Thank you so much to everyone for your comments on my last post. It means the world to me that this little blog is such a big inspiration to so many people. I want you to know that you're an inspiration to me!!

Anyways, last week, I completely lost track of time and forgot to post my Friday Fashionista! So, I'm making up for it this week with an amazingly fashionable and intriguing lady, Wallis Simpson, Duchess of Windsor.



The Lady
 Wallis Warfield was born in Pennsylvania. As a young woman, she attended a very high class school in Maryland and was described as always being well-dressed. She married and divorced a US Navy pilot and a shipping executive before meeting Edward, Prince of Wales, who was at the time, the heir to the throne.
 an excerpt from the Wallis Simpson biography at thebiographychannel.co.uk: 

"On 20 January 1936, King George V, Edward's father, died, and Edward became King Edward VIII. The Government and the people of Great Britain had high hopes for Edward, but his infatuation with Wallis distracted him from his state duties. He alienated palace courtiers and his unorthodox approach to Government matters caused concern amongst ministers.
Some claimed that Wallis may be a German spy, handing State papers over to the German government. Some historians still consider that she might have had connections there, given Edward's sympathies towards the Nazi regime in the late 1930s.
Marriage to a divorcee was a constitutional impossibilty, so King Edward was faced with three options: give up Wallis, keep Wallis and face the resignation of the entire government, or abdicate. He chose the last option."



The Legend

Many people hated the Duchess for her entire life. Rumors  spread about her private life, her fidelity and her loyalties to the allies during World War I. Of course, this photo didn't help matters! To this day, many people believe that Wallis was a Nazi sympathizer and was passing information to a high ranking Nazi official. Some say that her divorces had nothing to do with the abdication crisis and that her Nazi relationships were the cause of her exile.
 Maybe it's the romantic in me but I find her story to be fascinating and wonderful. Through scandal,  loss of the crown, and being practically exiled from England, Edward and Wallis stayed together until the day Edward passed away. Wallis remained single until her death in 1986.

“I'm nothing to look at, so the only thing I can do is dress better than anyone else.”- Wallis Simpson

Madonna's film W/E, which chronicles the love story of Wallis and Edward was released in the US last week. It's not in theaters in my area yet but when I finally see it, I'll let you know! Be sure to check out the exquisite costumes in the W/E Vanity Fair spread.

Get Her Look
Since Edward gave up the crown to marry her, Wallis felt that she must always be thin and well-dressed for her husband. Likewise, since she gave up her reputation to marry him, Edward wanted nothing more than to shower Wallis with the finest jewels and clothes that money could buy. Her clothes featured sleek lines, outlandish jewels and the most couture and tailored details.





"If everyone looks at me when I enter a room, my husband can feel proud of me. That's my chief responsibility."