Flashback Friday: Máxima at Royal Weddings

Our recent taste of Dutch wedding style coupled with the reappearance of Queen Máxima's wedding tiara (which she wore both at her own wedding and as a guest at a few others) put me right in the mood for a little Máx flashback, in the form of her appearances as a royal wedding guest. It's a plentiful field, actually, thanks to the multitude of weddings in the extended Dutch royal family and the fact that she got an early start as a royal attendee during her engagement. A selection, including a few of the pre-wedding events:

She started slow, attending the first two here before her own wedding. And then she explodes in a riot of color not long after marrying, at Märtha Louise's wedding - but even a lack of color (à la her black and white for Friso and Mabel's celebration) is not lacking for flair. She can work a big hat, yes she can.

Of course, there is such a thing as too much of a big hat thing...ahem, 2005. This would be the one outfit for which I agree that the red should have been left at home - but it's the whole thing that's too too here, not just the color. In a muted color, the large hat makes the outfit for Felipe and Letizia's wedding, and makes it one of my favorite Máxima ensembles.

The pale pink 2004 Spanish outfit might just be my favorite here, but it has seriously steep competition from the pale pink in Britain in 2011. I feel like one of the tiara appearances should be my favorite because, well, I'm me, but in this case I think the hats are taking home the prize.

Which appearance is your favorite?

Photos: RVD/Scanpix/Getty Images/Gamma Rapho/Rex/DutchPhotoPress/PPE/WireImage

Weekly Royal Fashion Awards: October 6-14

Most...Interesting

Queen Mathilde

Video: The King and Queen visit Liège

This hairy little number is from Belgian designer Veronique Branquinho. And all I can say is that if Mathilde's response to calls for her to add some variety to her Natan-filled Belgian wardrobe is to don her Sesame Street Halloween costume early...well, we're in for an interesting ride! (Also up this week, another non-Natan outfit: a sparkly dose of Armani.) 

Best in Visits

Crown Princess Victoria

Left to Right: Victoria at a meeting for the International Paralympic Committee (with plenty of other royals) and at a seminar, the Swedish royal family welcoming the Dutch King and Queen for a one day visit, and Máxima in Washington

Pretty sure that red dress would qualify as a Máx favorite, but alas it is overshadowed by all that excess fabric in Sweden - and Victoria instead is left to shine in her simple and sleek blue number from Tiger of Sweden.

Best in Annual Events

Princess Letizia

Video: The Prince and Princess of Asturias attend the military parade on National Day in Spain

Letizia was at her prim and proper best in a berry dress with a light pink jacket for the parade - though I may like it better without the jacket (as seen later at the reception), I do enjoy the color pairing.

Best of the Rest

Crown Princess Mary

L to R: Letizia at a trade fair in Germany, opening a vocational course, and at an awards ceremony; Mary at a meeting, at the opening of a joint exhibit of the creative works of Queen Margrethe and Prince Henrik, and pictured as part of a pictorial and interview given in advance of the couple's trip to Australia (click here for more on that).

This is more of a tie, really - the rest of Letizia's pink week and Mary's regular deal. So I freely admit that it is the event here that sways me: Margrethe and Henrik in a joint artistic exhibit. How cool is that?! And they continue to hold their spots on my list of Royals I'd Like to Drink With.

And an Honorable Mention to...

Princess Charlene

Attending a Ralph Lauren event in Paris

Yes, in her purple and her jewels there's only one thing to say: Charlene killed it.

Who was your best dressed last week?

Photos: Getty Images/BestImage/Kungahuset/Casa Real/Sex og Samfund via Kongehuset/Stiften/Good Weekend

Royal Fashion Awards: Prince Félix and Princess Claire’s Wedding

After marrying in a civil ceremony in Germany earlier in the week, Prince Félix of Luxembourg and the new Princess Claire headed to Basilique Sainte-Marie-Madeleine in Saint-Maximin-la-Sainte-Baume in the south of France (most hyphenated location ever? Discuss) for their religious wedding this weekend. It was a festival of hats, lace, and Saab – and no, we’re not talking about cars.

