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Queen Mary’s wedding dressmaker reveals process behind iconic gown

<p dir="ltr">The Danish designer and dressmaker who designed Queen Mary’s wedding gown has recalled the “rather terrifying” process of making the iconic dress.</p> <p dir="ltr">Birgit Hallstein created the custom gown for the Aussie-born royal for her to marry Prince Frederik in 2004, as the designer recalled having to adhere to an unusual royal tradition when creating the dress. </p> <p dir="ltr">Hallstein said that she put the finishing touches on the dress on the wedding day: a decision that was mentioned to her by Mary's new mother-in-law, Queen Margrethe.</p> <p dir="ltr">Hallstein admits the old tradition, which involves doing the final loops and stitches the morning of the wedding, also helped her process in the long run. </p> <p dir="ltr">"[It] was a thing I did because it's a tradition in some families, but honestly I don't remember if Queen Margrethe would have mentioned such a thing," Hallstein told <em><a href="https://style.nine.com.au/latest/queen-mary-of-denmark-20th-wedding-anniversary-wedding-dressmaker-birgit-hallstein-interview/9f0c57eb-2d7b-44fd-ae0b-487d1b3592a5">9Honey</a></em>.</p> <p dir="ltr">"Maybe, because she knows a lot of those things... I am sure we talked about it, but anyway it was practical to gather the dress on the day because it's big."</p> <p dir="ltr">The process for Hallstein began in November 2003, as she admitted it was the most important garment she had ever worked on.</p> <p dir="ltr">"It was rather terrifying," she admitted with a laugh.</p> <p dir="ltr">"It's a bit like an exam, just a really big one, because if you fail everyone will see."</p> <p dir="ltr">Hallstein worked in a dedicated space at Amalienborg Palace to deliver the gown as well as the outfits worn by the bridesmaids, page boys and flower girls.</p> <p dir="ltr">"The sewing took hundreds of hours, starting in January 2004 and ending right before the wedding," she recalled.</p> <p dir="ltr">There was also the added pressure of adhering to royal traditions and protocols around the use of the antique veil and the lace attachment to the petticoat, which was from Queen Margrethe's private collection.</p> <p dir="ltr">"There are rules to follow, [you're] not allowed to cut in it and only skilled repairs [are allowed]," Hallstein said.</p> <p dir="ltr">"I had to hide around two or three metres of the antique lace in between layers of organza inside the dress to make sure it was not damaged by high heels, chairs, cars and carriages during the day."</p> <p dir="ltr">In a social media post to mark 20 years since the world got their first look at the classic gown, the dressmaker explained to fans that "the wedding gown consists of three parts".</p> <p dir="ltr">“There's a big tulle petticoat, edged with almost 60 yards of Chantilly lace, on this a big light blue silk bow were placed, to make sure the first born would be a son," she said.</p> <p dir="ltr"><em>Image credits: Hounsfield-Klein-Zabulon/ABACA/Shutterstock Editorial</em></p>

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Princess Diana's never-before-seen backup wedding gown

<p>The designer of Princess Diana's iconic wedding gown has revealed the details of a secret second dress that has never seen the light of day. </p> <p>In an exclusive interview with <em>Hello!</em> magazine, British designer Elizabeth Emmanuel revealed that she had planned for the worst in the lead up to the royal nuptials in 1981 by creating a backup dress. </p> <p>When Princess Diana married King Charles at St Paul’s Cathedral, she wore the now iconic voluptuous custom gown with a 25-foot train and 10,000 mother-of-pearl sequin and pearl embellishments. </p> <p>However, this gown may not have been the one debuted on the red-carpet aisle if news of it leaked before the big day. </p> <p>“The spare wedding gown was made just in case the secret of the real dress ever got out,” Emmanuel proclaimed. “Fortunately, it was never used.”</p> <p>Emmanuel drew inspiration from the 20-year-old’s initial design for the “spare,” pointing to a similar V-cut neckline adorned with a ruffle trim, puffy sleeves, and massive skirt in the never-before-seen sketch.</p> <p>The substitute was “pale ivory silk taffeta with embroidered scalloped details on the hem and sleeves” and detailed with delicate pearls along a tight-fitting bodice.</p> <p>To see the stunning draft design of the spare gown, click <a href="https://www.hellomagazine.com/brides/499047/princess-diana-spare-wedding-dress-unveiled-for-first-time-by-designer-exclusive/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">here</a>.</p> <p>In the lead up to the wedding, strict security measures were put in place to prevent anyone from seeing the dresses before Diana walked down the aisle. </p> <p>“We had the dress stored every night in a metal cabinet guarded by two guards, Jim and Bert,” Elizabeth noted. “So there was somebody there 24 hours a day and we put shutters on all our windows, and we put false color threads in the rubbish bins because people were going through our bins.”</p> <p>Elizabeth, now 70-years-old, lost track of the alternate gown, which the Princess of Wales never actually tried on.</p> <p>Just before what would have been the royal pair’s 42nd wedding anniversary, Elizabeth told Hello!, “I don’t know where it went. It just disappeared.”</p> <p>However, when Princess Diana tragically died, her original gown was left to both Prince William and Prince Harry, as the historic garment now rests in Kensington Palace.</p> <p><em>Image credits: Getty Images </em></p>

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Crown Princess Mary’s iconic Carla Zampatti gown is coming to Australia

<p dir="ltr">A gown worn by Denmark’s Crown Princess Mary will be headng Down Under to go on display in an exhibition of late Australian designer Carla Zampatti’s life and work.</p> <p dir="ltr">The dusty pink brocade gown worn by the Australian-born royal for a set of official portraits in 2015 will be among over 100 designs Zampatti created over her 50-year career on display at <em>Zampatti Powerhouse</em> at Sydney’s Powerhouse Museum from November 24.</p> <p dir="ltr">Other items in the exhibition will include personal items from Zampatti’s estate and even clothes borrowed from members of the public from earlier on in her design career.</p> <p dir="ltr">The gown, originally commissioned for the 2013 80th anniversary cover shoot for <em>The Australian Women’s Weekly</em>, was accessorised with historic Danish jewels in the 2015 photographs, taken at Frederick VIII’s Palace in Copenhagen.</p> <p dir="ltr">Known as the Queen Ingrid Ruby parure, the jewels include a tiara, necklace, earrings, bracelet, brooches, hair clips, and a ring, and have become the most-worn of the Danish royal collection by Mary.</p> <p dir="ltr">"At the end of the (2013) shoot she asked if she could keep the dress [and] I was delighted," Zampatti later told Fairfax Media.</p> <p dir="ltr">"She looks so beautifully regal in their 2015 official portraits. I am so proud.</p> <p dir="ltr">"When I was asked to design a gown for Princess Mary, I was thrilled. She is such a beautiful representation for this country."</p> <p dir="ltr">But Mary’s gown isn’t the only iconic garment to be included in <em>Zampatti Powerhouse</em>, with the jacket worn by former Prime Minister Julia Gillard during her 2011 US Congress address, the white jacket Christine Holgate wore while speaking at the Australia Post Inquiry, and Tina Arena’s jumpsuit that was fitted for her induction into the ARIA Hall of Fame also set to appear in the free exhibition.</p> <p dir="ltr">The exhibition is said to be the first international retrospective exhibition of Zampatti’s work, over a year after she died at the age of 78 following a fall during an opera in Sydney.</p> <p dir="ltr">Zampatti’s son Alexander, who is the CEO of Carla Zampatti, said it was an “incredible honour” for his mother’s designed to go on display.</p> <p dir="ltr">“It is an incredible honour for Mum’s design legacy to be showcased in a major exhibition at Powerhouse Ultimo,” he said.</p> <p dir="ltr">“Mum loved the magic of fashion, the big runway shows as well as hearing her customers’ personal stories and how her designs often played a small part in moments of significance in the lives of many Australian women.”</p> <p dir="ltr">The exhibit will also be accompanied by other events, including an International Women’s Day symposium in March, late-night programs, and the showing of a new performative work by the Sydney Dance Company.</p> <p><span id="docs-internal-guid-31d76bb2-7fff-f5b7-cbed-b80831cbaee7"></span></p> <p dir="ltr"><em>Images: Frances Voigt, Marinco Kojdanovski (Supplied), Getty Images</em></p>

