Squandering a royal style opportunity

22.05.12

Tomorrow marks the one-year anniversary of “ that wedding ” or one year to the day since Kate Middleton became a fully-fledged fashion icon, inspiring products such as the perfume above and causing those of us on this side of the pond to wake up at the ungodly hour of 5am to find out who made the dress . The ensuing 12 months have been so closely watched, Time magazine recently chose not only the Duchess, but Alexander McQueen’s creative director Sarah Burton, aka the maker of the dress, as two of the 100 most influential people in the world. As they said of Kate and her sister Pippa: “Other women aim to dress like them, to emulate their easy athleticism and their more problematic slenderness.”

Which raises the question: what, exactly, are they emulating (besides the skinniness)? What exactly does the Duchess stand for, sartorially speaking?

Not much.

There’s no question she has been good for certain designers. When the Duchess sports a design, especially a High Street design, it sells out – and so do the many copies it inspires.

Source: Financial Times

Julie Andrews on princesses, children's books and her memorable film roles

22.05.12

Andrews, 76, is teaming up with Target and Disney to launch National Princess Week, which begins April 22 and is timed with the release of the book, part of the "Very Fairy Princess" series she co-writes with her daughter, Emma Walton Hamilton.

"I don't know if there's a child in the world that doesn't dream or hope maybe she's a princess, somewhere she could be, deep down," she told CBSNews.com.

The "Very Fairy Princess" books center around a little girl who believes she's a fairy princess because she feels she has a "certain sparkle" inside. But it's not just about the tiaras and gowns.

"Being a princess is not about looking beautiful, being elegant or anything surface-oriented," she explains. "It's what you feel inside, and about being generous and helpful and adventurous and creative."

That sentiment is something Andrews also sees in the "Princess Diaries" movies, which Disney is re-releasing on Blu-ray to mark the 10th anniversary of the first film.

Source: CBS News

George Tyndale: Beauty pageants for kids should be banned

22.05.12

But today, modesty and childhood innocence have gone out of the window.

The notion of the dreamy fairy tale princess has turned into a sexualised nightmare. The princess is exploited for cheap publicity and a quick buck by her pushy parents.

Take the Miss Mini Princess UK competition, which is being held in Leicester next month. This hideous kiddy pageant is open to girls aged from babies up to the grand old age of 13.

There is nothing wrong with bonny baby competitions, which have been a staple of family newspapers for generations. But the Miss Mini Princess event is of a very different, darker order.

It takes its inspiration from US child beauty pageants, which tells you everything you need to know about the organisers’ views on morality and taste.

The real problems begin with the so-called Little Princess category, which is for two and three year-olds.

In this group, young girls who are barely out of nappies will be encouraged to parade in public in bikini-style outfits and high heels.

Source: Sunday Mercury