My 2011 Wedding Dress

No, I'm not getting married again. I'm talking about the dress I'm wearing to attend weddings this year.

I have 5 weddings to attend in 2011 (not counting my sister's), and somehow they are all different groups of people. And since I am so very frugal... Hey, stop laughing. Stop! I am frugal. Sometimes. Kind of. Maybe? Hey, this is my blog and I can say what I want to. So let's just go with it.

Ahem, as I was saying, since I am so very frugal, I thought I would buy just ONE dress this year and wear it to all the weddings. Since they were different groups of people in attendance, they wouldn't know about my dress rewearage. Well, except for me posting pics on facebook. And I just outed myself here. I guess there goes that plan.

Well, be that as it may, in person they will only be seeing the dress once.

Finding the right dress to make it through the year was a tall order. I had many requirements, not the least of which was being able to wear a real bra with straps. In my nursing-hood at the moment, the girls need ample support, and I must have straps. And clearly it had to be very smashing.

After much searching I found the perfect dress. And, to keep with the Pippa Middleton trend for wedding attendance this year, it has cap sleeves. I'm telling you, people, sleeves are the way to go this year. I'm also quite smitten with the bow belt.

Tadashi Shoji, $355

Royal Wedding Week - The Bridal Party

Unlike we Americans, the British royals (or is it Brits in general?) have little kiddos as their bridal party, with an adult maid of honor and best man. This made for utter beyond belief cuteness. Why just have a flower girl and ring bearer, when you can have an entire bridal party of wee ones adorned in flowers? Heart. The children chosen were various godchildren of the Prince and children of close friends, like the Prince's personal secretary's son.

But enough about the children, if one person was the unlikely star of the Royal Wedding it was Pippa Middleton, Royal Wedding Child Wrangler, Maid of Honour, and little sister to the Duchess of Cambridge.

[Maid of Honour Pippa flanked by bridesmaidsGrace van Cutsem (daughter of Will's pal Hugh) and Eliza Lopes (Camilla's granddaughter), both 3]

The girl is STUNNING. Absolutely beautiful. And there was many a person who proposed a second royal wedding between Maid of Honour Pippa and Best Man Prince Harry. They do make a good looking couple. Pippa is WAY cuter than that trashy Chelsy Davys character.

My main complaint about the MOH, though, was the colour of her skin. Yes, colour, not color. This is a British wedding afterall. The girl was orange. And y'all know how I feel about that in general, but at a royal wedding it was even more unseemly. Don't point out that you're a commoner, Pippa! Ditch the orange!

But the dress. Oh the dress. Pippa, like her sister, wore a gown by Sarah Burton for Alexander McQueen. It was of a heavy, ivory satin-based crepe, with a cowl front and with the same button detail and lace trims as the Bride's dress. Hands down, I think this dress will be even more copied than Catherine's wedding dress.


The gown fit her like a glove. It was simple and elegant, but a complete show-stopper in its lack of adornment. *sigh*

The drape, the sleeves. SLEEVES, ladies! I'm all about sleeves these days. Especially for a classy wedding. Enough with strapless gowns, give me sleeves or give me death!

Oh, yeah, there were also little boys in the bridal party, wearing the same uniform as the Prince.

Pippa must be a very nice person because these little girls did seem so comfortable with her. I'm sure the little 3 year olds were totally freaked by the huge event, but Pippa wrangled them so well.

And she didn't even trip on the stairs while she did her wrangling in that very fitted gown. Impressive.

Seriously, the children are melting me with their cuteness.

This is my favoritest bridesmaid picture. Look at the little girl on the left. Hahahahahhaha. She is so not into the loud cheering. Poor thing.

And one more shot of the Best Man, because, honestly, Harry is so the hot prince. Who would've foresaw that 10 years ago?

So what'd you think of Pippa? Gorgeous? Too orange? Loved the dress? Found it too bridal? Sound off in the comments.

The Royal Wedding

It's Royal Wedding Week here on The Esquire Wears Prada!

