Tuesday 19 December 2017

Meghan's Mayfair Dinner Date, Hello's Woman of the Year & Prince Harry's New Appointment

Good evening! Ahead of the Queen's pre-Christmas luncheon tomorrow, we're back with several recent updates.

Dinner in Mayfair... Meghan reportedly enjoyed dinner last night in Mayfair's cool private members club Little House. The club is part of conglomerate Soho House - one of Meghan's closest friends Markus Anderson serves as director. Markus accompanied Meghan to the Invictus Games Opening Ceremony in Toronto in September.


Little House is described as "a house on a quiet corner in London’s Mayfair, with Restaurant, Drawing Room, Salon Bar, art collection featuring works by Taryn Simon and Jenny Holzer and a programme of members’ events".


The dress code at the club is described as "subversively casual" with alumni including Keira Knightley and James Corden.


Members enjoy live music in the Drawing Room.


Their menu for the Christmas season offers Roast Cauliflower Soup, Beef Tartare served with Clarence Court egg and Sourdough. Mains included Breaded Veal, Turkey, Roast Potatoes and Cranberry and Wild Sea Bass. Sticky toffee pudding and treacle tart are on the dessert menu. The restaurant boasts an impressive wine list too. Meghan adores a good glass of red and once revealed she'd "replace dessert for a 'big, beautiful red any day".


Meghan even named her defunct blog The Tig, after Tignanello red wine. "Tignanello is a full-bodied red wine that I tried about seven years ago," she said. "In wine circles, it is nicknamed 'Tig'. It was my first moment of getting it — I finally understood what people meant by the body, structure, finish, legs of wine. The TIG is my nickname for me getting it. Not just wine, but everything."


Meghan was spotted dining with restauranteurs Richard Caring and Nick Jones by staff from Square Meal. Entrepeneur Nick Jones is the Chief Executive of Soho House.


Woman of the Year... Hello! Magazine has crowned Meghan their Woman of the Year for 2017. "As 2017 draws to a close there is one person this year belongs to and as Meghan Markle reflects on her transformation from TV actress to the star of her very own Christmas fairy tale, HELLO! names her as our Woman of the Year. Not only has Meghan, 36, captured the heart of husband-to-be Prince Harry, but she has also won the approval of fans around the world as she prepares to join the royal family and take her humanitarian work to a whole new level."


Wedding Dress Designer Sketches... A story very much doing the rounds in recent days has been news Israeli designer Inbal Dror has been asked to submit sketches for Meghan's wedding gown.


The Telegraph reports "preliminary sketches submitted by Miss Dror have already emerged, and if they are anything to go by, Miss Markel’s bridal gown is likely to be a marriage of tradition and modernity. The 41 year-old is known for the long trains on her dresses - and if she incorporates one into the actresses’ outfit it will no doubt be interpreted as recalling the long train worn by Harry’s mother Diana, when she married Prince Charles at St Paul’s Cathedral in July 1981. A spokeswoman for Dror told The Telegraph she was asked last week by a representative of the royal family to submit a sketch for a wedding dress for Miss Markle. 'She was asked to do a sketch last week by the royal family. Unfortunately it’s a secret and I can’t give more details about it,' she said, adding that the sketches seen so far may not be the final drafts that Miss Dror actually submitted to the palace. 'It is important to say that these are just preliminary sketches and weren't distributed by her. She has no idea how they made it to the world media.'" Below, a look at the early sketches.


I would safely imagine dozens of designers have been asked to submit sketches for both the wedding gown and Meghan's dress for the reception. Speaking to the media this early on would very likely rule out any possibility Meghan will select a piece by the designer. It is interesting to know wedding planning is in full swing. We'll be looking at possibilities for the dress and potential designers in a new series of posts focused on the 'Royal Wedding' in the New Year. :)

Fashion Updates... I know there's been much interest in the restocking of Meghan's Joseph Laurel Skirt. Meghan Markle Style notes the piece is now back in stock on the Joseph website. It's also available in one or two sizes at Net-A-Porter.


One item in Meghan's wardrobe that will not be selling out is the Misha Nonoo Husband Shirt she wore for the Invictus Games.


