Samantha Cameron is the elder daughter of Reginald Adrian Berkeley Sheffield (a landowner descended from King Charles II of England) and Annabel Lucy Veronica Jones. She is a distant cousin of Diana, Princess of Wales.
She grew up on the 300-acre (121-hectare) estate of Normanby Hall, five miles (8 km) north of Scunthorpe in North Lincolnshire. Her family also owns a large Yorkshire estate called Sutton Park.
In comparison, Mrs. Muscat is a butcher’s daughter brought up on a housing estate in Rabat, Malta.
Allow me to correct one misconception, her father was not a butcher but a teacher, and at least in his profession, a really excellent one. He is also a very decent and humble person. Michelle Muscat is actually a misfit in the family, most probably partly due to her close relationship with Carmen Pullicino, Alfred Sant and her militancy in labour, rather than her actual upbringing.
I beg to differ. One is born to a family in a particular social class. However, that does not mean that a person cannot improve his education and status.
The problem with Mrs. Muscat is not her social origins, but where she thinks she is now and what that means to her. She doesn’t know how to fill the role or what that role means. Yes, that is partly because of her lack of training from birth, but it is also to do with an inability to observe how things are properly done.
Many people have come from nothing and it is hard to tell their manners and comportment apart from those who were born something.
Trying too hard looks as bad as barely trying at all. I have to admit that Mrs. Muscat is trying way too hard. Is it because she thinks that her real self is just not enough?
It is not even about money. Money does not bestow class or style or even manners. It may very well give luxury – but class and luxury are two totally different kettles of fish.
Money helps, but it is certainly not enough. There are so many hamalli nowadays who are rich but have the sophistication of bulls in china shops.
The problem, as I see it, is that Mrs Muscat was not properly brought up (the fact that her father is a butcher has got nothing to do with it) and like her husband she confuses money with talent, or money with style, or even money with ‘class’.
Nowadays there should be no excuses. We can learn – we are living in an information society. It is our fault alone if we remain rooted in our past, holding on to our belief that we do not need to be better because we’re already fine as we are.
Social conditioning is a terribly important factor but not always an overriding one, as we note. Many times spinal conditions are deficient.
However, a perspective that would enable an individual to override social conditioning would require specific insight bevelled by personal absorption of literature, culture, education and experience, and that is an aspect that is lacking and has been compromised..
Not only is it lacking and compromised, but it is withheld when it could be given.
The Muscats should remember: Hadd m’hu ser jahsel wiccek biex inti tkun ahjar minnu.
Daphne gives it to them for free, and yet they despise her for it.
When I look at the photo of Mrs. Cameron, the first words that come to my mind are that she looks slim and trim. On the other hand, my first impression of Mrs. Muscat is that she looks frumpy and dumpy.
I am no fashion expert, but here is my personal opinion as a normal, average woman, on why I think Mrs. Cameron’s look works and Mrs. Muscat’s doesn’t.
Mrs. Cameron’s overall appearance is effortlessly elegant. She wears an understated hat, chignon bun and small gold hoop earrings that drew attention to her pretty face. The simply cut black dress with a narrow belt complemented by the straight, hanging coat are a look that is flattering to all body types as they make both the waist and hips look smaller. The ensemble is completed by sensible but attractive pumps. All in all, very appropriate attire for the occasion.
Mrs. Muscat’s overall appearance is fussy and matronly. The hat is more suited for a wedding and the earrings are too big for her ears and don’t match with the rest of her outfit.
The bodice of the dress is unflattering and makes her look top-heavy. The wide, shawl-like, pleated collar makes her shoulders look broad and showing cleavage isn’t appropriate at a solemn mass.
I don’t know what her dressmaker was thinking when she came up with those sleeves. The lace has a wide pattern which makes her arms look bulky. If she had to go for the lace look, she should at least have chosen a smaller pattern.
