Milly Opens Her Doors, & You Can Pre-Order Your Kate Middleton Wedding Gown (Pippa’s Too!)

Happy almost-weekend to everyone.

We are all about Friday fun today, beginning with nice news for those of us fond of Milly.

Milly New York

The company’s first store has opened.

Kyle Ericksen/WWD

Located at Madison and 73rd, this is the first physical store for Michelle Smith and company.  Eagle-eyed shoppers may have noted the presence of handbags in the photo above, a fairly new addition for the designer.  We are partial to the Sailboat Tote and the Rope Tweed Milly bag.

Milly New York

The store also has the new Mini Milly collection, and a shoe collection launches next year. There is talk of adding other product lines as well, Women’s Wear Daily has the story:

““Maybe we’ll do home, stationary and candles, but those may be a year out,” he said.

The gentleman quoted is the designer’s husband and company CEO, Andy Oshrin. It’s no secret we do like Milly, the notion of an even broader merchandise mix is very appealing.

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The anchor motif seen above reminded us of the cutest bloomers we have seen in along time:

Rikshaw Design

These are from Rikshaw Design, a delightful firm specializing in hand-printed fabrics, started by the very talented Catherine Fitzsimmons in 2008. It’s obvious why we appreciate Ms. Fitzsimmon’s work, she previously worked for two companies we appreciate, she was a textile designer for Pottery Barn and also worked as a merchandiser for Ralph Lauren.  Below, several of the Bib and Burp Sets.

Rikshaw Designs

The bedding is also darling.

Rikshaw Design

The 100% cotton textiles and hand-quilting make the pieces special, there are also a variety of tunics and sundresses available for Mom.

Rikshaw Design

It is always nice to see new entrepreneurial endeavors, we wish Ms. Fitzsimmons the best.

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Those who follow the Hollywood scene know we are in the first week of the Cannes.

Festival de Cannes

Angelina Jolie and Jack Black were on hand to promote Kung Fu Panda.

Joel Ryna/AP

Last night the stars were out for the big bash hosted jointly by the IFP (Independent Filmmaker Project), Calvin Klein Collection and Calvin Klein Euphoria. Below, model Natalia Vodianova and Uma Thurman (who is serving as a judge this year), both wearing Calvin Klein Collection.

PHOTO: Stephane Feugere©

Earlier this week Diane Kruger also was spotted in Calvin Klein Collection for the Sleeping Beauty première.

PacificCoastNews.com

We do enjoy looking at party frocks!

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Finally, good news for brides-to-be wanting a CopyKate gown similar to the Sarah Burton creation worn by Kate Middleton for her marriage to Prince William.  Remember that dress being done by ABS/Allen B. Schwartz?

It will soon be at Lord and Taylor, as well as ABS copies of the dress worn by Ms. Middleton for her evening reception, and the now-infamous Pippa Middleton gown.  Below, an image from the Lord & Taylor Wedding Shop website.

Via LordandTaylor.com

Racked.com has more:

“The dresses are scheduled to arrive in the department store’s Fifth Avenue flagship, Garden State stores, and on LordandTaylor.com in mid-July.

We did speak with L&T, they are taking pre-orders for the dresses now, the number to call is 212-391-3287.   The prices for the gowns are as follows:

• the daytime gown will be $950;
• the evening reception dress will be $450;
• the bridemaid dress worn by Pippa Middleton will be $390

For a look at the version being done for Nordstrom, just click here. That dress won’t be available until September, it will run $698 USD.

With that, may everyone enjoy a restful weekend.

That Party at the Palace, Official Photos Released

Hugo Burnand

Hello, and welcome to another wedding-filled day here at The Prepatorium.

We thought we’d start things off with a look at the official photo by master photographer Hugo Burnand. Above, the actual wedding party is shown in the Throne Room; in addition to the Prince and Princess, we see Margarita Armstrong-Jones, Miss Eliza Lopes, Miss Grace van Cutsem, Lady Louise Windsor, Master Tom Pettifer, Master William (Billy) Lowther-Pinkerton. (To see all three formal photos, click here to visit the official Royal Wedding site.)