People spoke with the designer:

'When Meghan Markle made her first public appearance with then-boyfriend Prince Harry at the Invictus Games in September, she wore a white button-down and ripped jeans. The jeans sold out near instantly, but the shirt didn’t — but that’s not due to a lack of demand.
Designer Misha Nonoo, who is behind Meghan’s go-to oversized white shirt and is close friends with the soon-to-be royal, manufactures her styles on demand, meaning that no item is made until an order is placed. 
“I decided to change my manufacturing process to be on-demand last November,” Nonoo tells PEOPLE. “It’s been a great success.” This sustainable switch was a big undertaking for Nonoo, she says. “It took eight solid months of quality testing, logistical training and software improvement to say with confidence that I could offer my customers sustainable luxury fashion cut, sewn and delivered in less than a week.”

The shirt can be ordered in sizes XS - XL on Misha Nonoo's website.

An Important Appointment for Prince Harry... We close with news Prince Harry will assume the role of Captain General Royal Marines in succession to his grandfather the Duke of Edinburgh, who retired in August. The Duke's association with the Royal Marines dates back 64 years to 2nd June 1953, when he was appointed Captain General in succession to the late King George VI.


People reports:

'It’s a fitting transition for Harry to take over for Philip. Though Harry never served in the Royal Navy as his grandpa did in the years before Queen Elizabeth ascended the throne — he was in the Army for 10 years — he’s long proven his dedication to service members and veterans. Since 2014, he’s spearheaded the Invictus Games, a Paralympic-style competition for wounded and recovering veterans. The passing of the position onto his grandson is just another milestone in what’s been a year full of them for Prince Philip: Beyond his retirement, he and Queen Elizabeth also celebrated their 70th wedding anniversary in November.'

Prince Harry accompanied Prince Philip in his final duty as Captain General today, as Their Royal Highnesses received the incoming and outgoing Commandants General at Buckingham Palace. It is a significant appointment and a further sign of Harry's increasing royal role.


See you tomorrow! :)

23 comments:

  1. I can't wait to see all the fashions. I hope we get a decent shot of the dress.

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  2. Thank you for the great post, Charlotte! Just a question: what is "subversively casual"?? The menu at Little House sounds delicious! Harry reminds me so much of his grandfather...happy to hear he is taking on the role of Captain General Royal Marines from Philip. I'm sorry, but I don't like the bridal designs submitted by the Israeli designer. I'm going to look at designers/gowns right now!

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    1. >>>"subversively casual"

      I know, right?! That pretentiousness made me laugh. Funny.

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    2. LOL exactly...I still don't know what it means!

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    3. I’ll give it a go! I imagine supper clubs like this have been fairly formal in most people’s experiences. So to ask someone to come dressed casually would be subversive to the typical ethos of places like that. I’m guessing the “subversive” is not meant to be a modifier of “casual” but simply pointing out that the act of dressing casual would be subversive.

      To me it goes with the aesthetic of young, Hip entrepreneurs - that the more successful you are the more you can get away with dressing in a hoodie and jeans to an investor meeting, for instance. It’s actually a power move.

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    4. Ah...I get it now, Shannon. Thanks for that!

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  3. Charlotte. I saw on your twitter page that Kate will attend the Queen's luncheon 🍽 tomorrow. Do you think we will see Meghan en route there? Do you think she will attend?

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  4. SO happy to see Prince Phillip looking rested and well. He is still handsome and dapper. :) Quite a guy.

    What an honor for Harry. I am sure he is over the moon about it. :)

    Nice to hear Meghan was at the dinner solo. I hope she maintains some social independence like that although being by your husband's side is an amazing thing too. A nice balance is good. :)

    I agree, Charlotte. I don't think any designer playing to the media will be commissioned for the wedding gown. Plus, the Israeli designer's designs can be quite burlesque. The ones that were shown weren't anything unusual either. As long as Meghan stays true to herself she will look amazing.

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    1. "burlesque" is a good description...;) I'm sure Meghan will knock us out with whatever design she chooses. She looks good in almost anything!

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  5. 🍷The "Square Meal" concept and company will come in very handy for Meghan and Harry in their travels at home and abroad and perhaps even with traveling with their future children. It takes to Soho House concept to another level. Perhaps that was one of many topics of conversation over their dinner, since all of her dinner guests are principals in those endeavors.

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  6. Thank you for including menu descriptions Charlotte. :)

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  7. Congratulations to Harry for taking up this important post. Prince Phillip who was always so tall, suddenly looks short next to Harry! He must have shrunk a bit.
    I cannot wait to see Meghan in her dress on the big day. I hope it’s a classic, stunning design.

