Plain but polished

China's First Lady Peng Liyuan opted for outfits in safe, neutral hues during a four-day state visit last week to Britain with her husband, Chinese President Xi Jinping.

Unlike the variety of prints, colours and textures Ms Peng, 52, donned during her state visit to the United States from Sept 22 to 28, she wore plain skirt suits with minimal accessorising and even repeated a full outfit on her last day. There was also an embarrassing make-up mishap.

alywoo@sph.com.sg

Crisp in white

She looked fresh and sharp in her all-white skirt suit at the Royal Pavilion on Horse Guards Parade in London last Tuesday.

Curtain cut out

For her meeting with the Duke and Duchess of Cornwall, she wore a patterned skirt suit over a blouse with giant pussy bow detail. We are not impressed with the dull print, but give her points for veering away from her usual dark colours. She seemed to like the look as she wore the same outfit on the last day of her trip.

Regal and stately

At the state banquet at Buckingham Palace in London last Tuesday, she looked regal in a floor-length navy gown cinched at the waist with a contrasting thin white belt.

Make-up mishap

Some British papers went to town with her white make-up malfunction at Imperial College London and later at a reception at Guildhall hosted by the Lord Mayor of London last Wednesday. The Mirror said the white powder is probably silica powder in her foundation, which is used to control shine and absorb oil. But if too much is used, it can be picked up by camera flash. Her outfit was a much better look, but only by a margin. Her coat had high slits that showed off her dress underneath and the brooch added much-needed sparkle.

Best look

This is her best look for the entire trip. Dressed in a silky purple qipao with an olive cape, she looked feminine and dignified for a banquet at Guildhall London. She exercised restraint in accessorising, letting the embroidery on her qipao speak for itself.

Polished but boring

On her last day in Britain, she wore a beige shawl-cardigan over a white qipao, accessorised with a simple clutch in her hands.

This article was first published on October 26, 2015.
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