The Bride and Groom

Like the Hereditary Grand Duchess before her, Claire decided to marry in a custom gown from Elie Saab. The off white dress is a confection of floral Chantilly lace embroidery with accents of crystals, pearls, and silver thread. It features long sleeves, a high neckline with a dip in the back, and a three meter train. For his part, the groom sported a morning suit with a blue tie. Pinned on his lapel is the miniature of the Order of the Gold Lion of the House of Nassau.

But back to the bride, who accessorized with a veil of ivory silk tulle decorated with more floral motifs and anchored by the larger of the diamond floral motif tiaras currently worn by the ladies of the grand ducal family. The tiara has a leafy vine motif with berries, and dates from the mid-19th century. We see it most often on the Grand Duchess, but it has been used as a wedding tiara in the past. (And I do suppose we’ll have to elaborate come Thursday.) Claire’s diamond earrings have plenty of wedding tradition as well, having been worn by the Grand Duchess and the Hereditary Grand Duchess on their respective wedding days. The bride also wore matching shoes with a rounded toe and ankle strap.

Dutch program Blauw Bloed has some nice footage; click above and zoom ahead to 22:00 and about 32:20 for the wedding.

I freely confess my deep weakness for Elie Saab, and this is no exception. In any other venue, this would be too much, but for a royal wedding I do love it – I mean, if you can’t look like a fairy godmother whipped you up something to wear then, when can you? (Speaking of which…anyone else think this kinda looks like the wedding gown Nanny McPhee conjures up at the end of the first movie? Anyone? Too much cheese? Okay, I’ll stop.)

The Guests

This was not a state occasion like some royal weddings we’ve seen, so the guests were friends and family and not so much designated representatives of royal houses. These are just a few (Luxarazzi has plenty more, including a guest list). And if there was any singular unifying theme, among the ladies at least, it would have to be this: HATS.

Best in Family

Princess Tessy

Left to right: the Grand Duchess, the Hereditary Grand Duchess, Princess Tessy, Princess Alexandra

Yet again, Maria Teresa has gone with a lot of look, as shiny as can be – but, and here’s a shocker, it’s not Natan this time, it’s Armani. Stéphanie went for lace from Stéphanie Le Grelle (are those froofy sleeves becoming a thing? Let’s not let them become a thing) and Tessy went with a sleeker look from Calvin Klein. Alexandra was one of the female witnesses, and they were all dressed alike in gowns from Tadashi Shoji (though you would be forgiven if you mistook it for Jenny Packham, as previously seen on Princess Alexandra of Sayn-Wittgenstein-Berleburg and the Duchess of Cambridge, because yeah, that’s basically the same gown). I’m not that in love with any of this, so I’ll pick Tessy. When in doubt, go with purple.

Best in Other Hats

Beatrice Borromeo

L to R: Archduchess Marie-Astrid of Austria and Princess Margaretha of Liechtenstein (Grand Duke Henri's sisters), Beatrice Borromeo (longtime girlfriend of Pierre Casiraghi), Princess Isabelle of Liechtenstein, Countess Diane of Nassau and Princess Sibilla of Luxembourg (both sisters-in-law of Grand Duke Henri)

The groom’s aunts brought plenty of interesting millinery, everything from the rather tame lily pad of Marie-Astrid and the rather elegant big brims of Sibilla and Diane to the craft bin leftovers of Margaretha. Then we have Isabelle, not a normal featured player here, but notable as she is also prepared for her next trip the Kentucky Derby. And then there’s Beatrice. I have so many questions about this. Question 1: What sort of sorcery is this? What happens if she bumps into a doorway? If someone cuts her off in the cake line, can she snap off a piece and take revenge? For the cake defense mechanism alone, she takes the prize.

