11/17. After a mainly rainy weekend in New York, the great foliage of ’08 had pretty much left its home and hit the ground.
What do Steve Schwarzman and Prince Charles have in common? Both were serenaded on their 60th by Rod Stewart.
The Prince’s celebration had about as many guests – although the venue was the royal banquet was in a big white tent in the garden of the royal residence Highgrove – this past Saturday night. Given by his wife Camilla, there were a number of celebrities and other royals and aristos present. On his actual birthday, the first royal salute for Prince Charles to be fired at Edinburgh Castle took place to mark his day. Two nights before, his mother, Her Majesty, gave a dinner for him, preceded by a concert of the Philharmonia Orchestra of which he is a founding patron, at Buckingham Palace.
One can only wonder what that Mother-Son relationship is like. However, in the world of social invitations, this is as good as it gets. The Prince of Wales and his Duchess are the way to go. |
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Portrait of Prince Charles (Photo: European pressphoto agency). |
There is the again in the press talk about When and If. ERII is now getting up there. A recent poll gives the Prince higher numbers than a few years ago in terms of his popularity with his subjects, aka the public. Everybody knows his wife doesn’t like to work the crowds as much as her predecessor did, and so she sloughs off a lot. In a way that’s good for the image – the lady’s a little on the lazy side – well, wouldn’t you be?
Camilla was free from all that folderol for most of her life. She probably never realized just how much of a drag it could be to be always on the go, until she was always on the go. Out there ... nodding her head, accepting bouquets, waving, eating, smiling, walking, chatting, more flowers, more waving more smiling ... You know there were moments when she’s had to be thinking “get me outta here!” She’s only human. It’s different for her husband; it’s all he knows, like Pavlov’s dog.
Nevertheless things are looking up all around for the Prince: they love his children and they love his mother and they’re not unhappy about his wife, and they’re even saying that if he does become King someday, well, good for him.
The birthday of His Royal Highness Prince of Wales and Earl of Chester, Duke of Cornwall, Duke of Rothesay, Earl of Carrick, Baron of Renfrew, Lord of the Isles, Prince and Great Steward of Scotland, Member of Her Majesty's Most Honourable Privy Council was Friday the 14th.
The Prince shares a birth year with, among others: Ozzy Osbourne, Al Gore, Alice Cooper, Samuel L. Jackson, and Jeremy Irons.
When he was a little boy and his mother first came to the throne, he was known across the world as Bonnie Prince Charlie. He looked like a sweet little child, somewhat bashful; the perfect little boy of his war-saved generation. When he was a teenager, with those big ears, he looked like a bit of a nerd. By the time he was in his 20s, filled out and athletic, he brought out the Cinderella-fantasies in millions of young women, not to mention a few young men. A movie star with a real (maybe someday) throne. The marriage turned him into a Superstar. And then a SuperDolt. And a cad. And Not Mr. Nice Guy. He’s been through it all, and he’s still here. At 60, however, the bonnie has returned to Prince Charlie.
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The Prince and the Duchess of Cornwall on his birthday accepting gifts while visiting projects linked to his charity, the Prince's Trust. |
In his own way he’s a cool guy. There are those who know that side of him. Had he not been born a royal he might have made a great success of his life in a profession. He clearly wants to know, to learn, to improve, to help.
He’s too privileged to get a lot of it. He isn’t like the rest of his. He’s the Prince of Wales and wherever he goes it’s red carpet. It’s just this side of delusion when it comes to real life. I’m not faulting him for it, but it’s an extreme deprivation of circumstances in terms of understanding one’s self. Presidents and dictators come and go, and rarely with their egos not distended by the rights of privilege. The Throne of England, however, isn’t just some term in office or regime. It has hung in there for an awfully long time. In terms of a “good family,” Charles comes from the goodest. This sort of thing doesn’t escape the old boy. And it doesn’t do him any favors mentally either.
What must be odd for him is the Royal Waiting. His great-great-grandfather, son of Victoria, had the same problem. He was sixty when he succeeded. Sixty was old then.
He dealt with The Waiting by enjoying. Big time. And he got very big doing it. While the Waiting might have been stressful for “Bertie,” as he was known, he had a flair for amusing himself. He liked rich Jewish bankers also. They were smarter, they were fun, they were generous, more cultured and they had good advice. As well as champagne and cigars. That social choice was a departure in the deeply WASP society that characterized Bertie’s progressiveness. Prince Charles is drawn to that sort of expansiveness also.
It does seem unfortunate that a man of that energy must devote so much of it performing the role of Waiting, flacking the Palace, as it were, as a respectable member of the Royal Family. It must be exasperating. |
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From NYSD Socialite's Closet: This Week's Sample Sales ...