Friday's nuptials were amazing. All the class and glamour I could have ever wanted. As well as all the crazy hats I had dreamed of, but that's for another post.

But today let's discuss the bride and groom. Catherine Duchess of Cambridge came out in a stunning, elegant, and wonderfully classic and relatively simple lace gown by Sarah Burton for Alexander McQueen.


I was so very worried she'd show up with a million foot train and be ridiculous, and I was so very pleasantly surprised.


The gown was so very reminiscent of Princess Grace of Monaco.


I love the delicate lace sleeves. I love the sweet veil.


Though I will say, like many others, I was kind of confused by her kind of pointy triangular breasts. Why did the dress do that to her?

And she wore a relatively simple tiara. It was worn by the Queen Mother but never by the Queen.

Her waist was impossibly narrow. I couldn't believe it.


*sigh*




And can we just say, nothing hotter than a man in uniform. And that hat does cover that unfortunate balding issue he has going on.


What did you think of the bride's gown? Disappointed? Thrilled? Loved it? Hated it? Sound off in the comments!

What Will You Be Wearing To The Royal Wedding?

I'm back!

There's nothing to bring an EWP out of her maternity leave like wedding season. And tomorrow we have THE wedding of all weddings - the royal wedding of William and Catherine! Yes, it's airing at 4AM CST, but that's why God was kind enough to invent DVR for us.

I have many wedding attired posts coming up, but first the most important - what will you be "wearing" to the wedding? I can assure you while in my head I will be dressed up whilst I have my tea and scones, in reality I'll most likely be wearing jeans and a nursing top. But pretend dress up is oh so fun.

This is what I'll be "wearing" for the royal wedding:

A simple dress because I have something else up my sleeve to focus on... or my head rather...

J.Crew, $225 @

A simple shoe with a little glitz

Manolo Blahnik, $715 @

And a very very fantastic hat. What royal British wedding is complete without a lovely fascinator or ridiculous headgear of some kind? I really think we in America should bring back wearing hats to weddings. It would be oh so fun.

JC Penney, was $120, sale $99.99

@ Available in more colors.

So what will you be wearing?

A Look Back at Some Royal Weddings

CROWN PRINCESS VICTORIA & DANIEL WESTLING
I just blogged about this one a few short months ago, raving about her exquisite and timeless wedding dress. Sweden's heir to the throne, 32, married her former personal trainer (shocker of all shockers), 36, on June 19, 2010, before 1,200 guests at Stockholm Cathedral – exactly 34 years to the day after father King Carl XVI Gustaf wed Queen Silvia. The $2 million affair marked the country's first royal wedding since 1976.



CROWN PRINCE PAVLOS & MARIE-CHANTAL MILLER
Looking every inch like a future queen, the American heiress, 26, walked down the aisle in a Valentino gown that took 25 dressmakers four months to sew for her July 1, 1995, nuptials to the 28-year-old son of deposed King Constantine of Greece. Held at London's Cathedral of Saint Sophia, the lavish affair reportedly cost $1.5 million.



CROWN PRINCE NARUHITO & MASAKO OWADA
Owada, 29, left a promising career as a member of Japan's Foreign Ministry to wed Naruhito, 33, on June 9, 1993, at Tokyo's Imperial Palace. The bride donned a customary 12-layer kimono that weighed 30 lbs. and cost more than $300,000 for the traditional Shinto nuptials, which were celebrated as a national holiday.



PRINCESS MARGARET & ANTONY ARMSTRONG-JONES
Going against the grain, Queen Elizabeth's younger sister Margaret, 29, wed the 30-year-old Jones, a photographer, on May 6, 1960. Their nuptials, held at Westminster Abbey, marked the world's first televised royal wedding. (Their divorce, in 1978, would be another landmark – the first for royals in 400 years. But it definitely wouldn't be the last)



KING HUSSEIN IBN TALAL & LISA HALABY
After the death of his third wife, Jordan's Hussein, 42, wooed the Princeton-educated beauty, 26, in a mere four weeks and married her on June 15, 1978. Following a traditional Muslim marriage ceremony that took place at Zahran Palace, Halaby adopted the name Queen Noor al-Hussein.



