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Here we go: a week of action, including an official visit, a parliament opening, hanging out with awesome friends, and a case of sleeve-itis.
Best in Mini Trips
Princess Letizia
Attending an homage to the Regimiento de Caballeria Acorazado Alcantara Nr 10 with the royal family; departing for an official trip to Ecuador and Panama; day 1, morning and evening; day 2 (two outfits); and one last white suit for day 3
And here's your Mini Trip Report for Letizia in Panama and Ecuador: she wore blergh. I prefer the blue before she left, myself - she does always take it up a notch when the King and Queen are hanging around.
Best in Fifties Prom
Crown Princess Mary
Launch of High Level Task Force for ICPD in New York; attending the opening of Parliament; visiting Statens Museum for Kunst with the family; at the awards ceremony for the couple's annual culture prizes
Am I the only one that thinks she could be an extra from Grease in her culture prize dress? Just me? Okay.
Here's what the rest of the hatted gang wore for the Parliament opening:
Queen Margrethe, Princess Benedikte, Princess Marie
Hats off to Benedikte. Hats off....literally.
Best in Orange
Princess Mathilde
At the International Polar Foundation gala dinner; meeting members Belgian Olympic and Paralympic teams; visiting a coffee company
How big is the orange section of Mathilde's closet, do you think?
Best in BFFs
Princess Máxima
Opening an exhibit; visiting a women's project; receiving Sheikha Mozah of Qatar for a short visit in the Netherlands
Look! My favorite magpie and my reigning girl crush, reunited. All this meeting is missing is even more bling.
Best in Sleeves
Crown Princess Victoria Princess Madeleine
At a seminar
Victoria was fine this week, but let's be honest: the Swede drawing the most attention was her sister, Princess Madeleine.
Attending an awards dinner for the Swedish-American Chamber of Commerce in New York City
Poor love seems to have brought out her sparkly witch costume a touch early - Halloween isn't until October 31st, dear. Alas!
Crown Prince Frederik and Crown Princess Mary have been on an official visit to Brazil, visiting Sao Paolo and Rio de Janeiro this week. They are there to promote Denmark and strengthen business ties, and they have a whole delegation with them. Luckily for us, Mary also has a whole wealth of outfits for our frivolous enjoyment.
Day 1: Visiting an exhibit, the Scandinavian Church, and a reception
This is so light and fresh! And that's saying something when a coat (basically) is involved - many would have stopped at the blue Prada underneath. Makes me wish for summer, even though it's fall in my corner of the globe, and I love me some sweaters. That's my typically long-winded way of saying: I like it.
Day 2: Visiting a center for abused women, followed by a dinner in the evening
Note that her purple accents match the purple gates of the center she's visiting, and note that if you need me I'll be out buying purple paint...and a gate of some sort. (I can't believe my own humble abode isn't already guarded with purple, it's a terrible oversight on my part.) (My nonsense mutterings are just going to continue on, you've been warned.) She's dipping into the design world of Alberta Ferretti here on both accounts, and I would tell you here that I wish royal ladies would wear Ferretti more often, but that's a funny statement to make when the bronze dress has already been worn twice - are you feeling the déjà vu? Princess Beatrice wore it to the Olympics Opening Ceremony.
Day 3: Visiting a hospital, an institute for the blind, and an exhibition, followed by a reception in the evening
There's a lot of furniture involved in these visits. They're forever opening a chair exhibition of some sort, or something else about Danish design. I think the sitting portion of the job is the one I'd be really good at. (Helps when you have hunky assistance when the sitting portion of the job is over.) ANYWAY...quite a contrast in outfits here: light and airy, and then sort of dark and choking.
Day 4: Visiting a youth center, a university, an exhibit opening, and an evening reception
Is it an option to have your hair done by Mary's hairdresser instead of Mary herself? Let me be clear: I'd say yes either way. Beyond that, these are two good dresses, and I continue to be intrigued by Mary's varied use of that statement white belt.
Day 5: Visiting a breastfeeding project, and then meeting with the Brazilian Olympic Committee ...........................................................................................................No.
Mary and Frederik leave Brazil today, hopefully before she has a chance to bust out any more printed jumpsuits. As you may be able to tell from my pointless non-sartorial musings in this post, I found it a serviceable if not thrilling trip from the wardrobe front (though we shall see what, if anything, else it brings before she boards the plane for home). But still, I shall ask you:
Which is your favorite Brazil outfit?
