“How Meghan Markle Broke Royal Tradition with Her Dress for Archie's Christening

“How Meghan Markle Broke Royal Tradition with Her Dress for Archie's Christening - Yahoo Entertainment” plus 1 more

How Meghan Markle Broke Royal Tradition with Her Dress for Archie's Christening - Yahoo Entertainment

Posted: 08 Jul 2019 12:00 AM PDT

This weekend was baby Archie's christening, a long-awaited event for royal family and fans alike. As usual, the Duchess of Sussex did things a bit differently. Meghan Markle broke royal tradition with her outfit at Archie's christening by wearing a Dior dress rather than featuring a British designer. Even so, Meghan (and Archie) looked absolutely stunning at the ceremony — and we seriously can't stop looking at those newly-released photos of baby Archie.

Vogue Australia identified Meghan's outfit as a custom Dior dress paired with a matching hat and the same Cartier diamond earrings she wore to her wedding. The look "broke with tradition in the choice of a French-based fashion house rather than a British label," which Meghan has opted for on previous high-profile occasions. In the first series of baby Archie photos, for example, Meghan is pictured in a Grace Wales Bonner dress: an "up-and-coming British designer."

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While Meghan may not have purposely snubbed this tradition, it does appear she chose her designer with great care. Dior recently announced its first-ever female artistic director, Maria Grazia Chiuri, who has been said to invoke "feminist tones" in her collections. As a vocal proponent of gender equality, Meghan may have been signaling her support for the direction in which Dior is moving.

Baby Archie's christening gown was also noteworthy: per the Sussex Royals Instagram, it has been "worn by royal infants for the last 11 years." It is itself a replica of a gown from 1841, worn by Queen Victoria's daughter and replicated in 2004. The couple's Instagram post emphasizes the rich history of Archie's attire — perhaps to signify that, even if Meghan's own dress may deviate from tradition, the Sussex royals do intend to honor what came before.

Chanel’s Latest Modern High Jewelry Collection Was Inspired by Russia’s Imperial Past - Yahoo Lifestyle

Posted: 23 Aug 2019 12:00 AM PDT

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It was the 1920s in Paris and Coco Chanel found herself enamored with the Russian cultural elite and nobility, who had fled upheaval in their homeland and brought a new sensibility to the city. That Russian spirit appeared in Chanel's 1923 collection, with long tunics, fur-lined cloaks and large belted blouses modeled after the Russian rubashka. During this period, she enlisted the czar's perfumer, Ernest Beaux, to create her iconic Chanel No. 5 perfume. The Russian influence even permeated her famous rue Cambon apartment, with specially commissioned pieces like the large mirror with a sculpted frame depicting the two-headed eagle of Imperial Russia and sheaves of wheat, a sign of the sun and good luck, forged in bronze by Robert Goossens. Chanel's fascination with Russia endured throughout her life, and today it's the impetus for the company's new high jewelry collection, Le Paris Russe de Chanel.

Unveiled at the Grand Palais during the Paris haute couture shows in July, the jewelry is a master class in symbolism and artistic technique, entirely modern even though it's rooted in the past. Among the 63 pieces, a series of necklaces and earrings in delicate diamonds and pearls echo patterned embroidery and lace, but on a large scale. A colorful headpiece features an array of gemstones in a cut-out design that is light and feminine, and big yellow diamonds represent the sun in bold rings and necklaces.

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"Gabrielle [Coco Chanel] was influenced by Russia's icons and symbolism, and we referenced those in jewelry designs that are symbolic yet feminine and stylish," says Patrice Leguéreau, who has been director of Chanel's jewelry studio for the past decade. Those motifs, along with Coco's favorite flower, the camellia, are present throughout: The double-headed eagle is the center of a regal brooch, and intricate and colorful pieces reference the costumes in Ballets Russes, which Chanel designed.

"This isn't trophy jewelry," says Leguéreau. "It's not about big stones; this is elegant, chic and feminine design. It tells a story." Over a span of more than two years, he visited Moscow and Saint Petersburg, where he spent several days exploring the Hermitage Museum, taking notes on embroidered fabrics, lace, jewelry, enamel and paintings, which also informed the new collection. It's rich in history and substance, and Coco Chanel would have loved it.