PRINCE RAINIER III & GRACE KELLY
In one of the most fairy tale of royal weddings, having met only twice before, the Oscar-winning actress, 26, wed Monaco's Rainier, 32, in an extravagant ceremony at the Cathedral of St. Nicholas on April 19, 1956. Her iconic wedding gown, crafted by MGM costume designer Helen Rose, was equally fitting for the Hollywood princess – featuring 25 yards of silk taffeta, 98 yards of silk tulle and 300 yards of Valenciennes lace.



CROWN PRINCE FREDERIK & MARY ELIZABETH DONALDSON
After meeting at a Sydney bar during the 2000 Summer Olympics, the Aussie native, 32, became Denmark's crown princess when she wed Frederik, 35, on May 14, 2004, at Copenhagen Cathedral. The couple exchanged vows in front of 800 guests, including the Kings of Sweden and Norway, Japan's Crown Prince Naruhito, and England's Prince Edward and wife Sophie.



PRINCE ANDREW & SARAH FERGUSON
It took the fiery Ferguson, 26, to tame England's best-known bachelor, 26, when the pair wed on July 23, 1986, at Westminster Abbey in front of 1,800 guests. Never one to play by royal rules, the Duchess of York shunned convention when designing her dress – which featured a 17½-ft. train with an embroidered letter "A."



CROWN PRINCE FELIPE & LETIZIA ORTIZ
If 15 year old EWP was sad about hearing about Will's engagement to Kate Middleton, then 20 year old EWP was absolutely devestated to hear of Prince Felipe's engagement to this reporter. We were so going to get married.
After nearly five centuries of uninterrupted monarchy, the crown prince, 36, took the 31-year-old commoner and former TV anchor as his bride on May 22, 2004, at Madrid's Almudena Cathedral, marking Spain's first royal wedding since 1906. Among the 1,400 guests: Prince Charles, former South African President Nelson Mandela and Jordan's Queen Rania.



QUEEN ELIZABETH & PRINCE PHILIP
As heir to the British throne, the then-princess, 21, married the 26-year-old naval officer – who, prior to their wedding, denounced his title as Prince of Greece and Denmark to become Lt. Philip Mountbatten – before 2,500 guests at Westminster Abbey on November 20, 1947.



PRINCE EDWARD & SOPHIE RHYS-JONES
In England's most intimate royal nuptials, Edward, 35, wed PR executive Jones, 34, on June 19, 1999, with only 560 guests in attendance at St. George's Chapel. In the relatively low-key affair, the third son of Queen Elizabeth opted to wear a suit, while Jones wore an ivory coat dress and a black–and-white pearl necklace designed by her groom.



PRINCE CHARLES & LADY DIANA SPENCER
And with the most famous for last, what seemed at the time like the most beautiful fairytale come true. Was there ever a princess more loved than Lady DI? (And, no, Foodiebia, I didn't watch the wedding seeing as how we weren't born yet). With 750 million people tuning in to watch worldwide, England's future king, 32, wed Spencer, 20, at St. Paul's Cathedral on July 29, 1981. The fashion icon walked down the aisle in a David and Elizabeth Emanuel gown that featured lace from Charles's great-grandmother, a 25-ft. train and an 18-kt. gold horseshoe sewn into the petticoats for good luck.

A Royal Engagement

As y'all know, I love me a royal wedding. So the news of Prince William's engagement to Kate Middleton, after eight years of dating EIGHT YEARS!, left me in a complete state of glee and euphoria.


Though I will admit that 15 year old EWP was a little sad about it. She was pretty sure that she was going to marry Prince Wills.

But we took a look at Kate's gorgeous gorgeous hair and knew she deserved to be queen. Yes, a weird statement, but, y'all, her hair is gorgeous. Oh, and it's Catherine now. She's apparently dropping Kate. Queen Catherine does sound much better anyway.