Best in Family Gents

Grand Duke Henri

L to R: Prince Sébastien, the Grand Duke, the Hereditary Grand Duke, Prince Louis

The man matched his tie to his wife’s outfit. A fuchsia tie, just for her. Come on.

What did you think of the bridal gown? Who was your best dressed guest?

Photos: Cour grand-ducale/Guy Wolff/Getty Images/DutchPhotoPress/PPE/BestImage

Wedding Wednesday: Mathilde at Royal Weddings

Big royal occasions call for a stepped up sartorial game, and royal weddings are a prime example. In salute to the newest member of the Queen Club, let's see how Mathilde's done as a royal wedding guest over the years - at some of the bigger royal wedding affairs (including some other events surrounding the weddings themselves).

One of Mathilde's most memorable outfits through the years has to be the pink maternity outfit paired with a that hat - both too much and just right, all at the same time.

Shall we call these the pink years? Her floral print gown at Frederik and Mary's wedding is one of my all-time favorite gala outfits, and certainly one of my all-time Mathilde favorites.

And these are the shiny years, I guess, between her Armani at William and Kate's wedding, the Monaco evening ball, and the slight shimmer to her crumpled Natan in Luxembourg. These could also be the Big Bling years: Fabiola's diamond brooch worn to both the Monaco and Luxembourg weddings (and at the back of her hair at the pre-wedding dinner in Britain, you can just see the strands peeking out), plus her Laurel Wreath Tiara in necklace form during William and Catherine's wedding in addition to the times it was worn as a tiara. That's a trend I can get behind...I wonder what sort of sneaky acts of sparkle she'll pull as Queen...hmm...

Which royal wedding guest appearance is your favorite?

Photos: Rex/Hello/Getty Images

Weekly Royal Fashion Awards: June 16-22, and More

Best of the Week

Little bit of this, little bit of that...

Letizia at a meeting and at a mass to commemorate the 100th anniversary of the birth of Felipe's grandfather; Mathilde at an awards ceremony; Mette-Marit and Haakon hosting a dinner; Máxima on more province visits

Some of you were disappointed in a relatively tame Ascot showing last week; I was disappointed in a tame showing from everyone else in our regular cast of characters! This isn't everything, but it is the only things that held my attention: Letizia having some summer fun with color and in her proper princess best, Mathilde in a lovely print, Mette-Marit shaking up her hairdo, and Máxima in more hats-n'-jewels (and sharing a colorful thought with Charlotte Casiraghi in Giambattista Valli - there's two royals I never thought would end up in a sartorial comparison).

In other news, Sunday was National Day in Luxembourg!

L to R: Princess Tessy, Prince Louis, Princess Alexandra, the Hereditary Grand Duchess, the Hereditary Grand Duke, the Grand Duchess, the Grand Duke

A highlight of the celebrations is the Te Deum, for which the family gets all hatted up. This year, Alexandra wore Natan, Stéphanie was in Weill, and Maria Teresa sported Armani (these courtesy of Luxarazzi, where you can satisfy all your National Day needs). The highlight? MT wore some amethysts. Not terribly enchanted with the rest, I'm afraid. In the evening, there were tiaras - and more amethysts:

Maria Teresa wore the Belgian Scroll Tiara and her repeated Elie Saab gown, and Stéphanie wore an amethyst bandeau not seen in quite some time, which is delightful!

Judging by my inbox, though, there's a different tiara entirely that many of you are quite concerned about. Over the weekend Lady Melissa Percy, daughter of the Duke and Duchess of Northumberland, married Thomas van Straubenzee, longtime friend of Princes William and Harry, in what has repeatedly been billed as the society wedding of the year. The wedding pulled in a whole mess of well-known guests, but none upstaged the bride - and she made sure of that by her choice of headgear alone.