Compiled by Wendy Lerman
Who: Alessandro Dell'Acqua
What: Up to 75% off this seasons collections
When: 11/20 thru 11/21 (10:00 AM - 8:00 PM)
Where: 30 West 57th Street (5th and 6th avenues), 4th Floor
Why: Romantic chiffon dresses; sensual knitwear that follow the lines of the body and much, much more
Who: Bvlgari
What: Jewelry, watches, handbags, accessories, and fragrances
When: 11/22 thru 11/25 (9am to 6:30pm)
Where: Soiffer Haskin, 317 West 33rd Street
Why: Up to 75% off retail
Who: Frette
What: Fine Italian Linens and Frette to Wear
When: 11/17 thru 11/20 (10am to 6pm)
Where: 4 West 58th Street, 4th Floor
Why: Up to 70% off
Who: Grace Hats NY LLC
What: Hats and Scarves
When: 10am to 6pm (Monday thru Friday)
Where: 231 West 39th Street, Suite 716
Why: Great hats starting at only $5
Who: Hanky Panky Sample Sale
What: Thongs, Boyshorts, pajamas, slips, and camisoles
When: 12/2 thru 12/4 (8:30am to 8pm), and 12/5 (9am-1pm)
Where: 260 Fifth Ave, between 28th and 29th Sts
Why: Everything is up to 75% off retail
Who: Helmut Lang and Rag & Bone
What: Pants, shirts, dresses, jackets, and more
When: 12/3 thru 12/4 (10am to 7pm) and 12/5 (10am to 6pm)
Where: 261 West 36th Street, 2nd Floor (Between 7th and 8th Avenue)
Why: Fantastic discounts for both men and women
Who: Isabella Fiore
What: Great clutches, hobos, satchels, totes, baby and messenger-style bags, and more! When: 11/19 thru 11/20 (10am to 5pm)
Where: 80 West 40th St., Floor 8
Why: Its their first ever New York Sample Sale and their luxury handbags are 50-70% off retail prices!
Who: Iridesse, Anthony Nak, Chrissie Coleman Douglas, Christian Tse
What: Earrings, Necklaces, Strands, Rings, Bracelets, Freshwater, South Sea, and Tahitian
When: 11/19 (8am to 7pm) and 11/20 (8am to 6pm)
Where: The Warwick Hotel, 65 West 54th Street, The Oxford Suite, 2nd Floor
Why: Prices retail from $250 to $20,000, but are now $100 to $10,000
Who: L.A.M.B, Jill Stuart, Harajuku Lovers and Kidrobot Handbags and Totes
What: Up to 70% off this seasons collections
When: 11/18 (1:00 PM - 8:00 PM) and 11/19 thru 11/20 (8am-8pm)
Where: 145 West 18th St (6th and 7th avenues)
Why: Find an incredibly diverse selection of this season’s handbags at stupendous savings
Who: Lambertson Truex
What: Women’s and Men’s bags, shoes, small leather goods, belts, and gloves
When: 11/18 thru 11/20 (9am to 6:30pm)
Where: Soiffer Haskin, 317 West 33rd Street
Why: Up to 80% off Retail
Who: LaROK
What: Up to 75% off this seasons collections
When: 12/4 (8:00 AM - 8:00 PM), 12/5 thru 12/6 (10am-8pm)
Where: 145 West 18th St (6th and 7th avenues)
Why: LaRok’s perfect tees and sexy dresses fit into any modern fashionista's closet.
Who: Paul and Shark
What: Men’s outerwear, sweaters, jeans, trousers, scarves, belts, hats, gloves, ties and more.
When: 11/19 and 11/20 (8:30am to 6pm) and 11/21 (9am-5pm)
Where: 79 Madison Avenue (at 28th Street), Suite 1206
Why: This is the first time their sample sale is open to the public
Who: Theory
What: Dresses, pants, suits, tops, sweaters, skirts and more
When: 11/20 (10am-7pm), 11/21 (10am-6pm), 11/22 thru 11/23 (10am-5pm), 11/24 (10am-6pm), and 11/25(10am-7pm)
Where: 261 West 36th Street, 2nd floor (Between 7th and 8th Avenue)
Why: Tons of merchandise for women in all sizes
Who: Qi Cashmere Private Sample Sale
What: Cashmere cardigans, vests, dresses, gloves, scarfs, and more
When: 11/19 thru 11/21 (11am-7pm)
Where: 260 W. 39th st. ste 200 at 8th Ave 212.239.8880
Why: Beautiful cashmere sweaters for up to 75% off retail |
| Do you know of a great sample sale that isn't listed? Have questions about a sale? Email Wendy. |
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