Here Are Preen’s 2015 Emmy’s Best Dressed Girls

Only at the 67th Primetime Emmy Awards can you see characters as diverse as the actresses that play them. This diversity also applies to the fashion choices at the red carpet.
The Emmy’s is where Khaleesi of Game of Thrones drops her huntress-like ensemble and platinum blonde locks to be Emilia Clarke herself—brunette and in a custom Donna Karan Atelier. That Orange is the New Black chick Taylor Schilling was in a custom Stella McCartney and not in her orange prison suit, too.
For this best dressed list special, we compare and contrast these girls’ TV show costumes and how they’ve transformed—or, barely—into red carpet superstars.
Claire Danes
While Claire Danes is on a break saving America from a terrorist attack as Carrie Mathison in Homeland, she opts to put on a purple, sequined Prada dress with metal chain straps. Its low-lying back and plunging sides are a far cry from her blue jeans and wrinkly blazer. It’s a total upgrade and a really good one!
Lady Gaga
The American Horror Story: Hotel star Lady Gaga checks in the red carpet in a sharply cut Brandon Maxwell refined, black number. As glimpses of her show garb circulated the web last month (see above!), we now know that Elizabeth, “a very wealthy social doyenne who is consumed with art, fashion, and people,” will also be wearing red carpet-worthy costumes in the show and yes, with a bedazzled silver claw, of course.
Emma Roberts
Emma Roberts in Scream Queens is your typical sorority girl: blonde, beautiful, and fashionable. And with megawatt co-stars with her (Arianna Grande and Lea Michele), expect this show to be filled with equal parts stylish garb and suspense. It makes sense then that come the Emmys, Emma chose a blush Jenny Packham number, merging her usual personal style and her sorority girl show persona.
Jaimie Alexander
Jaimie Alexander has a penchant for all things shiny. From her Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D. metal armor as Lady Sif to her Armani Prive blue, red, and purple fully beaded number, her fashion choices on- and off-screen are equally badass.
Laura Carmichael
The setting: the 1910s. The era’s garb: Edwardian. So when Laura Carmichael went out of her Downtown Abbey boudoir and came dressed in Erdem on the red carpet, everybody was just as transfixed. Captivating as she already is in her silk lampshade gowns as Lady Edith, modern day Laura manages to impress.
Sofia Vergara
Modern Family hot momma Gloria is your typical, well, MILF. No stranger to flaunting the curves, Sofia Vergara came down the carpet as that hot momma that she really is but this time in a St. John dress with 64,000 hand-applied Swarovski crystals.
Kerry Washington
It’s been barely a week since Marc Jacobs closed New York Fashion Week, but Kerry Washington already got her hands on a piece from the collection. This silver modern-day flapper dress definitely is paparazzi-friendly—miles away in comparison to her ubiquitous pantsuits in Scandal.

Hayden Panettiere Refuses Wedding To Baby Daddy Wladimir Klitschko Because Of Parents’ Divorce?

Hayden Panettiere may be refusing to go on with planning the wedding with her baby daddy Wladimir Klitschko because of what she has seen through her parents’ divorce. Seeing how messy marital affairs can be, “Nashville” star may be choosing to opt out.
According to TMZ, she has been a key player in her parents’ divorce, funding their living expenses as well as divorce fees.
The reporter writes that “Hayden Panettiere is a dream daughter, helping both her mom and dad who are locked in a bitter divorce fight ... seemingly without taking sides. Hayden's mom says she's virtually destitute with no place to live in L.A., and were it not for the generosity of her daughter she could be homeless.... But Hayden's generosity doesn't stop there. According to the docs, Hayden gave Alan a $100,000 gift just this year.”
After dealing with the end of her parents’ marriage, it’s understandable that Hayden Panettiere doesn’t even want to look at an engagement ring.
In fact, she is choosing to focus on getting “Nashville” season 4 rolling and not the pending wedding to Wladimir Klitschko.
According Us Weekly, “[Steven] Tyler, who wore an amazing silver ensemble for his small screen country moment, shared a snap of himself and Panettiere, 25, on set together via Twitter late on Tuesday, Aug. 18, showing off his awesome outfit and trademark scarf-covered mic stand.”
Just a few weeks ago, she greeted her 26th birthday with Wladimir Klitschko and her baby girl, but still managed to dodge the wedding question. Maybe this celebration gave “Nashville” actress another good reason to ignore delays.
It looks like Wladimir Klitschko has to work a lot harder to persuade his baby mama.
But some say that this is making Wladimir Klitschko more and more “frustrated”. With their wedding constantly pushed back, the rumors surrounding their union has been intensifying.
According to a source from Ok! Magazine, it is “Nashville” actress who is avoiding the wedding topic.
"Between her career and caring for the baby, she claims she's just too busy to plan anything,” the source said. "Now Wlad is starting to worry that she won't ever commit."
The fans are guessing that wedding is no longer a priority for the couple, but still hoping that there will be a glamorous celebration of the couple’s love.

On rites and rights — I performed my first gay wedding

I’m not one to preach.
But last weekend I was called upon to perform a marriage out of love for two young men, deeply in love.
Over that same long, holiday weekend, Kim Davis, the once-meek Kentucky county clerk now hoisted to celebrity status by anti-gay-marriage crusaders and a couple of 2016 presidential wannabes, spent five nights in jail for refusing to issue marriage licenses – which is her job.
She sheathed her pen, pitting the supreme being vs. the Supreme Court’s Obergefell v. Hodges ruling on June 26, which legalized gay marriage nationwide.
If the irony of a marriage-license-wielding clerk in her fourth marriage isn’t enough, or a court denizen breaking the law or even a citizen standing up for religious liberty while denying others due process, then maybe it's time to throw the good book at the good clerk.
Rowan County Clerk of Courts Kim Davis waves to a crowd of her supporters at a rally in front of the Carter County Detention Center in Grayson, Ky., on Sept. 8, 2015. Davis was ordered to jail last week for contempt of court after refusing a court order to issue marriage licenses to same-sex couples. (Photo: Ty Wright, Getty Images)
I’m not a Christian. But one of the grooms I married was raised Catholic, so I spent weeks thinking about how to weave God’s word into the ceremony. Mostly, I focused on the love passages.
And here’s what I learned the Bible also has to say about:
• Judgment. From Matthew 7:1-3: “Judge not, that ye be not judged. ... And why beholdest thou the mote that is in thy brother's eye, but considerest not the beam that is in thine own eye?”
• Equality. From Numbers 15:15: "For the assembly, there shall be one statute for you and for the stranger who sojourns with you, a statute forever throughout your generations. You and the sojourner shall be alike before the Lord."
As humans, it’s hard to avoid interpreting what we read through the filter of our own beliefs. It’s easy to misinterpret.
Amid such excitement lately over Pope Francis’ seemingly progressive pronouncements, an August survey by the Public Religion Research Institute and Religion News Service found that nearly half of Americans who are in favor of gay marriage mistakenly believe that the pope is, too.
They recall his “Who am I to judge …?” remarks as a breakthrough, especially in contrast to the words of his predecessor, Benedict XVI, who wrote a decade ago that homosexuality was “a strong tendency ordered toward an intrinsic moral evil,” a “disorder.” Francis even used the less-clinical and English word “gay” speaking in Italian, which made him seem more compassionate, while still adhering to the church’s anti-gay doctrine.
The mother of one of the grooms I married Saturday elected not to witness the blessed event because of her devout Catholic convictions.
I am not one to judge. She is a lovely woman who loves her son dearly. I only pray she can live with no regrets.
Because if there’s one lesson my first gay wedding framed well, it's this: Live and let love and eschew regret. Indeed, the ceremony went off with a hitch — many hitches. The cake fell over. The sound system failed. The entire schedule went kablooey as last-minute details were nailed into place.
Yet the joie de vivre expressed by the grooms and 60-plus merrymakers was transcendent. A few relatives may not have been in attendance, but God was surely there, in the light on everyone’s faces.
can only pray that Davis and her supporters will be thus illuminated. As I said in my sermon: "I hope that someday all men who love men and women who love women — and everyone in between — will no longer feel scorn and hostility from certain corners of society."
For marriage, contrary to what some might think, is not about losing your freedom. For some, it’s about exercising it.

Ashlee-Paige Bednar - Daniel Lane Holmes

Ashlee-Paige Bednar and Daniel Lane Holmes were united in marriage at 6 p.m. Saturday, Aug. 29, in Immanuel Baptist Church. James F. Holmes, grandfather of the groom, officiated.
The bride is the daughter of Melinda Colleen Beaty of Little Rock and Jon Phillip Bednar of Loudon, Tenn. Her grandparents are Vonda and the late Girdle Beaty Jr. of Benton and Sharron and the late Andrew Phillip Bednar of Jonesboro.
Terri and Byron Lane Holmes, 205 Vigne Lane, are the parents of the groom. His grandparents are Peggy and James Scott and Bette and James F. Holmes, all of Little Rock.
Arrangements of mostly succulents decorated the chancel. Nuptial music was by pianist Jon Hynes and organist Lyndon Finney.
Given in marriage by her father, the bride wore an ivory mermaid-style gown embellished with Swarovski crystals. The lace bodice had a sweetheart neckline and the skirt was formed of layers of tulle and lace. She carried a bouquet of blue and cream roses, light pink lisianthus, purple stock, succulents and seeded eucalyptus.
Maid of honor was Elizabeth Leggett of Seattle. Bridesmaids were Ali Glasier of Rogers; Abigail Scott and Lindsey Price, both of Kansas City, Mo.; Becky Bednar of Knoxville, Tenn.; Lauren Stringer of White Hall; and Hannah Thomas, Jordan Boris and Jessica Crain, all of Little Rock. They wore one-shoulder black chiffon gowns and carried bouquets of hydrangeas, roses, stock and lisianthus. Junior bridesmaid was Summer Cathey of Little Rock, cousin of the groom.
Flower girls were Greer Jennings and Anderson Jennings of Rogers, and ring bearer was Gage Cathey of Little Rock, all cousins of the groom.
Kyle Holmes of Little Rock was his brother's best man. Groomsmen were Payden Richards of Tulsa; Jonathan Bednar of Knoxville, brother of the bride; Greg Gibson of Marianna; and Ross Dunn, Alex Bennett, Nate Talley, Phillip Kosmitis and Tanner Bailey, all of Little Rock. Guests were seated by Will LaFoe and Andrew LaFoe of Cape Girardeau, Mo., cousins of the bride.
A reception at Chenal Country Club followed the ceremony. Guest tables were centered with gold candelabras and elevated arrangements of succulents and rich purple, pink and cream wedding flowers. Music was by The Shotgun Billys. Assisting were Elizabeth LaFoe of Columbia, Mo., and Sarah Bednar of Jonesboro, cousins of the bride.
The bride has a bachelor's degree in communications from the University of Arkansas at Fayetteville, and is employed by Arvest Central Mortgage Co. as an insurance claims specialist.
The groom graduated from the university's Walton College of Business with bachelor's degrees in business and finance. He is employed by Grace Composites Fiberglass Co. in Lonoke.