Video: News report on the wedding

Lady Melissa wore a large scrolling diamond tiara with a base of huge round diamonds. The tiara comes from the Percy family collection, and was worn to the coronation of Elizabeth II in 1953 by the then-Duchess, who was the bride's grandmother (she can be seen in the top pictures at this link). You could say that this was a secondary tiara in the collection, though, as the more important piece was the strawberry leaf coronet which included diamonds from a sword given to the third Duke by King George IV. It was worn to the 1953 coronation by the then-Dowager Duchess, who was Mistress of the Robes to the Queen Mother, but the tiara was stolen in 1963 while she was bringing it home from the jeweler to wear for a state banquet.

This is not the same diamond tiara worn at a rakish angle by Lady Melissa's sister, Lady Katie Percy, for her 2011 wedding to Patrick Valentine, so clearly the family collection's still doing just fine. (The two brides do appear to be wearing the same diamond necklace.) You may think Melissa bit off more tiara than she could chew, but I heartily applaud her go big or go home attitude! What a gorgeous tiara we wouldn't have seen otherwise...

Who was your best dressed last week?

Photos: Getty Images/ANB/Siste/ANP/DutchPhotoPress/WENN/Charles Caratini/SIP/Cour grand-ducale/RTL

Royal Trend Watch: Metallics for Madeleine

The festivities have begun! The King and Queen hosted a pre-wedding dinner this evening for Princess Madeleine and Christopher O'Neill, and I'm already a happy girl because I spy a trend among the ladies: metallics, and really all sorts of things that glitter and shine. You know it doesn't take much to make this magpie happy.

The royal family and the O'Neill family

The bride herself started the trend in a wonderfully metallic Elie Saab, and she's my favorite because I'm terribly predictable like that. Victoria also brought a bit of shine to the occasion with the top of her Jenny Packham gown (which nearly became a cocktail dress thanks to the wind outside, threatening to reveal more than we need to know about quite a few of the ladies present, poor loves). Even the top of Queen Silvia's gown is made to sparkle, though - dare I say it - I'm detecting a hint of eau de figure skater.

Madeleine's Elie Saab, Victoria's Jenny Packham

(Also rocking Elie Saab, though not of the embellished variety, was Hereditary Grand Duchess Stéphanie.)

Plenty of guests got in on the shimmery action in one way or another.

L to R: Princess Marie-Chantal of Greece, Princess Tatiana of Greece, Princess Märtha Louise of Norway, Princess Charlene of Monaco

Two of our Greek princesses went sparkly, M-C in her Oscar de la Renta - I'm more interested in her shoes, to tell you the truth. WANT. - and Tatiana in her sparkle toned down with a top layer. (Perhaps they should have advised the third Greek princess to go shimmery instead of matte, since Princess Theodora...did not do so well. Sometimes going up a size can actually makes you look smaller, true story.) Märtha Louise gave us a shiny take on a basket weave craft project, and Charlene gave us a splash of Elvis in gold. (Does a gown need a vest? I'm just asking.) Char might be on an Elvis roll, actually, given her recent level of shine. Stand by for a big collar and a bejeweled belt tomorrow.

For loads more guests, click here, and here, and also here. (But don't bother searching for two of our regulars, Mary and Mette-Marit - they won't be in attendance until the wedding itself, due to their schedules.)

Are you loving the night's metallics, or something else?

Programming Note: We'll have an open post up before the wedding for those of you that want to chat here during the broadcast.

Oh, and P.S.: Yes, the court made it official today, Valentino has designed the wedding gown.

Photos: Kungahuset/B.Grenfeldt/Style.com/Elie Saab/Getty Images/Scanpix

Weekly Royal Fashion Awards: March 31-April 6

Best in Scotland

The Countess of Strathearn

She went to Scotland, she wore tartan. I'm partial to the red one here, though to be honest neither one is grabbing my attention too much.

Best of the Rest

Princess Letizia, Crown Princess Mette-Marit, Princess Máxima

Letizia attending a reception for U.N. Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon; Mette-Marit visiting Church City Mission; Máxima receiving the first 1001 Women stamps

As for the rest of our leading ladies, Letizia looks fab, but I don't know, black...something about mourning the current state of the Spanish monarchy... Anyway, Mette-Marit gets a pass too - look Ma, no SHOOTIES! - and Máxima does too as long as you give up all hope on her everyday hair situation.

