Pippa Middleton in a $490 Isabel Marant dress at Wimbledon: cute or basic?

Pippa Middleton  and husband  James  celebrate  Roger  Federer wins on Men's Semi-final day at the Wimbledon Tennis Championships in London

Note: I’ll be covering the fashion from the Wimbledon men’s final tomorrow! Gotta wait for the photos to come in, plus I want to, you know, actually watch what happens in the men’s final.

These are some photos from Day 11 and Day 12 of Wimbledon, the fashion from some of the attendees. It’s still worth noting that in previous years, the Duchess of Cambridge has come out to watch Wimbledon matches in the second week, like quarterfinals or semifinal matches. She did not do that this year, her first year as patron of Wimbledon, a job she took over from the Queen. It’s funny, isn’t it? As soon as she could actually get “credit” for working (going to see tennis whilst sitting in the Royal Box), she stops doing it. It’s even more notable this year because Kate’s mother and sister have been spectators at Wimbledon multiple times over the past fortnight. Both Pippa Middleton and Carole Middleton came out on Day 11, Friday, for the men’s semifinals.

Pippa Middleton brought her husband, Terribly Moderately Wealthy James Matthews, to see Roger Federer’s SF. This was TMW James’ first appearance at Wimbledon this year, although he went as Pippa’s date to Wimbledon last year, before they got engaged. For Friday, Pippa wore this Isabel Marant Etoile dress, which costs $490. It’s either sold out already, or soon will be. You know what this reminds me of? Kate’s matron-of-honor dress from Pippa’s wedding. Only this dress is a lot cuter. I’m not going to complain about the hat, because a lot of people (men and women) wear similar hats to the big tennis matches. Plus, I kind of like this hat on Pippa. It’s actually kind of flattering. Also: does anyone else feel sorry for TMW James? It already feels like he’s in over his head.

Pippa Middleton And James Matthews head to Wimbledon

Here’s Carole Middleton, wearing a strange kind of pantsuit for Day 11. She has basically only come out to watch Andy Murray and Roger Federer, but mostly Roger.

Carole Middleton attends Wimbledon

Here’s Hilary Swank with her boyfriend Philip Schneider at the Women’s Final on Saturday. I don’t mind hot pink in general, but this dress seems… strange on Hilary.

Wimbledon 2017 Arrivals

Olivia Palermo looked awesome for the Women’s Final.

Wimbledon 2017 Arrivals

And here’s Aidan Turner at the Women’s Final. He looked great, and I love it when “heartthrob” guys show up for female athletes. Women’s tennis is so compelling. Women AND men enjoy watching. Bonus Billie Jean King and Martina Navratilova, both of whom looked gutted when Venus lost the final.

Aidan Turner during the Women's final match between Garbine Muguruza and Venus Williams on Centre Court on day twelve of the Wimbledon Lawn Tennis Championships

Photos courtesy of WENN, Pacific Coast News and Backgrid.

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90 Responses to “Pippa Middleton in a $490 Isabel Marant dress at Wimbledon: cute or basic?”

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  1. Brunswickstoval says:

    It’s ugly. I own a few pieces of hers but this is very plain and not flattering on her.

    • RoyalSparkle says:

      .. and awful looking on her bumless boney frame. Like waity – she cant carry off such dress – copying Meghan like hat.

      Hapot to see they are put out of the earned Royal Box! Hats off to DM Kate who finally call it as seen – ‘middleton mafia’ climbers hangers on.😥 carol pips ALWAYS at the ready to cash in on waity middleton from whiny Billnot. Mike didnt show after not even at the finals. Glad they put a stop to it.

    • milla says:

      Love IM but Pippa is not a french chic type.

      Btw Sienna miller was there and looked amazing

    • FuefinaWG says:

      … and the sleeves look too big.

    • LahdidahBaby says:

      No matter what Pippa wears, short or long, it always seems like the garb of a sister-wife.

      …and honestly, no one looked anywhere near as good as Olivia Palermo.

  2. Alix says:

    If Pippa’s wearing a bra, she needs a better one.

    I am forever astounded at the length of James Mathews’ neck. The man’s a giraffe!

    • Giddy says:

      He does look like he has an internal periscope. Maybe he can raise it even further to check for danger.

      • dawnchild says:

        sort of like a meerkat 🙂

      • Megan says:

        I don’t think his neck is particularly long, it’s just been thickened from a lot of core training, which makes his head look too small.