I think the worst thing about those sleeves is the length (just below the elbow) and the wide cuffs at the end. It makes her arms look short and fat. She should either have had long sleeves to her wrist with a very narrow cuff or sleeves above the elbow with no cuff.
Finally, we come to the skirt. You have to be tall and very thin to look good in a waistline with multiple ruching and a full, pleated skirt. This type of skirt is completely the wrong choice for Mrs. Muscat’s height and figure and just makes her look heavy.
Mrs. Muscat needs to start subscribing to the, “less is more” philosophy when making her wardrobe choices if she wants to be considered well dressed.
I cannot agree more. That skirt is horrendous. It is suited neither to the occasion, nor to Mrs Muscat’s height, age and shape. Our Mediterranean figures should not be made even bulkier by bulky skirts.
Ms. Muscat needs a real image consultant.
Flowing dresses which just skim the figure are more appropriate and would have given Ms. Muscat more height. We are all vertically challenged (most of us are, anyway) we might just as well dress for our body type.
Look at the trouser legs of the squaddie behind our PM. Where’s the taper? The boot stirrups stick out like blimmin’ Hermes’ wings.
When the last Royal Marine contingent left Malta, they sent out an invitation to their tailor for the final parade. Then they marched past him, in a touching tribute. Times have changed, and standards too.
Dalle stelle alle stalle.
Kemm hi redikola u kiesha. Lanqas hi kapaci taddata ruha ghall-okkazzjoni. Trid tidher u tidher hi biss.
Neither of the Muscats is blessed with the physique of the Camerons – yet another reason they should be correctly dressed at all times.
Samantha Cameron: now that’s what I call class.
Mrs Muscat is such a try-hard.
I never realised that the ghonnella was still a la mode.
Now you’ve ruined the special relationship that Joseph Muscat was trying to build with David Cameron at the EU summits.
http://daphnecaruanagalizia.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/03/OPM_14032013_16.jpg
She looks 90 years old.
Samantha Cameron is the elder daughter of Reginald Adrian Berkeley Sheffield (a landowner descended from King Charles II of England) and Annabel Lucy Veronica Jones. She is a distant cousin of Diana, Princess of Wales.
She grew up on the 300-acre (121-hectare) estate of Normanby Hall, five miles (8 km) north of Scunthorpe in North Lincolnshire. Her family also owns a large Yorkshire estate called Sutton Park.
In comparison, Mrs. Muscat is a butcher’s daughter brought up on a housing estate in Rabat, Malta.
Any further comment would be superfluous.
Allow me to correct one misconception, her father was not a butcher but a teacher, and at least in his profession, a really excellent one. He is also a very decent and humble person. Michelle Muscat is actually a misfit in the family, most probably partly due to her close relationship with Carmen Pullicino, Alfred Sant and her militancy in labour, rather than her actual upbringing.
I beg to differ. One is born to a family in a particular social class. However, that does not mean that a person cannot improve his education and status.
The problem with Mrs. Muscat is not her social origins, but where she thinks she is now and what that means to her. She doesn’t know how to fill the role or what that role means. Yes, that is partly because of her lack of training from birth, but it is also to do with an inability to observe how things are properly done.
Many people have come from nothing and it is hard to tell their manners and comportment apart from those who were born something.
Trying too hard looks as bad as barely trying at all. I have to admit that Mrs. Muscat is trying way too hard. Is it because she thinks that her real self is just not enough?
It is not even about money. Money does not bestow class or style or even manners. It may very well give luxury – but class and luxury are two totally different kettles of fish.
Money helps, but it is certainly not enough. There are so many hamalli nowadays who are rich but have the sophistication of bulls in china shops.
The problem, as I see it, is that Mrs Muscat was not properly brought up (the fact that her father is a butcher has got nothing to do with it) and like her husband she confuses money with talent, or money with style, or even money with ‘class’.
Nowadays there should be no excuses. We can learn – we are living in an information society. It is our fault alone if we remain rooted in our past, holding on to our belief that we do not need to be better because we’re already fine as we are.
