Charles and Camilla’s wedding day, April 9, 2005, took place in two parts. First, the bride had her bridal white moment at Windsor Guildhall for the civil service. Her white dress featured large cream disks for embellishment at the bottom and was worn under an oyster silk basket weave coat with a Prince of Wales feathers brooch at her lapel and a large Philip Treacy hat. The practical bride has reworn all the pieces of this look in public since the wedding.
Later, the couple headed to St. George’s Chapel inside the Windsor Castle grounds for the blessing service. Sartorially, this was the trickiest part, as anything too white, too poufy, or too grand would just not do. So they went in the other direction: a sleek blue and gold damask coat, just a hint of a train, and just a touch of embellishment at the collar in gold embroidery in a design inspired by a jewel in the collection of Camilla's late mother. The coat was worn over a soft blue chiffon dress. She accessorized with a small bouquet of flowers and a gold headdress (again, from Treacy) standing in for a tiara.
The woman that had taken so much bashing over the years for her looks proved that she can look regal, glamorous, and just plain good. She also set the standard that she wasn’t going to attempt to take over the memory of Diana – she’s just herself. Given that the word used over and over again in voting was "appropriate", I'd say Robinson Valentine hit all the right notes.
What puts this gown in the Top 10 for you?
Click here to see my original entry on Camilla's dress.
Photos: Getty Images/Corbis/AP