THE ANATOMY OF A 'VOGUE' WEDDING

A wedding is a momentous occasion in any person's life. Some weddings, however, are more special than others — those being the ones covered by Vogue.
What separates a civilian wedding from one worthy of the fashion bible's attention? Here are some questions to get you started: Were one or more of the Courtin-Clarins sisters in attendance? Was the bride's veil longer than her entire body? Did she arrive at the ceremony by boat? Did Snoop Dogg surprise guests with a performance? Was Anna Wintour the mother of the groom? If the answer to any of these questions is yes, then the wedding has earned the right to immortality in the annals of Vogue's aspirational wedding column, conveniently available online for all to browse.
In order to understand the distinctive characteristics of a Vogue wedding, we analyzed the 57 ceremonies profiled by the title since September 2010. Of this group, only two weddings featured a same-sex couple (those of Coach Creative Director Stuart Vevers and Joseph Altuzarra, respectively) and only eight weddings look place outside of Europe and the U.S. There are lot of Brits and Italians having fancy weddings, apparently, and Vogue is on the case.
To simplify the project, we relied only on information included in the wedding profiles. These all varied in coverage and often did not make mention of every notable guest or family member that could have impacted Vogue's decision to cover the event in the first place. We also skipped weddings that were covered by the magazine but did not include interviews or access to personal images — the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge's wedding, for example.
Enough preamble. On to the cold, hard, lace-trimmed facts.
THE BRIDES
Who are these women and how do they get chosen for such an auspicious profile? Sometimes the piece itself provides plenty of justification. Fashion entrepreneur and presidential granddaughter Lauren Bush's wedding to David Lauren, son of Ralph, is a match made in Vogue heaven, no question. But sometimes the bride is an "Icelandic former model" and the reason for coverage is a bit murkier. Of the weddings we examined, 13 brides were fashion, jewelry or furniture designers and six were models. Eighteen worked in some kind of creative field, from filmmaking to writing; four worked in PR or marketing; four worked in finance; three were in business development; two were stylists; one was a lawyer and four had no discernible occupation.
Eight people featured worked at Vogue or Vogue UK, either currently or previously, and two people were related to someone on staff — proving that working in the fashion industry or at Vogue is a big reason that couples get chosen. See former Vogue market assistant Mollie Ruprecht's three day wedding (#thebattwedding) in St. Barts, above.
THE DESIGNER GOWNS
The Vogue bride has extremely high tastes, of course. With the exception of a few brides who borrowed from mothers or designed dresses in partnership with independent labels, most wore haute couture or runway gowns by designers like Alice Temperely or Tom Ford. And usually, one designer gown is not enough: 19 brides changed into another dress for the reception and six brides wore more than three high-end dresses over the course of the wedding festivities.
The most popular designer was Valentino, followed by Giambattista Valli and Oscar de la Renta. Dolce & Gabbana and Olivier Theyskens ranked next. (You may recall Lauren Santo Domingo's Theyskens-designed gown that famously appeared in the Sept. 2008 issue of Vogue.) Fabiola Beracasa — whose wedding Riccardi Tisci called “the best wedding I’ve been to in my life”— wore a custom Givenchy dress that required 1,600 hours of workmanship in the house's haute couture atelier (see above).
THE DESIGNER-AS-GUEST
Since designer gowns are a moot point at this level, the distinguishing mark of a truly sophisticated wedding is securing the designer's attendance as a guest — and 21 brides were lucky enough to pull it off. Examples include Molly Fishkin, whose dress was created by close friends Ashley and Mary Kate Olsen (see above), and Elizabeth Cordry, who had an extremely special visit from Oscar de la Renta shortly before he passed away on the day of her marriage (#thismasticmoment) to Anna Wintour's son Charlie Shaffer (see below).

Pope weighs in on divorced Catholics who remarry

Pope Francis declared on Wednesday that divorced Catholics who remarry, as well as their children, deserve better treatment from the church, warning pastors against treating these couples as if they were excommunicated.
Catholic teaching considers divorced Catholics who remarry are living in sin and are not allowed to receive Communion, leaving many of these people feeling shunned by their church.

Pope Francis is greeted by newlyweds during a general audience at the Vatican's Paul VI hall on August 5, 2015. FILIPPO MONTEFORTE/AFP/GETTY IMAGES
Francis' emphasis on mercy in church leadership has raised hope among many such Catholics that he might lift the Communion ban. Catholics who divorce after a church marriage but don't take up a new union, such as a second marriage, can receive Communion.
"Lots of people feel alienated from the church, they don't feel welcome there," Candida Moss, theologian professor at the University of Notre Dame, told CBS News correspondent Don Dahler in September. "But it seems like Francis is saying that the church has to be more progressive, it needs to be more practical and it needs to be more compassionate."
The Vatican this fall is holding a month-long follow-up meeting on family issues, after a similar gathering last year left divorced Catholics who remarry hoping in vain that a quick end to the ban would have resulted from those discussions.
In his latest remarks on divorce, Francis didn't go that far. But he insisted on an attitude change in the church. "How do we take care of those who, following the irreversible failing of their family bond made a new union?" he said.
"People who started a new union after the defeat of their sacramental marriage are not at all excommunicated, and they absolutely must not be treated that way," Francis told pilgrims and tourists at his first general audience after a summer break. "They always belong to the church." The church, he said, must be one of "open doors."
The pope acknowledged that church teaching considers "taking up a new union" after divorce wrong.
"The church knows well that such a situation contradicts the Christian sacrament," of marriage. Still, Francis said, the church must always "seek the well-being and salvation of persons."
Francis wondered how the church can insist that the children of these failed marriage be raised by their parents "with an example of convinced and practiced faith, if we keep them (the parents) far from the community life (of the church) as if they were excommunicated?"
He exhorted pastors "not to add additional weight beyond what the children in this situation have to bear. Unfortunately the numbers of these children and young people are truly great."
In his papacy, Francis has frequently suggested seeing situations through the eyes of others.
"If we look at these new ties with the eyes of young children ... we see ever more the urgency to develop in our community true welcome toward people living in these situations," Francis said.
Other than being widowed, the only possible way for Catholics who marry in the church to remarry is receiving an annulment. That long, complicated process essentially involves examining whether the marriage never existed in the first place. Grounds for annulment include refusal by a spouse to have children.
Previous pontiffs had complained that annulments in some places, notably in the United States, were being granted too liberally.
Francis ended his weekly audience by greetings newlyweds in attendance - brides and grooms in their wedding outfits.

