It’s no secret that I am fascinated/obsessed/enthralled by Wallis Simpson and am eagerly anticipating Madonna’s upcoming W.E. film… no matter how bad it might be.
To celebrate Wallis as a style icon, lovely guest blogger Jo-ann Fortune shares some rarely-seen pics and is also offering you the chance to win a beautiful handbag, worthy of any Wallis fan.
Enjoy!
Guest blogger Jo-ann Fortune from www.vintagebrighton.com explains why you should make Wallis Simpson your new style icon.
The Guardian’s fashion editor, Jess Cartner-Morley, recently championed Wallis Simpson as an important reference for new season style and with Madonna’s film W.E. due out later this year, you know that this name is going to be firmly planted on the lips of the fash pack.
So, for those not so familiar with the American socialite’s splendid sartorial choices, here’s a quick rundown of why she deserves to inspire your wardrobe.
Once you’re in the know, enter our competition to win this Simpson-style bag from John Lewis Collection, worth £79, by leaving a comment to tell us why you love Wallis. The winner will be chosen at random and announced on Friday 23 September.
(Image credit: PA Archive Press Association Images)
1. She rocked the New Look
Always bang-on-trend with the latest fashions, Wallis pulled off the glamorous 1950’s ‘New Look’ perfectly. Here she is showing off the flamboyant shape by dancing the Cha-Cha-Cha – of course she was always bang-on-trend with the latest dance crazes too…
(Image credit: PA Archive Press Association Images)
2. …and the LBD
Cocktail parties were a big part of Wallis’s life, so as well as the exquisite ball gowns and flirty frocks, she naturally owned several little black dresses, being quoted as saying: “when a little black dress is right, there is nothing else to wear in its place.” Damn straight.
(Image credit: PA Archive Press Association Images)
3. She wasn’t afraid of colour
While much of the photography of the day portrayed Wallis in black and white, she certainly wasn’t afraid to inject a little – or a lot – of colour into her wardrobe. Check her out sporting a sharp red woollen suit ensemble that ‘First Lady of fashion’ Jackie Kennedy would be proud of.
(Image credit: Anthony Camerano AP Press Association Images)
4. The lady loved to laugh
Forget Botox – laughter lines are hot! There’s nothing more attractive than someone who knows how to have a good time and this picture is just the cutest!
(Image credit: PA Archive Press Association Images)
5. The paps loved her
Way before the days of Darryn Lyons, certain socialites attracted the attention of street photographers, and many were particularly keen on the capturing the well-turned out Duchess of Windsor. Luckily for us, this means that there are plenty of street-style snaps to lust over.
(Image credit: Ivan Croscenco AP Press Association Images)
6. She celebrated the best of British
Just like Coco Chanel, Wallis took style inspiration from the time she spent with British aristocracy, introducing heritage fabrics such as tweed into her wardrobe. Pleats, tweed and box jacket – this outfit is some serious inspiration for new season style.
(Image credit: AP Press Association Images)
7. Her dog-walk doubled as a catwalk
Wallis wouldn’t have been seen dead walking the dogs in her PJs. As with everything she did, this task was always undertaken with style, making sure she was wrapped up warm in cosy fur and wool women’s coats. And pugs – my, this girl was ahead of the game when it came to statement pets!
(Image credit: AP Press Association Images)
8. She was a bathing beauty
Women always look so much better than men at the beach, and this was certainly the case with the Windsors. Bless Edward in his cumbersome snorkelling mask and high-waisted shorts – but check out Mrs Beach Babe! Such a great swimwear shape.
(Image credit: PA Wire Press Association Images)
9. No one wore the pencil skirt better
Wallis truly owned the sharply tailored pencil skirt look. Smart yet feminine, pencil skirts paired with box jackets, crisp shirts and lady-like handbags, are big this season, and you can’t go far wrong emulating this outfit – much love for the check-lined cape, bag and suede gloves.
(Image credit: PA Archive Press Association Images)
10. She was worth abdicating for
Who doesn’t want to take the leading role in their own romantic fairy tale? Admit it, we’re all suckers when it comes to a good love story, and Prince Edward gave up the thrown for his divorced American lover – forget royal, you don’t get much more loyal than that.
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Great article! I love her because she really should be hated – a Yank coming over and stealing our future King, making him abdicate?! But she was just too fabulous and started so many trends, you can’t help but love her!
I love her style, she’s a real liberated American dame proving that Oscar Wilde was pretty accurate when he said ‘America is the only country that went from barbarism to decadence without civilisation in between.’ her outfits are timeless, decadent and highly desirable….I bet she knew how to throw a swell party, who needs to be civilised anyway? I in no way condone loose (King seducing) ladies but it’s hard not to love somebody with such great dress sense. Go girl.x
One gets the impression from contemporary accounts that Wallis and Ed were a truly vile and selfish pair (and let’s not forget, Nazi sympathisers). Her dress sense was sublime, but I hope that the movie doesn’t sugar-coat the rest.
They certainly were an interesting pair although I think it’s important to remember that Wallis (and Edward) were so unpopular as both an American and a divorcee, let alone as someone that ‘stole’ the King, that lies about them ranged from her being a prostitute to her being born a man, so not everything about them is particularly accurate!
I imagine, considering that Madonna is another American divorcee that isn’t much liked by the Brits, she probably will gloss over a few aspects…
She was years ahead of the fash pack. Vogue recently wrote about a Schiaparelli dress she wore back in the Thirties – covered in a Dali lobster print. Get that, Victoria Beckham!
There is a lot to admire and plenty to disapprove of when it comes to Wallis Simpson and that is what I most enjoy about her. Rarely do you get such a colourful female character written into the history books. If you read about it most people at that time symapthized with the Nazis until they became a threat to our own country, but that is not the issue here. Wallis captivated and enthralled, she changed the country’s perception of the royal family forever, she exposed their humanity. And she did it all whilst looking fabulous. The pictures above tell the tale of a woman that LIVED her life, she wasn’t told what to do and that itself is an inspiration. Until I saw these pictures I hadn’t realised the similarities, but a lot of my work wardrobe quite compellingly resembles WS
Great artcile, thanks
Tx
I love Wallis because she was fearless and belligerent. She was one of those people that others pretend to hate but can’t stop looking at! Her style is that of a woman who outwardly had no children (apparently there was a secret daughter) so never made any excuses for her lavish lifestyle, celebrity status and alluring and elegant style which never seemed to falter.