@ Mark Vassallo @ Lomax
I think you are both right.
Social conditioning is a terribly important factor but not always an overriding one, as we note. Many times spinal conditions are deficient.
However, a perspective that would enable an individual to override social conditioning would require specific insight bevelled by personal absorption of literature, culture, education and experience, and that is an aspect that is lacking and has been compromised..
Not only is it lacking and compromised, but it is withheld when it could be given.
The Muscats should remember: Hadd m’hu ser jahsel wiccek biex inti tkun ahjar minnu.
Daphne gives it to them for free, and yet they despise her for it.
Perfect front cover for Style magazine
Oops you already commented in the same vein, on an earlier post.
It is really an odious comparison.
Sam Cameron is a British aristocrat who went to Marlborough.
She is an artist and a creative designer in her own right.
She is a natural.
Mrs Muscat is very nouveau in all this.
The look on Joseph Muscat’s face says it all.
I can see Shrek and Fiona but where is Muscat?
When I look at the photo of Mrs. Cameron, the first words that come to my mind are that she looks slim and trim. On the other hand, my first impression of Mrs. Muscat is that she looks frumpy and dumpy.
I am no fashion expert, but here is my personal opinion as a normal, average woman, on why I think Mrs. Cameron’s look works and Mrs. Muscat’s doesn’t.
Mrs. Cameron’s overall appearance is effortlessly elegant. She wears an understated hat, chignon bun and small gold hoop earrings that drew attention to her pretty face. The simply cut black dress with a narrow belt complemented by the straight, hanging coat are a look that is flattering to all body types as they make both the waist and hips look smaller. The ensemble is completed by sensible but attractive pumps. All in all, very appropriate attire for the occasion.
Mrs. Muscat’s overall appearance is fussy and matronly. The hat is more suited for a wedding and the earrings are too big for her ears and don’t match with the rest of her outfit.
The bodice of the dress is unflattering and makes her look top-heavy. The wide, shawl-like, pleated collar makes her shoulders look broad and showing cleavage isn’t appropriate at a solemn mass.
I don’t know what her dressmaker was thinking when she came up with those sleeves. The lace has a wide pattern which makes her arms look bulky. If she had to go for the lace look, she should at least have chosen a smaller pattern.
I think the worst thing about those sleeves is the length (just below the elbow) and the wide cuffs at the end. It makes her arms look short and fat. She should either have had long sleeves to her wrist with a very narrow cuff or sleeves above the elbow with no cuff.
Finally, we come to the skirt. You have to be tall and very thin to look good in a waistline with multiple ruching and a full, pleated skirt. This type of skirt is completely the wrong choice for Mrs. Muscat’s height and figure and just makes her look heavy.
Mrs. Muscat needs to start subscribing to the, “less is more” philosophy when making her wardrobe choices if she wants to be considered well dressed.
I think it’s time she bought a Merkel suit.
I cannot agree more. That skirt is horrendous. It is suited neither to the occasion, nor to Mrs Muscat’s height, age and shape. Our Mediterranean figures should not be made even bulkier by bulky skirts.
Ms. Muscat needs a real image consultant.
Flowing dresses which just skim the figure are more appropriate and would have given Ms. Muscat more height. We are all vertically challenged (most of us are, anyway) we might just as well dress for our body type.
Look at the trouser legs of the squaddie behind our PM. Where’s the taper? The boot stirrups stick out like blimmin’ Hermes’ wings.
When the last Royal Marine contingent left Malta, they sent out an invitation to their tailor for the final parade. Then they marched past him, in a touching tribute. Times have changed, and standards too.
She looks like Goma.
It seems that he has only one tie in his wardrobe.
Apart from the dress not being adequate for this occassion, it doesn’t suit her at all. She needs guidance on what to wear when.
Have you seen the hat Camilla Parker Bowles wore for the same occasion? Proof that upbringing has nothing to do with good taste.