Top do's and don'ts from etiquette expert William Hanson

From 'naff figures' on top of the cake to flashing too much flesh, opinionated etiquette expert William Hanson separates the distinguished from the downright rude.
The happy couple
Presents
Asking for money instead of presents is very bad form. I’ve even heard of bank details being printed on the invitation – this is grim indeed. You should have a
gift list, but also allow people to buy you things that aren’t on the list.
Cake
Figures on a wedding cake are a no-no
A fruit cake is a nice tradition, and it is lovely to keep the top layer for your first child’s christening (if it’s made with enough alcohol, fruit cake lasts a very long time). Naff little figures on top of the cake are not the done thing.
Music
If you choose to have a DJ rather than a band or a string quartet, remember that many of the older generation – or, in fact, anyone with any taste – may choose to slip away early. Don’t assume your granny is going to enjoy dancing to David Guetta as much as you do, so try to cater to all tastes.
Tables
Consider naming the tables after something personal to you, such as houses you’ve lived in, countries you’ve visited together, or your favourite flowers.
Reception
Limiting some guests to reception-only is sure to create problems. People may get het up about it, and it’s a disaster that can be avoided. If you don’t like them enough to invite them to the wedding ceremony, why are you having them there in the evening?
Bridesmaids and ushers
Have a maximum of THREE bridesmaids
Having too many bridesmaids makes your big day look like something from a celebrity magazine, not a chic royal wedding.
Three is absolute maximum, although if you’re getting married in a cathedral, you may allow yourself one or two more. You shouldn’t have too many ushers either, just enough to do the job.
And never ever ask bridesmaids or ushers to buy their own clothes – if you can’t afford their outfits,have fewer of them.
Invitations
Postal invitations should always be sent (about eight weeks in advance) – never invite people on Facebook or by email.
You can tell a lot about the type of wedding it will be from the invitation:if it’s fun and jolly, it will probably be a relaxed affair; if the invite is in a traditional style, it will most likely be a more formal event.
Bridal showers
Just awful – it’s presumptuous to expect to be showered with gifts. If you do have a bridal shower, it should not be organised by the bride or any direct family members, and you shouldn’t expect additional presents at the wedding.
Guests
Yea or nay?
Never do Facebook invites
Respond to the invitation within two to three days. Traditionally, responses should be written in the third person, repeating the invitation back.
Nowadays you may phone or email your response.
Parents
Remember to be a help rather than a hindrance. If you’re paying for the wedding, then you do have more of a say, and your children need to accept this. The bride’s parents should not be expected to pay for everything any more – the cost should be shared.
Children
If a child’s name isn’t on the invite, they are not invited. It’s worth double-checking with the couple, but don’t pressure them to invite your offspring. It’s up to them whether they want children there.
Photos
Getty Try not to upload photos of the day until the bride and groom have
Don’t post pictures on social media before the bride and groom have uploaded theirs. And if you have a photograph of the bride not looking her best, don’t share it.
What to wear
Gents
If morning dress is not specified, make sure you ask whether it is required. If it’s not morning dress, a chap should wear a lounge suit. In the summer, you can get away with a lighter suit, or a linen one if it’s too hot for a wool one. The top
button must always be done up, and a tie has to be worn.
Ladies
You must wear tights, even if it is a summer wedding. Traditionally, you should also wear a hat and gloves too – if it’s morning dress, this is a must. Your dress should not be higher than the knee, particularly if the wedding is in a church.
Rex Save your biggest hat for Ascot not your friends' nuptials
Black and white
It’s bad luck to wear black at a wedding, not to mention poor taste. Also, in the summer, black is the last colour you want to wear, as you’re going to boil. And don’t go for white unless you’re the bride.
Elements of black or white in your dress are fine, but turning up in an LBD is just not the done thing.
Hats
If it’s a formal church wedding, it’s likely you’ll be expected to wear a hat. If you’re unsure, check with the bride or groom beforehand.
But remember, it’s not Royal Ascot where you can wear huge hats with wide brims, as you’ll obscure the view of the ceremony for the people sitting behind you. A lady always keeps her hat on in church, whereas a man should take it off.

What to do when weddings bring out worst

Dear Carolyn: My friend is having a destination wedding. We have small children, which would make travel very difficult, and we have nobody to leave them with at home. And while we could technically afford it, it would set us back more than we are comfortable with; we'd be using our "if something bad happens, we need this" pot.
We do not question our decision to send our regrets. The problem is that our friend is taking this personally, and the guilt trips, while relatively mild, are persistent. I really think that if you have a wedding that requires (multiple!) planes, you need to recognize your guest list may shrink and not blame guests who are unable to make the trip.
I'm struggling to say this in a kind way. I've said other things about the difficulty of travel with kids, although not the bit about the money, since I don't like sharing finances with friends and worry the friend would also take our prioritizing of our rainy-day fund personally, too. Any suggestions?
Dear Blues: Often, clarity is kindness. Next time Friend cranks out the guilt: "Multiple planes + small kids = non-starter. You seem to be taking this personally; am I hearing you correctly?"
Get it out there. Say what you need to say; listen to what you need to listen to. Then, that's it — you no longer engage on this topic.
Normally, I'd skip right to the do-not-engage square, since "no" is both a complete sentence and a sufficient response to an invitation. However, your attempts to say this "in a kind way" suggest you've undermined your goal of communication by mincing around the truth. So, be direct, then be done.
Dear Carolyn: I have a very dear friend who is about to get married in a family-only wedding. She has also announced she will be having a wedding reception two days after Thanksgiving. My in-laws are super-sensitive about any perceived slights, given the (not very much) time we commit to spending with them, and we committed to Thanksgiving this year. They live far from the reception location.
If this were my friend's actual wedding, I would go no matter what. But for a party, I don't want to take on the hassle involved in finding a way there. I've often used your wedding advice as a guide, but I don't know what you would think about a pseudo-wedding.
Dear Attending: Scoff much? This isn't a "re-enactment" or a "pseudo-wedding," it's a reception. If you just don't want to go, then don't go, but at least give your "very dear friend" the benefit of the doubt.
I often advise an after-the-fact reception as a solution to many problems that plague weddings — including, but not limited to, high costs, planning hassles, problematic family members, loved ones who live far from a wedding site and a desire for an intimate wedding but an inclusive celebration.
If anyone deserves skepticism here, it's people too "super-sensitive" to defer to a very dear friend's life celebration, especially if you go solo and their child comes as planned for Thanksgiving. But maybe that's just me.

MSC Lirica to feature in BBC’s primetime TV show Don’t Tell The Bride

The show, which will move from BBC3 to a new primetime slot at 8pm on BBC1, follows grooms as they plan an entire wedding celebration on their own without any input from their brides-to-be.
In the third episode of the ninth series, Manchester-based Mark Kelly will prepare a theatrical wedding aboard cruise ship MSC Lirica for sweetheart Kelly Roughley. Kelly had already found her sea legs as she previously worked aboard cruise ships but Mark had never been to sea before. Despite appearing to be the perfect venue in Mark’s eyes in true Don’t Tell The Bride style, Kelly will be expecting something much more traditional.
The couple currently work together as presenters, actors, singers, a magician/illusionist duo, and children’s entertainers. They used to host Salford City Radio’s drive time show and also spent two weeks on Channel 4’s Coach Trip in 2014.
MSC Cruises executive director UK and Ireland Giles Hawke said the show would introduce the brand to a new audience of younger, fun-loving potential clients. He said “Don’t Tell The Bride has become a real cult classic and attracts fantastic viewing figures. The fact that it is switching to a primetime spot on BBC1 demonstrates how popular it has become.”
He continued, “MSC Cruises invests in marketing in a very different way from our rivals in the UK. We aim to maximise our exposure in clever ways and demonstrate what makes us different and special. An MSC cruise is for people who love life, don’t take themselves too seriously and want a real holiday rather than a more staid and stuffy experience. We decided to take part because we have the utmost confidence in our on-board events teams and knew the staff on MSC Lirica would be able to handle any of the requests thrown at them. The programme highlights what a great job they do and what a great alternative wedding venue an MSC Cruises ship can be.”
MSC Cruises offers three different types of wedding packages which all include the services of a dedicated wedding planner. Prices for the silver, gold and platinum packages start from €490, €590, and €690 respectively (approximately £354, £426 and £498 respectively). The wedding planners work with couples to handle all the details of planning the wedding and ceremonial packages include options for everything from photography and video, music, fresh flowers, food and beverage and a cake. Weddings on-board are symbolic so couples need to have a legal ceremony on land too.
This hour-long episode was filmed on-board MSC Lirica in September 2014 and is scheduled to air on Wednesday 8 July at 8pm on BBC1. The new series of Don’t Tell The Bride starts on Wednesday 24 June.
MSC Cruises is the latest cruise line to be featured in a television show. Earlier this year Azamara Club Cruises’ vessels featured in Nigel Marven’s nature documentary Cruise Ship Adventures. Last year, Princess Cruises’ Royal Princess featured in the fly-on-the-wall documentary The Cruise Ship.

