How Queen Camilla is reaching new fashion heights at 76
At the same age Queen Elizabeth started opting for sensible shoes, Queen Camilla has upped her game in a magnificent navy Dior gown and matching cape at the kick-off of Paris Fashion Week, writes Kerry Parnell.
Opinion
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They say you should walk a mile in someone else’s shoes — I couldn’t manage a metre in Camilla’s pumps.
The King and Queen were in Paris this week, for their first State Visit to France.
On the eve of Paris Fashion Week, which kicks off on Monday, it was fittingly a couture occasion, as Charles and Camilla attended a State Banquet at the Palace of Versailles, hosted by President Emmanuel Macron and wife, Brigitte.
Camilla looked magnificent in her navy Dior gown and matching cape — a sartorial detour for the monarch which had fashion types declaring, “bravo”.
Brigitte also sported a blue Dior gown, with the luxury fashion house fast becoming the royal favourite for red-carpet events, having dressed Harry for the Coronation and Meghan at the Jubilee.
Diana loved her Dior bags so much, the brand named one after her.
But it was Camilla’s shoes I was looking at, as she’s been out all week in heels.
Mon Dieu, I don’t know how she does it at 76.
Well, I do, in fact — she sports secret bunion-busting footwear. British brand Sole Bliss makes heels with a hidden “bunion-bed” and a spokesperson revealed Camilla owns multiple pairs in different colours and has worn them at least 80 times since 2018. Clever Camilla.
She looked to be wearing the brand this week, as well as her favourite Chanel two-toned block heels.
I attended a black-tie event this week for work and after dusting down my most-formal dress (literally, as I last wore it 12 months ago, such is the scarcity of posh events I attend these days … actually, any events), I slipped into my trusty black heels and set off, quickly realising I wasn’t getting anywhere fast.
I was in such pain, I felt like the Little Mermaid, with daggers slicing my feet, while simultaneously looking like the Sea Witch. What happened?
Along with my abs, face and marbles, now my feet have failed me. I have a wardrobe full of defunct skyscraper heels which I used to march about in at work.
They took me from day-to-night no problem, back in a time when I, you know, left my house.
So, kudos to Camilla, who, after enjoying a lengthy midlife at home in the country, in her Dubarry boots and Hunter wellies, has done a reverse-Cinderella and rammed that shoe on in her seventies.
By the same age, the late Queen had found a pair of comfy footwear with low square heels and stuck with them for the rest of her life, having them hand-made by Rayne and Anello & Davide.
Not only that, she got her dresser-turned-personal-advisor Angela Kelly to break them in for her.
“A flunky wears in Her Majesty’s shoes to ensure that they are comfortable and that she is always good to go,” Kelly wrote in her book, The Other Side of the Coin, “And yes, I am that flunky.”
Unfortunately for Kelly, after the Queen died, Charles asked her if she would be so good to go, too and she’s relocated to northern England, so presumably Camilla has to break in her own shoes. Or maybe she has a footman.
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