    • ArchieGoodwin says:

      I think it’s the size of his head that’s too small. Lack of a jaw maybe?

      anyway, their kids stand no chance, neck wise, between the 2 of them.

    • Elaine says:

      Yes, Pippa married a Terribly (moderately) Wealthy Giraffe. But they both look happy so good for them.

      He does look surprised at their continuing publicity. To which I say, Mr. Pippa, Giraffe-Man, hold onto your neck, cause you ain’t seen nothing yet 😉

    • Honey says:

      It’s so uncomfortable walking around with droopy boobs. She needs a better bra.

      James stretched out giraffe neck and too small head makes him the male version of Ivanka

      • Addie says:

        She was wearing one of those bandeau bras and her breasts just sag. Kate has also worn such a bra with the same result: drooping boobs almost touching their waists. Seems strange for women 33/35.

      • magnoliarose says:

        Addie, that comes from lack of nutrition (fats) and very low calorie intake. That is why you see that. It isn’t natural for them to be as thin as they are and I wouldn’t be surprised if their weight fluctuated a lot.

      • Megan says:

        I wore bandeau bras in my 30s, until I saw a video of myself at a work training. I could not believe how bad my girls looked.

    • MostlyMegan says:

      His neck is really, really long. I think if he chose to wear his hair in sort of a shaggy surfer ‘do it might mask the crazy length of his neck. But that’ probably not his style. I don’t care how rich he is, I just couldn’t with that neck during sex.

    • zinjojo says:

      Every one of the Middleton women need a proper bra fitting. In the past week each one of them has made what could be a good to decent outfit look “off” because they don’t have the right undergarments.

      • minx says:

        So true. I think Carole dresses better than her daughters but she definitely needs a better bra, and she needs to stand up straight.

      • RoyalSparkle says:

        Yes. They do wear awful bra underwear. And like before on a tour without a pedicure in India…middletons favour tanning leathered masculine look. Seem sunning drinking and smoking was the Wisteria sisters calling, rather than feminine pampering… now they pretending withl Duchy/ taxpayers millions in funding.

    • Macko says:

      OMG he is!!! I couldn’t put my finger on what is so strange about him, but now it is sooo obvious. It’s his neck.
      Thanks Alix

  3. Diana says:

    Is that Aidan Turner in the background of the last photo?

  4. AnotherDirtyMartini says:

    Pippa always looks v happy to be papped.

    Hilary is dressed all wrong. Looks silly.

    • SoulSPA says:

      +1000 Pips wise. Do not like the dress on her. Can’t wait for the final in half hour’s time.

    • Addie says:

      The Pipster is always looking for the camera. Tiresome.

      • RoyalSparkle says:

        Pips tried to avoid the paps on the first day the ‘middleton mafia’ were ejected from the Royal Box _ Ha! She shiowed up late and in a awful inappropriate frock.

  5. Sixer says:

    Terribly Moderately always looks a bit Tim Nice But Dim to me.

  6. Digital Unicorn (aka Betti) says:

    As always Ma Mids is better dressed than her daughters. Neither of the Middleton sisters knows how to wear clothes, they always make the nicest of pieces look dowdy and cheap.

  7. BeamMeUpScottie says:

    Olivia Palermo looks awesome!
    Pippa, take note.

  8. Tig says:

    Who is the woman between Martina and Billie Jean? I love what she has on!
    Thought it was hot in London? I would have melted in any of these outfits, esp Olivia’s! It is pretty though.

  9. DiamondGirl says:

    The waist is so high on Pippa’s dress that it looks like her boobs slid down. But she and her husband always look happy so I think that’s nice.

    I like Carole’s outfit but Hilary’s looks like something a teenager would wear.

  10. manda says:

    I like the hat, but not with the dress. The shoes look orthopedic

    • bluhare says:

      Agree!

      Pippa can’t wear clothes. Not her fault; she just can’t.

      • manda says:

        neither can her sister, IMO

      • bluhare says:

        Pippa has no grace, in my opinion. She looks clumpy even in that ethereal looking dress.

        Kate has a bad stylist. I think if she got a professional involved she’d look a lot better.

      • Megan says:

        Pippa and Kate both have very althetic bodies that look best in simple, sleek designs. I suspect they think their bodies are too masculine (which they are not) and try to compensate with frilly, girly looks that just don’t work for them.