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Fans go wild over Georgie Parker’s gravity-defying gown

<p dir="ltr">A staple of most women’s wardrobes, the little black dress Seven presenter and former Olympic hockey player Georgie Parker <a href="https://au.lifestyle.yahoo.com/seven-presenter-georgie-parker-aflw-gravity-defying-dress-075404317.html" target="_blank" rel="noopener">wore</a> has proved why it’s a fashion must-have.</p> <p><span id="docs-internal-guid-ebf1a38f-7fff-e387-6952-64811052ba2b"></span></p> <p dir="ltr">Parker stunned fans with the strapless, form-fitting dress she wore to the AFLW Awards in Melbourne in April.</p> <blockquote class="instagram-media" style="background: #FFF; border: 0; border-radius: 3px; box-shadow: 0 0 1px 0 rgba(0,0,0,0.5),0 1px 10px 0 rgba(0,0,0,0.15); margin: 1px; max-width: 540px; min-width: 326px; padding: 0; width: calc(100% - 2px);" data-instgrm-captioned="" data-instgrm-permalink="https://www.instagram.com/p/Cb_xS7wPyzb/?utm_source=ig_embed&amp;utm_campaign=loading" data-instgrm-version="14"> <div style="padding: 16px;"> <div style="display: flex; flex-direction: row; align-items: center;"> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 50%; flex-grow: 0; height: 40px; margin-right: 14px; width: 40px;"> </div> <div style="display: flex; flex-direction: column; flex-grow: 1; justify-content: center;"> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 4px; flex-grow: 0; height: 14px; margin-bottom: 6px; width: 100px;"> </div> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 4px; flex-grow: 0; height: 14px; width: 60px;"> </div> </div> </div> <div style="padding: 19% 0;"> </div> <div style="display: block; height: 50px; margin: 0 auto 12px; width: 50px;"> </div> <div style="padding-top: 8px;"> <div style="color: #3897f0; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; font-style: normal; font-weight: 550; line-height: 18px;">View this post on Instagram</div> </div> <div style="padding: 12.5% 0;"> </div> <div style="display: flex; flex-direction: row; margin-bottom: 14px; align-items: center;"> <div> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 50%; height: 12.5px; width: 12.5px; transform: translateX(0px) translateY(7px);"> </div> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; height: 12.5px; transform: rotate(-45deg) translateX(3px) translateY(1px); width: 12.5px; flex-grow: 0; margin-right: 14px; margin-left: 2px;"> </div> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 50%; height: 12.5px; width: 12.5px; transform: translateX(9px) translateY(-18px);"> </div> </div> <div style="margin-left: 8px;"> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 50%; flex-grow: 0; height: 20px; width: 20px;"> </div> <div style="width: 0; height: 0; border-top: 2px solid transparent; border-left: 6px solid #f4f4f4; border-bottom: 2px solid transparent; transform: translateX(16px) translateY(-4px) rotate(30deg);"> </div> </div> <div style="margin-left: auto;"> <div style="width: 0px; border-top: 8px solid #F4F4F4; border-right: 8px solid transparent; transform: translateY(16px);"> </div> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; flex-grow: 0; height: 12px; width: 16px; transform: translateY(-4px);"> </div> <div style="width: 0; height: 0; border-top: 8px solid #F4F4F4; border-left: 8px solid transparent; transform: translateY(-4px) translateX(8px);"> </div> </div> </div> <div style="display: flex; flex-direction: column; flex-grow: 1; justify-content: center; margin-bottom: 24px;"> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 4px; flex-grow: 0; height: 14px; margin-bottom: 6px; width: 224px;"> </div> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 4px; flex-grow: 0; height: 14px; width: 144px;"> </div> </div> <p style="color: #c9c8cd; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 17px; margin-bottom: 0; margin-top: 8px; overflow: hidden; padding: 8px 0 7px; text-align: center; text-overflow: ellipsis; white-space: nowrap;"><a style="color: #c9c8cd; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: 17px; text-decoration: none;" href="https://www.instagram.com/p/Cb_xS7wPyzb/?utm_source=ig_embed&amp;utm_campaign=loading" target="_blank" rel="noopener">A post shared by Georgie Parker (@georgie_parker19)</a></p> </div> </blockquote> <p dir="ltr">The $316 dress from Maison Femalien features a cut-scalloped neckline, dramatic thigh-high split on one side, and goes from cinching in at Parker’s waist to grazing her ankle as a pencil skirt.</p> <p dir="ltr"><span id="docs-internal-guid-a5d0ce55-7fff-0455-8d82-579ffd186594"></span></p> <p dir="ltr">Parker shared her look on Instagram in a mirror selfie, joking that she was “sponsored by Hollywood tape” and receiving a flood of compliments from fans.</p> <blockquote class="instagram-media" style="background: #FFF; border: 0; border-radius: 3px; box-shadow: 0 0 1px 0 rgba(0,0,0,0.5),0 1px 10px 0 rgba(0,0,0,0.15); margin: 1px; max-width: 540px; min-width: 326px; padding: 0; width: calc(100% - 2px);" data-instgrm-captioned="" data-instgrm-permalink="https://www.instagram.com/p/Cb_sI5mFUxt/?utm_source=ig_embed&amp;utm_campaign=loading" data-instgrm-version="14"> <div style="padding: 16px;"> <div style="display: flex; flex-direction: row; align-items: center;"> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 50%; flex-grow: 0; height: 40px; margin-right: 14px; width: 40px;"> </div> <div style="display: flex; flex-direction: column; flex-grow: 1; justify-content: center;"> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 4px; flex-grow: 0; height: 14px; margin-bottom: 6px; width: 100px;"> </div> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 4px; flex-grow: 0; height: 14px; width: 60px;"> </div> </div> </div> <div style="padding: 19% 0;"> </div> <div style="display: block; height: 50px; margin: 0 auto 12px; width: 50px;"> </div> <div style="padding-top: 8px;"> <div style="color: #3897f0; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; font-style: normal; font-weight: 550; line-height: 18px;">View this post on Instagram</div> </div> <div style="padding: 12.5% 0;"> </div> <div style="display: flex; flex-direction: row; margin-bottom: 14px; align-items: center;"> <div> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 50%; height: 12.5px; width: 12.5px; transform: translateX(0px) translateY(7px);"> </div> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; height: 12.5px; transform: