The Countess of Wessex

TOM SANDLER PHOTO

Sophie wore pink coat to Toronto General Hospital on Monday evening.

This week fashion editor Bernadette Morra and stylist Derick Chetty discussed Sophie, the Countess of Wessex's style. Send your comments to nakedlunch@thestar.ca or click on the comments link below.

Derick, I am quite torn about Sophie. On the one hand I think she exudes a certain "realness" which I like. I like that she isn't supermodel tall and starlet skinny. But she is a royal and she is serving a public role. On her visit to Toronto this week, she brought awareness to some very important charities. So I do wish for more glamour from her. I wish she had looked a bit more "royal." Bernadette

I think she is playing it very safe. After the controversy over her role as a royal and her job as a publicist, she's perhaps taking a very safe stance on all matters from her appearance to her role as public figure. Unfortunately it has crossed over to boredom. Does anyone know she is here? Does anyone care? A little glamour sure goes a long way in not only getting her noticed but her causes. She might want to consider turning up the glamour quotient. Derick

But how does she do that without looking cheap or ridiculous? If she goes too trendy, she is going to look like a fashion victim. Bernadette

She is quite pretty so I don't think she would have to do very much. Gloves, hats, jewellery, all lend an air of elegance. For instance, that pink coat she wore on Monday night was quite severe and all buttoned up to the neck. A coat with a three-quarter length sleeve or bell sleeve with gloves could have been quite glam. But then again, this is Canada. Were there any black-tie events in her honour that warranted an all-out glam look? Derick

Exactly - a three-quarter sleeve coat and long gloves would have been wonderful. And can't The Queen lend her some jewelry? Perhaps she should take a cue from Princess Diana, who turned to the editor of British Vogue for help. Her shoes are quite great, though - black pencil-heeled pumps with tiny bows. Bernadette

I also thought she looked quite chic on Tuesday night in the simple black cocktail dress at the Windsor Arms. I wonder if she has a tiara? That little accessory would have certainly pumped it up to royal status, wouldn't it? Yes, she looked chic but did she stand out in her LBD in that crowd? Even though Hilary Weston was also in black, she grabbed a bit of the limelight with her plunging neckline and her diamond panther brooch. Derick

Maybe this is royalty trying to be more relevant and connect to the people, hence no tiara. But her official title is  Her Royal Highness The Princess Edward, Countess of Wessex. I should add, however, that her hair is perfect - a flattering shade of blonde and an elegant cut. Bernadette

And I must say, she looked very comfortable with herself and her role in all her Toronto appearances. Perhaps this is who she truly is. Why try to be the image of what people think a royal should be? Also, she did not come from a royal background. She was a working girl with her own successful business and she is staying true to her self. Derick

Yes, Derick, but imagine if it were us with the royal titles and budget! Bernadette

Comments

[Heather-Ann]

More substance than style? Great! Leave the woman alone!

We Canadians are hard on women in the public eye. If they're not sworn at
and called "dogs", they get dragged over the coals for everything they do or
wear. Enough!

[Ruth]

I think she looks quite 'royal'... she's a member of the British Royal Family, they're not exactly fashion plates or glamour-pusses. Even Di was quite reserved in her attire.

I actually think she looks a lot more classy than Hilary Weston at the function for the Newhaven Learning Centre.

And I'm sorry... complaining that her coat was too buttoned up on Monday night? It's Canada. It's winter. Monday night wasn't exactly warm, and was considerably chillier than England (where overnight lows are currently around 9 degrees Celsius).

[Jessica]

I find Hilary looks quite trampy compared to Sophie. That said, I found Sophie's outfits very boring and dowdy, except the grey tweed which was smart.

She could stand to take a few risks, not because she's royalty, but because she's beautiful and could really "work" a smart outfit. Shoes are great, nice legs too.

In the end though, it all comes down to the fact that we judge women on their appearances far too much. She's a smart cookie, that looks better on her than any outfit.

[Angela]

Sophie is lovely. She is a working woman, and came here to do a job. Why should she spend thousands of dollars for an outfit worn once? Nice to see a public figure with a mind and a budget sense for once! Nice work Countess!

[Dana Rezl]

From what I have seen in the Star Sophie looked OK. She has her own style and any possible comparissons with the late princess Diana are inapropriate.

[Nancy]

I was a bit surprised to see Sophie slagged for her clothes, as she
looked very pretty to me, especially in the strawberry coloured coat.
To those of us outside the fashion world, "fashionable" does not
always equate smart looking. The thing in the pictures that jumped
out at me was Hilary Weston - she is a beautiful woman, with a lovely
figure and all the money in the world, but the low cut braless dress
really did nothing for her. After a certain age, and I should know,
being of a similar age, a bare chest simply does not look good.

[Cathie S.]

Yes Sophie could have had a little more glitter but maybe she doesn't want
to be too flashy.
Her outfits were nice - loved the coat. Hilary Weston looked awful in that
dress exposing too much tired sun damaged skin and flabby chest. Maybe
Sophie and Hilary should have switched dresses.

[Scott]

Some years ago I caught a glimpse of Prince Philip attending a meeting
in a downtown office. From what I can recall he arrived in a dull gray
suit. Hardly the epitome of a dashing royal. The funny thing to me is,
though the reason for his visit was reported in the daily papers, not
one of them mentioned how boring he looked. Which now leads me to the
question: When are we going to realize that women, with the exception
perhaps of prostitutes and strippers, do not leave the house thinking
they have a responsibility to look glamourous for the world? The reason
for the Countess' visit is lost in your focus on how she should have
been more sensitive to our senses. Go for you Countess for being "more
substance than style".