    • Janet R says:

      Agreed – the hat is great on her but it looks weird with that dress. Why does fashion go from nude see though fashion to puffy sleeves and ruffles? Ugh.

    • raincoaster says:

      Agreed 100%. I bought some hiking sandals for forty bucks and they look something like that. The hat is gorgeous, though. Panama hats are never the wrong choice. The V on the dress is far too deep and shows off her washboard sternum, which is never an attractive look even if you worked hard for it.

  11. Beth says:

    Pippas dress is plain, basic, and a bit on the ugly side. Why do people spend so much on clothes like this?

    • bluhare says:

      I’d be willing to bet she didn’t spend anything on it.

    • Bellagio DuPont says:

      The dress is beautiful, it’s just not cut for her body imho. Plus, displaying boobs that sit one inch above the navel would make ANY dress look aggressively frumpy. 🙁

      Nothing a good Wonderbra won’t fix though!

  12. Jerusha says:

    Those are some ugly dresses on all the women. James and jared could be first cousins, based on looks.

  13. Prairiegirl says:

    Fire your stylist, Hilary!

    • Harlan Jodet says:

      I have to wonder what she was thinking with this dress? Much more suited for a night of clubbing rather than Wimbledon.

    • minx says:

      A dress that short shouldn’t be that flared…any kind of breeze and she’s showing her underwear. It’s too girlish for the shoes she’s wearing. A complete WTF.

    • Lady D says:

      Hillary looks like she is theme dressing in a pink instead of white tennis dress. I really like the dress itself.

  14. Chrissy says:

    In theory, Pippa’s dress is nice. It’s just that it looks like a sack on her and her shoes looks like something Dr. Scholl’s might make.. On someone curvier, the dress would look great. Of the above pics, Olivia Palermo looks the best and, as always, on point. I love what she’s wearing. Carole looks okay except for the fact that her outfit looks too tight. Hilary looks like she’s going to a pool party not Wimbledon. I guess she didn’t get the dress code memo.

    • Bellagio DuPont says:

      +1000 on all of your points. Isn’t it weird though, Olivia Palermo is supposedly a massive, airhead bitch (based on her character in The City), but she always looks absolutely, insanely gorgeous and on point. Her inner ugliness stays well and truly on the inside with her.

      • minx says:

        I have only seen Olivia on Project Runway and she seemed extremely cold and snobbish. But as you said, I’ve never seen her look less than beautiful and perfectly dressed.

  15. Harlan Jodet says:

    I like the thought of Pippa’s dress but not the execution, the sleeves are far too long, however the hat is adorable (I wear a lots of different hats in the summer too). I would have styled this dress with a colorful shoe or clutch, instead of these tan wedges. Don’t get me wrong, I love a well executed monochromatic look but this isn’t it.

  16. K2Squared says:

    Has she, Kate or Carol ever been to a women’s game? If they haven’t, how can you not go and support women’s tennis?

    Don’t like Pippa’s outfit that much. But Olivia is rocking it!

    • Addie says:

      They don’t like women. Women are competition. Other women they might meet – actually ALL other women – will have achieved something through tenacity and talent, as opposed to sniffing out wealthy and titled men. So women are threats to the Middleton women.

      • K2Squared says:

        That’s a shame.

      • RoyalSparkle says:

        +100

        Especially professionals – that would highlight how they are a waste of space- useless set of 39 something supposedly adults children. Neither of the middleton kiddies can compare to their parents work at BA. -Party tat is another atoey and gravely questionable!!!

  17. K2Squared says:

    Duplicate post 🙁

  18. Lucy says:

    Hilary’s little dress belongs on the court and the court only, IMO. If I saw a tennis player wearing it, I’d actually find it cute. And, of course, Olivia’s full look is on point.

    • OTHER RENEE says:

      Exactly what I was going to say. It looks like she’s wearing a tennis dress with high heeled sandals.

  19. minx says:

    LOVE Olivia’s entire look…..those shoes, I want them. She always knows how to dress. Pippa’s is just too low cut and boring. Carole needs a better bra, and her outfit is about a size too small.

  20. Karen says:

    Carole’s outfit is so frumpy! It makes her look heavier then she is. Plus her jacket is too tight.

    Pippa does not know how to dress for her body. Maybe dress would be cute on another person.

    I don’t think anyone was knocking down Terribly Rich James’ door until Pippa. He is not good looking. Hopefully he is a nice guy. Pippa knew she was running out of qualified men.