rotate(-45deg) translateX(3px) translateY(1px); width: 12.5px; flex-grow: 0; margin-right: 14px; margin-left: 2px;"> </div> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 50%; height: 12.5px; width: 12.5px; transform: translateX(9px) translateY(-18px);"> </div> </div> <div style="margin-left: 8px;"> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 50%; flex-grow: 0; height: 20px; width: 20px;"> </div> <div style="width: 0; height: 0; border-top: 2px solid transparent; border-left: 6px solid #f4f4f4; border-bottom: 2px solid transparent; transform: translateX(16px) translateY(-4px) rotate(30deg);"> </div> </div> <div style="margin-left: auto;"> <div style="width: 0px; border-top: 8px solid #F4F4F4; border-right: 8px solid transparent; transform: translateY(16px);"> </div> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; flex-grow: 0; height: 12px; width: 16px; transform: translateY(-4px);"> </div> <div style="width: 0; height: 0; border-top: 8px solid #F4F4F4; border-left: 8px solid transparent; transform: translateY(-4px) translateX(8px);"> </div> </div> </div> <div style="display: flex; flex-direction: column; flex-grow: 1; justify-content: center; margin-bottom: 24px;"> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 4px; flex-grow: 0; height: 14px; margin-bottom: 6px; width: 224px;"> </div> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 4px; flex-grow: 0; height: 14px; width: 144px;"> </div> </div> <p style="color: #c9c8cd; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 17px; margin-bottom: 0; margin-top: 8px; overflow: hidden; padding: 8px 0 7px; text-align: center; text-overflow: ellipsis; white-space: nowrap;"><a style="color: #c9c8cd; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: 17px; text-decoration: none;" href="https://www.instagram.com/p/Cb_sI5mFUxt/?utm_source=ig_embed&amp;utm_campaign=loading" target="_blank" rel="noopener">A post shared by Georgie Parker (@georgie_parker19)</a></p> </div> </blockquote> <p dir="ltr">“Looking gorgeous babe xx,” one fan gushed.</p> <p dir="ltr">“STUNNING 🔥😍,” another wrote.</p> <p dir="ltr"><span id="docs-internal-guid-154308c6-7fff-227a-7d8b-f4c9a3013b51"></span></p> <p dir="ltr">“Omggggg how hot are u 🔥🔥🔥,” a third said.</p> <blockquote class="instagram-media" style="background: #FFF; border: 0; border-radius: 3px; box-shadow: 0 0 1px 0 rgba(0,0,0,0.5),0 1px 10px 0 rgba(0,0,0,0.15); margin: 1px; max-width: 540px; min-width: 326px; padding: 0; width: calc(100% - 2px);" data-instgrm-captioned="" data-instgrm-permalink="https://www.instagram.com/tv/CbyARYeB6jo/?utm_source=ig_embed&amp;utm_campaign=loading" data-instgrm-version="14"> <div style="padding: 16px;"> <div style="display: flex; flex-direction: row; align-items: center;"> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 50%; flex-grow: 0; height: 40px; margin-right: 14px; width: 40px;"> </div> <div style="display: flex; flex-direction: column; flex-grow: 1; justify-content: center;"> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 4px; flex-grow: 0; height: 14px; margin-bottom: 6px; width: 100px;"> </div> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 4px; flex-grow: 0; height: 14px; width: 60px;"> </div> </div> </div> <div style="padding: 19% 0;"> </div> <div style="display: block; height: 50px; margin: 0 auto 12px; width: 50px;"> </div> <div style="padding-top: 8px;"> <div style="color: #3897f0; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; font-style: normal; font-weight: 550; line-height: 18px;">View this post on Instagram</div> </div> <div style="padding: 12.5% 0;"> </div> <div style="display: flex; flex-direction: row; margin-bottom: 14px; align-items: center;"> <div> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 50%; height: 12.5px; width: 12.5px; transform: translateX(0px) translateY(7px);"> </div> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; height: 12.5px; transform: rotate(-45deg) translateX(3px) translateY(1px); width: 12.5px; flex-grow: 0; margin-right: 14px; margin-left: 2px;"> </div> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 50%; height: 12.5px; width: 12.5px; transform: translateX(9px) translateY(-18px);"> </div> </div> <div style="margin-left: 8px;"> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 50%; flex-grow: 0; height: 20px; width: 20px;"> </div> <div style="width: 0; height: 0; border-top: 2px solid transparent; border-left: 6px solid #f4f4f4; border-bottom: 2px solid transparent; transform: translateX(16px) translateY(-4px) rotate(30deg);"> </div> </div> <div style="margin-left: auto;"> <div style="width: 0px; border-top: 8px solid #F4F4F4; border-right: 8px solid transparent; transform: translateY(16px);"> </div> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; flex-grow: 0; height: 12px; width: 16px; transform: translateY(-4px);"> </div> <div style="width: 0; height: 0; border-top: 8px solid #F4F4F4; border-left: 8px solid transparent; transform: translateY(-4px) translateX(8px);"> </div> </div> </div> <div style="display: flex; flex-direction: column; flex-grow: 1; justify-content: center; margin-bottom: 24px;"> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 4px; flex-grow: 0; height: 14px; margin-bottom: 6px; width: 224px;"> </div> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 4px; flex-grow: 0; height: 14px; width: 144px;"> </div> </div> <p style="color: #c9c8cd; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 17px; margin-bottom: 0; margin-top: 8px; overflow: hidden; padding: 8px 0 7px; text-align: center; text-overflow: ellipsis; white-space: nowrap;"><a style="color: #c9c8cd; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: 17px; text-decoration: none;" href="https://www.instagram.com/tv/CbyARYeB6jo/?utm_source=ig_embed&amp;utm_campaign=loading" target="_blank" rel="noopener">A post shared by Fitzy &amp; Wippa on Nova (@fitzyandwippa)</a></p> </div> </blockquote> <p dir="ltr">The sister version of Parker’s dress was spotted just a week earlier, when <em>Married At First Sight</em> favourite Ella Ding wore the frock to the Fitzy and Wippa <em>Married At First Sight</em> dinner party.</p> <p dir="ltr">Appropriately called the ‘Ella’, Ding’s dress differed in that it was considerably shorter than Parker’s and made of a ruched fabric, but shared the same eye-catching neckline.</p> <p dir="ltr"><span id="docs-internal-guid-1e991872-7fff-3940-abe1-47f6a0827d6f"></span></p> <p dir="ltr"><em>Image: @georgie_parker19 (Instagram)</em></p>

