Royalty and The Red Carpet

I had a fun "star-filled" weekend, starting with my visit to the Atlanta Civic Center to see the Diana: A Celebration Exhibit.  Bloggers were offered free admission and I was thrilled to be able to attend and invite a friend!

Like many of you, I grew up fascinated with Diana from the moment her engagement to Prince Charles was announced.  The Exhibit was a chronological display of Diana's life....from young school girl, through her teen years, to her engagement and marriage to Prince Charles (when she was only 20!), to her days as Princess Diana, and then to her untimely death and beyond.

It was breath-taking to walk into the room displaying her wedding gown.   

Of course photos never do the real thing justice, but the gown was spectacular.  

Some interesting facts supplied by the exhibit sponsors:

*  Elizabeth and David Emanuel (London) were the dressmakers and they had previously made the gown Diana wore for her first public appearance after she became engaged to Prince Charles.   

*  The dress took 5 months to make (March - July 1981) and Diana endured numerous fittings, including those where she practiced wallking with the long train.

*  Its cost in US$ in 1981:  $1900.

*  Their shop was guarded by security during this time and all windows covered by blinds.

* Details of the gown were released in sealed envelopes, to be opened at the moment Diana stepped into the glass coach on her way to the wedding at St. Paul's Cathedral.

*  The gown is ivory silk taffeta and lace, embroidered with more than 10,000 tiny mother-of-pearl sequins and pearls. 

*  The 25-foot silk train is the longest in Royal history. 

*  Diana observed tradition by wearing old antique lace, new silk, a borrowed tiara from the Spencer family collection, and a small blue bow, sewn into the waistband of her dress for luck.  I wonder if she thought it worked!  ha!

I also loved the gallery showcasing dresses and suits... from her early days as Princess of Wales to the dress she wore at her last public appearance on August 1, 1997 - her 36th birthday. 

If you are interested in attending, click on the discounted admission ticket below (then print) to save $3 off admission. You won't be disappointed. What a wonderful chance to see an amazing piece of history.

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My husband and I had been anxiously awaiting Sunday's Academy Awards, specifically because of the movie Crazy Heart.

My husband's long-time friend, Scott Cooper, wrote and directed it.  And it was his first shot at directing to boot!  Can you imagine how exciting it must have been for him and his wife to be getting ready for the Oscars?   Truly a dream come true!

image courtesy of Minnesota Public Radio

The movie won for Best Original Song

And for Best Actor - Jeff Bridges

Who has been married to the same woman, by the way, for 33 years.  Just had to throw that in.

The red carpet fashions and the entertainment value of The Oscars seem to take front seat for rating the show the day after it's all over.  There are good dresses and bad.  Good speeches and bad.  Good interlude performances and bad.  Good hosts and bad.  But what we seem to have lost in recent years is the delight in the true meaning and purpose of the Oscars.  

Behind every movie are people and dreams.

Artists and their crafts.

Those who never thought they could... suddenly handed a golden statue on a stage.

Those who knew they could but were told they couldn't...suddenly winning an Oscar.

 Golden moments, for sure.