PR disasters thread 4

[AtIusvue]

One stop shop for all As ever, Archewell, Meg n Harry disasters

The dress isn’t a terrible look…..it’s just not a very Meghan look.

It’s very showgirl. It’s obvious this is a designer that works with Tina Knowles. This is very much her style. Very much a Beyoncé style.

Meg always touts her look as clean, modern. This isn’t that look. She also doesn’t have the very feminine shape that suits this style.

I like her earrings.

This isn’t Megs usual sleek back bun either.

I can’t tell if it’s supposed to be a messy bun or not. It just looks like flyaways. But the main issue is her hairline has had a touch up powder….but it’s very red in tone. Doesn’t match her hair! Sack the hairdresser! she really didn’t need it.

A necklace would have been lovely with this look.. the dress is okay, I don't like the cape thing. She is beautiful - surprising that she has her hair always scraped back.

The Telegraph called her look ‘provincial’ which is exactly what’s been said here-showgirl, old fashioned, not her clean/modern look.

‘The Duchess of Sussex appeared at the Fifteen Percent Pledge fundraising gala in Los Angeles on Saturday night in what can only be described as a “main character” look.
The organisation acknowledges that black people make up 15 per cent of the US population, and lobbies retailers to reflect that by dedicating 15 per cent of their shelf space to black-owned brands.
With that mission in mind, it was only appropriate that Meghan wore a dress by a black designer – a $4,195 Harbison Studio gown. Founded by designer Charles Harbison, the Los Angeles-based label is a favourite with Beyoncé, actress Mindy Kaling and Olympic gymnast Simone Biles.

Made from heavy satin, the dress had a regal, old-school feel to it that’s a significant departure from the sleek, minimalist aesthetic the Duchess of Sussex has championed since moving to Los Angeles five years ago.
Instead of the waist tie, with which the label styled the dress online, Meghan wore it with Harbison Studio’s elegant $4,495 “Galaxy” cape, which featured puffed sleeves and a train so long, it would be hard for fellow guests to get too close to her without stepping on it, but perhaps that was the intention.
Some commentators have taken issue with the fit of the dress – but it’s fair to say that even a made to measure piece in this colour and fabric choice would betray every crease and pucker.

Personal stylist Annabel Hodin, who is usually a fan of Meghan’s aesthetic, was not on board with this particular ensemble. “Meghan is usually a perfect fashion plate, but she has missed the mark here,” she says. “The look is an odd mix of Melania Trump, Margot Robbie and Beyoncé – Wuthering Heights-meets-Grammys – and not at all elegant or flattering. It is ordinary pretending to be grand. She looks provincial and stiff.”
Perhaps this is down to the fact that the Duchess loves fashion to such an extent that she has long refused to employ a stylist. At one point it was rumoured that she was working with Jamie Mizrahi, who orchestrated Adele’s post-weight-loss makeover, but it’s more likely that they are simply Montecito acquaintances.’

I know they say the dress was custom but custom for Meg? I’m not sure.

Its looks like a dress that’s been altered, not custom made for Meg.

There’s puckering at the sweetheart neckline/bust/black trim, where it looks like there’s been fabric taken away.That previously it was for a bigger bust? At the torso, the stitching is pulling. That previously it was for a smaller waist?
If this was bespoke….this wouldn’t happen. It’s also looks like in one picture that the seams have been taken out.

It is very Margot Robbie I agree, and not Meghan's usual style, but I like people trying something different every now and again. It’s most straight old-fashioned glamour look Meghan has worn since I think this Oscar de la Renta dress, and that was dressed down with plain pumps and her hair loose. I think last night’s dress and styling was one of her best looks.

(But yes, I agree, it’s not a bespoke fit to Meghan)

It’s a bad alteration at that. The front bust panels haven’t been matched correctly and therefore the black trim is off too. It looks a few millimetres off.

Im guessing this was a last min rush job.

Theres no way this is custom.

Maybe it was a Beyoncé dress that’s never been used?

@Serenster I think that Oscar de la Renta dress suited her so much more. & I agree the dress may be bespoke but I can't believe it was fitted for her.

I think she loves labels and couture but hasn't grasped they have to fit properly. That's the point of couture surely.

I have a friend who buys high street labels but spends a bit extra on alterations to make them fit properly. It shows.

I'm reluctant to criticise another woman's appearance because , oh my goodness pots and kettles. But I do think that dress from the 15% thing wasn't awfully flattering and yes to those who posted before it did remind me of the SF black gown with the orange sleeping bag.

It would be interesting to know if she donated or just turned up to the bash thinking her presence was enough. 😊

She must have grabbed Harry’s hair powder by mistake !

I also think the fabric of a thick duchess satin, was always going to make it look more obvious that’s there’s been alterations. It’s unforgiving.

I think it was a last min job, she was helped out by Tina’s designer pal, who had something that they could alter. But they shouldn’t have described it as custom. Because it’s awful close up.

Just seems part of the picture where she doesn’t want to spend any money. I very much doubt she would have been charged for this. It was a favour from a friend and the designer gets PR.

She needs a stylist and she needs to understand she needs to spend a bit of money.

A close up of the central seam. It’s been taken out at the bottom and you can see it pulling.

@AtIusvue - I think there is a pattern here of limited funds ( or to be fair spending funds where they think important) But it doesn't seem to be unlimited funds.

I wouldn't disparage anyone for not having a stylist. But , I would say red carpet or similar widely publicised events , probably best to have a trained eye to pick up on things if you want to put your best foot forward ( though even at the Oscars etc some seemingly don't 😂) OR just trust your own judgment and let people say as they will. I do wonder if M has her head turned by an expensive frock. But equally - to be fair to her - I think she can carry off more casual looks very well. Maybe because more what she is naturally used to and more comfortable with.

When I was much younger ( and a great deal slimmer ) I used to go to some sample sales where you could buy (not couture - but more expensive than I could afford in the normal run of things ) clothes which had been used for a show or used on a model last season . It sort of reminds me of that.

I feel it's a bit unnecessary to criticise her appearance.

There are plenty of legitimate things to comment on.

Yeh so you can see the original shape of the dress. And the chop shop dress Meg wore.

Look at the curve of the black trim on the original dress, and how flat it’s become on Meg. You can see a full bust and small waist for this dress. Why on earth they thought they could alter it to fit Megs!

Tina Knowles wore a Harbison dress that night too. Her dress fitted correctly.

That looks amazing on the mannequin

Stunning. Fits like a glove. The black trim meets perfectly at the centre, unlike Megs.

You can see this is the dress that they altered. Taken in the bust, let out at the waist, and the hem of the dress has been pinned too.

Unless you were Jessica rabbit, then no one was fitting into that dress….but to think they could alter it to fit Megs shape is absolutely insane!!!

Haters going to hate!

We're talking about a dress and a style. You can pass right on by if you want to. Let's be honest - it's all about the appearance for Meghan after all. That's what all the fashion mags and pages are about.

She posed for pics for the paps. Therefore people can comment.

Here's Tina's dress. I'm not crazy about it either.

The hem looks like it has simply been tacked up .
Don’t like Tina’s dress .

This pic shows why you can’t fundamentally alter a dress to this extent. You can’t take a dress designed for a full bust and create one for a small bust.

Her underwear is showing/ dress falling down because the fit was abysmal.

The designer should never have let Meg go out like this. There must have been another dress.

They should have tacked up Tina’s dress too!
looking at both mannequin and model , this designer obviously lent out dresses that were designed and made for taller thinner models and I believe the issue with Meghans dress boils down to the fact it cannot be permanently altered to fit her ( or Tina ) because it has to be returned.