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"A special dress for a special day": Victoria Beckham's glamorous mother-of-the-groom gown

<p>There's no doubt that Nicola Peltz's show-stoping Valentino couture wedding dress was the star of the show at her <a href="https://oversixty.com.au/lifestyle/relationships/inside-the-wedding-of-brooklyn-beckham-and-nicola-peltz" target="_blank" rel="noopener">recent wedding</a> to Brooklyn Beckham. </p> <p>However, Nicola's new mother-in-law Victoria also had heads turning at the star-studded nuptials. </p> <p>The former Spice Girl took to Instagram to share with her followers more information about the sleek silver ball gown she wore at the ceremony in Florida, telling her audience that the dress was a creation from her very own Victoria Beckham fashion line.</p> <p>"A special dress for a special day," Beckham wrote, explaining the gown was the first Victoria Beckham couture dress to be made in the company's London atelier.</p> <blockquote class="instagram-media" style="background: #FFF; border: 0; border-radius: 3px; box-shadow: 0 0 1px 0 rgba(0,0,0,0.5),0 1px 10px 0 rgba(0,0,0,0.15); margin: 1px; max-width: 540px; min-width: 326px; padding: 0; width: calc(100% - 2px);" data-instgrm-permalink="https://www.instagram.com/p/CcNtertoCZu/?utm_source=ig_embed&amp;utm_campaign=loading" data-instgrm-version="14"> <div style="padding: 16px;"> <div style="display: flex; flex-direction: row; align-items: center;"> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 50%; flex-grow: 0; height: 40px; margin-right: 14px; width: 40px;"> </div> <div style="display: flex; flex-direction: column; flex-grow: 1; justify-content: center;"> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 4px; flex-grow: 0; height: 14px; margin-bottom: 6px; width: 100px;"> </div> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 4px; flex-grow: 0; height: 14px; width: 60px;"> </div> </div> </div> <div style="padding: 19% 0;"> </div> <div style="display: block; height: 50px; margin: 0 auto 12px; width: 50px;"> </div> <div style="padding-top: 8px;"> <div style="color: #3897f0; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; font-style: normal; font-weight: 550; line-height: 18px;">View this post on Instagram</div> </div> <div style="padding: 12.5% 0;"> </div> <div style="display: flex; flex-direction: row; margin-bottom: 14px; align-items: center;"> <div> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 50%; height: 12.5px; width: 12.5px; transform: translateX(0px) translateY(7px);"> </div> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; height: 12.5px; transform: rotate(-45deg) translateX(3px) translateY(1px); width: 12.5px; flex-grow: 0; margin-right: 14px; margin-left: 2px;"> </div> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 50%; height: 12.5px; width: 12.5px; transform: translateX(9px) translateY(-18px);"> </div> </div> <div style="margin-left: 8px;"> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 50%; flex-grow: 0; height: 20px; width: 20px;"> </div> <div style="width: 0; height: 0; border-top: 2px solid transparent; border-left: 6px solid #f4f4f4; border-bottom: 2px solid transparent; transform: translateX(16px) translateY(-4px) rotate(30deg);"> </div> </div> <div style="margin-left: auto;"> <div style="width: 0px; border-top: 8px solid #F4F4F4; border-right: 8px solid transparent; transform: translateY(16px);"> </div> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; flex-grow: 0; height: 12px; width: 16px; transform: translateY(-4px);"> </div> <div style="width: 0; height: 0; border-top: 8px solid #F4F4F4; border-left: 8px solid transparent; transform: translateY(-4px) translateX(8px);"> </div> </div> </div> <div style="display: flex; flex-direction: column; flex-grow: 1; justify-content: center; margin-bottom: 24px;"> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 4px; flex-grow: 0; height: 14px; margin-bottom: 6px; width: 224px;"> </div> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 4px; flex-grow: 0; height: 14px; width: 144px;"> </div> </div> <p style="color: #c9c8cd; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 17px; margin-bottom: 0; margin-top: 8px; overflow: hidden; padding: 8px 0 7px; text-align: center; text-overflow: ellipsis; white-space: nowrap;"><a style="color: #c9c8cd; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: 17px; text-decoration: none;" href="https://www.instagram.com/p/CcNtertoCZu/?utm_source=ig_embed&amp;utm_campaign=loading" target="_blank" rel="noopener">A post shared by Victoria Beckham (@victoriabeckham)</a></p> </div> </blockquote> <p>"The bespoke fabric was developed by one of my favourite mills in Italy, it's like liquid metal and hangs so beautifully."</p> <p>In the series of Instagram stories, Beckham said the dress took five days to create by six staff in the London workshop.</p> <p>"It's been a labour of love and I'm so grateful to my incredible team for creating something beautiful for me."</p> <p>Victoria also shared that her fashion line had designed gowns for several guests in attendance, including Eva Longoria and former Miss Universe Nadia Ferreira. </p> <blockquote class="instagram-media" style="background: #FFF; border: 0; border-radius: 3px; box-shadow: 0 0 1px 0 rgba(0,0,0,0.5),0 1px 10px 0 rgba(0,0,0,0.15); margin: 1px; max-width: 540px; min-width: 326px; padding: 0; width: calc(100% - 2px);" data-instgrm-captioned="" data-instgrm-permalink="https://www.instagram.com/p/CcQCQ0sIicx/?utm_source=ig_embed&amp;utm_campaign=loading" data-instgrm-version="14"> <div style="padding: 16px;"> <div style="display: flex; flex-direction: row; align-items: center;"> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 50%; flex-grow: 0; height: 40px; margin-right: 14px; width: 40px;"> </div> <div style="display: flex; flex-direction: column; flex-grow: 1; justify-content: center;"> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 4px; flex-grow: 0; height: 14px; margin-bottom: 6px; width: 100px;"> </div> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 4px; flex-grow: 0; height: 14px; width: 60px;"> </div> </div> </div> <div style="padding: 19% 0;"> </div> <div style="display: block; height: 50px; margin: 0 auto 12px; width: 50px;"> </div> <div style="padding-top: 8px;"> <div style="color: #3897f0; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; font-style: normal; font-weight: 550; line-height: 18px;">View this post on Instagram</div> </div> <div style="padding: 12.5% 0;"> </div> <div style="display: flex; flex-direction: row; margin-bottom: 14px; align-items: center;"> <div> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 50%; height: 12.5px; width: 12.5px; transform: translateX(0px) translateY(7px);"> </div> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; height: 12.5px; transform: rotate(-45deg) translateX(3px) translateY(1px); width: 12.5px; flex-grow: 0; margin-right: 14px; margin-left: 2px;"> </div> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 50%; height: 12.5px; width: 12.5px; transform: translateX(9px) translateY(-18px);"> </div> </div> <div style="margin-left: 8px;"> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 50%; flex-grow: 0; height: 20px; width: 20px;"> </div> <div style="width: 0; height: 0; border-top: 2px solid transparent; border-left: 6px solid #f4f4f4; border-bottom: 2px solid transparent; transform: translateX(16px) translateY(-4px) rotate(30deg);"> </div> </div> <div style="margin-left: auto;"> <div style="width: 0px; border-top: 8px solid #F4F4F4; border-right: 8px solid transparent; transform: translateY(16px);"> </div> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; flex-grow: 0; height: 12px; width: 16px; transform: translateY(-4px);"> </div> <div style="width: 0; height: 0; border-top: 8px solid #F4F4F4; border-left: 8px solid transparent; transform: translateY(-4px) translateX(8px);"> </div> </div> </div> <div style="display: flex; flex-direction: column; flex-grow: 1; justify-content: center; margin-bottom: 24px;"> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 4px; flex-grow: 0; height: 14px; margin-bottom: 6px; width: 224px;"> </div> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 4px; flex-grow: 0; height: 14px; width: 144px;"> </div> </div> <p style="color: #c9c8cd; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 17px; margin-bottom: 0; margin-top: 8px; overflow: hidden; padding: 8px 0 7px; text-align: center; text-overflow: ellipsis; white-space: nowrap;"><a style="color: #c9c8cd; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: 17px; text-decoration: none;" href="https://www.instagram.com/p/CcQCQ0sIicx/?utm_source=ig_embed&amp;utm_campaign=loading" target="_blank" rel="noopener">A post shared by Victoria Beckham (@victoriabeckham)</a></p> </div> </blockquote> <p>The fashion icon's husband (and fellow "proud parent", as she put it on Instagram) David Beckham was equally dapper in a Dior tuxedo.</p> <p>Their son Brooklyn married Nicola in an intimate ceremony at the Peltz family's sprawling Palm Beach estate in a fairytale ceremony last weekend.</p> <p><em>Image credits: Instagram</em></p>

Beauty & Style

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Queen Elizabeth II’s outfits exhibited in royal residences

<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">To commemorate Queen Elizabeth II’s Platinum Jubilee in 2022, a trio of her most recognisable outfits will be exhibited in the royal residences. </span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">The Royal Collection will showcase the Queen’s outfits from her accession, coronation and jubilees at Windsor castle, Buckingham Palace and the Palace of Holyroodhouse. </span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">Among the pieces will be the pink silk crepe and chiffon dress and coat worn by Her Majesty in June 1977 to mark her 25 year reign.</span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">The iconic ensemble was designed by </span><span style="font-weight: 400;">royal couturier Sir Hardy Amies and a matching hat by milliner Simone Mirman. </span></p> <p><img style="width: 500px; height: 281.25px;" src="https://oversixtydev.blob.core.windows.net/media/7845734/queen-exhibit-silver.jpg" alt="" data-udi="umb://media/307f48ed25b24399bfff029341527f20" /></p> <p><em><span style="font-weight: 400;">Image credits: Getty Images</span></em></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">Also among the collection will be the Queen’s Coronation Dress and Robe of Estate she wore for her coronation in 1953. </span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">This gown took eight months of research, design, workmanship and intricate embroidery to complete in time for her Majesty’s coronation. </span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">Caroline de Guitaut, curator of the displays, said the collection will showcase timestamps in the monarch’s reign, with royal fans being delighted with the insider look. </span></p> <p><img style="width: 500px; height: 281.25px;" src="https://oversixtydev.blob.core.windows.net/media/7845732/queen-exhibit-coronation.jpg" alt="" data-udi="umb://media/f32dc6586af54278b4bc786e87e863c6" /></p> <p><em><span style="font-weight: 400;">Image credits: Getty Images</span></em></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">“Their historic significance resonates all the more greatly given their depiction of the longest reigning monarch in British history.”</span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">Visitors to the exhibitions will also see a rare collection of Her Majesty’s personal jewellery collection that adorned these historical outfits. </span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">Among the priceless pieces on show will be the Queen's Girls of Great Britain and Ireland Tiara - an heirloom wedding gift given to her by her grandmother, Queen Mary, when Princess Elizabeth married the Duke of Edinburgh in 1947.</span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">Commonly known as Granny's Tiara, it is one of the Queen's favourite and most treasured pieces and she often wears the glittering headpiece, made of diamonds in a festoon and scroll design, to state banquets.</span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">These exhibits will celebrate the 95-year-old monarch’s 70 year rule, which will be celebrated on February 6th 2022. </span></p> <p><em><span style="font-weight: 400;">Image credits: Getty Images</span></em></p>