Two Bridal Designers Are Here and Taking Your Same-Sex Wedding Questions

It’s LGBT Pride Month, and we’re so excited to have wedding dress designer Kpoene’ Kofi-Nicklin, the Creative Director of Mignonette Bridal, back to answer any and all questions you have about same-sex weddings. This time, Kpoene’ has asked her friends and colleagues Cindy Savage and Julia Zayas-Melendez, of Crafty Broads, to join us as well.
Cindy and Julia founded Crafty Broads, a Chicago-based company that offers custom wedding garments, restyles, and alterations for every gender, as well as wedding planning services, in 2010.
Before we turn you loose on them, we had a few questions of our own.
What wedding-wear trends are you seeing among same-sex couples?
Kpoene’: Couples are choosing to wear things that make them happy, rather than going too matchy-matchy. I don’t personally work with any male couples because I specialize in wedding gowns, but we see a lot of ladies rocking amazing style, whether their gown is a bespoke confection from my shop, Mignonette, or a retro style from Modcloth. I am really happy at how far LGBT weddings have come in the last ten years — when I was planning my wedding, it felt like the options were very limited because it wasn’t a guarantee that vendors would even want to work with you. This might sound weird, but I feel like we are finally giving ourselves permission to have celebrations that are as beautiful and special and over-the-top as our straight friends’ weddings.
Cindy & Julia: We’re seeing a lot of couples choose to coordinate, but not match, in color and/or material choices! For example, we made a pair of suits last year with a purple brocade jacket and black pants for one bride, while her wife selected a coordinating purple silk for her blouse to wear with her black suit.
How are the options changing in terms of what a same-sex couple has available to them, sartorially, when it comes to weddings?
Kpoene’: A lot of amazing companies have popped up recently that cater to female-bodied folks who want to wear beautiful suits, like Saint Harridan and the Butch Clothing Co. It is great knowing that you no longer have to buy a boxy men’s suit and try to have it tailored to accommodate hips and boobs, all while worrying that you are going to be humiliated by the sales staff. At the same time, a custom suit does come with a large price tag, but it is so worth it because you can wear it again and again. My wife had an amazing silver jacquard suit made for our wedding and she wears it to formal events all the time.
Cindy & Julia: Well, the sky is the limit when you choose something custom! Our specialty is collaboration with our clients; we work directly with them to turn their inspirations and ideas into the garment they dream up. We don’t really follow fashion trends; rather, we encourage people to wear what suits them best — so the options are essentially unlimited.
In the ready-to-wear sector, we’re seeing a variety of options come into our shop for alteration. The strapless ballgown as a mandate for women is done. Vintage-inspired styles, short dresses, and sleeves are in. We’re also altering many more suits for women to wear instead of a wedding dress, and getting requests for custom dresses for men!
How can a couple avoid looking too matchy-matchy if both women choose to wear suits or both women choose to wear dresses?
Kpoene’: Hopefully individual style will come into play. A lot of couples might want to match, but will also choose to mix it up by wearing different-colored ties or vests, or in the case of two gowns, maybe different-colored accessories. At the same time, two white gowns or two suits next to each other are naturally going to look similar. Just know that you don’t have to wear the same thing as your partner. We actually didn’t book a vendor because she assumed we would be wearing matching dresses. It was such an odd question to have to field.
Cindy & Julia: The key is coordination — choose the same fabric or color (or both), but not the same style. One may wear a short dress with a full skirt while the other wears a long sheath, but they select the same shade of ivory; for suits they might choose an accent color which one wears in a vest or tie and the other in a shirt or blouse.
Do you have any advice for women who feel pressure from their family to wear dresses, when they would prefer to wear pants?
Kpoene’: Ugh, this is the worst. I do know some brides whose families pressured them into wearing gowns, and they were miserable the entire time (plus, they had to spend money on dresses they didn’t want to wear).
Since family is a delicate thing to negotiate, my biggest piece of advice to any bride or groom or broom or gride is to pick your battles. If mom is leaning on you to wear a froofy dress, but isn’t paying for it, try to delicately let her know that since this is coming out of your pocket, you will make the choice about what to wear. Alternately, wear the damn dress for the ceremony and change into something flattering and comfortable for the party. Your fiancé understands and will love you either way. In the end, whatever is going to get you through the day with a minimum of shouting is the right answer.
Cindy & Julia: Time to stand up and speak for themselves! It’s your wedding, you should wear what you want, and the people who love and support you will continue to do so no matter how you’re dressed. As with many wedding-related decisions, everyone — especially family — has opinions, but it is up to the couple to decide what’s most important for their wedding day. (And the old adage applies: It’s better to apologize later than to ask permission now.)
Speaking of pants! Can you recommend designers and stores where women can find formal suits?
Kpoene’: Yes! I adore Saint Harridan! And in Chicago of course we have Crafty Broads!!! I am also a big fan of J Crew’s women’s suits, which my wife looks quite dashing in, and DapperQ has a great style blog for female-bodied people looking for sartorial advice. Bindle and Keep is another good one. So much attention is finally being paid to this segment of the market, it is really awesome to see all the options!
At Bridal Market this year I also noticed that several of the bigger gown companies are now offering beautiful Marlene Dietrich-style women’s tuxedos, which signals a massive shift in the market. It’s really exciting to see what companies are paying attention.
Cindy & Julia: Come to us for a custom suit, of course! =)
For a good made-to-measure option, ladies can check out St. Harridan, but do expect to pay a tailor for minor adjustments and finishing details — as with standard menswear, suits often come with unfinished hems and buttons awaiting exact placement.
Women can also try a traditional menswear store. Shop for a jacket that fits well in the shoulders and pants which fit the hips; again expect to see a tailor for fitting it properly.

7 Ways To Wear Patterns When You're Plus Size And Wanna Spice Up Your Workwear

As a freelance writer and small business owner, I am lucky enough that I can go to my office wearing a 2 Chainz concert t-shirt and on some days, I totally do. But many women who look like me have corporate jobs that require plus size professional wear. And while I definitely got called in by HR at one of my past corporate jobs because I wore too much “loud jewelry,” I love the challenge of maintaining personal style while fitting into company dress standards.
My best friend, Kristen, snagged her first corporate job last year that actually required her to dress up to work. Kristen and I are the kind of co-dependent friends who consult each other before we make any purchase — online or in-store. So when Kristen landed this job, I was already mentally going through her closet in my head and putting together outfits. We made very few new purchases and still managed to put together a month’s worth of outfits that earned her daily compliments from her new co-workers.
In the six months since Kristen started in corporate, I’ve realized how important it is as a plus-size woman to not get stuck in the black blazer, black pencil skirt, black sleeveless shell, and black pants rut. Mixing fun patterns with her go-to basics is one of Kristen’s favorite corporate style hacks.
As a size 18 on a budget, she does a lot of her shopping at JCPenney, Old Navy, Cat’s Closet and, of course, Ready to Stare for her accessories. Even though she really hates having her picture taken, I pulled the best friend card and asked Kristen to let me take her photo in seven of our favorite pattern-mixing professional looks.
These gradient print pants are one of the few purchases Kristen made without my knowledge and when I first saw her in them, I was so impressed! The cut of the Old Navypixie ankle pants is so perfect to wear with heels or flats and all of the fun patterns make it super easy to pair with a plain top like Kristen’s go-to style from JCPenney. These pants only go up to a size 20 at Old Navy but Eloquii offers a similar style up to a size 28.
3. Cheetah Print Pencil Skirt
Kristen grabbed this skirt from indie business, Cat’s Closet, that sells second-hand plus-size garments that are usually all under $20. Kristen has alerts on her phone for when Cat’s Closet posts its new items because there’s always only one of each item available. She paired the look with a single chain belt from my line Ready to Stare for a little gaudy, corporate realness.
4. Tropical Trousers
Kristen and I affectionately call these her “Olivia Pope pants” because they remind us of a silhouette that Kerry Washington might wear on Scandal when she’s being a total boss. Kristen initially didn’t see my vision with these pants when I made her try them on at JCPenney, but paired with a sleek bun and bow blouse, this look is totally chic and professional and a far cry from that suit your mom made you buy when you interviewed for your first internship in college.
5. ’80s Print Peplum
I’m usually anti-peplum but this dress is another one of Kristen’s second-hand finds from Cat’s Closet and it’s pretty much adorable on her. The simplicity of the black and white pattern pairs nicely with a fun coral colored shoe and gold chain necklace. The high-cut neckline makes it work appropriate for someone like Kristen who is bigger-chested.
6. Architecture Tank
This tank was a score from the JCPenney sale rack and the graphic pattern, which reminds me of the Chrysler building, makes a bold statement and pairs easily with black basics. Kristen wears this tank tucked into a high-waisted pencil skirt or underneath a blazer with trousers.
7. Red Polka Dot Pants
Kristen really loves the Old Navy pixie ankle pants so she has a few pairs including this red polka dot pair. The color alone stands out so the polka dot pattern is perfectly subtle. Kristen added her favorite black basic top and a layered chain bracelet from my line.

Spotlight: High Line Car House

Angela Petro had a decision to make. It was January 2013 and, after 16 years in business, her company, Two Caterers, had outgrown its tiny Westerville office. She could keep it simple and just find a larger space with a kitchen and offices. But the historic Brewery District building at 550 S. High St. was calling her name.
“When I walked in and saw this building, it smelled like sewer gas and it was moldy and gross,” Petro says. “But I live in German Village, so I knew of this building. And I was intrigued. I mean, it spoke to me. The bones were good. You could see the brick walls; you could see the exposed ceiling.”
Sure, it needed work—a lot of work. And it would put her over budget. But when Petro stood inside the former trolley barn, she saw the potential to transform it into a stunning venue space on the cusp of Downtown. So she took the plunge. “It was the best decision we could have made,” she says.
Built in 1873, the building first served as a southern stop for horse-drawn trolleys, which were eventually electrified. “When we excavated to put in the new sanitary and water lines, they found all the tracks are still underneath the foundation,” Petro says.
Now, after a complete renovation and a second-floor addition, the building houses Two Caterers’ offices and commercial kitchen in addition to High Line Car House, the venue arm of the business. High Line, which can seat 250 people with a dance floor, hosts all types of events, with weddings being the primary use of the venue.
Custom is king for weddings here. “This is anti-package,” Petro says. “We can help people if they prefer a package-type thing, but really this is a custom experience.” The company provides couples with tables, fruitwood chiavari chairs and tents if they choose to use the patio. From there, it’s a blank slate. “Even though this has a very strong design aesthetic, it is still something that you can make your own,” Petro says. “Any colors work in here; any kinds of decor or florals work in this space. And so I think this is for a couple who really want to express their personal aesthetic.”
That theme carries over to food and beverage, too. Couples who book the venue are required to use Two Caterers, which has a combined food and beverage minimum. “Our belief is food should be simple: few ingredients, big on flavor, with a contemporary, very clean presentation,” Petro says, adding some of their most popular dishes include Asiago chicken, corn salsa (also served at their food truck, Sweet Carrot), seven-onion soup and short ribs.
This marriage of catering and event space is exactly what Petro envisioned when she first toured the historic building. Says Petro, “I started my company 18 years ago, and this [space] was a dream come true.”

Ellen Albertini Dow, Best Known as Rapping Granny in ‘Wedding Singer

Her name was Ellen Albertini Dow. You probably knew her as the rapping granny from 1998’s “The Wedding Singer.”
She died Monday at 101, according to representative Juliet Green, of Juliet Green Management.
“I said a hip hop, Hippie to the hippie. The hip, hip a hop, and you don’t stop, rock it,” Dow jauntily sang in the movie’s version of the hip-hop classic “Rapper’s Delight” by the Sugarhill Gang.
But this woman was so much more than a gag in an Adam Sandler movie.
She appeared in more than two dozen films and nearly 40 television shows, among them many of the biggest series in the last few decades. She appeared on Broadway three times.
Dow began studying dance at the age of 5, according to her Internet Movie Database biography.
She worked with the likes of dancer Martha Graham and French mimes Marcel Marceu and Jaques Lecoq, according to her resume on her own website. She ran a mime troupe for a while, and earned a master’s degree in theater from Cornell University.
She taught drama at two Los Angeles area colleges for nearly three decades. The theater at the second of those schools, Pierce College, was named after her and her late husband, Eugene Dow — who founded the department.
In a Facebook posting, the school’s theater department mourned the loss of what it called “the matriarch of its family.”
“A woman maybe known for a certain movie but she surely leaves behind a greater legacy than that,” Facebook user Stephanie Alvena posted to the department’s Facebook page.
In her late-career movie roles, Dow was best known for playing sweet-looking elderly women with unexpected edges. In addition to playing Rosie the rapping grandmother in “The Wedding Singer,” Dow played raunchy grandma Mary Cleary in “Wedding Crashers.”
“Everyone is talking about her role in The Wedding Singer, I’m over here like: NAH, Wedding CRASHERS for the win!” Facebook user Ashley Gilyard wrote on Pierce’s Facebook page. “Rest in peace, Ellen.”

