vive le beau prince! vive la belle princesse! a fairytale beginning...

Them: tired, happy, smiling, married.
Me: tired, happy, packed up and heading for airport, reflective.
This has been an amazing experience, and I still have a few of those jellybeans left, which I will save for the plane ride home.

The cameraman who's related to the nice British lady I met in New York emailed me a link to some footage of scenes from The Wedding, and if you look just behind and to the left of the tall gentleman in the stately African robes, you can glimpse the top of my fascinator:


http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Kav0FEhtLug&feature=player_embedded


Oh, well... now for the reflective part.

In real life (no ridiculously expensive tickets, no invitation delivered by Bunny, no silly headgear), Kate has an amazing opportunity to work towards fixing many of the things that may have puzzled and hurt her as a young girl:  why are those people fighting? why do those babies on the TV look so sick and sad? why are those people so wet and tired and hungry-looking? why is that school such a tumble-down hovel? why is that woman crying? why is that factory closed? She may do this by serving on a board or on a committee, by supporting products and concepts, or by just showing up. We are all superficial creatures, and if our attention is attracted first to the cute and the pretty, if that directs our attention to the need for us to love and care for and help one another, then I say, Go for it, Kate! Today is not the end of the fairytale, today is the beginning.

London at last!

What a scene! I am a wreck from the flight! Expected extra security and crowds Passport Control, but they were completely overwhelmed, and I guess one thing about looking old and tired (from the flight!  from the flight! plus I am retaining water from some weird kind of airline food-substitute party mix) is that you also look Highly Respectable. So when I hemmed and hawed about where I was staying, they didn't blink, just waved me on.

Actually I am crashing with a friend who always stays at an hotel (note British usage) just across the street from Harvey Nichols. As if I'd be able to shop in this excitement. Here is a shot from the hotel window. Fortunately she arrived yesterday so she just met me in the lobby and walked me up. I will have the sofa, which is more than I had hoped for. 

Now must get unpacked, fast refreshing shower,  and a little snooze before it's time to roll! I could wish for more time here, but the city is so full of celebrators that most of the time would be spent standing in queues (more British usage).  Will just have a jellybean, arrange headgear doodads for final cull, and relax.

wedding update -travel arrangements

have booked overnight flight (and return) from Newark Airport to LHR, will arrive tomorrow morning, and given expected traffic into town from airport, will be at hotel in time to rest.  High cost of transport precludes fine dining; plan to subsist on Pret-à-Manger sandwiches. Also precludes further major investment in outfit. Picked up gloves last night. Note that my jacket did not photograph well, it's a pale golden peach that tones in nicely with the yellow background of the dress. First thing this a.m., visited M&J Trimmings on Sixth Avenue at (about) 38th Street, which is one of the best places in town to pick up ornamentation for wearables and stuff to attach with. My elderly gentlewomen advisors have counseled against fascinators, but I can decide at last minute: bringing a clip (fascinator base) as well as an off-the-face straw hat, and will spend Thursday afternoon neurotically adding/subtracting flowers, feathers, leaves and small creatures first from one, then the other.

Here is how to make a fascinator:
http://www.dailycandy.com/all-cities/video/101332/Eugenia-Kim-Makes-a-Wedding-Headpiece

Now to close carry-on, count to 10, and head for Port Authority Bus Terminal for cheap shuttle bus to airport. I meant it about the cost of those tickets (just because my invitation arrived by unusual means doesn't mean I can sprout wings and flutter overseas!)

Oh, and I put a mobile blogging app on my Iphone, so you may see some bulletins from The Smoke (note old-fashioned British usage).

wedding update: more fascinators, and fred makes some decisions

I walked past Kokin this morning and stopped, frozen, at the sight of the wonderful fascinators in the window. What can I say? I was indeed fascinated. I haven't bit yet, because I don't know what my plane fare will cost, and I may have to go back to the plan in which I complete the headgear on the plane. But I couldn't resist sharing these. Kokin is on ThirdAvenue, on the west side of the street, just below East 79th Street.