And a (Dis)Honorable Mention to...

Princess Märtha Louise

At a reception for Norwegian athletes

It's as though she knew it was a slow week for the rest of our regulars, and she chipped in with...this. Well, bless her heart. Let me tell you what makes this outfit a true masterpiece: the boots. Because a lace print and the plaid stolen from a Craigslist sofa is not enough, oh no. You've got to get blue boots with fringe-y bits stuck all over them. A masterpiece indeed, and our first real front-runner for Worst of 2013, I say.

Who was your best dressed last week?

Photos: WPA Pool/Getty Images/Bauer Griffin/Abaca/StellaPictures/PPE/Getty Images

Royal Trip Report: The Belgians in Thailand

Prince Philippe and Princess Mathilde headed to Thailand last week for an extensive six day economic trip. What we saw was pretty much classic Mathilde - when isn't it classic Mathilde? - as she expanded on her staple of a printed top + solid color trousers, but there's some loveliness here worth a chat.

Video: On the first day of the trip

You can't help but think she fits right in, in a temple where everyone wears her favorite citrus color.

Day 2

She brought out the blueish purple Armani she wore to Albert and Charlene's wedding, which is much improved without a hat bolted into her forehead and works really well for an official dinner.

Video

Sometimes Mathilde surprises. A leopard print top might not sound right, but yet this is a great outfit for her.

I'm not entirely sold on her next dinner outfit, but she does win points for intricacy.

And  finally, a few others - this is not all-inclusive - including a meeting with the King of Thailand (far right). I'm going to have to go against her beloved orange and say my favorite is the pink flowered outfit.

What was your favorite outfit from this trip?

Photos: Stella Pictures/Belga/LaSoir/PhotoNews/Getty Images

Weekly Royal Fashion Awards: October 21-27

Sadly, it can't be weddings and tiaras all the time. Here's to the ladies that were back to the regular royal working grind last week, minus the things we've already chatted about:

Best in Sparkle

Princess Letizia

At a literature awards ceremony; audiences in Oviedo; the closing concert of the XXI Musical Week in Oviedo; the annual Prince of Asturias Awards ceremony; visit to Bueno

You know what's sad? That little hair ornament might be the closest thing we'll get to a tiara on Letizia this year. Let's all console ourselves with hugs from adorable traditionally dressed children.

Best in Usual

Princess Mathilde

Visiting the International Design Biennale; visiting Luik; attending a concert for the Festival van Vlaandoren with the rest of the royal family (Princess Astrid, pictured); at an academic meeting

A thoroughly typical week for Mathilde, so much so that I am distracted by the fabulousness of Princess Astrid at the concert, in her shiny dress and her pink (pink!) gloves - as I couldn't help but wonder on Twitter, she may have come straight from washing up the dishes, but it's irresistibly fantastic nevertheless.

Best in Trips

Princess Máxima

Máx made a quick, not highly publicized trip to Nigeria as a part of her role with the U.N. in inclusive finance. Good work, even if it meant missing a potential tiara appearance.

Worst in Muppet

Crown Princess Victoria

At a U.N. Seminar; at an awards ceremony; visiting Gothenburg; at the opening of the Friends Arena

Listen…first,Victoria stole Big Bird’s apron. And now she’s wearing Kermit’s jacket and shoes made the shaved pelt of a Cookie Monster. I’m all for color, heaven knows I’m happy to get away from a sea of blergh, and if this were flattering in any way I’d probably be all on board…but it must be said: leave Sesame Street alone! Let's stick to the flattering faux animals, like that leopard dress up there.

Who piqued your interest last week?

P.S.: I hope all of you in the path of Sandy are safe and sound.