There are very few photos from yesterday’s wedding receptions, below we see the Duchess greeting guests.

WPA Pool/Getty Images Europe

Here is another shot giving a better view of her gown.

WPA Pool/Getty Images Europe

As most readers know, there were two receptions.  The bride and groom looked elegant as they headed out for last night’s party.

PA

One might say they looked downright glamorous leaving Clarence House for Buckingham Palace.

Dan Kitwood/Getty Images

Kate wore another Sarah Burton/Alexander McQueen design, a strapless white satin gown with a diamente rhinestone belt and white angora shrug, or bolero.

Getty Images/PA

The gala was officially hosted by Prince Charles and his wife, Camilla. Her hand-embroidered blue gown was another style by Anna Valentine, who also did her dress for the wedding.

Getty Images

A crowd favorite yesterday, Kate’s sister and Maid of Honour, Pippa Middleton.  She chose a rich green Alice Temperley gown for the second reception.

Photos via The Daily Mirror

On her feet she wore a silver sandal by Aruna Seth, the “Lynn” style in silver leather with a 4″ heel.

Courtesy Photo Aruna Seth

The shoe is still available as of this writing (click the link above), although we expect it to sell out very quickly.

Bauer-Griffin

A quick note on Pippa’s McQueen dress that had everyone talking yesterday.

Reuters (L) / Getty Images (R)

Many have said it is the same gown worn by Cameron Diaz to the Golden Globes in 2009.

Courtesy Photo

While similar in fabric and cut (the exaggerated cowl neckline and drape of the skirt are very much alike), it is not the same gown.  Carole Middleton, Kate and Pippa’s mother, also wore Temperley last night, a black chiffon dress.

Erotme.Co.UK

The dress featured multiple tiers of pleated fabric and a deep v-neckline.

Not taking part in last night’s festivities, the Queen and Prince Phillip, they turned the Palace over to “the younger people”.  Below we see Prince Harry headed home after the festivities.

Splash News

If keeping track of such things, Harry’s guest Chelsea Davy did not leave with him. She departed with Princesses Eugenie and Beatrice. (Oh my!)

For the Middletons, things started getting back to a new normal for the family today, below we see the family as they left the Goring Hotel.

Ian Gavan/Getty Images

Pippa was in a royal blue double-breasted jacket over a cream top and white jeans.

Getty Images/Reuters

For the newlyweds there was a change in plans. The much-discussed honeymoon has been postponed, they are merely taking a two-day weekend before Prince William returns to work in Wales.

AP Photo

Above we see them on the lawns of Buckingham Palace this morning.

PA Photo

Kate wore a deep blue dress with a black belt and a black three-quarter sleeve jacket.  They left on a helicopter for an undisclosed location, some think it may be Balmoral, the Queen’s estate in Scotland.

We leave you with two other official photographs shot yesterday by Hugo Burnand, first TRH, the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge in their formal portrait.

Hugo Burnand

And then this image of the larger wedding party.

Hugo Burnand

Here are the names of those shown in the official portrait above (left to right): : Front row (left to right): Miss Grace van Cutsem, Miss Eliza Lopes, HRH The Duke of Edinburgh, HM The Queen, The Hon. Margarita Armstrong-Jones, Lady Louise Windsor, Master William Lowther-Pinkerton. Back Row (left to right): Master Tom Pettifer, HRH The Duchess of Cornwall, HRH The Prince of Wales, HRH Prince Henry of Wales, Mr Michael Middleton, Mrs Michael Middleton, Mr James Middleton, Miss Philippa Middleton.

Thank you for popping in, enjoy the rest of your weekend!

She Wore McQueen & Cartier, Prince Harry to William: “Wait ’til You See Her”

What a truly splendid wedding.