Blood Wedding at Khaos Company Theatre

I compliment Khaos Company Theatre and director Anthony Nathan for having the originality and courage to choose such a rarely produced piece, but unfortunately, its execution was woefully inadequate.
The set relied on a series of sheets which barely masked the backstage space, and when backlit, provided a bit of a tease as the cast’s silhouettes undressed. There was no lighting except for a single work light and a digital projector, used to clumsily project various images over the cast throughout the performance. These projections were never very effective, ranging from flowers to a bunch of pictures of sad models and skulls which would not be out of place on a thirteen-year-old emo girl’s English Lit. binder.
The scene transitions were awkward to non-existent; the first act ended with the cast standing in tableau looking like deer staring down an oncoming semi then abruptly scattering off stage. What’s more, Frederico Garcia Lorca’s poetry and peasant songs became out of place song breaks, particularly during the wedding party, at which point it started to feel like Seven Brides for Seven Brothers had forced itself upon the play.
The costumes might have been attempts at period clothing, but it was difficult to discern. They also suffered from repeated wing difficulty. First, in an inspired choice, Nathan combined the group of woodcutters commenting on the events of the play into a single mad prophet, but his fairy wings repeatedly poked at the poor woman seated next to his exit. The incarnation of the moon wore a cape she repeatedly held up like Batman wings, which eventually left the gentleman beside me reaching out to politely pull one side so as not to block his view entirely. The incarnation of death completely abandoned the playwright’s original notion of appearing as a morbid beggar, draped instead in black lace from head to toe.
The cast itself could never seem to deliver any plausible performances, but I think Todd Crickmore as the Father of the Bride could have probably offered up a pretty good interpretation had he not been stuck with his Frito Bandito accent and the role of conducting the mid-play hoedown.
Finally, and most importantly, the first murder, as the result of a clunkily choreographed knife fight, was actually shown instead of only heard off stage as originally scripted. The playing space was practically in the laps of the audience, and though the actors doing the stage combat were pretty slow about it, I am still somewhat concerned about the safety of this production.

At The Age of Adaline Premiere, It Was All Eyes on Blake Lively

"Imagine what it must be like if everywhere you went, ever, it was like it was your wedding,” I commented to one of my colleagues last night, at the after-party for the premiere of The Age of Adaline, as we watched Blake Livelypose for a scrum of about 15 photographers at the entrance to the Metropolitan Club. Lively, the film’s star, had just arrived, minutes before 11 P.M. and about an hour and a half after the party had started. Of course, the party hadn’t really started at all, though, as everyone had been, more or less, waiting for Lively’s arrival, gathered in small groups by the front door, pretending to focus on what their friends were saying while regularly glancing up at the door. And when she did finally enter, there was no pretense of “playing it cool,” as men, women, and children—all dressed in wedding-formal attire—craned and reached their phones into the air, gathered to snare a snap of the 27-year-old, who presumably is used to causing this sort of traffic pile-up by her mere presence at this point.
The scene inside the Metropolitan Club—located right off of the southeast corner of Central Park—resembled that of a Disney theme park re-creation of a Gatsby party. A live jazz band performed as teenagers flitted about in tuxes. Champagne flutes were handed out as ushers chastised guests who dared place empty plates on reserved tables. There was a shrine of sorts comprised of framed pictures of Adaline, Lively’s character in the movie, surrounded by candles. Lively was the bride, the birthday girl, the guest of honor. She was at all times surrounded by a mass of at least 10 to 20 people, all clearly waiting for a selfie, a hug, or a conversation. (We watched as two young men gleefully bounced away from Lively post-selfie, as though they had just dismounted from a roller coaster.) When Lively was finally able to sit down at her table, about an hour after arriving, she had the countenance of a middle schooler who had just finished his math homework so he could now play video games.
Lively—who, to the premiere itself, wore a red “leather and lace” Monique Lhuillier dress (which she dubbed “emoji chic” on her Instagram account, in reference to the salsa-dancer emoji) (that salsa-dancer emoji has an excellent publicist, no?)—changed for the after-party, into a ensemble made up of a sheer star-patterned one-piece with a black coat draped over it. She looked like the most glamorous resident from the year 2078, joining us in 2015 for a night. Neither husband Ryan Reynolds nor daughter James were present at the premiere or after-party (though Reynolds chimed in via Twitter, commenting, in the semi-saucy Reynolds social-media tradition, on a picture of Lively and Adaline co-star Michiel Huisman). Lively was joined at the premiere by her mother, Elaine, and brother Eric, as well as by Gossip Girl co-stars Kelly Rutherford (Lily!) and Zuzanna Szadkowski(Dorota!), in addition to Anna Wintour, Lindsey Vonn, Lena Hall, and the Brant brothers. For one brief moment, when I noticed Rutherford clutching her chest, in apparent pride, on her way out of the premiere, it was possible to imagine the whole night was a Gossip Girl epilogue, that Serena van der Woodsen’s fame had only ascended since we had last checked in with her, that Lily was bowled over by the sheer hugeness of her daughter’s life (Anna Wintour at her movie premiere!?) and Blair Waldorf—estranged from Serena for years, at this point—had sent Dorota as a spy of sorts, to keep her abreast of every last hors d’oeuvre, well-wisher, and paparazzo Serena might encounter.

Giuliana Rancic Will Return To 'Fashion Police,' Plus What She Has To Say About Kelly Osbourne

Though things have been a bit rough for the E! star, Giuliana Rancic is returning to Fashion Police. The E! News anchor and red carpet guru spoke with Access Hollywood Live today about the future of the show and her place on it. Not only did the style maven reveal the return, but she also spoke about her private interactions with former co-star Kelly Osbourne.
Earlier this year, Rancic underwent some major criticism after the 2015 Oscars Red Carpet. In a criticism of Zendaya’s look, the anchor and host stated that the star looked as if, “she smells like patchouli oil… or maybe weed.” The comments were definitely insensitive to the women of color with natural hair and showed a true and deep misunderstanding of traditional hairstyles for these women. Since then, Rancic has issued a seemingly heartfelt apology, but it didn’t seem to do her a ton of good with her co-stars. Kelly Osbourne andKathy Griffin both ended up leaving Fashion Police following the incident and had their fair share of criticism for Rancic.
The star, however, doesn’t seem like she’s going to meekly continue her gig on Fashion Police. Of the controversy and her return, Rancic states, “I think more than ever, [Fashion Police] is definitely coming back, because [the controversy] shows that a lot of people were watching the show and enjoyed the show…So yeah, it’s coming back in September, in time for the Emmys.” Though Rancic and Brad Goreski are both set to return, two seats will still need to be filled for Griffin and Osbourne. Osbourne’s departure from the show is notable because of her very public reaction to the controversy and statements about her co-host. Of their relationship, Rancic explains that Kelly reached out to her after the comments as a friend. Later, however, Osbourne spoke with the press, harshly criticizing Rancic and sent out some very vague but harsh tweets. Guiliana, however, had no explanation for Kelly’s statements to the press or comments on twitter.
Regardless of Rancic and Osbourne’s personal relationship and in defiance of the criticism, the show will go on. Whether or not the series will continue to be a success is yet to be seen, but I do applaud Rancic for facing her critics head on.

