<p>Re: swim suits. I think I already mentioned that I got a one piece Cat Island “ocelot” print suit by Tommy Bahama earlier this year. Love it! The suit is very flattering, and the print is not too “ocelot-y” for my tastes.</p>
<p>Absolutely love my Tommy Bahama swimsuits. And my DD borrows the print one, in fact I think she took it with her when she left for the summer.</p>
<p>I have been looking through Zappos. I like a few of the Michael Kors suits. I think I will just bit the bullet and order a bunch.</p>
<p>mom60, someone here mentioned St John swimsuits. Zappos sells them, and they do look nice, sort of a faux tankini (which would eliminate the common tankini problems). Where is Gourmetmom? She might have some nice suggestions.</p>
<p>I like several of the St John suits. I have never tried on a fake tankini but they look interesting. Having had several laproscophic surgeries I don’t think I could wear a two piece out in public.</p>
<p>I really wish I could post a link to the article about Kate Middleton’s outfits, but CC decided that Yahoo news need to be censored, for no apparent to me reason.</p>
<p>My little secret: now I know why Kate’s Issa engagement dress sold out in a flash. My deeply discounted Issa dress (similar style, but in print instead of solid silk jersey) arrived today. It is amazingly comfortable, and the silk fabric feels so soft to the touch! Out of the three dresses, I’m going to keep the Kate Spade dress and the Issa dress. Sorry, LK Bennett, you are going back to Nordstrom, because there is only so much room in my closet and in my budget.</p>
<p>I wear a one piece swim suit to the pool at the gym. It’s a Nike suit made for water polo players. It has a very long zipper at the back that makes getting in and out of it very easy.</p>
<p>I have a St Johns one-piece purchased last spring on Zappos on sale (was a 2010 style). It’s pretty. Kind of a deep neckline for me and has some jewel-like buttons that are just a bit more luxe than I normally wear but it works well at a resort pool. </p>
<p>I am vastly more comfortable in Tommy suits.</p>
<p>Did anyone see the pics of Kate Middleton in the canary yellow Jenny Packham dress?</p>
<p>Oh my. That rare celeb who manages to delight the world with her taste and beauty.</p>
<p>Several months back, some of you were raving about the shoes from Born. Last week I bought a pair of “Skitter” wedge sandals from the Born Concepts (BOC) line. They are the most comfortable shoes I own! And I got compliments on the style at work and from D.</p>
<p>BTW - The salesman, told me his mom loves that brand for the comfort. I was not insulted, he was about 20 so she is probably younger than me!</p>
<p>Sewhappy, I loved the yellow dress ( used to have one just like it, years ago) although it was very windy the day she wore it and I heard she had a bit of a Marilyn Monroe wardrobe malfunction moment. But I couldn’t agree with you more - love just about everything with respect to Kate’s taste.</p>
<p>I wondered when you all would weigh in on her clothes. I’ve actually thought with the exception of the wedding dresses that her clothes are abit of a yawn.</p>
<p>^I like her clothes but I do think they are much more conservative than most people her age would wear, for that matter, even my age. To me it seems like she is dressing in a much more classic, sophisticated manner rather than trendy. Actually, I think it’s a welcome change. People have gotten so causal and almost sloppy in their dressing I’m hoping she’s start a trend in the other direction. OTOH, she is a member of the royal family and they do tend to be more conservative in their dress than most commoners.</p>
<p>ETA - does anyone watch Mad Men? I love the clothes they wore back then. People just looked much more pulled together, polished and the styles were flattering. I sort see Kate going in that direction. Interesting, I’ve seen a lot more of that type of clothing in the stores in the last year. Mad Men has had a definite influence on what is being put out in the stores. I’m not sure that women are buying a lot of it though - at least not where I live.</p>
<p>I agree MomLive and appreciate classic clothes, but I just thought the peplums and the ruffles are alittle too much. Somewhat reminded me of how Princess Diana dressed in the early days. She looked smashing in the jeans and navy blazer so I’m guessing she’ll hit her clothing stride over time. She’s got the body for it no doubt!</p>
<p>MomLive, I agree. Whenever I go shopping, I get tired of looking at racks of shapeless, poorly made, hideous clothes that are supposed to be “hip” and “trendy”. The yellow dress was absolutely amazing (although ill-suited for the weather), and her purple Issa dress that she wore to some dinner in Canada was very pretty. :)</p>
<p>I do not watch Mad Men, but I noticed that some designers came out with lines of clothes that look like something worn in the sixties or maybe even earlier, and usually the rest of the clothes manufacturers follow their lead. For example, D&G’s summer line had dresses ispired by the 40’s style (e.g., this one: [Polka</a> Dot Stretch Charmeuse Halter Dress](<a href=“http://shop.nordstrom.com/s/dolcegabbana-polka-dot-stretch-charmeuse-halter-dress/3143579?origin=category&cm_ven=Linkshare&cm_cat=partner&cm_pla=10&cm_ite=1&siteId=J84DHJLQkR4-HIjADIOS4fLl.dj67Uak.Q]Polka”>http://shop.nordstrom.com/s/dolcegabbana-polka-dot-stretch-charmeuse-halter-dress/3143579?origin=category&cm_ven=Linkshare&cm_cat=partner&cm_pla=10&cm_ite=1&siteId=J84DHJLQkR4-HIjADIOS4fLl.dj67Uak.Q) ) and Gucci’s new fall lineup is all about the late 60s. I’m looking forward to affordable knock-offs. :)</p>
<p>Mom Live, that’s so perceptive to draw a link from Mad Men to the Kate style. Yes, it’s more polished and I think color is used in a more “technicolor” way, as well.</p>
<p>Love Mad Men. We devour each season on DVR. Also am thoroughly enjoying Kate’s evolving style.</p>
<p>Am a little tired of the quirky, let’s-throw-in-stripes-with-floral approach to fashion.</p>
<p>IMO even the simplest pieces Kate wears have some kind of subtle detail in the structure or tailoring that to me make them anything but boring. The dress she wore while greeting the Obamas was a perfect example of that in contrast to Michelle’s fussy and IMO not particularly flattering outfit ( I like some of Michelle Obama’s choices but not all). </p>
<p>Her choices for public appearances seem appropriate to the company and the occasion more than anything else - updated classics accessorized nicely with punches of color that are form fitting and flattering. I think on her own private time she probably does go a bit farther in her choices . Mostly she’s in skinny jeans like any other 20 something year old. I 've seen her in short skirts and dresses and even one very revealing roller disco outfit( but that was before she was married)! I like the way she selects a good number of things that are accessible to many women, not just those with unlimited designer budgets. My favorite was that white Reiss dress she wore for the official engagement photo and again with the red accessories in Canada.</p>
<p>Things are a little more conservative over there, but I think we are finally starting to see the pendulum swing away from the most revealing looks over here as well. The styles coming out for the fall actually remind me most of many of the pieces I wore in the 70s.</p>
<p>I neither love nor hate what Kate wears, but I confess to wishing she’d gain 5 pounds. I feel so sad when I see young women in public who are just that little bit too thin for comfort.</p>
<p>^I was thinking the same thing. She does seem very thin. Hard to know but I’ve wondered if some of that is stress related. Marrying a future King has got to be somewhat of a stressful life-changing event.</p>
<p>There’s a store in our area that sells lots of 1950s style shirtwaists. I wish they had better pictures of their dresses on line.This was the best link I could find: [Larchmont</a> Gazette.com: Former Fashion Model Opens Larchmont Dress Shop](<a href=“http://www.larchmontgazette.com/2007/articles/20070524clotilde.html]Larchmont”>larchmontgazette.com)</p>