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  8. Awesome post Charlotte! I see Meghan in a dead simple wedding dress...looking fab as usual. I highly recommend the misha Nonoo husband shirt - I love mine, the quality is superb.

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  9. Inbal Dror has some designs that are admittedly out of the mainstream (or uh...unwearable) but she often creates frocks that are classic with an edge, and very detailed and special - just how Meghan seems to tilt, in terms of fashion. She would potentially have been a great pick and I definitely lusted after her gowns when I was getting married. I think she has no chance at getting the job now, whether that was leaked on purpose or not!

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  10. Her designs looks too fussy for Meghan.Meghan has said she likes clean lines but she may suprise us.I still think it's a toss between UK,US and Canada. I wonder if she's chosen the dress sketch already

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  11. What does "private club" mean? I mean, does the Soho House own a series of restaurants only members can have a lunch in? Sounds very posh and celebrity like, very Hollywood (don't want to sound rude or disrespectful, I'm just curious and I'm not judging at all, I don't even know what we are talking about).
    I can't wait to see Meghan's fashion choices while entering the royal world!

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  12. Okay, I'm pretty sure I need an intervention of some sort...I woke - without an alarm clock - up an hour earlier than normal thinking the pictures from the luncheon would be posted by then. I assumed they would be out by about noon England time, but nope, nothing yet :(

    Regarding the business from the post, I was so happy to see Harry's new appointment yesterday. Wonderful and exactly what the younger royals should be doing. Also, military? Perfect for Harry. Yay. (I can't wait to see what honorary military appointments Meghan will get!) I also was thinking Harry might get some honorary appointments before the wedding so he'd have a new uniform to wear at the wedding - like William did. Although, I do like Harry's Blues and Royals uniform that he wore to W&K's wedding.

    I am completely convinced that Inbar Dror is just trying to get publicity. No designer who really wanted to get the commission of a royal wedding dress would run to the press as soon as they got a request for a sketch. I'm not even convinced that she got a request for a dress because why would Meghan choose a designer based in Israel (or is she based in UK?) - that makes no sense. Canada, I could see that...but why Israel? Meghan doesn't have any connection to Israel (that I know of).

    IMO, this designer is just trying to get extra business by lying about this request, especially because you'd think someone so willing to brag about this would also by dying to show off the official request they received...and I haven't see any copy of an email or paper letter Dror received...so bull crap on this one, IMO. And, I can't imagine that KP would confirm or deny anything...so there you go, free publicity! Kind of a cheap stunt, if you ask me.

    Anyway, can't wait for the luncheon photos...going back to refresh my google search :)

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    1. Ha ha, I was checking yesterday until I saw Charlotte's post it would be today; I understand entirely.
      I'm hoping she finds an American designer as a salute to her native land, and all she is leaving behind to enter Royal life. Agree that it's unlikely any chattering design houses will be selected. Remember Sarah Burton denying to the very last that she had anything at all to do with Kate's dress?

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    2. Ralph Lauren seems like his design might be a good fit for Meghan if she chooses American. Can't get much more Iconic American than Ralph Lauren.
      Just one of many guesses, lol.

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  13. Tammy from California20 December 2017 at 16:43

    I just have to say, Meghan is stunning. Such a pretty girl. It's funny how annoyed you can tell most of the RF get when they are getting pictures snapped, but I think she very much likes it.

    I love her earrings today. I will also add that I think she has an impeccable style. She always seems to know exactly what to wear.

    I WILL completely disagree with one thing: I'd NEVER take wine over dessert. Never. Gimme dessert any time, any place and in place of any meal ;)

    I am watching The Crown and can't get over how much the actor looks like a young Prince Phillip AND HARRY! Seems Harry's new appointment is very fitting in all aspects, even the look ;)

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  14. Thanks Charlotte for keeping us informed. Congrats to Prince Harry on his new appt and congrats to Ms Markle’s “Woman of the Year” announcement.

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  15. After seeing the model in the dress Meghan wore today I was thinking that this dress and the skirt Meghan wore to their event in Nottingham definitely confirm that Meghan never wants to see another pencil skirt again. She said that in the interview. I hope she changes her mind eventually because I think a pencil skirt is a great way to do "business" appointments.

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  16. Cant wait to see her wedding dress. Congrats to Prince Harry on his new appointment!

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