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Original poster

What To Wear To Buckingham Palace Please?

29 replies

midori1999 · 07/06/2010 09:28

I posted in chat last nigth, but someone kindly pointed me in this direction, I hadn't noticed the 'style and beauty' forum before.

My husband has his investiture next month, where he will be presented his military cross at Buckingham Palace by the Queen. I have no idea what to wear, but the bumpf they sent says it has to be knee length or below and a hat is 'preferable'.

I tried this on today:

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with the jacket, and it looked nice, but am not 100% sure it is right? I am also worried someone else might be wearing it, but I suppose that could happen with anything. I tried on a few hats but didn't really like any of them.

So, is the oufit ok and if not, any suggestions?

Also, where the heck do you find hats these days? Everywhere seems to mostly be fascinators and I definitely want a 'proper' hat.

Thankyou.

OP posts:
Romanarama · 07/06/2010 09:42

I think that's the right sort of thing, definitely with a jacket. Where do you live? If London's an option, I'd go to Fenwicks and Selfridges to look at hats. Don't forget to ask friends whether they have borrowable hats, as lots of people buy them for weddings and wear them once.

Basically you need a mother-of-the-bride sort of outfit. Elegant and not too exciting. Have a look through some Royal-watchers websites for pics of the Queen and Camilla for inspiration.

EccentricaGallumbits · 07/06/2010 09:43

Your best crown and diamonds.

coderrooo · 07/06/2010 09:44

a nice severed head on a stick

fgs wanky tradition

EccentricaGallumbits · 07/06/2010 09:44

or a nice dress and jacket just like that one.
the hat with it is nice too.

Romanarama · 07/06/2010 12:58

Congratulations, by the way!

LouIsWaltzingMatilda · 07/06/2010 13:02

Irregardless of whether you think the tradition is wanky the OP husband is getting an honour for his service to his country. I am a republican but irregardless of my belief about the royal family I am not insulting his honour.

Congratulation to your husband by the way.

I agree with the others and look for a nice dress and jacket look with a hat. Comfy shoes too. Have you thought about asking the personal shopper person at some of the bigger stores?

NewLeaseofLife · 07/06/2010 13:03

Wow, great dress. I think thats just the job.
I think fraisers do hats as do john lewis and debenhams.

FellatioNelson · 07/06/2010 13:04

I think ti just means you shoudl wear some form of headgear - I don't think it matters whether it is a hat or a fascinator. John Lewis is your best bet for both.

and coderrooo, God knows, I'm not Royalist, but you are being unnecessarily spiteful. This is not 'Politics' or AIBU.

Have a lovely day Midori. And I am grateful to your husband.

coderrooo · 07/06/2010 13:05

i think one can object to the honours system cant one?

LouIsWaltzingMatilda · 07/06/2010 13:08

Of course you can, it's a free country (ooh I felt about 15 saying that) just pick another topic. She wanted fashion advice not your opinion on the honours system that is in place.
However I am slightly pissed off with the world right now maybe MN is not the place for me at the moment. Sorry for biting your head off.
THink the post office is a better place for my wrath.

coderrooo · 07/06/2010 13:08

nah
fariy nuff

sorry

coderrooo · 07/06/2010 13:08

rofl @post office

abraid · 07/06/2010 13:09

Congratulations to you and your husband. I think you're on the right lines with the dress and jacket: it's classic and pretty.

I hope you have a lovely day.

Perhaps try Ebay for hats, too?

tvfriend · 07/06/2010 13:12

I went to my Dad's investiture and your outfit choice looks absolutely fine but I would have a jacket as well. A fascinator would also be fine. There were loads of people there in all sorts of stuff from little old grannies in pastel 2 pieces to huge glamorous hats (Vera from Coronation Street!).
And congratulations to your husband!

tvfriend · 07/06/2010 13:15

PS- you could always hire a fab hat

Original poster
midori1999 · 07/06/2010 13:18

Thankyou. I will go for that dress/jacket then and try and find a hat. I hate shopping and as I have already tried it on, I can now order online.

No John Lewis near us (Northern Ireland) but we do have a House Of Fraser, so will maybe try them.

As for the 'other thing', I am not a Royalist either, not in the slightest. However, I am extremely proud of my husband, (who is, after all, prepared to put his life on the line so we can all sleep safely in our beds at night) and it means an awful lot to him, so I am happy to make an effort.

OP posts:
tortoiseonthehalfshell · 07/06/2010 13:18

You can hire hats?

Don't they get a bit manky?

tvfriend · 07/06/2010 13:20

You can definitely hire them but I haven't so not sure if they get manky to be honest- sweaty brows and all that
Monsoon/Accessorise used to sell lots of hats btw bit the last time I bought one was in the 90s so maybe they don't anymore...

BalloonSlayer · 07/06/2010 13:26

Don't get too stressed about whether someone else is wearing the same as you. We went to a garden party and I saw just about every dress I had tried on on somebody. I noticed some woman giving me a real evil look and was puzzled until I realised she had on the same hat as me. (It wasn't the Queen though.)

The lady we went with spotted nine people with the same hat as hers. She just thought it was funny!

Your dress is lovely BTW, though I agree about a jacket (could be freezing). And congrats to your DH.

Original poster
midori1999 · 07/06/2010 13:26

Thanks again.

tvfriend, that's really helpful actually. I am happy to buy a hat, and it might be less hassle in the long run compared to hiring. I am tempted to wait until we get to London the day before, but my husband says if I do that it'll be a nightmare, with the only hat I like being really expensive and me saying I have to have it as I need one for the next day...

OP posts:
tvfriend · 07/06/2010 13:30

It might be easier to buy one here (I live in London!) than bringing one over on the plane (if you're flying..)

tvfriend · 07/06/2010 13:32

Not about hats at all but make sure you eat/drink something before you go. We were there for HOURS and only got an orange juice or something if I remember

ajandjjmum · 07/06/2010 13:35

What a fantastic experience for you - and congratulations to your dh.

We went with my Dad over 25 years ago - still have my hat! Surprisingly moving occasion.

The outfit looks perfect.

chocolatechomper · 07/06/2010 13:47

Congratulations to your DH. The outfit looks perfect although, as others have said, I would be inclined to get a jacket as well.

Went to my sister's investiture a few years ago. I wore a skirt suit (long pencil skirt, long jacket and blouse) - not trendy in the least but a safe 'classic', suitable for interviews, funerals and investitures ! Didn't wear a hat, but had my hair pinned up and some sore of flower hair clip, or something. 2 of my other sister's wore hats but I didn't feel out of place so if hats aren't your thing, don't feel obliged. HTH.

Enjoy it.

stanausauruswrecks · 07/06/2010 13:50

Midori, not sure where you are in NI, but herehas quite a good range (or did when I got married and went looking for MOTB outits for my mum)