Beauty & Style

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Fashion designer knits her own wedding gown

<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">A newlywed has revealed the painstaking process behind making her wedding dress over the nine months leading up to her big day.</span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">Fashion designer Esther Andrews knitted her wedding dress every day while commuting to and from work.</span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">The designer, who creates “slowly made knitwear for the modern bride” shared her story in a video posted to TikTok.</span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">“I hand-knit my wedding dress on the New York subway for nine months and this was the journey,” Andrews said in the video.</span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">Andrews explained the inspiration behind the gown was a “silly and fun” design of “space pirate” meets a “tomato patch” while panning over sketches of her dream dress.</span></p> <blockquote style="background: #FFF; border: 0; border-radius: 3px; box-shadow: 0 0 1px 0 rgba(0,0,0,0.5),0 1px 10px 0 rgba(0,0,0,0.15); margin: 1px; max-width: 540px; min-width: 326px; padding: 0; width: calc(100% - 2px);" class="instagram-media" data-instgrm-captioned="" data-instgrm-permalink="https://www.instagram.com/p/B4NlnAsAZ6u/?utm_source=ig_embed&amp;utm_campaign=loading" data-instgrm-version="13"> <div style="padding: 16px;"> <div style="display: flex; flex-direction: row; align-items: center;"> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 50%; flex-grow: 0; height: 40px; margin-right: 14px; width: 40px;"></div> <div style="display: flex; flex-direction: column; flex-grow: 1; justify-content: center;"> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 4px; flex-grow: 0; height: 14px; margin-bottom: 6px; width: 100px;"></div> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 4px; flex-grow: 0; height: 14px; width: 60px;"></div> </div> </div> <div style="padding: 19% 0;"></div> <div style="display: block; height: 50px; margin: 0 auto 12px; width: 50px;"></div> <div style="padding-top: 8px;"> <div style="color: #3897f0; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; font-style: normal; font-weight: 550; line-height: 18px;">View this post on Instagram</div> </div> <p style="color: #c9c8cd; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 17px; margin-bottom: 0; margin-top: 8px; overflow: hidden; padding: 8px 0 7px; text-align: center; text-overflow: ellipsis; white-space: nowrap;"><a style="color: #c9c8cd; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: 17px; text-decoration: none;" rel="noopener" href="https://www.instagram.com/p/B4NlnAsAZ6u/?utm_source=ig_embed&amp;utm_campaign=loading" target="_blank">A post shared by Esther Andrews (@estherbollerandrews)</a></p> </div> </blockquote> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">She revealed she used more than 6.4km of mohair lace yarn to make the dress, with a single ruffle on the gown using 1.6km on its own.</span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">“When it came time to sew it together, I was scared because I could only trust that it would fit - no time to go back,” Andrews said, while confirming she managed to finish the garment just before the wedding.</span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">The below-the-knee dress featured a v-neck line, multiple ruffles, and a fitted bodice, all decorated with tiny tomatoes.</span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">“I will always cherish this dress and the time that went into making it,” Andrew wrote, sharing images of her and her husband at their wedding on Instagram.</span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">In a second video, Andrews showed off her hand-beaded stockings, designed to look “like a starry sky”, which took several weekends to make.</span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">Viewers shared their support for the designer, calling it among “the most unique of our generation”.</span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">“The most creative and iconic American wedding I’ve seen,” one user commented.</span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">“I’m crying now, this is so sweet.”</span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">One of Andrew’s biggest fans had to be her husband, who commented, “Just so you know I’m the HUSBAND!! And if you’re thinking I’m lucky, YOU DON'T EVEN KNOW THE HALF OF IT.”</span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">Andrews also designed her husband’s suit for the wedding, taking inspiration from NASA’s Gemini space suits.</span></p> <blockquote style="background: #FFF; border: 0; border-radius: 3px; box-shadow: 0 0 1px 0 rgba(0,0,0,0.5),0 1px 10px 0 rgba(0,0,0,0.15); margin: 1px; max-width: 540px; min-width: 326px; padding: 0; width: calc(100% - 2px);" class="instagram-media" data-instgrm-captioned="" data-instgrm-permalink="https://www.instagram.com/p/B4P97cKoGSi/?utm_source=ig_embed&amp;utm_campaign=loading" data-instgrm-version="13"> <div style="padding: 16px;"> <div style="display: flex; flex-direction: row; align-items: center;"> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 50%; flex-grow: 0; height: 40px; margin-right: 14px; width: 40px;"></div> <div style="display: flex; flex-direction: column; flex-grow: 1; justify-content: center;"> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 4px; flex-grow: 0; height: 14px; margin-bottom: 6px; width: 100px;"></div> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 4px; flex-grow: 0; height: 14px; width: 60px;"></div> </div> </div> <div style="padding: 19% 0;"></div> <div style="display: block; height: 50px; margin: 0 auto 12px; width: 50px;"></div> <div style="padding-top: 8px;"> <div style="color: #3897f0; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; font-style: normal; font-weight: 550; line-height: 18px;">View this post on Instagram</div> </div> <p style="color: #c9c8cd; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 17px; margin-bottom: 0; margin-top: 8px; overflow: hidden; padding: 8px 0 7px; text-align: center; text-overflow: ellipsis; white-space: nowrap;"><a style="color: #c9c8cd; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: 17px; text-decoration: none;" rel="noopener" href="https://www.instagram.com/p/B4P97cKoGSi/?utm_source=ig_embed&amp;utm_campaign=loading" target="_blank">A post shared by Esther Andrews (@estherbollerandrews)</a></p> </div> </blockquote> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">The 54-piece pattern suit took Andrews a week to make and was finished just five minutes before guests arrived. </span></p> <p><em><span style="font-weight: 400;">Image: Esther Andrews / Instagram</span></em></p>

Relationships

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Princess Diana's wedding gown to be displayed for the first time in decades

<p>Princess Diana fans will get the chance to see her iconic wedding dress in real life 40 years after she wore it down the aisle thanks to a new fashion exhibition opening at Kensington Palace this summer.</p> <p>Historic Royal Palaces curators made an announcement on Monday that Prince William and Prince Harry have given their permission to their late mother's gown included as the centrepiece of a new temporary exhibition called Royal Style in the Making opening on June 3 in the Orangery of Kensington Palace.</p> <p>This is the first time the gown will be on display since the Princess was in residence.</p> <p>The show will shed light on the relationship between designers and their royal clientele throughout the years.</p> <p>Other items included in the exhibition will be never-before-seen historical pieces such as a rare surviving toile for the 1937 coronation gown of the Queen Mother.</p> <p>“Our summer exhibition at Kensington Palace will shine a spotlight on some of the greatest talents of British design, whose work has been instrumental in shaping the visual identity of the royal family across the twentieth century,”<span> </span>Matthew Storey, the exhibition curator at Historic Royal Palaces, said in a statement. “We'll be exploring how the partnership between each designer and client worked, and revealing the process behind the creation of a number of the most important couture commissions in royal history. While one of the highlights will undoubtedly be Diana, Princess of Wales's show-stopping Emanuel designed wedding dress, which goes on show at the palace for the first time in 25 years – we've got some real surprises up our sleeve for fashion fans!”</p> <p>One of the designers behind Princess Diana's gown, Elizabeth Emanuel, told<span> </span><a rel="noopener" href="https://people.com/royals/princess-dianas-iconic-wedding-dress-to-be-displayed-at-kensington-palace-in-new-royal-style-exhibit/" target="_blank"><em>People</em></a><span> </span>that getting to visit her creation at the exhibition, “will be like seeing an old friend after all these years. I was looking at the images again today and I can't believe how many sequins we sewed onto the dress. This is going to be a wonderful exhibition.”</p> <p>The wedding dress came complete with the longest train in royal history measuring at 25 feet and covered in sequins.</p> <p>The exhibition will also kick off a number of commemorative events in honour of what would have been Diana’s 60th birthday.</p>

