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Diplomatic dressing: China's first couple blend in on state visit Diplomatic dressing: China's first couple blend in on state visit
(34 minutes later)
The skirt suitThe skirt suit
On stage doing her day job opera singer Peng Liyuan goes for all out flamboyance, but her diplomatic dressing game is way more restrained. On the first day of the visit she went for a gently fitted skirt suit with bluebell sleeves and a soft mandarin collar. In sartorial terms it’s a subtle nod to her bed and board hostess at Buckingham Palace. The black shoes came from the exact centre of the Venn diagram between the Duchess of Cambridge and the Queen. On stage doing her day job, opera singer Peng Liyuan goes for all out flamboyance, but her diplomatic dressing game is way more restrained.
On the first day of the visit, she went for a gently fitted skirt suit with bluebell sleeves and a soft mandarin collar. In sartorial terms it’s a subtle nod to her bed and board hostess at Buckingham Palace.
The black shoes came from the exact centre of the Venn diagram between the Duchess of Cambridge and the Queen.
The evening gownThe evening gown
Liyuan hit her stride with the mirroring technique during the state banquet. While the Duchess of Cambridge went literal in red, Peng Liyuan answered with a modest midnight blue silk, inverted pleat gown. The skinny white belt suggests it was Samantha Cameron on the moodboard for this look. When she stood next to the Queen, China’s first lady provided the foil to HM’s white and blue and next to the Cambridge red they became the Union flag. Diplomatic dressing at its most hardcore. Peng hit her stride with the mirroring technique during the state banquet. While the Duchess of Cambridge went literal in red, Peng answered with a modest midnight blue silk inverted pleat gown.
The skinny white belt suggests it was Samantha Cameron on the moodboard for this look. When she stood next to the Queen, China’s first lady provided the foil to HM’s white and blue, and next to the Cambridge red they became the union flag. Diplomatic dressing at its most hardcore.
The capeThe cape
This is a clear pitch to the British in general. The silent diplomacy is off the chart. The cape is reminiscent of superbrand Burberry and as such is a nod to the idea of “dressing British”. It’s part mounted Horseguard’s cavalry, and the bouffant has a touch of the Princess Annes. It also really suits her, but that’s just incidental. This is a clear pitch to the British in general. The silent diplomacy is off the chart. The cape is reminiscent of superbrand Burberry and as such is a nod to the idea of “dressing British”.
It’s part Household Cavalry, and the bouffant has a touch of the Princess Annes. It also really suits her, but that’s just incidental.
The pussy bowThe pussy bow
Catwalk apologists would love this look – the brocade coat with the blueberry milkshake pussy bow – to be a shout out to this season’s Gucci. But alas, Gucci is Italian, so it is more likely that the UK diplomatic reference is Margaret Thatcher. Did she type “vintage Downing Street fashion” into Baidu? Catwalk apologists would love this look – the brocade coat with the blueberry milkshake pussy bow – to be a shout out to this season’s Gucci.
But, alas, Gucci is Italian, so it is more likely that the UK diplomatic reference is Margaret Thatcher. Did she type “vintage Downing Street fashion” into Baidu?
The pub lookThe pub look
President Xi apparently asked to go to Cameron’s Chequer’s local. Presumably it was for the chance to show he too could take on board diplomatic dressing. The president mirrored the prime minister with his lack of tie and undone collar suit jacket. A casual dressing flatline, but also the sartorial equivalent of saying “I’ll have what you’re having”, which in this case was a pint of IPA. President Xi apparently asked to go to Cameron’s local near Chequer’s. Presumably it was for the chance to show he too could take on board diplomatic dressing.
The president mirrored the prime minister with his lack of tie and undone collar suit jacket. A casual dressing flatline, but also the sartorial equivalent of saying: “I’ll have what you’re having,” which in this case was a pint of Greene King IPA bitter.