Referred to as an “act of faith in a world of doubt” this morning’s wedding had us all a-Twitter, literally. The internet crackled with questions we all had: was Kate Middleton wearing a tiara? Who made the dress? What did it look like? Miss Middleton’s secret was kept successfully, even when seeing the bride with her father on the way to Westminster Abbey we couldn’t decipher who created her gown.

AFP/Getty Images

One could almost hear a collective intake of breath when seeing Miss Middleton emerge from the Queen’s Rolls Royce.  This was the shot that wowed the world.

Ben Stansall/AFP/Getty Images

The Alexander McQueen gown was designed by Sarah Burton. It was exquisite.

Getty Images

The dress was both ivory and white, incorporating hand-cut English lace and French Chantilly lace, appliqued by hand. The work was done by artisans from the Royal School of Needlework, based at Hampton Court Palace. (Psst, they offer day classes!)

Getty Images

From the Palace news release:

“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.”

Some of us immediately thought of Grace Kelly’s gown, with its similar use of lace and high neck, tasteful and elegant.

EPA (L), Sipa Press/Rex Features (R)

Prince William wore the uniform of Colonel of the Irish Guards. He is commissioned in all three armed services, but the Army’s honorary Irish Guards position is his highest military title. The best man, his brother Prince Harry,wore the uniform of Captain of the Household Cavalry, also called the Blues and Royals.

Paul Rogers/Pool/The Times/AP Photo

Kate’s sister Pippa did a masterful job managing the train, almost 9′ long.

Ben Stansall/AFP/Getty Images

More on the dress from the news release:

“The ivory satin bodice, which is narrowed at the waist and padded at the hips, draws on the Victorian tradition of corsetry and is a hallmark of Alexander McQueen’s designs.  The back is finished with 58 gazar and organza covered buttons fastened by Rouleau loops.”

Via AOL's Royal Wedding

The veil needed to be simple and it was.  Made of ivory silk tulle, there were no gathers, it wasn’t hooped, just flat, allowing the focus to be on the bride and her gown.

Getty Images

The tiara was by Cartier, loaned to the bride by the Queen, definitely fitting the ‘something borrowed’ category.

AP Television News

‘Something new’ came in the form of a gift from her parents, diamond drop earrings shaped like oak leaves with a pave diamond acorn suspended in the middle. Pippa wore a similar pair, both pair were made by Robinson Pelham, and said to be inspired by the Middleton family’s new coat of arms, which includes oak leaves and acorns.

The bride’s wedding ring was made from Welsh gold by Wartski, an upscale jeweler and antiques firm located in Mayfair. The ring was crafted from a piece of Welsh gold given to the couple by the Queen.

AP Television News

Using Welsh gold for wedding rings is a royal tradition going back almost a century. Wartski is no stranger to Royal commissions, they made Prince Charles and Camilla Parker Bowles’ wedding rings.

One of the more intriguing questions, “What did Harry say to William?” was answered by The Telegraph, they used a lipreader, evidently he whispered “Wait ’til you see her”.

And William’s words to Kate?

““You look beautiful…Yes, it looks fantastic, it’s beautiful…”

Via The News (Portsmouth, UK)

(Please give us a moment to gather ourselves and find another hankie.)

Pippa Middleton was also busy with the other wedding attendants.

Associated Press

The bridesmaids included Grace van Cutsem, Eliza Lopes, Lady Louise Windsor, and Margarita Armstrong-Jones.

Paul Rogers/WPA Pool/Getty

The young page boys and bridesmaids were darling. Young Master Pettifer seemed to be enjoying himself enormously.

PHOTO:Getty Images

Below, Lady Louise Windsor and Margarita Armstrong-Jones.

Dan Kitwood/Getty Images

Their dresses were made from the same fabric as the wedding gown, and embroidered with their names and the date. We liked their satin flats.

Some have said the Maid of Honour stole the show. She was also in McQueen.