Beauty & Style

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Julie Bishop turns heads in stunning designer gown

<p>Former Foreign Minister Julie Bishop has proven yet again that she’s a fashion icon.</p> <p>Celebrating the 2020 Telethon over the weekend, the 64-year-old opted for a dusty pink, sequinned Rachel Gilbert gown that featured feathers on the lower half of the dress.</p> <p>Taking to Instagram to share a photo, Bishop wrote: “Ready for the ball.”</p> <p>Photographer Russell James gave a closer look at her sparkly gown, sharing a photo with the former politician to his Instagram stories.</p> <blockquote style="background: #FFF; border: 0; border-radius: 3px; box-shadow: 0 0 1px 0 rgba(0,0,0,0.5),0 1px 10px 0 rgba(0,0,0,0.15); margin: 1px; max-width: 540px; min-width: 326px; padding: 0; width: calc(100% - 2px);" class="instagram-media" data-instgrm-captioned="" data-instgrm-permalink="https://www.instagram.com/p/CGuTRrlh26f/?utm_source=ig_embed&amp;utm_campaign=loading" data-instgrm-version="12"> <div style="padding: 16px;"> <div style="display: flex; flex-direction: row; align-items: center;"> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 50%; flex-grow: 0; height: 40px; margin-right: 14px; width: 40px;"></div> <div style="display: flex; flex-direction: column; flex-grow: 1; justify-content: center;"> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 4px; flex-grow: 0; height: 14px; margin-bottom: 6px; width: 100px;"></div> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 4px; flex-grow: 0; height: 14px; width: 60px;"></div> </div> </div> <div style="padding: 19% 0;"></div> <div style="display: block; height: 50px; margin: 0 auto 12px; width: 50px;"></div> <div style="padding-top: 8px;"> <div style="color: #3897f0; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; font-style: normal; font-weight: 550; line-height: 18px;">View this post on Instagram</div> </div> <p style="margin: 8px 0 0 0; padding: 0 4px;"><a style="color: #000; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: 17px; text-decoration: none; word-wrap: break-word;" rel="noopener" href="https://www.instagram.com/p/CGuTRrlh26f/?utm_source=ig_embed&amp;utm_campaign=loading" target="_blank">Ready for the Ball 💃 🎉@telethon7 #telethon2020 #girlsjustwannahavefun but missing @pantondavid 😢@7perth @telethon_kids @russelljames @rachelgilbertau @margotmckinney @lorealaustralia @nadiaduca @luxehairstudio_ @emilyhstylist</a></p> <p style="color: #c9c8cd; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 17px; margin-bottom: 0; margin-top: 8px; overflow: hidden; padding: 8px 0 7px; text-align: center; text-overflow: ellipsis; white-space: nowrap;">A post shared by <a style="color: #c9c8cd; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: 17px;" rel="noopener" href="https://www.instagram.com/honjuliebishop/?utm_source=ig_embed&amp;utm_campaign=loading" target="_blank"> The Hon Julie Bishop</a> (@honjuliebishop) on Oct 24, 2020 at 3:47am PDT</p> </div> </blockquote> <p>This isn't the first time Bishop has stepped out in style for a good cause and claimed 'belle of the ball' honours. Earlier this month she wore a custom-made Jaimie Sortino gown while clinging to the Cottesloe Bell for a shoot to help raise money for the Ovarian Cancer Research Foundation.</p>

Beauty & Style

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Miss England swaps beauty crown for hospital gown amid pandemic

