(Culture)
Emma Thompson Accepted Damehood In Sneakers & A Super-Sleek Suit
Emma Thompson was as fabulous as ever as she received her damehood in a menswear suit and tennis shoes on Weds. With slicked-back hair and an equal-pay badge hanging from her bespoke blazer, the actor was honored at Buckingham Palace for her longtime services to drama. Emma Thompson's suit-and-sneakers combo will definitely inspire you to swap out your favorite dress for your next formal event.
The 59-year-old accepted her damehood from Prince William in front of her husband and their two children on Weds. and she looked effortlessly cool while doing it, too. You might have expected her to wear a traditional dress and heels to the Palace, but instead, Thompson opted for a custom-made Stella McCartney suit and low-key tennis shoes.
The monochromatic, teal trouser suit features a tailored blazer with contrasting black lapels and asymmetrical buttons in the front. She wore it over a camisole undershirt and matching wide-leg trousers that were cuffed at the hem. Her shoe choice was the real kicker, though. Whereas Palace etiquette suggests the most formal footwear, Thompson paired her ensemble with a casual pair of trainers.
Though the slouchy trousers only allowed a glimpse of the sneaker, it's likely they're from Stella McCartney's collaboration with Adidas. The kicks look like Stella's take on the shoe brand's iconic Stan Smith sneaker. Made of vegetarian leather, the white trainers lace up the front and feature Stella's logo on the tongue and the designer's signature stars perforated on the side panels.
Alongside the pin she wore to endorse the Fawcett Society's campaign to end the gender pay gap, her blazer was also adorned with a symbolic red poppy, a tribute to soldiers in light of Remembrance Day in the UK, Nov. 11. Her husband and two children sported poppies, too, as they watched Thompson crack jokes with Prince William.
In the past, Angelina Jolie, Joan Collins, Helen Mirren, and Julie Andrews have all accepted the same regal award. When Jolie stood before the Queen in 2014 — not just for her contribution to the arts, but also for her humanitarian work — she wore a soft-lilac skirt suit by British label Ralph & Russo and peep-toe pumps. In fact, all of the aforementioned dames wore skirt suits to their respective ceremonies, so Thompson's trousers are quite the change.
Although different, the Love Actually actor's pantsuit preference was no surprise. While she does wear the occasional frock, the icon is more apt to sport menswear. Last Oct., the fuchsia two-piece set Thompson wore to the UK premiere of The Meyerowitz Stories made for one of the actor's best style moments. This year alone, she has sported utility overalls to a Good Girl press event, a Carhartt-inspired coat to the opening of Mean Girls on Broadway, and her signature sleek pantsuits to the King Lear screening, The Children Act premiere, and more.
In her most recent suit moment, Thompson incorporated her casual style into a formal look with her off-the-cuff sneakers, and it absolutely worked. While other celebrities are styling the menswear trend with heels and other feminine details, Thompson isn't afraid to keep it casual. The dame’s royalty-ready look should give you the confidence to wear a suit with chunky white sneakers this winter, too.