Great Moments in Dandyism, From Brummel to Kanye

Long before menswear was preceded by a hashtag, fire alphets took social media by storm, or Four Pins was a gleam in anyone's eye, men cared a lot about their clothes. At least fops, dandies, and macaronis — historians' terms for different tribes of fashion-focused men — certainly did.
A name that's still synonymous with dandyism is Beau Brummel, the 19th-century British gentleman of society who spent a mere five hours putting together his outfit every day. Brummel, explains Valerie Steele, director and chief curator at the Museum at FIT, "was known for wearing very simple navy jackets; really impeccable, clean white linen; a carefully tied cravat — things like that, but very much focusing on tailoring, cleanliness, simplicity, which is really the beginning of the new movement in menswear away from decoration and color and adornment and toward sobriety and a focus on tailoring and fine material. So the rise of the dandy is really associated with the rise of the gentleman and is sometimes called the ‘great masculine renunciation’ of giving up fancy clothes." Cartoonists like George Cruikshank loved nothing more than to poke fun at the burgeoning fashion movement, "depicting [dandies] being laced into corsetry so tight they fainted."
While England, Brummel's home turf, was initially where the dandy came into being, the style soon spread to France, with poet Charles Baudelaire numbering among the many wearers of the look. "With Baudelaire, you see the beginning of the idea of black as being associated with what the dandies are wearing," explains Steele. "Brummel wasn’t wearing black clothes, but Baudelaire was wearing all black and was very much about a less-is-more look, a new aristocratic style that was very sober and refined as opposed to being highly decorative. It wasn’t about being an old-style aristocrat, but a new kind of aristocracy of the mind." For Baudelaire and his ilk, the goal was to be "not an old-school aristocrat but also not a money-grubbing bourgeois — in simpler terms, the equivalent of a hipster now. It had nothing whatsoever to do with being over-dressed or fancifully dressed, but, on the contrary, a very kind of minimal and austere look. And an attitude of coolness or hipness."
Steele cites the writer Jules Amédée Barbey d’Aurevilly, who defined the style in 1859, writing “the dandy is the black prince of elegance ... indifferent to the horse he mounts, to the women that he greets, to the man that he approaches, and to whom he stares for a moment before acknowledging him and wearing written on his forehead in English this insolent inscription ‘what is there in common between you and me?’" (Steele points out that since this was a French writer, the reference to an English inscription indicates snobbery.) There is, she says, "this idea that the dandy is distinguishing himself from other people. There’s this kind of arrogance, boredom, and the idea that he’s really only interested in judging himself, and he doesn’t admit that anyone has the right to judge him."
As the dandy evolved, notables like Oscar Wilde became associated with the style. "At first he was more foppish with his aesthetic style," Steele notes, with "pseudo-18th-century breeches and long hair and ruffled collars, but then he gives all that up and goes into a much more hypermasculine [mode], with a dark suit. That’s where the dandy becomes associated with homosexuality. The idea that it’s a masquerade of masculinity but it’s done just a little bit too well. The dandy [became] a very important queer archetype, but that really emerges in Oscar Wilde’s era, around the late 19th century."
Today plenty of men own up to considering themselves modern-day dandies, but the concept goes far beyond just being well-dressed. Rather, it's an ethos of self-presentation. "I've always loved the term," says Chris Benz, the creative director of Bill Blass. "When you want to feel a little outrageous, and menswear can be a little more subtle. It's an easy platform to just be like, 'Oh, I'm doing a little dandy moment.'" Street-style star Nick Wooster is a tad more nonchalant, saying, "My style is 'whatever's closest.' I just get dressed; I can't describe it. Peaky Blinders meets Miss Selfridge. A little masculine and a little feminine. I think that's an okay place to be." And Waris Ahluwalia, the jewelry designer who's known for his louche take on the look — think a shirt unbuttoned well past the breastbone — sums up the appeal of the lifestyle as follows: "The hope is that if one looks like a gentleman, one may be inclined to behave like a gentleman."
Today the notion of men dressing well has become increasingly disentangled from sexuality. Johnny Weir, with his elaborate headgear, takes the dandy look to decorative, Liberace-esque extremes, but Kanye West also has dandy influences, favoring dramatic, Baudelaire-worthy black cape coats, crisp monochrome white getups, and, of course, the occasional Céline blouse. As for whether it takes him a Brummel-esque five hours to get ready, only his mirror knows for sure.

Disney Star Peyton List Idolizes Blake Lively Like the Rest of Us, Gives Tour of Her Closet

Not every 16-year-old girl has a sense of style sharp enough to make even a red carpet pro go weak at the knees, but not every girl is Peyton List. Amongst a killer acting career and a wildly successful role on Disney's Jessie, the budding actress is a certified teen style icon. And with the help of her Jessie alter-ego Emma Ross, she's probably picked up a few helpful hints along the way. We're talking her drool-worthy on-set wardrobe, which includes Ted Baker jumpers and Alice + Olivia jewel print jeans amidst other designer duds.
But don't think her high-fashion taste translates to unattainable—when it's time to shop, you can find the blond beauty digging through goods at vintage stores, and hitting up the local Forever 21. She (like the rest of us mere mortals), fawns over a certain former Gossip Girl star's street style, and you won't believe how she'd change up her buttery blond do' if she could pick any wild hairstyle. Plus, find out who's her celebrity crush!
Ready for all of Peyton's spring style and beauty tidbits? Go ahead, read on!
Jennifer Cooper, E! Entertainment
Who're your style icons? I love Blake Lively. I always go on Pinterest and look her up to see what she's doing. Also Olivia Palermo , and then also George Clooney's wife, Amal Clooney. She's beautiful and I love her outfit choices; everything she wears is amazing!
What's your most embarrassing beauty blunder? Once I dyed my eyebrows because I hated that they didn't match my blond hair. Now I love that they don't, but I dyed them platinum blond and you couldn't see them on my face. It looked like I had no eyebrows at all. It was the worst! That was in 6th or 7th grade I think.
What's the best piece of fashion advice you've ever heard? I'm 16, so I'm still finding who I am with my fashion voice. I'm finally finding it, but someone once told me that you should find whatever works for you and your body type and then just stick with it. Buy those things, and buy them in bulk so you'll have them for the rest of your life, because that will work for you forever.
If you drastically changed your hairstyle, what would you do? I've been thinking about going darker lately, like a couple shades. But if I could do something drastic and crazy I think I'd go like a champagne pink and chop it really short. For an episode of Jessie, my character rebels out, cuts her hair really short and dies it purple. I loved it— I felt like a whole different person and really cool all the sudden like a rebel!
Jennifer Cooper, E! Entertainment
Where are your favorite places to shop? I love vintage shopping. It's hard to find vintage things sometimes because they're so tiny, but I also love mixing high and low. I'll go to Barneys and find something, but then I'll go to Forever 21 for the bottoms. Those are usually my outfit pairings that work best.
Crop tops or pantsuits: I prefer a pantsuit with a crop top underneath it. I'm more of a jumpsuit/pantsuit kind of girl, but last year if you would've asked me that I would've been a crop top person.
What new item are you currently obsessing over in your closet? I have this new strappy pair of heels that I love, and whenever I put them on I feel like a million bucks.
Describe your sense of style in three words: Casual, chic and funky.
Jennifer Cooper, E! Entertainment
Instagram or Twitter: Instagram! My favorite filter is Valencia. It's the most natural one it and it doesn't really overdo it.
What spring trends are you excited to try? Well just looking at fashion week, I've seen so many '70s things. I'm obsessed with the ‘70s. All of the clothing fits so well with my body, like bell bottoms—they're so flattering.
What's your favorite drugstore makeup? L'Oreal Butterfly Effects Mascara and Covergirl Magna Carta, they make your eyelashes super long. They're amazing!
Who's your celeb crush? The guy in Kingsmen: The Secret Service who played Eggby [Taron Egerton], he looks like a young Leonardo DiCaprio. When I saw the movie I was like: Hello, you are fine!

'Cinderella' star Lily James' best red-carpet looks

Every day is a night at the ball for Cinderella star Lily James, who has dazzled in a series of jaw-dropping fashion choices while promoting the latest live-action film from Disney. And while her elegant ensembles on the red carpets at various premieres are completely on point, the British beauty, 25, also catches eyes in more dressed-down fare – like the simple jeans and white shirt she wore recently to a party in London. Lily is clearly establishing herself as a fashionable force.
Lily James is renowned for her fairytale-esque red carpet style
Lily was particularly spell-binding at the Cinderella premiere in Los Angeles when she turned to red carpet king Elie Saab for a stunning silver floor-length gown which featured an embellished skirt and train, as well as sheer long sleeves with sparkling jewels.
The pretty actress also turned heads at the film's premiere in Mexico City, channelling a Grecian goddess in a pale blue floor-length gown with a cinched waist and plunging neckline. Her blonde locks were worn in a chic low bun for a touch of old Hollywood glamour as she posed on the red carpet.
Off the red carpet Lily favours a laidback chic style
Off the red carpet, Lily is renowned for her laidback chic personal style, often spotted in jeans and elegant blouses. She is also known to opt for glamorous yet casual ensembles, for example when she paired a cream t-shirt with an A-line skirt, teamed with gold strappy heels and a matching statement necklace, as she and Cinderella co-star Richard Madden headed to an event to give a talk.
Off the red carpet, Lily is renowned for her laidback chic personal style, often spotted in jeans and and pretty blouses, or structured white t-shirts paired with A-line skirts for a glamorous yet casual look.
The Downton Abbey actress has been turning heads on the red carpet for quite some time. She showed off her gothic side at the BAFTA awards in 2013 in a black floor-length gown with a cream underlay and floral detail, which perfectly complemented her then-brunette locks, worn in a chic updo.

Game Of Thrones VS The Red Carpet: Who Wore It Best?

We fell in love with Gwendoline last night when we heard her describing her GoT character. “She doesn’t have an ego. She’s honour all the way through, like an honour cheese. A strong one. She’d give off quite a pong”. Looking stunning on the red carpet in trousers and flats, she was wearing a cape by Jean Paul Gaultier, and not by her boyfriend the designer Giles Deacon (he was there though, and didn't seem to mind). Quite a difference from Brienne’s battle gear, but still rather Game of Thrones-y, and we like it.
Sophie Turner AKA Sansa Stark
Sophie looked GORGEOUS in Marios Schawb and was styled by InStyle’s very own fashion editor Amy Bannerman (read about that here). Since leaving King’s Landing, Sansa’s been travelling undercover in layers of black cloaks and has dyed her hair black, so it was great to see her in something a bit more playful last night and with that gorgeous red hair reinstated. Oh, and LOVE that Dior earring.
Kit Harington AKA Jon Snow
Usually shrouded in layers of black fur as his character Jon Snow protects the Wall in the Night’s Watch, it was rather nice to see Kit Harington in something altogether more dapper. That burgundy shirt with no tie was a nice touch, but we were glad he’d left his hair and beard rugged (swoon!). To be honest though, we can’t imagine anything look bad on this particular cast member, and we’d be quite happy with him dressed either way.
Nathalie Emmanuel AKA Missandei
We’re pleased that this ex-Hollyoaks star is becoming more prominent in the show, if only to see more of that fantastic hair. Her character Missandei, who is partial to wearing a lot of the colour teal and sexy backless dresses, has a winning on-screen wardrobe (well, it helps to be filming in a warmer climate than Belfast and Iceland, like some of the other cast members) but this one-shoulder jumpsuit looked pretty cute, too.
Hannah Murray AKA Gilly
A few people draw the short straw as far as costumes are concerned in GoT, and Gilly certainly isn’t blessed with the most glamorous of outfits. In fact, her raggedy clothes are so dark that we couldn’t even find a decent picture of them to show you properly. Oh, and they make her hair all greasy, too. No fair! So no wonder Hannah got all dolled up for the premiere, and what a transformation. Top marks for glossy locks and, err, can we borrow that Stella McCartney dress please?

