Hilary was caught by surprise yesterday when she heard the sounds of splitting seams as she sat down. She was shocked to find that her skirt had ripped up the back, leaving a dangerously narrow margin of error . However, just like her former protégé (or perhaps prodigal daughter), Gywneth Paltrow (who almost single-handedly started the pashmina craze when her pants split at a movie premiere) Hilary recovered by tying a friend's scarf around her waist. Observers were heard to say that Hilary looked "very nice."