  21. KiddVicious says:

    I don’t like Pippa’s dress. It looks 70’s polyester/acetate to me. And she needs a better bra.

    I LOVE Carole’s outfit. The jacket could fit a little better, but the shoes! look great, the pant length is perfect. I’d like to see it without the jacket.

    It looks like Hilary was trying for a tennis themed dress? The short flouncy skirt reminds me of a tennis skirt. It would be cute if the skirt were longer. Or maybe if she had a tan. There’s something off about it but I can’t figure it out.

    I like Olivia’s outfit, nothing to critique, it all looks good.

    I’m confused about the weather though. You have Hilary in a mini-skirt and sleeveless, and Olivia in a long dress and coat.

    • imqrious2 says:

      It’s the proportion of top length to bottom skirt. If the skirt was longer/top shorter, it might work, but as it, it looks like a pink tennis outfit, or if you add sheer sleeves and a few sparkles, for a figure skater. And it looks like something you’d wear between the ages of 1-10, not a grown a$$ woman.

  22. Jo says:

    Giddy, your comment has me screaming!

  23. Redgrl says:

    Don’t like Pips’ dress – too droopy & agree with others re bad bra. Ugly shoes too. I actually like Carole M’s pantsuit – it’s obnoxious in a kind of interesting way – but the blazer is too tight and she should’ve left it unbuttoned. Hilary Swank’s top would’ve been ok with a different skirt – she looks too figure-skatey in that whole thing…oh and Terribly Moderately is one odd looking dude.

  24. Skylark says:

    Unbelievable and so disrespectful that Wimbledon Patron Kate Middleton failed to show for the women’s final. There’s absolutely no excuse for it. God, she really is a dunce of the first order. And to see her swanning about today as if she’s the main attraction is adding so much fuel to my fire.

    • Lacia Can says:

      I think it’s as Kaiser hinted – as soon as it’s “work” Kate’s not interested. Of all the gigs she’s skipped, this one (and the Irish Guard shamrocks) is the most revealing of her entitled, contrary nature. All she has to do is sit there and watch, something she ordinarily loves. But because it’s now a responsibility it’s no longer fun and she doesn’t want to go. But wild horses couldn’t keep this family from a Federer final, so Kate’s there today.

      Honestly, I’ve become convinced that she’ll never grow into her role. When Bill is king, she’ll still be the same pouty malcontent.

    • anon says:

      If she’d attended more frequently, the same people would have complained about it..

  25. Skylark says:

    I don’t know what it is about Pippa and James but they both look like they need a good scrub. There’s a distinct eau de unkempt about them, even when they’re all suited and booted.

  26. Penelope says:

    The Middleton women have zero style and just can’t wear clothes, no matter how expensive or well tailored. They just ain’t got it.

  27. magnoliarose says:

    The dress is not right for Pip’s frame. It needs a fuller figure and longer legs. Even then I don’t like the dress but it doesn’t help that it doesn’t fit her well. James looks like a milquetoast and I suspect he is boring. I am sure she bosses him around with Carole directing the both of them. Carole’s style is fine. Lingerie isn’t her strong suit but there is nothing off about her outfit. It isn’t my taste but I can’t snark on it. I just hope she didn’t pay much for it. They always manage to make expensive clothes look basic.

  28. Hazel says:

    Pippa’ dress is ill-fitting and a bit too big. I think she’s too used to sharing clothing with her mother & sister, both of whom are bigger than she is. She doesn’t know what a proper fit is. Neither does Kate, come to think of it.

  29. Rae says:

    I like the dress but the shoes…they look orthopaedic in design. Clunky.

  30. India Andrews says:

    The Middleton women have a terrible sense of style and no one seems able to help them.

  31. BobaFelty says:

    why are her boobs nearly at her belly button? I think women should go braless if they want, but it just looks uncomfortable.

  32. Bug says:

    These two don’t seem to realize that they have to be a lot better looking to reach the heights of a Diana or Pippa’s sister. Not that that’s fair, of course. In any case, they always look desperate.

  33. Mildred Fierce says:

    Is there an ancient curse on the Middleton women that dooms them to the cruel fate of always appearing in public in ill-fitting undergarments? Pippa’s outfit was already horrific — the dress overwhelms her petite frame and the hat, purse, and shoes don’t belong together– but her sagging boobs just take it to next-level fashion disaster.