{the royal wedding: with this kiss}

. . . must confess, still a little caught up in the romance of it all, the stolen glances and secret smiles, the horse-drawn carriages and chantilly lace, the balcony kisses and moments so breathtakingly lovely, can barely stand it . . .




prince william & catherine, the duke & duchess of cambridge




detail of the exquisite wedding gown, put together by hand by sarah burton of alexander mcqueen, it is a perfect intermingling of tradition and modernity, with a bodice of ivory satin made of hand-cut english lace and french chantilly lace, over ivory and white satin gazar {a sheer, lightweight silk organza with a glaze-like sheen and moderate stiffness}; individual flowers were hand cut from lace and hand-engineered onto the ivory silk tulle to create the design, which features rose, thistle, daffodil, and shamrocks, the national flowers of england, ireland, scotland, and wales; 58 gazar & organza covered buttons ran up the back




the eight-tiered royal wedding cake was decorated with 900 delicate sugar-paste flowers, including 17 different blooms and foliage for their meaning and symbolism, known as the language of flowers


the veil was made of layers of ivory silk tulle and trimmed with hand-embroidered flowers, sewn on by the royal school of needlework at hampton court palace



the bridal bouquet included myrtle, lily-of-the-valley, hyacinth and sweet william blooms; in keeping with royal tradition, stems from a myrtle planted by queen victoria in 1845 were also added; according to tradition, the bouquet of a royal bride will be left on the tomb of the unknown solider in westminster abbey; the late queen mother began the ritual by leaving her wedding bouquet at the grave in 1923 in memory of her brother, fergus, who was killed in the first world war






. . . and of course, with all of this week's talk of tiaras . . . kate's 'something borrowed' was the cartier halo tiara, made in 1936 and purchased by king george VI for his wife queen elizabeth {the queen mother} three weeks before he succeeded his brother as king; the tiara was presented to princess elizabeth, now the queen, by her mother on the occasion of her 18th birthday; the new princess catherine matched the tiara with earrings by robinson pelham, a gift from her parents inspired by the new middleton coat of arms

{p.s.} for the royal wedding reception, catherine changed into a second alexander mcqueen gown, and her sister pippa changed out of the stunning mcqueen into temperley london


{credits: one | two | three | four | five | six | seven | eight | nine | ten | eleven}

Royal Wedding

Did you all watch the Royal Wedding? I didn't want to face the crowds in central London, so I stayed at home to watch it on television and baked Royal Wedding themed cupcakes instead. I almost cried watching the ceremony! The best part was when you could lip-read William telling Kate that she looked beautiful when she first walked up to the altar. So cute. I then attended our street party in the afternoon. I loved all the bunting, amazing outfits, red and white food and happy atmosphere.

xx

Nicole at Koko & Palenki

Koko & Palenki, South Florida’s trend-setting boutique, teamed up with Nicole Richie for an afternoon of style.
Yesterday, April 29, Koko & Palenki’s Aventura Mall store hosted the designer, who signed autographs and showcased new pieces from her spring line of House of Harlow 1960.
Nicole opted for a pair of flared jeans, a Winter Kate "Clementine" cami, a Winter Kate "Iris" draped vest and House of Harlow 1960 jewelry.








source: 944

William & Kate: The Official Wedding Portraits

Kate and William left Buckingham Palace by helicopter,

off to an undisclosed location. Apparently they're putting

off the official honeymoon for awhile according to a

statement released by Clarence House.

Photo Credit: Hugo Burnand

Courtesy of the British Monarchy

And the couple, looking happy and relaxed, leaving Buckingham Palace...

Kate in a dress from Zara and her trusty L.K. Bennett wedges

Nicole is enjoying the sun in Miami

Nicole Richie was photographed enjoying the Miami sun at a luxury hotel's pool, on Friday, April 29.

Weekend Eye Candy - Versace, 1991

From Spring 1991, Atelier Versace mini dress and coat in seashell printed silk.  I wish we had a better view of what must be some fantastic buttons at the sleeve cuffs!

{décor inspiration: tufted pink & carrera}

". . . chests draped in cloth served as dressing tables until early in the eighteenth century, when tables de toilette, known also as poudreuses, made their debut" . . . dressing tables seem to be a recurring theme lately, especially mirrored ones {also here}, but elegantly draped and ruffled is also lovely {and really quite wonderfully romantic}, especially when surrounded by floor-to-ceiling carrera, alongside grand archways, and beneath a nineteenth-century silvered french chandelier . . . also quite adore the pink rhinestone-tufted vanity stool in luxurious dusky pink fabric from lelièvre, paris, and spectacularly trimmed in rhinestones . . .

{p.s.} the rhinestone trim is from m&j trimmings, nyc & the art déco lamps are from a paris flea market


{photography by dan piassick, scan by this is glamorous from french impressions by betty lou phillips; quote also from french impressions}

Kate's Second McQueen: The Duchess of Cambridge's Wedding Night Party Dress

Kate Middleton--I guess now Catherine, Duchess of Cambridge--was snapped leaving Clarence House on the way to Buckingham Palace for wedding night festivities. Kate had changed out of her lace gown and, literally, let her hair down. Kate was seen wearing a second Alexander McQueen design, a strapless floor-length satin gazar gown with a jewelled waist and which she accessorized with a chic, cropped anogra sweater. Camilla, also seen here, switched out her Anna Valentine day suit for a blue, high-necked dress from the same designer. [via]

[via]

What do you think of Kate's second wedding day look?