Meanwhile, some more decisions: toenails, British Racing Green by Butter London.
Fingers, Barefoot and Topless by Essie. Scent: Jour de Fête by L'Artisan Parfumeur (but only a little, since the Abbey will be crowded and the football reception will be worse).
Underpinnings: none of your business! Gloves: white, required, will purchase tomorrow. Shoes: still working on this. Handbag: ditto - I know HRH carries an empty handbag but at minimum I have to have a passport and cabfare with me at all times when I travel.
            Why does She carry an empty handbag? Why, to encourage patronage of the British handbag industry, of course.


            I am very closely checking the labels of everything, and I must say it is very difficult to find an entire, coordinated outfit in which each piece is made in the USA.

or a combination small hat / fascinator?

While hunting for a pair of shoes I knew I had, I found my glue gun! I think this is the look that I will attempt...  I may omit the feather.

wedding update - in which Fred takes advice from 13 elderly British ladies (a coven)

Gracious, I didn't know there were so many elderly British ladies with dashed hopes for their granddaughters in New York! But what good sports they are, phoning, stopping by, offering advice and good wishes and helpful hints - kind of a reverse coven....  I have learned that guests will not be allowed to bring cellphones or cameras into the Abbey. But I have also learned that one of these kind and helpful ladies has a grandson whose partner is a BBC cameraman, so she's going to email him a picture of my outfit and with any luck I'll be identifiable in the pews. She advised bright colours (note the British spelling) for this purpose,  pointing out that it's not as if I'm going to be in the posed photographs. Cruel but practical. Also since I'm apparently not going to the formal (seated) dinner, but only to the "crush" with "passed things," she suggested practical footwear. Finally, dress and jacket (weather undependable), dress not tight-fitting since ceremony has a lot of standing up and sitting down and standing up again and so on.

I am in fact feeling a touch deprived at not having to go shopping. I had kind of looked forward to delicately hinting at the Very Special Occasion for which the outfit was required.  On the other hand, what's more American than Ingenuity? That will  be the theme of my outfit.  I didn't get anywhere researching our national dress. Have no intention of showing up in jeans and regional t-shirt. And I will have to buy or create a hat in a hurry. I may wind up putting flowers on hat with baggie twistems on the plane if I'm not lucky tomorrow. Here are my ideas for the Hat:

 I'm thinking pink, because I have no idea what the lighting will be like, and even though the day is not about me, I feel obligated to Make An Effort. Pink always helps. I actually have a pink hat like the one above, so could add some organdie and some flowers...

I will post a picture of the dress tomorrow.  And the jacket. Both are vintage (which in Fred-speak means I bought them a while ago and couldn't part with them and finally remembered where I put them). Worried about shoes. Nothing makes you look old like shoes that hurt your feet!

Transportation - don't want to take a chance with flying standby, too late to do anything with mileage, thinking of signing on with a temp agency for flight staff to get over there, and worrying about getting back after the event. Hotel: well, I'll just have to use all the money I won't be spending on shopping!

wedding update - at last the invitation arrives!

well, first, my Invitation has finally arrived. Thought you'd be relieved, I know I was. To my surprise, it did not arrive by mail, by international courier, or by special messenger.  But when I got up this morning, there on the doorstep were (1) a small bag of jellybeans and (2) an envelope.

The Bunny brought it. I'm certain it was he; who else would have thought to add jellybeans to a Royal Invitation?

Naturally I controlled myself and put the jellybeans aside to concentrate on getting the envelope open withoutruining the wax seal. Alas, I had not yet had coffee and so I consider myself lucky to have gotten the thing open without shredding it entirely.

I also did not expect a hand-written note from Kate, with "me too, WW ;-* " scribbled at the bottom and a smiley face from Kate.

Nevertheless, it is very clear that they are mortified that the more formal (suitable for framing) invitation somehow didn't arrive, which they intuited from the fact that I hadn't sent back the reply card, and so they were just very sweetly following up. I am touched, and of course this kind of thing could happen to anyone. No hard feelings here (although if I had been 100% absolutely certain of an invitation,  I wouldn't have cooked all those things with cream last week - hope I'll find something in closet that fits!)