Reuters (L) / Getty Images (R)

The chic and elegant gown was surprisingly close in color to her sister’s white and ivory dress. While absolutely beautiful, we think the focus remained where it was supposed to be, on the bride. Below, Pippa beams with two of her young charges as they head to the Palace following the ceremony.

Sean Gallup/Getty Images

The couple are not only well-suited temperamentally, but also physically.

Press Association

The service itself was lovely, with the British pomp and pageantry that has been perfected over the centuries.

Press Association

The crowds waiting for the traditional balcony appearance were enormous.

Oli Scarff/Getty Images

They were not disappointed.

The Daily Mail

All in all, it was an extraordinary event, to some degree because getting from here…

PHOTO: Reuters

To here….

PA via The Daily Mail

…is an amazing accomplishment. Doing so as the whole world watches is remarkable.

John Stillwell/Pool/AP

The gown was precisely what it needed to be: breathtaking and understated, with an elegance that will stand the test of time. Classic and contemporary at the same time, it was ‘very Kate’.

After the balcony appearance and the early reception, the couple made a surprise appearance.

Matt Dunham/AP

Who do you think decorated the car?

Christoper Furlong/Getty Images

In opening his homily, the Bishop of London quoted St. Catherine of Siena: ““Be who God meant you to be and you will set the world on fire.”

We can only hope that is true for the couple as they move forward. It seems they have made a significant step on that path. Echoing what we said earlier this morning on Twitter, I think we all needed a fairy tale. We got that this morning. 

We’ll have more later on what other people wore to the wedding, the hits and misses (oh my, there were some fashion faux pas!), and there will also be more later on WhatKateWore.

Until then, may the sun be shining on your corner of the globe!

A Tale of Two Stories, Bridal Party Designer Revealed, Tonight’s Royal Gala

Today’s post is a challenge.

We can’t simply revel in fun and frivolity while ignoring the other news of the day.

Dusty Compton/The Tuscaloosa News/AP

Having personal experience with tornadoes when covering news, we can only say that written descriptions are inadequate.

International Business Times/AP Photo

Above, images from Tuscaloosa last night.

The atmosphere after a tornadic event is beyond explanation, well beyond weird or eerie or any other term I can think of.  The best I can say is it is quiet.  There is an odd silence and the air itself feels funny. Below, north of Centreville, Alabama last night.

Tony Laubach/TornadoesKick.com

People come slowly out of whatever shelter remains, asking “Is it gone? Is it over?”

Gary Cosby, Jr./The Decatur Daily/AP

A few will come out running, racing to find those they love.

Bernard Troncale/Birmingham News/AP

Or those they don’t know at all.

Jeff Roberts/AP Photo/Birmingham News

When the event comes at night one is even more unsteady, there is no sound, no light, no nothing. Only the sound of generators, once they kick in, for those that have them.

Jeff Roberts/Birmingham News/AP

Daylight brings painful realities.

Jeff Roberts/Birmingham News/AP

Our thoughts and prayers are with all those impacted by this disaster.

Dave Martin/AP Photo

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We move on to events across the pond, where it is has been a day filled with last-minute rehearsals, comings and goings, smiles and glad-handing, and this evening’s gala for the out-of-town royals.

The day started with one more walk-through at Westminster Abbey; Prince Harry and Kate Middleton were on hand but Prince William did not participate.

Enigma via The Daily Mail

Young attendants took part in the rehearsal as well, below we see 8-year-old Tom Pettifer, one of the page boys, and Lady Louise Windsor, aged 7, she is the daughter of The Earl and Countess of Wessex (aka Prince Edward and his wife Sophie).

Roland Hoskins/The Daily Mail

We do know the young ladies will be wearing dresses by Nicki Macfarlane, below we see designs from the designer’s 2010/2011 collections.  (Be advised if thinking about checking this site, it seems to be melting down from the increased traffic.)

