All Things We Absolutely Need To Discuss About The Dominic West And Lily James Story

After Lily James and Dominic West were spotted together in Rome looking very friendly, it was all anyone could talk about. Then, today, Dominic and his wife Catherine Fitzgerald held a 90s style photoshoot outside their house reaffirming how 'strong' their marriage is... and naturally the internet went hysterical. So, seeing as we are all obsessed, here's what WE would like to talk about with you...

Why hasn't Dominic West changed his clothes in 36 hours?

Guys, what’s the first thing you do when you get off a late-night Easy Jet flight from Rome after a fun day on an electric scooter with your close personal friend and colleague? You change your shirt, obviously. Not Dominic West though, he’s happy to keep his on alllll the way through to the next day, when he’s posing with his wife Catherine FitzGerald for photographers in front of the family home, and passing a note around discussing what a united front they are.

If you’ve spent as long as we have looking at the photos of Dominic and Lily James having a right old laugh in Rome as we have, and then spent a much time again pouring over the pictures of Dominic and Catherine outside their house this morning, then you’ll have noticed that the man of the hour is in fact wearing the exact same outfit. The same shirt, the same trousers and the same belt. The only difference is that he’s wearing a winter coat now that he’s back in the UK - perhaps he doesn’t want to catch a cold and ruin all that filming he’s got lined up with Lily James. We have no word on whether he changed his underpants in the intervening hours, although there must be at least one woman out there who can answer that question for us.

Does this mean he was straight home and into crisis talks with Catherine about exactly what he was doing on an electric scooter with Lily James when he’d promised never to get on one of those infernal contraptions ever again and didn’t even have time to switch shirts before the press descended? Or is this just indicative of a certain IDGAF attitude that means he picked up his discarded clothes off the floor and put them straight back on this morning? And more importantly, how does he smell after all that? Answers on a postcard pls.

What's with the LITERAL note?

For a piece of paper with only 13 words on, ‘the note’ says a lot. ‘Our marriage is strong and we’re very much still together. Thankyou. Catherine & Dominic,’ it reads. Placed very conveniently on some rocks outside their house, it’s managing to withstand winter better than the rest of us by remaining upright for some pap shots despite being a piece of A4. Their stationary is as strong as their marriage apparently.

But when it comes unpicking ‘the note’, that’s just the beginning. First of all, the need for a doorstep statement at all feels… odd. What decade are we living in here? Is Dominic auditioning for a role as a Tory MP from the 90s caught with his trousers down? Or, as social media commentators speculate, is it all part of a larger publicity stunt to hype up Dominic and Lily's new BBC drama, The Pursuit Of Love? Well, just wait…we’ll get to that.

First, we have more questions about 'the note'. Even once you get over the fact they made a statement at all, the choice to do it on a paper note is intriguing. Why not issue a statement via their respective PR's or actually, you know, speak out loud?

Of course, most celebrities reach for the controversial notes app in time of scandal. But, neither Dominic nor Catherine are on social media, so perhaps they just thought this is what ‘note apologies’ mean?!

Either way, we’re kind of obsessed with the deviation from the norm. Particularly, because it showcases Catherine's very IDGAF attitude in the form of her beautiful, fancy handwriting. Honestly, looking at it, all that’s missing is a smiley face and a love heart to sign off.

Does this not all feel a bit... staged?

When the pictures of Dominic and Lily first appeared, there seemed to be no doubt they’d been caught in a rather precarious situation. You can see how they could've been papped without realising… they’re in a foreign country, at lunch in a crowded area and both wearing masks – perhaps they thought they were invisible? But as the story unfolds, people are beginning to question how planned out this scandal seems.

If Dominic were really having an affair with Lily, and his wife truly ‘devastated’ as the tabloids reported, would they have solved their marital woes this quickly that they could make a public statement just hours after arriving back in Wiltshire? And not just a public statement, but a full-on paparazzi photoshoot with a doorstep smooch?