<p>Miss England 2019, Bhasha Mukherjee, has returned to her lucrative medical career in trade for her crown in order to help those impacted by the coronavirus outbreak.</p> <p>The 24-year-old winner told<span> </span>CNN<span> </span>she was returning to her career in the UK after coming back from doing humanitarian work as Miss England abroad. She is returning to her job as a junior doctor at Pilgrim Hospital in Boston, Eastern England – which she held before she won the crown.</p> <blockquote style="background: #FFF; border: 0; border-radius: 3px; box-shadow: 0 0 1px 0 rgba(0,0,0,0.5),0 1px 10px 0 rgba(0,0,0,0.15); margin: 1px; max-width: 540px; min-width: 326px; padding: 0; width: calc(100% - 2px);" class="instagram-media" data-instgrm-permalink="https://www.instagram.com/p/B-uoPX0gOgj/?utm_source=ig_embed&amp;utm_campaign=loading" data-instgrm-version="12"> <div style="padding: 16px;"> <div style="display: flex; flex-direction: row; align-items: center;"> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 50%; flex-grow: 0; height: 40px; margin-right: 14px; width: 40px;"></div> <div style="display: flex; flex-direction: column; flex-grow: 1; justify-content: center;"> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 4px; flex-grow: 0; height: 14px; margin-bottom: 6px; width: 100px;"></div> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 4px; flex-grow: 0; height: 14px; width: 60px;"></div> </div> </div> <div style="padding: 19% 0;"></div> <div style="display: block; height: 50px; margin: 0 auto 12px; width: 50px;"></div> <div style="padding-top: 8px;"> <div style="color: #3897f0; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; font-style: normal; font-weight: 550; line-height: 18px;">View this post on Instagram</div> </div> <p style="color: #c9c8cd; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 17px; margin-bottom: 0; margin-top: 8px; overflow: hidden; padding: 8px 0 7px; text-align: center; text-overflow: ellipsis; white-space: nowrap;"><a style="color: #c9c8cd; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: 17px; text-decoration: none;" rel="noopener" href="https://www.instagram.com/p/B-uoPX0gOgj/?utm_source=ig_embed&amp;utm_campaign=loading" target="_blank">A post shared by Dr Bhasha Mukherjee (@bhasha05)</a> on Apr 8, 2020 at 10:39am PDT</p> </div> </blockquote> <p> “I felt a sense of this is what I’d got this degree for and what better time to be part of this particular sector than now,” she explained on Monday.</p> <p>According to John Hopkins University data, the United Kingdom currently has 56,200 confirmed cases of COVID-19, as of Tuesday morning.</p> <p>Mukherjee says her initial plans to act as an ambassador for a number of charities throughout countries including Turkey, India and Pakistan quickly had to quickly be given up after receiving messages from her former colleagues about the dire situation currently taking place in England.</p> <blockquote style="background: #FFF; border: 0; border-radius: 3px; box-shadow: 0 0 1px 0 rgba(0,0,0,0.5),0 1px 10px 0 rgba(0,0,0,0.15); margin: 1px; max-width: 540px; min-width: 326px; padding: 0; width: calc(100% - 2px);" class="instagram-media" data-instgrm-permalink="https://www.instagram.com/p/B9gsfeyHxP5/?utm_source=ig_embed&amp;utm_campaign=loading" data-instgrm-version="12"> <div style="padding: 16px;"> <div style="display: flex; flex-direction: row; align-items: center;"> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 50%; flex-grow: 0; height: 40px; margin-right: 14px; width: 40px;"></div> <div style="display: flex; flex-direction: column; flex-grow: 1; justify-content: center;"> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 4px; flex-grow: 0; height: 14px; margin-bottom: 6px; width: 100px;"></div> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 4px; flex-grow: 0; height: 14px; width: 60px;"></div> </div> </div> <div style="padding: 19% 0;"></div> <div style="display: block; height: 50px; margin: 0 auto 12px; width: 50px;"></div> <div style="padding-top: 8px;"> <div style="color: #3897f0; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; font-style: normal; font-weight: 550; line-height: 18px;">View this post on Instagram</div> </div> <p style="color: #c9c8cd; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 17px; margin-bottom: 0; margin-top: 8px; overflow: hidden; padding: 8px 0 7px; text-align: center; text-overflow: ellipsis; white-space: nowrap;"><a style="color: #c9c8cd; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: 17px; text-decoration: none;" rel="noopener" href="https://www.instagram.com/p/B9gsfeyHxP5/?utm_source=ig_embed&amp;utm_campaign=loading" target="_blank">A post shared by Dr Bhasha Mukherjee (@bhasha05)</a> on Mar 9, 2020 at 4:15am PDT</p> </div> </blockquote> <p> “When you are doing all this humanitarian work abroad, you’re still expected to put the crown on, get ready ... look pretty,” she said.</p> <p>For her, there is no better time to step back from her crown and help the country in its time of need.</p> <p>“Health care staff are risking their lives for us, so let’s risk our mere leisure for a little while to say thank you to them,” Mukherjee wrote in support of the U.K’s National Health Service.</p> <blockquote style="background: #FFF; border: 0; border-radius: 3px; box-shadow: 0 0 1px 0 rgba(0,0,0,0.5),0 1px 10px 0 rgba(0,0,0,0.15); margin: 1px; max-width: 540px; min-width: 326px; padding: 0; width: calc(100% - 2px);" class="instagram-media" data-instgrm-permalink="https://www.instagram.com/p/B8OamTtnfvN/?utm_source=ig_embed&amp;utm_campaign=loading" data-instgrm-version="12"> <div style="padding: 16px;"> <div style="display: flex; flex-direction: row; align-items: center;"> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 50%; flex-grow: 0; height: 40px; margin-right: 14px; width: 40px;"></div> <div style="display: flex; flex-direction: column; flex-grow: 1; justify-content: center;"> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 4px; flex-grow: 0; height: 14px; margin-bottom: 6px; width: 100px;"></div> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 4px; flex-grow: 0; height: 14px; width: 60px;"></div> </div> </div> <div style="padding: 19% 0;"></div> <div style="display: block; height: 50px; margin: 0 auto 12px; width: 50px;"></div> <div style="padding-top: 8px;"> <div style="color: #3897f0; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; font-style: normal; font-weight: 550; line-height: 18px;">View this post on Instagram</div> </div> <p style="color: #c9c8cd; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 17px; margin-bottom: 0; margin-top: 8px; overflow: hidden; padding: 8px 0 7px; text-align: center; text-overflow: ellipsis; white-space: nowrap;"><a style="color: #c9c8cd; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: 17px; text-decoration: none;" rel="noopener" href="https://www.instagram.com/p/B8OamTtnfvN/?utm_source=ig_embed&amp;utm_campaign=loading" target="_blank">A post shared by Dr Bhasha Mukherjee (@bhasha05)</a> on Feb 6, 2020 at 4:21am PST</p> </div> </blockquote> <p>Mukherjee says being a doctor requires her to be as creative as possible in relation to speaking to patients and “trying to convince them of taking their medication or doing a certain treatment.”</p> <p>“That’s where the art comes in, you see,” she explained.</p> <p>“That’s where the humanities and all the communication skills come in. And that was very exciting for me.”</p> <p>Mukherjee told<span> </span>CNN<span> </span>she is placing herself under quarantine for two weeks before she returns to her medical profession, but stated she is prepared and readily awaiting the new challenge that she is soon to face.</p>

Caring

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Bride outraged after mother-in-law buys ivory lace gown for wedding

<p>A bride-to-be has shared her mother-in-law’s gown on social media, saying that she was “a little hurt” when she first laid eyes on the ivory and lace-covered design.</p> <p>The woman, whose location is unknown, took to a Facebook wedding shaming group about the dress, asking others whether they would be upset if they were faced with the same issue.</p> <p>“My future mother-in-law sent me this picture of the dress she is considering wearing to our wedding,” she said.</p> <p>“I’m not okay with it and honestly felt a little hurt when I saw the picture. Ideas?”</p> <p>The question sparked a debate with some defending the choice of dress, saying it looks nothing like a wedding dress.</p> <p style="text-align: center;"><img style="width: 326.46755921730175px; height: 500px;" src="https://oversixtydev.blob.core.windows.net/media/7834930/1.jpg" alt="" data-udi="umb://media/b5622e8c6f5e45a2b70e16a9cf4d6be5" /></p> <p>“As far as mother-in-laws go, this could be so much worse. It’s a pretty dress and not going to be mistaken for bridal,” said one woman.</p> <p>“It’s ugly but aside from that what is the issue? It’s not white, it’s cream,” said another.</p> <p>A third added: “I mean it’s not cute but it’s not bridal either”.</p> <p>But others showed sympathy, saying they understood why she was upset.</p> <p>“This is a 9th grade semi formal dance dress and totally disrespectful,” said one lady.</p> <p>“Why are we all pretending this isn’t a classic monster in law move,” said another.</p> <p>Many agreed that the poster needs to speak to her future mother-in-law about the white-looking dress, especially if it was going to upset her on the day.</p>

Beauty & Style

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Princess Diana’s iconic gown goes on sale

<p>Throughout her lifetime, Princess Diana had been known for her iconic style and fashion-forward looks.</p> <p>One of such looks was the midnight blue off-shoulder velvet evening gown by Victor Edelstein, which she wore when she danced with <em>Saturday Night Fever </em>actor John Travolta during her visit to a White House state dinner in 1985. The princess’s twirl around the dance floor with Travolta became one of her most memorable moments.</p> <p>In June 1997, two months before her death, Princess Diana auctioned off many of her dresses including the Edelstein gown. The <a href="https://www.harpersbazaar.com/celebrity/latest/a29829294/princess-diana-john-travolta-dance-dress-auction/">proceeds from the clothing</a> went to the Royal Marsden Hospital Cancer Fund and the AIDS Crisis Trust.</p> <p>Now, after numerous changes of hands, the famous dress is once again made available as part of Kerry Taylor Auctions’ upcoming <em>Passion for Fashion </em>auction.</p> <p>“This is considered one of the most important and iconic gowns ever worn by the princess,” <span>Lucy Bishop of Kerry Taylor Auctions told <em><a href="https://www.independent.co.uk/life-style/fashion/princess-diana-dress-john-travolta-gown-white-house-auction-a9206966.html">The Independent</a></em></span>.</p> <p>The <a href="https://kerrytaylorauctions.com/Catalog/?id=457#tab-2">online listing</a> reads, “This dress must have been of special significance to the Princess because in 1997 she chose to wear it for her portrait by Lord Snowdon - with the same necklace she had worn twelve years earlier at that infamous event.”</p> <p>The dress is expected to sell for between £250,000 and £350,000 when the auction takes place in London, December 9.</p>

Beauty & Style

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“I said yes to the dress”: Bindi Irwin gives sneak peek of her wedding gown