Nicki MacFarlane Courtesy Image

Ms. Macfarlane has done bespoke dresses for some time, only recently did she start offering RTW (ready to wear) designs. Below, another look at Young Master Pettifer and Miss Windsor.

Eddie Mulholland/The Telegraph

We see Pippa Middleton below, holding the hand of Grace van Cutsem, on the right William (Billy) Lowther-Pinkerton heads into the rehearsal.

Roland Hoskins

We don’t know if the third young bridesmaid, Eliza Lopes, was at this morning’s run-through or not. We show her below in images from an earlier post on the wedding party.

Via The Daily Mail

In addition to hearing about the wedding party’s attire, we are learning what some of the more notable guests will be wearing.  Prince Harry’s guest, Chelsy Davy, will be in two dresses by Alberta Ferretti, for the wedding she will wear aqua with a matching jacket, and for tomorrow night’s party at the palace, a midnight blue one-shouldered design.

Courtesy Alberta Ferretti

The Duchess of Cornwall will wear a creation by Anna Valentine, the designer of the dress for her marriage to Prince Charles.

Getty Images

The Duchess was out and about this afternoon, greeting those camped out on the mall.

Getty Images

Throughout the day the bride, her family and others involved in tomorrow’s events have been smiling, looking quite relaxed.

WENN.com

John Nguyen

This evening the family is safely ensconced at their hotel, below the Middleton ladies arrive at the Goring, left to right, Pippa, Carole, and Kate.

Chris Eads/Reuters

Perhaps one of the most important items brought into the hotel today:

Rex Features via The Telegraph

A sewing machine. Brilliant.

Oh, the groom? He did a walkabout this evening, greeting those gathered on the processional route.

AP Television News

While the Middletons are settled in at The Goring, others are at the Mandarin Oriental for tonight’s big dinner.  The Queen was in periwinkle blue, on the right we see Prince Charles and Camilla.

Prince Edward and Sophie, she looked lovely in red.

Glyn Kirk/AFP/Getty

We have a slight concern about the frock Princess Beatrice selected, parts of it look awfully… shiny. Perhaps this is merely an unfortunate camera angle.

Luke MacGregor/Reuters

Others at the gala, Prince Pavlos and Princess Marie Chantal of Greece, on the right we see Prince Daniel and Crown Princess Victoria of Sweden.

Getty Images

A favorite with the fashion crowd, Princess Letizia is seen in an elegant grey sleeveless gown, husband Prince Felipe is seen on the left, Queen Sofia is on the right.

Chris Jackson/Getty Images

Another look at Princess Letizia’s gown, simply stunning.

Pascal Le Segretain/Getty Images

We leave you with two things today, the first, another photo from the couple’s shoot with Mario Testino.

Mario Testino

That is the image on the official program.(You can look at the program here.)

The other is the music you will when all is said and done, and the couple turns, and heads up the aisle and out of the abbey.  

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ADDITIONAL PHOTO CREDITS:

• PAUL ELLIS/AFP/Getty

“Preppy Kate Middleton,” Blake Lively Goes Red

Hello-hello, and welcome to a Wednesday.  Things are a tad mad here at The Prepatorium, orders flying out the door, The Wedding less than 48 hours away, tornado warnings.

We begin with a quick look at a new hair color for Gossip Girl star Blake Lively.

Stephen Lovekin/Getty Images for TIME

The actress was sporting the new color at “TIME’S 100 Most Influential People In The World” party last night. Below, a closer look at the color and a shot of her with Seth Myer.

Getty Images

The color change is for a film role, the stunning gown is by Zuhair Murad. Unfortunately it seems the long train was a challenge, more from NY Mag’s The Cut:

“Lively’s long silk chiffon train — apparently not intended for fast maneuvering — had become ensnared under the foot of none other than ubiquitous party photographer (and dear friend of New York) Patrick McMullan.