Photos: Getty Images/Belga/Ku Leuven/RVD/All Over Press

Readers' Top 10 Wedding Gowns: #8. Princess Charlene of Monaco

Charlene Wittstock relied on Armani for dress advice often as the girlfriend of Monaco’s Prince Albert, so it was no surprise to learn she turned to him for the gown for her July 2, 2011 religious wedding (after using Princess Caroline’s good friend Karl Lagerfeld for her unconventional civil wedding selection). You can tell we’re talking about pure couture from the numbers alone:

• In the dress: 50 meters of off white silk duchess, 80 meters of silk organza, and 2,500 hours of work.
• In the embroidery down the front, the skirt, and the center of the train: 40,000 Swarovski crystals, 20,000 mother of pearl teardrops, 30,000 gold stones all in a floral pattern with platinum-coated thread completed in 700 hours.
• In the veil: 20 meters of off white silk tulle, plus more embroidery.

It was the perfect dress for the wedding at hand: embroidery to shimmer in the sun for the outdoor ceremony, a light slightly off the shoulder top and front veil delicate enough not to make the Monaco heat worse, and a mega train grand enough for the setting and the position (after all, she was marrying the sovereign prince).

The larger train extended from the back of the crossed shoulder detail and was removable, while the slim skirt had a smaller train of its own underneath. Charlene is all too often compared to the blonde mother-in-law she never met, Princess Grace, and her gown seemed carefully designed to avoid further comparisons to one of the most famous gowns in royal wedding history.

Her hair was pulled back and ornamented with en tremblant diamond floral pieces dating from the 19th century which belonged to Albert’s grandmother Princess Charlotte and were borrowed from Princess Caroline for the occasion. Despite the fact that I am 100% on Team Tiara when it comes to royal weddings, this is one of my all time favorite royal wedding hairstyles – it’s delicate and perfect, and she looked lovely.

Directly after the wedding, there were some divided opinions on the dress. But apparently a year has calmed quibbles with dart placement on the front and the slightly odd double train arrangement and the loveliness won out, claiming the gown the #8 spot on your royal wedding dress countdown. (As a side note, I’d really like to ask Charlene herself what she thinks of her gown, since it’s so curious to me that she’s basically broken up with Armani entirely since the wedding, but I digress.)

What puts this gown in the Top 10 for you?

Click here to read my original post on Charlene's gown.

Photos: Getty Images/AOP/Vogue

Week in Review: Princess Mathilde, 29 April-5 May

1. a-c) At a gala dinner for the Breast International Group, 3 May. I usually prefer her in Armani, but this is kind of like a toga without all the fun.

Photos: Zimbio/Getty Images

Week in Review: Princess Mathilde, 18-24 March

1. Receiving the team for Expo 2017, 21 March.
2. Celebrating the 50th anniversary of the Queen Astrid Hospital, 22 March. Gorgeous suit. This is how I like my Mathilde - nice and tailored.

Photos: Imageglobe

Week in Review: Princess Mathilde, 26 February-3 March

1. a) At a UNICEF Children's Fund conference, 27 February, in b) Emporio Armani.
2. a and b) Visiting an educational center, 28 February. I really want to like this explosion of pattern, but I can't help thinking that she wrapped herself in a 1970s rug before she left the house. At least it's not shag, I guess.

Photos: Svenskdam/Daylife/Getty Images/Belga

Style Speculation: Armani Privé Spring 2012 Couture

Designers and models took to the runways in Paris this week with the haute couture collections for Spring 2012. We'll be taking a look at a few of the collections from which our royals are likely to shop in the coming days for a little sartorial speculation fun.

Armani Privé Spring 2012 Couture

Potential royal models:

Princess Charlene, Princess Mathilde, Queen Paola, Queen Rania

Honestly? I can't say I was super impressed with this collection from Armani. The suit looks held the most promise to me; I could easily see these shapes on Armani fans like Princess Mathilde and Queen Paola.

