Fur Coat, No Knickers

A few more pictures from Vanity Fair‘s WE shoot.

I don’t think I’ve mentioned, because I assumed everyone knew, that the costumes are by Arianne Phillips who also worked her magic on Walk the Line and A Single Man.

This shoot took place at glorious West Wycombe Park, home of the Hellfire Club.

[Pictures via Fashionising]

Wallis-mania has hit. Earlier this week I showed you some stills from the upcoming Madonna movie, W.E. and now we have a Duke and Duchess of Windsor shoot from Vanity Fair!!

I’m even more impressed with the casting than ever now – James D’Arcy and Andrea Riseborough really look the part and while that’s undoubtedly down to styling and makeup, they’re even holding themselves with the poise and mannerisms of Wallis and Edward.

Too excited about this film. Even if they just mumble their way through the lines it’ll be a visual treat.

[Via ONTD]

Wallis Simpson fans! I bring you the first few stills from Madonna’s upcoming W.E. - and what a joy they are. I’m really impressed with just how much Andrea Riseborough has captured Wallis and James D’Arcy bears a pretty good resemblance to Edward too.

I’m not a massive Madonna fan (I mean, obviously I love Madonna – I just don’t stan for every project she gets involved with) but I really hope this film is good. It looks stunning – just how bad can the script be??

[Pictures via ONTD]

Fellow Wallis Simpson-ites will have no doubt heard that our favourite divorcee is back in the news, as yet more of her belongings are auctioned off for charity next week. Wallis seems to be more omnipresent than ever at the moment, with her King’s Speech guest appearance and yet more news about Madonna’s upcoming biopic. As you know it’s a case of the more the merrier as far as I’m concerned – she’s fascinating.

Following the high profile jewellery auction which took place last year the new sale sees a collection of Wallis’s accessories go under the hammer, as well as some tabloid-friendly rather fancy lingerie. Johnny foreigner eh? Coming over here, stealing our kings, wearing pink and black negligees… Tsk.

This Schiaparelli leopard print heart-shaped waist pouch is one of my favourite items in the sale. Dating from 1949, it wouldn’t look out of place in any collection today – total cliche I am aware, but seriously! Look at it!

This personalised Louis Vuitton vanity bearing the Duchess of Windsor legend and a faux tortoiseshell address label is also rather magnificent… But my favourite thing in the auction has to be…

The sale is taking place at Kerry Taylor Auctioneers in aid of the Dodi International Charitable Foundation (yep that Dodi).

[Pics: Huffington Post and Daily Mail]

My fascination with Wallis Simpson is pretty well-documented – I think Madonna is probably slightly more in to her than me, but only just. Evidently John Gallian has a fascination with the black sheep of the royal family too, and his pre-fall 2011 collection for Dior is totally inspired by her. OMG!

SWOON. The collection is something of a romp through the Duchess of Windor’s history; from a tartan gown suitable for the Highland Fling depicted in The King’s Speech to drop-waisted ball gowns via car coats and furry waxed jackets.

It’s collections like this that make me think I could sit through W.E. quite happily.

See it all here!

PS Maria Kashleva is a dead ringer for Wallis – well, a good looking Wallis.

Wallis Simpson has been on my mind a lot lately – not just because she has a lot to do with the ‘set’ that I read so much about, but also because of Gillian Anderson’s excellent portrayal of her in the Any Human Heart adaptation.

Then, of course, there’s the fact that half of Wallis’s jewellery collection has just been flogged at auction, breaking records and making millions in the process. The big seller was the Cartier-designed diamond-encrusted leopard bracelet you see above, which sold for a record-breaking £4.5m at auction. Swit swoo! Madonna is rumoured to have been the big spender responsible for buying it – wonder if it’s for the WE film, or her own use?

For all your thoughts on Wallis and Edward, there’s no disputing that he was a fine jewellery buyer – and also a real old romantic. The deeply personal collection is full of beautiful pieces, which all have touching and slightly tragic stories behind them.

This is my favourite lot, for sheer romance values. OK so first of all it’s an 18 carat gold and gem-set Cartier cigarette case; but more importantly it is decorated with a map, showing with gem stones the places the couple visited together. Isn’t that nice? Sigh. It’s engraved with, “Wallis from Edward, Christmas 1935”, and sold for £181,250.

This bracelet is my favourite item, in terms of things I want to wear. It’s another piece of Cartier, and dates back to 1935 – Edward gave it to the Duchess, and she wore it on their wedding day in 1937. The nine gem crosses signify important incidents in their relationship – starting with number as on their wedding day. Wonder what the other eight were?? It sold this week for over £600,000.

This diamond dress suite is also from Cartier, and dates from 1935. As with most of the jewellery Edward gave Wallis, it’s engraved with the intertwined initials W and E, and features the inscription (prepare yourself), ‘Hold Tight’. This phrase was kind of the couple’s motto, and they used it in most of their correspondence before his abdication. Too much!

Read what else was sold, and for how much, on Professional Jeweller.