A tanned Pippa Middleton heads off to the evening

 wedding reception wearing Temperley London. [via]

The Royal Wedding.

 

{via: msnbc}

 

What a beautiful, brilliant, wonderful wedding.

Here's to many happy years to come for Wills & Kate.

Cheers!

xo-

p.s. More to share about the royal day soon... as for now, it's off to bed. I am fighting a mighty stubborn cold. haroomph.

All About The Royal Wedding

After months of speculation, and some overnight frenzy after a hooded figure identified as Sarah Burton by her belt and ballet flats was seen entering The Gorin Hotel, we got confirmation as to the designer of Kate Middleton's wedding gown. And more importantly what the gown itself looked like.

The gown is indeed an Alexander McQueen, designed by the house's creative director Sarah Burton. I'm sure in the days and  weeks to come many will applaud Kate for her fashion forward choice of designer. Not that her dress was trendy. I'd expected long sleeves, or at the very least covered shoulders, as that seems to be de rigueur in royal circles.

Not surprisingly Kate Middleton's wedding dress was classic and elegant. My first thought was that it was quite an homage to that other legendary commoner bride, Grace Kelly.

Before I say anything else I want to make it clear that I think Kate Middleton, the new Duchess of Cambridge, looked beautiful. I think the lace was classic and I loved the corset bodice (how

tiny did her waist look?!) and that gorgeous flowing skirt. Glamorous and regal without being too OTT.

I also loved Kate's choice for veil and tiara.

Sarah Burton Adjusting Kate's Skirt

Still, it would have been nice if the top of Kate's dress didn't so closely resemble Princess Grace's. I know there are differences--Grace's was higher, more covered with those tiny little buttons--and I also know how hard to make a truly unique wedding dress, but I would have thought they would have stayed away from similarities with a wedding dress that famous. I also found it to have some similarities to Princess Margaret's wedding dress. 

Peter Phillips' Wife Autumn Kelly: Another Royal Bride Who Chose Lace

Regardless Prince William's bride looked beautiful, composed and best of all happy. And, really, there isn't anything better to wear on your wedding day than a smile--and maybe a diamond tiara donated to the cause by the Queen.

According to Clarence House the dress featured English Cluny and French Chantilly lace "hand-worked in the Irish Carrickmacross needlework tradition." As for the design "individual flowers have been hand-cut from lace and hand-engineered onto ivory silk tulle to create a unique and organic design, which incorporates the rose, thistle, daffodil and shamrock."

Kate's tiara is the "halo" Cartier tiara (I've also heard it referred to as the Scroll) that originally belonged to the Queen Mother and was given to Queen Elizabeth on her 18th birthday.

The 'halo' tiara through the years - Queen Mum, Princesses Margaret and
Anne, and now Catherine, the Duchess of Cambridge via theroyalforums.com

I think it was a perfect choice for Kate. As for those diamond earrings? They were inspired by the acorn featured on the new Middleton family coat of arms.

Kate's shoes were also McQueen--as was sister Pippa's

dress--and were made of "ivory duchesse satin with lace hand-

embroidered by the Royal School of Needlework."

The bouquet, meanwhile was described as "a shield-shaped wired bouquet of myrtle, lily-of-the-valley, sweet William and hyacinth. The bouquet was designed by Shane Connolly and draws on the traditions of flowers of significance for the Royal Family, the Middleton family and on the Language of Flowers."

I love lily of the valley for a bridal bouquet.

What did you think of Kate's wedding look?

And I wonder if she's got more dresses in

store for the other parties...

I think the best part of the day was seeing how genuine Kate and William seem with one another. One of my favourite moments was when Kate was walking towards the altar and William had his back turned. Prince Harry stole a look and reportedly told his brother with a grin, "Wait 'til you see her." Instamelt. For more lip reading check out this article.

Then when William did see Kate he couldn't help leaning over and telling her how beautiful she looked. Repeatedly. Even during the ceremony there were knowing glances and sly smiles.

You can tell that these two were friends first and it seems

like a true love match. I just really hope they can go the distance.

As for that much awaited balcony kiss? The adoring crowds were treated to not one but two smooches. And I was really surprised not so much with the size of the crowds but their enthusiasm. Seriously, the way they were screaming when Wills and Harry were on their way to the Abbey you'd think the princes were rock stars. I doubt the British monarchy has seen this much good will in ages. I just hope the popularity of William and Kate doesn't impede them starting a normal, stable life together.

Once I get a chance I'd like to do a post on some of the wedding fashion like Victoria Beckham in...Victoria Beckham, custom Louboutins and a stewardess-inspired Philip Treacy fascinator that appeared to be adorned with a corkscrew. Or Chelsy Davy in Alberta Ferretti (a bit of a hot mess), the Princess Beatrice and Eugenie (how unfortunate is that blue getup?), Princess Laetitia of Spain, Sam Cameron in a bejewelled Erdem headband worthy of Blair Waldorf and more...Until then, enjoy some royal wedding cake!

I'd love to hear your thoughts on the royal wedding...did you watch?

Wedding Photos: Getty via
windsorknot.today.com, fashionista.com, people.com, vanityfair.com, OK!