Himself is most supportive and is rooting around in basement to see if he can find half a bottle of champagne.

Mantra for the next few days: represent America, no black, no white, no lace, nothing sparkly in hair, national dress always acceptable. What on earth is our national dress? I refuse to wear it if it's a hockey pinny. Also if it's a sequinned sweatshirt.

A very Happy Easter and joyous Passover to all!

Wedding outfit update

Had dinner with old friend and her aged aunt. Aged Aunt has v. strong opinions on -- well, actually, everything. Not favorably disposed toward fascinators. Dashing home to review closet contents. Apparently height of bad form to run out and purchase things for occasions. Oh, and must see if Himself has held on to any pins from college days.

One wears Decorations, if one has any. Must find Scout international friendship pin. Also hat must show face and reflect kindly, open disposition. To work, to work. Updates to continue.

Wait, was that a horse?

questionable item of the month

Some time ago, a certain Garmento was heard saying he'd like to sell $800 umbrellas. During this morning's romp through the web sites I visit (I know I'm running out of time to accessorize by mail order for my Wedding Outfit but I'm still checking for last minute inspirations), I observed that this gentlemen is about ⅔ of the way to achieving this worthy goal. I'm including a link as a reality check: but in case the item vanishes from the web site, or the link snaps, I have copied the product photo and the accompanying copy for your delectation. Et les voici:

Swaine Adeney Brigg racing umbrella

$515.00 item 39870

The newest import from the storied British leather goods label, whose world-class luggage, equestrian and travel accessories have been carried by Her Majesty the Queen and 007 himself. The famous Brigg umbrella is an Old World mix of exquisite materials and rarefied expertise. Made with a special two-piece construction and featuring a gold-plated collar with the Royal Warrant, a Malacca cane handle (sourced from the rattan palm), a birch shaft and an expansive nylon canopy with incredible tensile strength. In short, the Brigg has been engineered against London rain, the most formidable of weather foes. Beyond being a style statement par excellence, this extraordinary umbrella gives you the feeling of holding hundreds of years of history in your hands—and given its meticulous construction, we can assure you it will last for many more. Nylon twill canopy with Malacca cane wood handle. Length: 36 1/2".

Oh, yes, the Copywriter from Space is still with us. Do you really think Her Majesty carries her own luggage? or holds her own umbrella? Or presents her own passport? I didn't either.

Although I did find a shot of her mother holding an umbrella, so maybe the thought of HRH lugging heavy leather and metal suitcases is not so far-fetched after all. And I know just who might be moved to send her some luggage....

a peep at some new items at J.Crew, Madison Avenue

It's hard to go anywhere without stumbling into this store - 5 city buses stop almost in front of it, Grand Central Station with access to 4 or 5 subway lines plus all those commuter trains is a hop away - so whatever else I have to do in the area, I usually manage a peep.
Or two.

New merch out on the floor, not so many new ideas. For instance, the woolly romper from the April catalog has arrived


in festive springlike army green.

Sorry for the blur, this is the lovely green paisley print that was so admired in an early version in a Lookbook, and it makes up into a very pretty shirt indeed. Silk-cotton blend, long-ish sleeves. Nice.
Old news - skinny minis, puffy minis (by puffy I mean gathered waists with no waistband). Feh.

Did not like a gold lamé tee (synthetic) with poly lining.
Was hoping it might do to change into for one of the afterparties of the Royal Wedding but then realized that I would not be too fresh and dainty after wearing it on a warm day for 5 minutes.

I liked a short-sleeved silk tee, black & white stripes, thought it would be great with wide-legged whir pants, also under a black linen blazer, also with a red skirt -
even though I'm getting tired of stripes this looked fresh to me.

Was not thrilled to see more glittery sparkly stuff.


Enough already.

Lots of shorts in lots of colors. How cute they are is going to depend on how faithfully you did those squats and stretches this past winter. But you knew that.

That's all for now, have to call downstairs to doorman to check if Royal Messenger has arrived with Belated But Sincere Invitation.