-Christiaan. Photo: Moniek Bloks/Royal Central

royalcentral.co.uk

Crown Princess Victoria of Sweden cuts elegant figure in floral frock

Crown Princess Victoria of Sweden cut a sophisticated figure in a floral dress as she celebrated her 42nd birthday at the Solliden palace in Öland with her family.

www.dailymail.co.uk

Thanks for the links. As usual pictures of her & her family are gorgeous. She has the prettiest children in royal-land.

 

[MacMadame]

Are photographers really that more interested in them and that much more intrusive?

I don't know about intrusive (could be, but maybe not) but I do think there is way more interest for several reasons.

First, Kate was around for years before she and William got engaged. Their engagement was longer too. They also didn't announce the first pregnancy so soon after the marriage.

Harry and Meghan have compressed these events (by comparison) so that interest doesn't ebb and flow but is pretty constant.

This is not even taking into account that Harry married an American citizen, who is biracial, and has family drama.

 

[MsZem]

I don't know about intrusive (could be, but maybe not) but I do think there is way more interest for several reasons.

First, Kate was around for years before she and William got engaged. Their engagement was longer too. They also didn't announce the first pregnancy so soon after the marriage.

Harry and Meghan have compressed these events (by comparison) so that interest doesn't ebb and flow but is pretty constant.

This is not even taking into account that Harry married an American citizen, who is biracial, and has family drama.

It wasn't. The engagement announcement was in mid-November 2010 and the wedding was at the end of April 2011. Harry and Meghan's was announced in late November 2017 and they were married in mid-May. Around five and a half months for both couples.

The rest is true, and social media is a lot more pervasive now. One can only imagine what would have happened if Meghan had a background like Princess Mette Marit of Norway (single mom, partying past), Princess Sofia of Sweden (former reality contestant and glamour model) or Queen Maxima of the Netherlands (whose father was not invited to the wedding because he'd been a minister in Argentina's junta government).

 

[ballettmaus]

Crown Princess Victoria just turned 42, and the birthday pictures are a delight.

And Oscar is back to not smiling
I'm usually not a fan of the floral prints the Swedish royals wear but I do like this dress. And I can't get over how grown up Estelle looks!

 

[MacMadame]

Around five and a half months for both couples.

That's interesting. It seemed longer. Maybe because of the aforementioned social media not being as pervasive?

I have to say that I have read and posted more in this thread since Harry announced his engagement than my entire 14+ years on this board. I don't think I'm alone in my fascination with this pairing either.

 

[MsZem]

I have to say that I have read and posted more in this thread since Harry announced his engagement than my entire 14+ years on this board. I don't think I'm alone in my fascination with this pairing either.

As you can probably tell from my posts, I'm vastly less interested in the Sussexes than most posters in this thread

More European and Asian royals for me, please!

 

[AxelAnnie]

As you can probably tell from my posts, I'm vastly less interested in the Sussexes than most posters in this thread

More European and Asian royals for me, please!

Perhaps we should have two threads: British Royals and Royals Around the World (sans UK)

 

[Parsley Sage]

I think Will and Kate had been engaged for a few weeks, maybe up to 2 months before their engagement was announced. With Harry and Meghan it was just a few days before the announcement.

 

[MsZem]

I think Will and Kate had been engaged for a few weeks, maybe up to 2 months before their engagement was announced. With Harry and Meghan it was just a few days before the announcement.

At the time of the announcements, it was stated that Will and Kate had become engaged in October and Harry and Meghan had been engaged "earlier this month". Either way, the public engagement was of similar length in both cases, and it's not like people knew what was going on before.

To me it seems like Meghan makes it more of a fairytale for many people (especially in the US). Sadly she also gets a lot of attention from racists. And as I noted, there's more social media activity now than back when Will and Kate were dating - their relationship predates all of the currently popular platforms.

Can you imagine how Diana's relationship with Charles would have played out on social media?

 

[AxelAnnie]

I don't get where people see/hear/read any racist stuff.

 

[taf2002]

I don't get where people see/hear/read any racist stuff.

Count yourself lucky then.

 

[ballettmaus]

To me it seems like Meghan makes it more of a fairytale for many people (especially in the US).

I don't really view either as a fairy tale but if I had to choose, it's Kate for me because she wasn't a celebrity beforehand. Yes, her family was doing well and she was part of the upper-middle class, but Meghan was the one with celebrity status and name-recognition.

Can you imagine how Diana's relationship with Charles would have played out on social media?

 

[puglover]

Tabloid headlines I personally think are ridiculous:

1. Meagan and Kate don't get along and have caused a rift between their husbands. (They may not be best friends but probably get along well enough as SILs and will enjoy raising their families together.)

2. The Queen plays favorites and is easily offended by her GDIL's. (I think the Queen is a tough old bird who has weathered a lot and is probably thrilled to see William and Harry happy. What grandmother doesn't love the little ones?)

3. Meagan and Harry are modernizing the antiquated British Royal family and showing everyone how it should be done. (They are doing things their way - but so have others of William and Harry's generation. Harry's children will not have the same responsibilities as their cousins).

4. I have never seen anything about Meagans race so I guess I am lucky.

 

[AxelAnnie]

I think the race thing is a red herring.