And here's a question for all of you. Wills gave Kate his mother's engagement ring. Time for a reader poll: Is this gesture sweet (because he loves his late mother so) or totally creepy and a bad omen (considering how terrible that marriage turned out)? Does the ring have bad juju? I vote totally bad juju. And Foodiebia says it means he's cheap. It is a rather beautiful ring, though.

Also, can we discuss how, while this Issa London dress is gorgeous on her (God, I love that color), the dress pronounces the fact that this future queen really should eat something. Seriously, someone hand her a scone stat.

And now I officially declare it royal week on EWP. Time to look at royal weddings and Kate's fashions. And speculate on possible wedding dresses. So exciting!

Chelsea Clinton's Wedding!

Well, she's the closest thing we have to a princess in this country, so I thought if I might as well post some pics from Chelsea Clinton's wedding.

Aren't we all so glad that poor little Chelsea grew out of that terribly awkward phase she seemed to be stuck in forever? Well now she is a beautiful bride. She was pretty predictable in wear Vera Wang, but there's something to be said for not doing anything risky for your wedding. And I think she looked beautiful. Hillary Clinton wore Oscar de la Renta and I'm on the fence about it until I can find some more pictures.

Reader Question: Make Your Ex Crazy Wedding Attire

Dear EWP:

I've got an evening wedding coming up in Austin, TX in early August. I've always known that this would be the first time I'd see my ex (and first love) since he quit returning my calls about a year ago, but I've just learned that I'll also be meeting his fiance there. Sweet. So obviously I have to look smoking hot. Maybe something so blindingly awesome that people don't notice if I start to cry?

Thanks,
Still Getting My Groove Back

Dear Still Getting My Groove Back,

This sounds like every girl's worst nightmare. I'm pretty sure if this happened to me, I'd try to make out with my husband the entire time to show I'm happily married and then Mr. EWP would push me away and go "Geez, we're at a wedding!" and thus ruin all my efforts to make my ex jealous. Thank God I don't have any ex's. Unless you count random people you make out with in bars....

But that is neither here nor there. Your faithful EWP is here for you in your time of need!

Now my recommendations here depend on a few things.

First, no matter how sexy an outfit I pick, if you are not comfortable wearing something like it, then don't get it. Confidence is the most sexy quality, and if you're fumbling with your hemline or tugging on your dress all night and looking uncomfortable, you're not achieving your maximum sexiness.

Second, your body type also affects what choice you make. Not all of these options will look good on everyone. I've tried to pick many options so there's something for every body type. Got great boobs? Wear something with cleavage. Got great legs? Keep it short and sassy. Got sexy curves? Go with a fitted sheath dress.

Third, the dress is not the only thing you need to be super hot. You've got to be the whole package - great hair, great makeup, and, above all else, great shoes. I envision some super hot high heels with any of these dresses to give you the ultimate sexy factor. I get a lot of pushback on my high heels directives, but, seriously, guys LOVE heels. And don't forget some cute jewelry!

Lastly, it all depends on what's sexy to you. If you're looking for classic feminine sexy, I've got options for you. If you're into short and sassy, I've got that too.

Hope one of these is what you're looking for. Good luck!

Calvin Klein, was $148, sale $73.90

Maggy London, was $118, sale $78.90

Maggy London, was $148, sale $87.90



Calvin Klein, was $158, sale $104.90

Eliza J, $138

Maggy London, $148

Suzi Chin, $158

David Meister, was $288, sale $169.90

Aidan Mattox, $240 *

Ted Baker, $275

Phoebe, $288

BCBGMAXAZRIA, $358 *

Phoebe Couture, $350

Alice + Olivia, $495

Twelfth Street by Cynthia Vincent, $298 *

Laundry by Shelli Segal, $275

Aqua, $198

MARC BY MARC JACOBS, was $298, sale $208.60 @

Nanette Lepore, $298

BCBGMAXAZRIA, $378

Robert Rodriguez, was $385, sale $192.50 *

Oonagh by Nanette Lepore, $169

Nanette Lepore, $298

Alexander Wang, was $415, sale $290.50

*EWP Fave

@ Available in more colors