5 Beauty Trends We Always See on the Runway but Never in Real Life

In real life, we obsess about getting our liner perfectly flush with the lash line. On the runway, we often see liner that's drawn everywhere but—using pigment laid on as thick and black as a Sharpie marker. This graphic doe eye from the Rochas show is undeniably a work of art, but coloring outside the lines isn't a concept we're tempted to try on our own eyes any time soon.
2. Crimped hair
It's obvious why Fashion Week hairstylists love to fire up their crimpers—all that texture and volume makes for an amazing runway visual, as we saw on these models at the Vanessa Seward show. And we do occasionally get tempted to bring crimps back; I love this new crimped ponytail how-to from Kristin Ess, Lauren Conrad's hairstylist. Somehow, though, this beauty trend never manages to reclaim the mainstream status it held in the '80s. Hey, our hair's healthier for it.
3. Black lipstick
While plenty of women we know can pull off a vampy bordeaux or purple, true-black lips are never going to do anyone's complexion any favors. That's why the only place we routinely spot them is on runway models (seen here outside the Ungaro show), whose washed-out pallor reminds us why we've only indulged our black-lipstick curiosity on Halloween.
4. Greased-up and/or soaking-wet hair
While we diligently wash and blow-dry our hair to avoid looking greasy and tangled,
Fashion Week hairstylists spend hours making models look like they either haven't showered in weeks or literally just stepped out and have not gotten to comb their hair yet (see: the above Just Cavalli model). This is one runway staple that still makes me cringe; greasy stuck-to-the-skin hair just has no appeal or artistic merit I can think of. And how does all that crunchy product do anything positive for the clothes? Someone enlighten me?
5. Super-clumpy mascara
Those crusty, clumped-together tarantula lashes you dread accidentally creating? They're perennially hot on the runway. Here's just one recent incarnation of the clumped-up lash, seen at Costume National. Maybe the clumpy concept will grow on us and we can all shelve our lash combs; anything's possible, right?

Sears Canada launches seasonal trend publication Look!

Toronto-based fashion retail chain Sears Canada has released its spring 2015 season’s creative and vibrant publication, featuring the fashion, beauty and lifestyle trends, Look!, in all its stores.
The new 24-page report offers information on the seasonal trends and patterns that the retailer’s brands have introduced alongside some useful styling and accessorizing tips.
Talking about the publication, Ron Boire, president and CEO, said in a media communication “The Look! report is complete with this season's newest looks, updated colour stories and helpful accessorizing tips that enable everyday Canadians to wear the latest trends at prices that match the needs of Canadian families.”
“Sears has provided 24 pages of inspiring ideas to bring new life to dark and tired wardrobes as we anticipate the arrival of Spring and we've included some great new looks in both private and national brands,” he adds.
The retailer’s spring offering includes a new sportswear label Palmer Golf. The collection features performancewear with moisture wicking properties and versatile clothing pieces, including polo shirts and utility shorts, ideal to be worn at both golf course and at home.
The multi-channel purveyor will introduce another new entrant, US Polo Association women, in April, 2015. The range will feature polo shirts, knit tops, woven shirts, shorts and casual pants.
Sears’ private brands line-up includes men’s and women’s activewear ranges, such as hoodies, jersey shorts, T-shirts and fleece tops, from Pure NRG Athletics.
The Jessica and Jess label offers a mix of varied colours, prints and textures on T-shirts, blouses, cardigans, skirts and colour-blocked dresses, enhanced with floral, polka dots, stripes and twill patterns, all based on a palette of strawberry sorbet, blush and oatmeal hues.
The Girl Confidential brand has created a limited-edition collection in partnership with Plan Canada’s ‘Because I am a Girl’ initiative. Meant for young girls between the ages of 7 and 16, the T-shirts feature slogans like ‘Empower a Girl and She’ll Change the World’ and ‘Girls are the Answer’ in bold colours such as Aruba blue and coral.

Julianne Moore's Red Carpet Style Marathon

Not only did she scoop 'Best Actress' awards at the Oscars and the Golden Globes but statuesque red-head Julianne Moore also won out in the style stakes looking resplendent in two figure flattering fishtail gowns. For the Globes she chose an irridescent sequin and feather concoction by Givenchy - a look-at-me dress if ever we saw one - however, for the Oscars, she opted for simplicity with a subtly embellished lace stunner by Chanel.
Yes, unlike some other red carpet regulars Moore has a near perfect track record for getting it right when it comes to stepping out in style on the red carpet. How does she do it? She is comfortable in her own skin, knows what suits her and dresses for her body shape.
While her style may be grown up, it's FAR from boring and this season's red carpet marathon was a role call of big name designers as well as a masterclass in how to try the biggest trends. We're obsessed!
The flame haired siren is living proof that redheads CAN wear red - whether it's full length Tom Ford at the BAFTAs or a little knee-length number by hip New York designer Prabal Gurung at the Oscars nominations dinner. The colour perfectly offsets her porcelain complexion and she's also cunningly switched down her lippy a few shades so it doesn't fight with her ensembles.
From the boho style crochet shift dress by Chanel she wore at the pre BAFTA dinner to the lace panelled floor-skimmer by Saint Laurent she rocked at the Critics' Choice awards, Julianne worked the season's sheer trend with aplomb. Now this is how to pull off a plunging neckline!
From the boho style crochet shift dress by Chanel she wore at the pre BAFTA dinner to the lace panelled floor-skimmer by Saint Laurent she rocked at the Critics' Choice awards, Julianne worked the season's sheer trend with aplomb. Now this is how to pull off a plunging neckline!
When it comes to accessories, less is definitely more in Julianne's style book. Note that she keeps her jewellery, shoes and bag seriously low key and allows the dress to do the talking. Or the Dolce and Gabbana two-piece. Or even the asymmetric jumpsuit by Alexander McQueen for that matter. Yes, our girl is never afraid to experiment and mix things up. Let's face it, after all those dresses, a bit of variety is the spice of life! We can't wait to see what she pulls out of the bag next!

’19 Kids And Counting’ Spoilers: Jessa Duggar Has A Surprise Coming From Ben And Jinger

A new episode of 19 Kids and Counting airs Tuesday night and fans will see more progress toward Jessa Duggar’s wedding to Ben Seewald. The big day is right around the corner in these new epsiodes and from the sounds of things, fans will find some moments in the March 3 episode to be quite sweet. What 19 Kids and Counting spoilers are available for this one?
People shares a fun sneak peek from Tuesday’s show. Jinger asks to borrow Jessa’s engagement ring for a bit, making up a story that Ben just wants to check on something for her. Jessa says to the camera that she knows that Ben is working on a surprise for her and she isn’t going to ask too many questions and ruin it for him.
The 19 Kids spoiler sneak peek also shows Ben talking to a jeweler, showing him some sketches of his ideas regarding a wedding band. Jinger shows up with the engagement ring and the group works on coming up with a design. Jinger says that she and Jessa are really close, so it’s very special to her to be a part of the design process.
Ben talks about all of the things he’s trying to keep in mind while designing the ring, and Jinger says that ultimately she thinks Jessa will be very happy with what was chosen. AsTV Guide shares, Tuesday’s back-to-back19 Kids episodes are titled “Invites and Ride-Alongs” and “Wedding Prep and Pies.” Ben and Jinger’s project takes place in the second episode of the night, and viewers will also see the girls hit up a floral shop to pick out bouquets for the big day.
19 Kids and Counting spoilers indicate that viewers will also watch as Jill makes a present for husband Derick’s mom, Jim Bob takes a spin with John-David in a patrol car and Jessa and Ben turn to Josh Duggar to put together the wedding invitations. Other siblings are pulled into the planning as well, as James and Jason get the opportunity to put together part of the rehearsal dinner menu.
Fans know that Jessa Duggar and Ben Seewald actually got married on November 1, 2014 and they’ve been happily settling into married life in the months since then. As for Jill Duggar and Derick Dillard, their baby boy is due in just a few more weeks and fans can’t wait to see it all play out on the show. New episodes of 19 Kids and Counting air Tuesday night on TLC and fans are loving every second of them.

WeddingWire Ties the Knot with Spain-based Wedding Planner

WeddingWire Inc. can’t help you with your cold feet. But it can help you weed out wedding venues and florists.
The website, known as the Yelp of the wedding industry, includes reviews and tidbits about the key components of a wedding. Newlyweds have left reviews under a variety of aliases including their own names—many female—and even the likes of “UpsetBride.”
“People use Yelp to figure out where to eat and Trulia for finding a home. We help people make very important decisions about their wedding,” said Tim Chi, co-founder and chief executive of WeddingWire.
Mr. Chi launched the Washington, D.C.-based company in 2007 after struggling to find information online about wedding vendors. Soon after it was established, the website expanded to about 10 cities. Now it’s usable throughout the U.S. and Canada.
Today the company announced it acquired Wedding Planner S.L., the Spain-based version of WeddingWire that has websites in 12 countries in Latin America and Europe.
Since the wedding market is primarily made up of local vendors, from venues to photographers to florists, the website gathers information and reviews about many small businesses. Wedding Planner’s websites have similar models, and will operate as a separate entity.
WeddingWire is partially backed by Spectrum Equity, Catalyst Investors and Southern Capitol Ventures. Martha Stewart Living Omnimedia took a 40% stake in the company in 2008, but later sold it.
WeddingWire says it has helped 10 million people plan their weddings, and has an average of 8 million searches across the company network each month, in categories including florists, attire, photography, music entertainment, catering and venues.