…McMullan, oblivious, walked away — with the train still stuck to his shoe. A second later, Lively’s train had left her gown and was trailing along after McMullan like a four-foot piece of aqua silk chiffon toilet paper. Martha Stewart was the first to recognize the problem. “Patrick!” she demanded. “Give her back her train!” McMullan, still oblivious, turned around and gasped, “Oh, I seem to have stepped on some lady’s train!”

One more celebrity sighting we want to share in honor of a few friends (as always, you know who you are, heh-heh-heh), Mad Men star Jon Hamm was spotted at last night’s Lakers game.

Lucy Nicholson/Reuters

Also seen at the game, actors Jeremy Piven and David Beckham.

Lucy Nicholson/Reuters

For those wondering why we are mentioning Mr. Piven, Mr. Beckham or the Lakers, three subjects previously not discussed in this space, it is an effort to make a segue to our primary topic, as Mr. Beckham must surely be on his way east for Friday’s festivities.

He is escorting his wife Victoria to The. Wedding.

As you might imagine, last-minute details and photos are now ricocheting around the interwebs at a maddening rate. We are at that point in the process where we have more photos of… people taking photos.

Paul Ellis/AFP/Getty Images

Many of the more recent photographs are shot from far, far away.

Toby Melville/Reuters

Above we could not possibly see Prince William, Kate Middleton and Prince Harry arrive for the final rehearsal at Westminster Abbey.

Yesterday’s Guardian has an outstanding story, “Kate Middleton: William’s very private princess-to-be”:

“A slick press team and loyal friends have preserved Middleton’s mystique in the runup to the royal wedding, but plenty can be gleaned from what is not said”

Writer Patrick Barkham traces Miss Middleton’s background and the major influences in her life thus far. When talking about her style he writes:

“Salons in New York have reported customers asking for “a Kate” cut and her preppy look is credited with inspiring a Sloane revival. “

It isn’t the first time the bride has been described as possessing a ‘preppy style’ aesthetic.  The story shares an interesting fact:

“Middleton dresses herself “without any advice or input from the palace”, according to the royal source, and her style has attracted attention around the world.”

We don’t imagine that lack of input from the Palace will remain the case down the road.

This morning there was a full-scale dress rehearsal with the military, starting well before sunup.

Darren Staples/Reuters

Exactly how we’ll look come Friday.

Darren Staples/Reuters via MSNBC

The Tornado flyby is scheduled for 1:30pm (London time), the pilots also rehearsed today.

EPA via The Daily Mail

The decorating of the Abbey and environs also continues apace, below, a photo from The British Monarchy’s flickr photo pages.

The British Monarchy Flickr

A reminder, anyone can look at The Monarchy’s pictures, just click here.

A few more photos surfaced this afternoon.

JNVisuals via The Daily Mail

Above, the bride’s sister Pippa (also her Maid of Honour) and Carole Middleton head into London.

Next, a picture that has really started tongues wagging.

JNVisuals via The Daily Mail

Here’s why, from the Mail:

“…there was a sheaf of paper visible in the back seat of the car that included a passage from an unrecognised work.

While many of the words were obscured, it read in part: ‘With so much love within our hearts.’  While the passage could be from a separate reading, it opens the possibility that they have followed the example of many young couples and written their own vows for their special day.”

The Daily Mail

The only thing we can add is that the typeface does look like it is prompter size. We also noted Miss Middleton is in heavier makeup, we presume today also included lighting and makeup test shots.

Later today the bride was carrying things into Clarence House.

PHOTOS: Splash via The Daily Mail

Lots of things have also been moved into the family headquarters for the next several days, the Goring Hotel.

Chris Eades via The Daily Mail

The location is under continual police protection, there have been comings and goings all day.

PHOTOS: Splash News (L) and Chris Eades (R)

But this has to be our favorite photo of the day.

Andrew Winning/Reuters

The Queen was visiting Cambridge earlier today, doesn’t she look splendid?

Here are a few other places to visit:

• The British Monarchy Facebook
• Clarence House on Twitter
• The Official Royal Wedding website

Until tomorrow, g’bye.