<div class="post_body_wrapper"> <div class="post_body"> <div class="body_text "> <p>She got engaged only two months ago and now Bindi Irwin has said yes to the dress.</p> <p>The 21-year-old animal conservationist took to her Instagram page to give her millions of followers a little sneak peek into what she plans on wearing on the day of her wedding.</p> <p>The daughter of the late Steve Irwin is planning to get married next year at Australia Zoo, and it seems she’ll be ready to tie the knot in an ornate, long-sleeved lace gown for the joyful day.</p> <blockquote style="background: #FFF; border: 0; border-radius: 3px; box-shadow: 0 0 1px 0 rgba(0,0,0,0.5),0 1px 10px 0 rgba(0,0,0,0.15); margin: 1px; max-width: 540px; min-width: 326px; padding: 0; width: calc(100% - 2px);" class="instagram-media" data-instgrm-captioned="" data-instgrm-permalink="https://www.instagram.com/p/B3Ad8UOBLtb/?utm_source=ig_embed&amp;utm_campaign=loading" data-instgrm-version="12"> <div style="padding: 16px;"> <div style="display: flex; flex-direction: row; align-items: center;"> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 50%; flex-grow: 0; height: 40px; margin-right: 14px; width: 40px;"></div> <div style="display: flex; flex-direction: column; flex-grow: 1; justify-content: center;"> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 4px; flex-grow: 0; height: 14px; margin-bottom: 6px; width: 100px;"></div> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 4px; flex-grow: 0; height: 14px; width: 60px;"></div> </div> </div> <div style="padding: 19% 0;"></div> <div style="display: block; height: 50px; margin: 0 auto 12px; width: 50px;"></div> <div style="padding-top: 8px;"> <div style="color: #3897f0; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; font-style: normal; font-weight: 550; line-height: 18px;">View this post on Instagram</div> </div> <p style="margin: 8px 0 0 0; padding: 0 4px;"><a style="color: #000; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: 17px; text-decoration: none; word-wrap: break-word;" rel="noopener" href="https://www.instagram.com/p/B3Ad8UOBLtb/?utm_source=ig_embed&amp;utm_campaign=loading" target="_blank">I said yes to the dress 💍</a></p> <p style="color: #c9c8cd; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 17px; margin-bottom: 0; margin-top: 8px; overflow: hidden; padding: 8px 0 7px; text-align: center; text-overflow: ellipsis; white-space: nowrap;">A post shared by <a style="color: #c9c8cd; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: 17px;" rel="noopener" href="https://www.instagram.com/bindisueirwin/?utm_source=ig_embed&amp;utm_campaign=loading" target="_blank"> Bindi Irwin</a> (@bindisueirwin) on Sep 29, 2019 at 12:44pm PDT</p> </div> </blockquote> <p>“I said yes to the dress,” Bindi wrote under the photo, which showed of a hint of the lace sleeve and her stunning engagement ring which is assumed to have cost up to $70,000.</p> <p>In early September, Bindi released details about her highly anticipated wedding to Chandler through a sweet Instagram post.</p> <p>“We’re looking forward to celebrating our wedding day next year at Australia Zoo,” she wrote.</p> <p>“Of course, the day will be filled with family, friends and lots of gorgeous animals (koala cuddles are a must!)”.</p> <p>The young couple got engaged on Bindi’s 21st birthday in July.</p> </div> </div> </div>

Beauty & Style

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Helen Mirren oozes sophistication and glamour in stunning emerald gown

<p>Dame Helen Mirren was a picture of elegance and beauty when she appeared at the relaunch of Reinvents and Re-imagined Mandarin Oriental Hyde Park in London on Tuesday evening.</p> <p>Mirren is renowned for her incredible fashion taste and yet again she appeared looking sleek and effortlessly gorgeous at the London launch wearing an emerald green coat by Suzannah which featured a chic Italian jacquard fabric decorated with Japanese style flowers.</p> <p>The 73-year-old looked delightful as she cosied up to her former flame, Liam Neeson, 67.</p> <p>The two both enjoyed a “serious” romance in the early '80s where they both moved into a home together during the relationship.</p> <p>Oozing glamour and sparkle, the award-winning actress jokingly poked and giggled alongside Neeson while donning a dangling pair of earrings and a simple makeup look.</p> <p>Liam looked sophisticated and comfortable in a navy shirt along with a crisp grey suit.</p> <p>In January 2018, the former couple both appeared together on<span> </span><em>The Graham Norton Show</em><span> </span>where they cheekily chatted away about their romance where Helen insisted they were more than just a flame.</p> <p>“'We didn’t date, we lived together for four years – we were a serious item for a while. Lucky me!” she said.</p> <p>Scroll through the gallery above to see the gorgeous emerald green look worn by Dame Helen Mirren.</p>

Movies

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Midas touch! Julie Bishop shimmers on the red carpet at A-list party

<p>Julie Bishop is not one to shy away from an extravagant night out.</p> <p>On Thursday night, the retired politician looked decadent for the annual star-studded Gold Dinner at Fox Studios in Sydney.</p> <p>The 62-year-old dazzled the red carpet alongside her partner, 58-year-old David Panton, at the charity gala in a bedazzled metallic gown.</p> <p>The stunning frock featured beaded fringing with delicate cap sleeves, which she paired with a gorgeous pearl bracelet and drop earrings.</p> <p>Joined by Bishop for the glamorous event was former<span> </span><em>Today</em> show host Karl Stefanovic along with his wife Jasmine, who turned heads in a stunning navy gown with a one-shoulder neckline.</p> <p>Also in attendance was Karl's<span> </span><em>Today</em><span> </span>show replacement, journalist Deborah Knight, who looked divine in a scarlet gown and a slicked back hairdo.</p> <p>The Gold Dinner event is in its 22nd year and is not like any other charity function.</p> <p>Deemed as the “most exclusive charity gala in Australia,” the event raises money for the Sydney Children’s Hospital Foundation.</p> <p>Unlike many other fundraisers that populate on social media, this annual event is a strictly invite-only occurrence that happens once a year.</p> <p>The invitations come directly from the Gold Committee members, which include Julie Bishop and Karl Stefanovic.</p> <p>Guests are required to pay $1500 per head to attend the star-studded event, where there are reportedly “absolutely no freebies,” as reported by <a rel="noopener" href="https://www.news.com.au/entertainment/celebrity-life/invite-only-rich-australians-raise-money-for-sick-children-at-exclusive-gold-dinner-charity-gala/news-story/8e12048d734c5c8c713a9616e2624399" target="_blank">news.com.au.</a></p> <p>The annual event has raised over $26 million for paediatric healthcare.</p> <p>Scroll through the gallery above to see some of the gorgeous looks throughout the night.</p>

Beauty & Style

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Julie Bishop struts the red carpet in daring red gown – and debuts new hairstyle

<p>Julie Bishop, former foreign minister, has stunned onlookers as she attended the<span> </span><em>InStyle</em> magazine Women of Style Awards on Wednesday night.</p> <p>Bishop stepped out in a fitted, asymmetric ruby red dress, as well as sporting a new hairstyle.</p> <p><span>Bishop was there to present an award to the winner of the Style Vanguard award at the event, which went to P.E. Nation designers Pip Edwards and Claire Tregoning.</span></p> <p>She spoke to the<span> </span><a href="https://www.dailytelegraph.com.au/entertainment/sydney-confidential/julie-bishop-and-camilla-franks-the-standouts-at-instyle-awards/news-story/f3103151a78e91f207b814e36cbfc22e"><em>Daily Telegraph</em></a>'s Sydney Confidential about her new hair, as well who she thinks will win the federal election.</p> <p>“New career, new hair. Short hair, don’t care”, she said.</p> <p>“I would never write off the Coalition, that would be a very big mistake. I’m looking forward to the Coalition winning the election.</p> <p>“It’s good to be able to stand back and watch it as I’m moving into my post-political career.”</p> <p>The star-studded event was also attended by a range of celebrities, including <em>Sunrise </em>host Samantha Armytage, personal trainer Michelle Bridges, <em>The Daily Edition</em>’s Sally Obermeder,<span> </span><em>The Morning Show </em>host Kylie Gillies, <em>Sunday Night</em>’s Melissa Doyle and <em>Studio 10</em>’s Angela Bishop.</p> <p>To see more fashionable moments from the star-studded evening, scroll through the gallery above.</p>

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