Consumers have been reading more reviews when making decisions on local businesses, from restaurants and hotels to doctors and hair and beauty salons.

Jennifer Lopez Arrives in Udaipur for Live Performance

UK-based billionaire Sanjay Hinduja is set to tie the knot with his girlfriend and designer Anu Mahtani in a lavish ceremony in Udaipur tonight (12 February).
The pre-wedding ceremonies that started from 10 February, saw many high-profile guests, including Bollywood celebrities and politicians joining in the celebrations.
And the latest one to join the guest list in the big fat Indian wedding is none other than international celebrity Jennifer Lopez, who will perform live at the wedding tonight.
Popularly known as JLo, was spotted arriving in India early this morning. JLo was accompanied by her ex-boyfriend Casper Smart, with whom she is rumoured to have recently reunited. Later, she shared a picture of her first visit to India.
Reports suggest JLo will be put up at one of the most expensive suites in the country. Bollywood actors Akshay Kumar and Malaika Arora Khan are also expected to perform at the lavish wedding.
The pre-wedding bash was a three-day-long affair and took place at three different venues in Udaipur.
Designer Manish Malhotra had designed the pre-wedding function dress for the soon-to bride Mahtani, who is designer Nandita Mahtani's sister.
The guest list for the pre-wedding included Madhuri Dixit, designer Manish Malhotra, Deanne PandayAnil Ambani, Nita Ambani, Anil Kapoor, Jackie Shroff, Nitin Gadkari, Poonam Dhillon and designer Shaina NC, among others.
As many as 800 VIP guests are expected to join the big fat wedding of Hinduja and Mahtani tonight.

3-generation wedding gown from Lower Burrell to be featured on 'Today' show

When Cindy Kost of Lower Burrell married her husband, Dennis, in June 1975, her mother offered Kost the wedding gown she wore a few decades earlier, when Helene Grzywinski married Kost's father.
Grzywinski — now 93 and a resident at Platinum Ridge Center for Rehabilitation & Healing in Brackenridge — pulled her dress, which she wore when she married Chester Grzywinski in 1947, from a cedar chest and offered it to her daughter.
The mother said she would buy Kost a dress if she didn't want to wear the old one. But there was something magnetic about her mother's dress, Kost says. “The more I thought about it, I thought, ‘My mother has a beautiful gown.' ”
And the tradition continued in the third generation, when Kost's daughter — Jackie Fiterman of Annapolis, Md. — wore it to get married in 2010.
“Never did I think in my wildest dreams down the road that my daughter would be wearing it,” Kost says.
The family's story will be featured Feb. 12 or 13 as a sweet Valentine's Day story on NBC's “Today” show.On Jan. 30, a filming crew visited Grzywinski, a widow since 1998, and Kost and Fiterman. The women view the dress as a good-luck charm, of sorts, because Grzywinski was happily married for 51 years, and Kost will be celebrating her 40th anniversary this year.
The women's hand-me-down tradition is not only sentimental but also cost-effective, Kost says. And the dress is very well-preserved, thanks to its storage in a cedar chest, she says.
“Today” producers found the family from a blog entry Fiterman wrote at catina weddingdress.com about the three-generation gown.
All three women were practically the same size on their weddings days, so the dress needed no alterations. If Fiterman has a daughter who marries someday, Kost says, the girl might wear the gown again and keep the tradition going.
When Grzywinski entered the room where the camera crew was waiting, “she was so surprised, her face was just priceless,” says Hillary Butts, administrator at Platinum Ridge.
“It brought tears to the eyes of everyone who was there to see it,” she says.

Alabama judges vow to stop officiating at weddings as same-sex marriage ban ends Monday

A cadre of Alabama judges, including one who blasted gay marriage as “repugnant and repulsive to God,” vowed not to perform same-sex ceremonies when they become legal on Monday.
Probate judges in at least 16 counties plan to put the kibosh on the courthouse nuptials, although most said they’d still issue licenses, according to media reports.
“I’m not going to be a party to it,” Geneva County Probate Judge Fred Hamic told the Associated Press. “I was raised in a Christian home, and I was taught that it is a sin.”
U.S. District Judge Callie Granade shot down Alabama’s ban on same-sex marriages in January.
A federal appeals court rejected State Attorney General Luther Strange’s request for a stay, paving the way for the state’s 68 probate judges to begin issuing licenses on Monday.
The law, however, doesn’t require the judges to actually marry anyone, the justices said.
Elmore County Probate Judge John Enslen announced he’ll still issue licenses, but he won’t perform any more marriages, gay or straight.
“I’m not required to do that,”Enslen told the Montgomery Advertiser. “Some judges will choose to continue performing marriages and they can continue to do that.”
Enslen ripped same-sex marriage as “repugnant and repulsive to God” in an fiery editorial in January.
“In other words, I believe Sodom and Gomorrah were destroyed for just such unnatural conduct between the same sexes,"Enslen wrote.
Chilton County Judge Bobby Martin also cited religious beliefs and said he won’t perform weddings anymore.
“I guess all good things must come to an end,” Martin told the Clanton Advertiser, adding “I believe that marriage is between a man and a woman, and because of that, I will not perform a ceremony for a couple that doesn’t fit in that criteria.”
The judges are following the lead of Chief Justice Roy Moore, who claimed they were not obligated to abide by Granade’s ground-breaking ruling.
“Lower federal courts are without authority to impose their own interpretation of federal constitutional law upon the state courts,” Moore wrote in one of twomemorandums obtained by AL.com.
Moore previously lost his job after he installed a monument celebrating the Ten Commandments at the Alabama Judicial Building.

He returned to the seat after winning an election in 2012.

Statesboro’s annual Wedding Walk Expo set for Friday evening

Planning your special day can be an intimidating journey, but Downtown Statesboro's Wedding Walk Expo has done the hard part for you.
The Wedding Walk will take place from 5:30-8 p.m. Friday in First Baptist Church Statesboro's Perry Fellowship Hall. Admission is $5.
An array of nearly 50 vendors will be on-site to answer your questions and help you plan your wedding. Vendors will include wedding planners, photographers, florists, hair and makeup artists, attire and caterers.
Eagle Creek Brewery will host an after party immediately following the Wedding Walk Expo for all guests to attend with no admission charge from 8:30-10 p.m. Enjoy beer tastings for $10 and enjoy the entertainment for the evening from Francis Marion & The Crocodiles, a jam band.
One beautiful bride will win a grand prize valued at more than $1,500, including a $500 check from the Downtown Statesboro Development Authority.
Rebecca Smith's two sisters took her to the Wedding Walk Expo last year as a gift to help her begin her wedding plans. They never expected that she would walk away as the grand prize winner.
"Going to the Wedding Walk put in perspective everything I needed, and everything I had not thought of, to plan my wedding," Smith said. "Winning the grand prize gave us the freedom to have fun as we planned our wedding."
She even went so far as to say, "The Wedding Walk made me want to get married once a year!"

Statesboro has an assortment of wedding venues, catering options and talented photographers. Through the First Friday Wedding Walk Expo, the Downtown Statesboro Development Authority hopes Statesboro will become a destination wedding spot.

How Charles nearly called wedding to Diana off

Catherine Mayer’s controversial biography claims both Charles and Princess Diana had to be ‘coaxed to the altar’.
The Prince and his fiancée had cold feet about the wedding and he reportedly told an adviser on the eve of the ceremony: ‘I can’t go through with it’.
The Prince was worried he was rushing into a marriage and Lady Diana knew the Prince had feelings for Camilla Parker Bowles.
The Telegraph reported last night how the Prince had been engaged to Lady Diana Spencer for five months after a brief courtship but she was ‘not the jolly country girl he had assumed’ but a complicated, vulnerable woman suffering from an eating disorder.
He is said to have told his aide: ‘I can’t go through with it, I can’t do it’.
Diana found a bracelet meant for the Duchess of Cornwall which had the initials GF engraved – which she believed stood for the pet names ‘Gladys’ and ‘Fred’ they had given each other.
An alternative suggestion was that it was another nickname he had for Camilla - ‘Girl Friday’.
Her own pre-wedding wobbles have been well reported over the years.
Diana told biographer, Andrew Morton, that she told her sisters: ‘I can’t marry him, I can’t do this, this is absolutely unbelievable.’
They said it was too late for her to change her mind as her ‘face is already on the tea towels’.
Mayer said: ‘She had no idea her bridegroom also had to be coaxed to the altar’.
Catherine Mayer, author of the controversial biography which is published on Thursday, said she hoped the first in line to the throne liked the book but said she thought it was 'unlikely.'
'There's a real substantial gap between the public perception of Prince Charles and who he is and what he has done,' she told This Morning.
'People often define him as against Diana but in many ways they resemble each other in their impulse to make things better.'
Miss Mayer said she wrote the book after writing a cover piece for Time and had remarkably little access to the Prince for the piece, often speaking to contacts and his friends.
She added: 'He is an extremely charitable entrepreneur with a most complex belief system and philosophy, which actually appears in his own book.'
Miss Mayer said despite public belief the Prince was 'naive' at the time of his marriage to the late Princess Diana, having grown up in what she calls 'Planet Windsor' - 'a chilly planet.'
She added: 'One of the reasons he is defined the way he is is because of his first marriage.
'One of the perceptions is that he was a cynical older man who lured an innocent girl into a relationship that was never going to be plausible.'
Miss Mayer said she felt talk of Prince Charles' rise to the throne may be premature because he comes from a family that are incredibly long-lived.

'When he comes to the throne, or if he comes to the throne, we will know he is a man of strong beliefs.'