DUMPY FRUMP A FASHION DISASTER (why don't they leave the poor girl alone, already)

NY POST ^ | 11/2/05 | ORLA HEALY

[Liz]

REGAL ROSES: Bearing flowers, Charles and Camilla visit Hanover Square, where they left a tribute to British 9/11 victims. Photo: AFP/Getty

Diana would be amused. Her successor and former rival, Camilla Parker Bowles, failed spectacularly in her attempt to wow Manhattan society with her sartorial splendor last night.

Dressed in an unflattering Anthony Price navy velvet frock with a fussy oversized chiffon collar, the Duchess of Cornwall arrived at a chi-chi cocktail party looking more like an escapee from the choirboy pew of Westminister Abbey than the guest of honor.

Earlier, Camilla caused quite a stir when she chose an eye-popping raspberry suit for her visit to Ground Zero.

We predict an "off-with-their-heads" ruling to come down on the core team who were supposed to create the "Camilla Chic" glamour on this trip..... and "a secret dresser," whose identity is fast becoming a gag in fashion circles.

[Miss Behave]

Bump ya, Brit.

[Quilla]

A few years ago, I assisted in the publication of a newsletter for a local professional organization. Sometimes it was difficult to come up with pertinent content month after month. I could just imagine the reaction of my readers if I wrote something like this:

John Smith and his wife recently attended our state board meeting held in Gulf Shores, Alabama. Imagine our chagrin when Mrs. Smith showed up poolside in the tackiest and most abhorrent colored bathing suit, sans cover-up. Adding insult to injury, her towel didn't even match the swimwear! Other attendees looked on with jaws dropped as it was reported Mrs. Smith had brought 50 other outfits with her on this trip. What on earth for?

LOL!

[Tax-chick]

Eeeek! Isn't Halloween over?

[Mayflower Sister]

[veronica]

Laura Bush has it all figured out. She has evolved into a fashion icon. From the first inauguration outfits to the second, she found her fashion sense. She is always tasteful, appropriate, and lately, quite stunning. Her 2004 inauguration outfits were smashing.

[Pharmboy]

Sheesh you guys...the American Revolution ended with the signing of the Treaty of Paris on September 3, 1783. They're our friends now, and have been since WWI. Give it a rest.

[linton59]

I agree about The Lady Di. Also, as a woman the same age as Camilla, I am green with envy over her figure. The smile? I smiled the same way for 20 years. I recently had $5000 worth of new white fillings and bleaching and still have the habit of the clenched smile. My daughter reminds me to show my teeth. It must be horrible to be famous. Fortune would not be bad but I would not take fame for a second!

[MinuteGal]

Hip, hip, hooray!

Leni

[Mayflower Sister]

Here's some REAL AMERICAN BEAUTY. You know what this country needs right now? How about a White House wedding???? You listening girls... Jenna, Barbara... get busy.

[Miss Behave]

Yep.

[ladyjane]

I think Diana would have been quite "normal" if her disgusting husband hadn't been such an uncaring dog.

Long before she married Charles she had already pushed her step-mother down a flight of stairs and wasn't speaking to her father for six months. Oh yes she had an eating disorder too. Doesn't sound very normal.

[Skooz]

You should be permanently stripped of your posting privileges and banned forever. Not just from FR, but from any forum on the internet.

That's just awful.

[LilDarlin]

I agree...she was extraordinarily beautiful!

Envy .... envy ..... ENVY!

Like most folks around the world, I loved her. Her's was a very great and tragic loss.

[Jane Austen]

I was also surprised by the hysteria following Diane's death. As someone then said, "We will survive."

[veronica]

Charles isn't exactly the salt of the earth.

From another article about his and Camillla's visit...

"I sometimes wonder if two-thirds of the globe is covered in red carpet," Charles once observed.

Diana was certainly far less pompous than Charles and his horsey-set gang.

[JRochelle]

Charles and Seabiscut visit America.

[HostileTerritory]

WOW. Haven't seen that photo before.

[Miss Behave]

And every chosen word of the article's headline is dripping with poor taste. Embarrassing.

[tuffydoodle]

[JRochelle]

I wonder if Charles rode his trusty steed last night?