The dresses were less successful in my opinion, but a lot of the Armani Privé we see is totally custom anyway. I had a hard time picturing any of the royals in these super structural creations.
But: a fan of the collection or not, I'm still hoping it might break Princess Charlene out of her Akris slump. Seriously, has anyone else noticed this? She chose Armani often before her engagement and even selected him for the big wedding gown job, but since then it's been all Akris, all the time. Makes you wonder why, doesn't it?

See the whole collection here. 

Photos: Yannis Vlamos/GoRunway.com/Style.com

2011 in Review: Princess Mathilde

Best of the Year

Oh, help. As much as I harp and harp about color, the truth is that few things can make me go as weak as a simply perfect white dress. And Mathilde, at Princess Maxima's 40th birthday concert, got it exactly right. Stunning, end of story.

Runners Up

Visions in white aside, the best thing about Mathilde's style is that she's not afraid of color. Hot pink, orange (times 2), red leather, even leopard all make my list of favorite 2011 looks out of Belgium. And just because I'm a sucker for anything with even a teensy hint of retro, one all black ensemble sneaks in.

Worst of the Year

If color is the best thing about Mathilde's sartorial m.o., the worst thing is that she sometimes seems to lose her sense of what works for her. She struggles with fit, and where exactly the waist should be stuck. This outfit hits both of those problem areas, while adding a third: it's just not the kind of thing she can pull off. She did something I wish she'd do more of, which is explore non-Natan Belgian designers (this is Dries Van Noten), but she picked something that simply must be worn with a certain runway nonchalance. But on Mathilde, with her earnest and sweet persona, it's just a pair of too-big too-short trousers and a baggy shirt.

Which outfits make your best and worst lists for Mathilde in 2011?

Photos: Purepeople/Abaca/Isopix/Daylife

Week in Review: Princess Mathilde, 6-12 November

Here's what Mathilde wore from 6-12 November:

1. a and b) Visiting Maison de la Parentalité, 8 November. Ah! Another contestant in our Best Red Coat Contest. So, kids, how about this one? I'm a little dubious about the split of the ruffles, but even if I wasn't, the matching shoes kill it for me. The over-matching is a Mathilde trademark, and one I wish she'd wean herself from.
2. At the Antwerp book fair with the family, 10 November.
3. Commemorating Armistice Day at the Menen Gate, 11 November. Love this. It's solemn for the occasion, but it's also just so cute, right down to the oversize poppy.

Photos: Lavenir/Boekenbeurs/Zimbio/Getty Images

Things That Make You Go Hmm...: The Hollywood Royals

Is it fair to judge someone fairly on the outskirts of royal life by royal standards? Maybe not, but life's rough. And sometimes things just look ridiculous, royal or not.

Sophie Winkleman, also known as Lady Frederik Windsor, is the daughter-in-law of Prince and Princess Michael of Kent.  She and Freddles live in L.A. She's an actress. And this is her Armani-clad sideboob:

Enough with the boobage and the harem pants. One is not Beyonce.

If you're going to go the ironic tuxedo route, at least cover it up like Charlotte Casiraghi did.

Though it's worth mentioning that one is not the Clark Kent of Monaco, I think.

Sometimes the fashion has nothing to do with it. I was delighted to see one of my favorite stylish royals, Princess Tatiana of Greece, out and about; I think she looks absolutely gorgeous. But then she had to go and do that thing she does with the starlet posing.

Knock it off. One is no longer in the running to become Greece's Next Top Model.

Likewise, I'm always happy to see Princess Marie-Chantal of Greece and her socialite couture-heavy style. When I first saw her red dress, I was in love - she's actually wearing color!

And then I got the full length view.

It's like my two least favorite sorts of shoes - brogues and SHOOTIES - mated and gave birth to this mixed species animal baby. One should really stop competing with one's self for the title of oddest pair of leopard print shoes. Hmm indeed.

Photos: Getty Images for Giorgio Armani/Daily Mail/Life/Newscom/Billy Farrell Agency/Style.com/Vogue