As much as I love jewellery, particularly historic pieces, I cannot but regret that so much is on display here, both for ethical reasons and sartorial ones.
The necklace is an impressive piece, in all its five strand glory, but perhaps in this format it is more suited to being worn without the Boucheron fender atop her very teased out locks. As other posters have noted, three strands perhaps would have achieved a better effect. However, it is encouraging that she now has the use of such a piece, as the serpent necklace was woefully inadequate to wear with such monumental tiaras.
I simply feel that these tiaras, the Delhi Durbar and the Greville Boucheron, are simply too big in scale for her. It is strange, because this last tiara suited the QM very well and she was inordinately fond of this jewel, wearing it often throughout the years; perhaps the duchess's face is simply too delicate for the size of these tiaras........
I think that alixannencova made some interesting points about this jewellery making a point about the wearer's status, particularly in the eyes of her husband. I don't doubt that is a factor; equally the fact that all these pieces have an association with his beloved grandmother is no doubt pertinent. However, if indeed the Prince is influencing the choice of jewellery for these ensembles, then it may well be argued that his taste is a little faulty in that it is inclined to be rather heavy in its application.........
The impresssion created is unfortunate, as are the comparisons with the Queen. The Queen has been accustomed to the wearing of such jewellery from a young age and always looks pretty perfect in her choice of jewels for any occasion. The comparison between the two royal ladies invites the notion that whilst the one is perfectly comfortable with her splendour, the other is overloaded in a fashion that in times gone by could well have been considered 'parvenu'.
The dress, I feel, does not help. Too pale and reflective, there are some rather unsightly lines in an area to which attention should not be drawn, and some may say that the neckline is too low for a lady of her years, although no doubt it had to accomodate the prodigious length of the Greville necklace. Personally I do think that she has great legs, but would dispute that her bust is one of her 'best assests'; this dress seems to emphasise its heaviness......
I must add that it can be no easy job dressing as a royal after a lifetime of shabby genteel dressing. The fact that she looks as good as she does must take some effort, not to mention the concentrated talents of couturiers, make-up artists and hairdressers. I wish that she would simply take a leaf out of the Queen's book of style, that is to say, less is perhaps sometimes more royal............
