My Queen brings all the bling to the yard...
First up, thank you so much for the lovely comments about Boycie. We miss her terribly, but we know we were right to let her go. It's funny how such a scrap of fluff can leave such a big hole in your life.
Now, happier things. Queen Elizabeth II has become the longest-serving British monarch! I'm not a royalist per se - I'm not sure I approve of the concept of heads of state or leaders at all, frankly - but if we absolutely have to have someone in that position, I'd rather have her than elect one of our politicians. For one thing, Boris would look rubbish in a tiara (though he does at least have big hair). Joking aside, after the result of the last general election, I'm not sure I trust the rest of the electorate to get things right. So I'll stick with her Madge.
Also, the Queen has many things in her favour. She's very sparkly - the burlesquer in me approves of that. And I like her dress sense - matchy matchy, bright colours, boxy bag… It's basically what I do, right down to topping it all off with a glittery brooch. The photo is of her in Thailand in 1972, and I chose it because it shows fashion diplomacy at work - she's with the King of Thailand, and she's matched the colour of her dress to the favoured colour of the Thai monarchy. That's not just matching things with the rest of your outfit, that's matching to the entire country.
There was once a display of some of her older dresses at the Fashion Museum in Bath, and oh, the workmanship on some of them, especially the beaded ones by Hartnell, was so beautiful. I don't know why that surprised me so much, as they were couture gowns for royalty, but they had an ornate beauty I don't really expect to see after the 1930s. I guess we all have people whose wardrobes we'd like to go back in time and swipe, and if Diana Rigg's outfits from the black-and-white episodes of The Avengers or Alexandra Bastedo's outfits from The Champions aren't available, I could make do with the Queen's stuff from the 1950s and 1960s. Vogue has a great gallery (I love that flowery hat from the 1960s!) and so does The Telegraph (which also shows that flowery hat - clearly a winning look).
So, congratulations, Queenie. Put your feet up, have a big gin, and see how many tiaras you can cram on your head at once. It's what I would do.
Now, happier things. Queen Elizabeth II has become the longest-serving British monarch! I'm not a royalist per se - I'm not sure I approve of the concept of heads of state or leaders at all, frankly - but if we absolutely have to have someone in that position, I'd rather have her than elect one of our politicians. For one thing, Boris would look rubbish in a tiara (though he does at least have big hair). Joking aside, after the result of the last general election, I'm not sure I trust the rest of the electorate to get things right. So I'll stick with her Madge.
Also, the Queen has many things in her favour. She's very sparkly - the burlesquer in me approves of that. And I like her dress sense - matchy matchy, bright colours, boxy bag… It's basically what I do, right down to topping it all off with a glittery brooch. The photo is of her in Thailand in 1972, and I chose it because it shows fashion diplomacy at work - she's with the King of Thailand, and she's matched the colour of her dress to the favoured colour of the Thai monarchy. That's not just matching things with the rest of your outfit, that's matching to the entire country.
There was once a display of some of her older dresses at the Fashion Museum in Bath, and oh, the workmanship on some of them, especially the beaded ones by Hartnell, was so beautiful. I don't know why that surprised me so much, as they were couture gowns for royalty, but they had an ornate beauty I don't really expect to see after the 1930s. I guess we all have people whose wardrobes we'd like to go back in time and swipe, and if Diana Rigg's outfits from the black-and-white episodes of The Avengers or Alexandra Bastedo's outfits from The Champions aren't available, I could make do with the Queen's stuff from the 1950s and 1960s. Vogue has a great gallery (I love that flowery hat from the 1960s!) and so does The Telegraph (which also shows that flowery hat - clearly a winning look).
So, congratulations, Queenie. Put your feet up, have a big gin, and see how many tiaras you can cram on your head at once. It's what I would do.
Sorry to hear about Boycie :(
ReplyDeleteWe were very sad :-( This morning I still instinctively looked to see if she'd eaten her breakfast.
DeleteI love the Vogue gallery, she is always so well dressed. The early photos are lovely
ReplyDeleteHer outfits in the 1950s and 1960s were just fabulous. Princess Margaret was able to embrace fashion and glamour more, but the Queen definitely had the best formalwear.
DeleteAhh, poor Boycie, I bet you and Mr CR miss her loads.
ReplyDeleteAs for Queenie - well, I am no royalist, that's for sure, and I find her a cold fish, but at least she performs her role with a certain dignity. Unlike so many of the lesser royals, who are frankly over-privileged dim-wits! xxx
We do miss the cat so much. She was the loveliest cat I've ever shared a house with, so it's not just 'a cat' that we miss, it's her little peculiarities.
DeleteYou did the right thing for gorgeous Boycie but its still heartbreaking.
ReplyDeleteI wonder if Liz kept all her clothes? I've seen a brilliant photo of her in a poodle print skirt I wouldn't half mind having if she's not planning on wearing it again. xxxx
I really do wonder what happens to her clothes. They're too distinctive to pass on to a charity shop or sell (Crown Princess Mary of Denmark allegedly sells some of hers on through a Copenhagen dress agency called Haberdash!). Though I bet the one for you to raid would be Anne; by all accounts she bought a shedload of stuff when she 'came into her own' on the grounds that she wouldn't need to buy any more formalwear for the rest of her life, hence the fact she's regularly seen in stuff from the late 70s/early 80s. Be interesting to see what 70s bits she's got packed away!
DeleteAs a member of a fellow Commonwealth country, for which the Queen appears on much of our currency, I can't help but cheer her venerable reign, too, and hope that she's getting a little time off to rest and celebrate such an important milestone.
ReplyDeleteBig hugs,
♥ Jessica
She went to open a railway line! But they did bring out a steam train.
DeleteThank you for putting the mental image of Boris in a tiara in my head, obviously I needed that right before bed. I'm visualising a bicycle in there as well.
ReplyDeleteI see what you mean about preferring the Queen to what you've had for PM's in recent years. Honestly, I think I'd take her over the last fifty years of American presidents as well. I'd better hush before I get tarred and feathered, or pilloried for being a loyalist/royalist!
Oh those hats.
It's not so much pro-royal as anti-politician!
DeleteI would actually take Boris over Bliar because at least Boris is entertaining. Oh lordy, Cherie Blair as first lady, it really doesn't bear thinking about. And that's assuming we get a politico and not a 'national treasure' like David Beckham, who is probably very nice and in all fairness is dim enough to enjoy cutting ribbons and meeting people and not saying much. Though if we could have Stephen Fry as Queen, I'd be right up for that!
Hello Mim.
ReplyDeleteJust to let you know, you are in my thoughts these days, and I hope your feelings are getting sorted.. I know it takes time to stop sniffing, but it does eventually get better.
Oh.. the Queen.. something worth watching.
Marija
Hi Mim! I'm just catching up on your posts. So sorry to hear about Boycie xx
ReplyDelete