‘Only 2 options here: 1. They’re in an open relationship. 2. It was a PR stunt,’ one Twitter user commented on a picture of the pair.’

When you reconsider the pictures from a PR stunt angle, they feel very different. While Dominic and Lily are certainly closer than most of us would be comfortable seeing from our significant others, they’re not outright kissing. Rather, he’s kissing her cheek, touching her back and sidling up behind her on a scooter. Knowing Dominic’s flirty reputation, perhaps his wife conceded to a tactile photoshoot in the name of bringing home more bacon when all eyes are inevitably going to be on Lily and Dominic’s chemistry in their new show?

But the thing is, if it is a publicity stunt, Lily is truly getting the raw end of the deal. As sexist commentary on how she’s a ‘homewrecker’ continues to trend online, she’s being trolled while Dominic poses for paparazzi shots with his wife.

People are even pointing to the fact she’s been accused of publicity stunts like it before, with somewhat-posed paparazzi pictures coming out in July of her on a date with fellow actor Chris Evans. (Side note: does this mean her and Chris Evan's are definitely over?). All in all, her reputation seems to be getting dragged through the mud while Dominic’s easy-breezy, apparently happily-married persona stays intact.

Is Catherine's classic old-school Sloane look an ode to how little she gives a f*ck about this?

On paper, Catherine FitzGerald appears a cut above this tabloid mess – she grew up in a sprawling castle (Glin Castle in Limerick) and her first husband was an actual Viscount. We think her I’m-too-rich-for-all-this-nonsense look reflects this seemingly elevated status. Standing outside their Wiltshire home – Catherine is a landscape gardener – her outfit is pure nonchalance, like she’s just popped out of an Aga-warmed kitchen, hurriedly putting her ballet pumps over socks and shoving her glasses back on her head. Hair un-brushed, minimal make-up, possibly a cashmere jumper. We could only dream of such peaceful coolness at a time of crisis.

Are they actually just in an open marriage?

This is one of the main takeaways of 'the note', because if it's not a PR stunt then it seems people can only assume Catherine does not give a flying f*ck who Dominic cosies up to. It's an understandable conclusion, not just given her 'i'm-above-all-this' fashion moment but also given how quickly the couple seem to have moved on from such intimate pictures being 'leaked'.

Plus, West has certainly made his feelings about monogamy clear before. In a January 2019 interview with Harpers Bazaar, he mused on whether monogamy was 'the natural way to be' or not.

'Infidelity [is] one of those subjects that people have very strong opinions about because everybody is open to it and can experience it,' he said. 'I suppose people suspect that the conventions that we have agreed upon in society, that a man and women can stay together for life or a certain amount of time without cheating, that they’re not really staying together based on anything other than how society thinks they should behave. It’s not the necessarily natural way to be, therefore there will always be adultery and intrigue about it.'

He's also previously told the Evening Standard in 2016 that we should all ignore mens behaviour when they're between 40 and 50.

'I mean, I think women should be more indulgent of affairs,' he said. 'I really do. It’s daft to kick someone out over a fling. Isn’t it? Everyone should turn a blind eye to men’s behaviour between the ages of 40 and 50. Let it all blow over.'

If you're wondering, he is in fact, 50.

So, whether Dominic and Catherine are in an open marriage or not, he's made his feelings on extra-marital affairs pretty clear to everyone.

And finally, why the hell do we all care so much?

Do we think we have other things to worry about right now? YES WE DO. The north is being locked down, jobs are being lost and coronavirus cases are on a huge upward tick. We've got so much to worry about! And yet, everyone in our social media feed and WhatsApp chats is talking about this. Obviously we don't think Dominic Cummings got on the phone and organised this. But Dominic West is a Conservative... that's all we're saying...

Read More:

Dominic West Declares His Marriage Is 'Strong' Following Lily James Photos

A Look At Lily James' Relationship History

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Click through for Lily James best style moments...