UPDATE: The remainder of the outfits from the trip...
Day 5: Dinner
MUCH better on the print front. Yes. Flowy, as close to an evening gown as you can get while remaining out of black tie territory.
Day 6: Final engagements
This has been an acceptable recovery from the first day 5 outfit. Let's all forget it ever happened...
We're picking back up on day 4, still in Malaysia (I can barely figure out what days and what countries these things are happening on and in, I can't imagine how fuzzy these two must be by now)...
Day 4: Tea party at the British High Commissioner's residence in Kuala Lumpur, followed by travel to Sabah
The Duke and Duchess soldiered on in spite of all the...uh...stuff going on, with Kate in a custom version of this Alice Temperley dress. Fancy hair alert: she's upped her updo with added pearl decorations.
Day 5: Visiting the Danum Valley rainforest
Jungle chic, I suppose? Anyway, from there it was back in dresses for the flight to the Solomon Islands and more new outfits.
Day 6: Arriving in the Solomon Islands and attending a thanksgiving service for the Queen, followed by an island feast in the evening
Loving the island dress for the evening, which was an official gift and which she decided to wear just a bit before departing. Spontaneity suits her, and the wedges work perfectly.
Jonathan Saunders dress and accessories; the evening print and shoes
As for the day outfit, I've been waiting for her to wear Jonathan Saunders and I'm not disappointed. It's cute, with a touch of retro, though I must confess it's hard to focus on the outfit when they're traveling in a truck/boat/thingy. That's the way to travel, I'm telling you.
We'll pick back up on day 7 later this week. Photos: Getty Images/Harrods/Net-a-porter
Day 2: Visiting Queenstown and the Rainbow Center (at 1:26), followed by an evening reception at the British High Commissioner's residence
Something new: separates from Singapore label Raoul, and something new from something old: another bespoke piece from Erdem.
The top and skirt, plus the print and Those Shoes; Kate's version of Erdem at the reception and one of the dresses that trotted down the Erdem runway using this print
Gotta tell you, neither of these conjures up much of a reaction either way for me. They are things that she wore and they are fine. Moving on.
Day 3: Visiting Kranji War Memorial, followed by travel to Malaysia and a visit to Hospis Malaysia where Kate made a speech
This dress, another bespoke Jenny Packham, is officially "duck egg blue" - but was described as green at first by some present on Twitter. It's a non-color color, so subdued it can't make up its mind if it really wants to be blue or not. The whole outfit is understated to be sure, but then again it was a day of solemn locations.
A look at the parasol, plus the bodice detail and earrings
I wondered if the war memorial visit might yield us a hat, but instead she took a cue out of Camilla's book and carried a parasol to beat the heat, a far more adorable way to go. No parasol for Wills though. I guess equal sartorial rights for men still have a way to go. (Sarcasm alert.)
Day 3: Attending an official dinner given by the Yang di-Pertuan Agong and Raja Permaisuri Agong (the King and Queen of Malaysia)
Speaking of gentlemen's sartorial prerogatives, WHAT is the deal with the business suit dress code? The ladies look like they're attending a different event entirely. I find this to be Bothersome. Capital B. And that's about as far from white tie (read: tiaras) as you can get, which I know had some of you distraught. (The Windsors just don't do tiaras like they used to. Look at all the trips Charles and Camilla have taken on their own, not a tiara in sight. Wasn't going to happen, I'm sorry to say.)
A look at the embellishment and accessories
Custom Sarah Burton for Alexander McQueen again, this time featuring hibiscus gold embroidery - hibiscus being Malaysia's flower. Some of you likened the first outfit of this trip to something worn by the Queen in her early years, but this one really gets my comparisons rolling. This screams the embellishment of QEII's gowns in her earlier years, in pieces by Norman Hartnell and Hardy Amies - sparkly and symbolic. Many of those dresses, with their exquisitely rendered national flowers and so on, are now museum pieces which can be spotted on exhibit from time to time. I see a similar future here.
Some of you have been criticizing her neckline levels, and I'm sure you'll do the same on this dress. But that criticism is not at all unique to this trip. How much is too much in this regard is a question of personal taste; obviously, Kate's not bothered by a deep neckline (just look at her wedding gown). Personally, I think she's doing a great job of staying herself while still incorporating local customs and other nods to the local culture (like the design above, or the use of local designers).
Day 4: Visiting a mosque, followed by a walkabout and a luncheon with the British Malaysian Chamber of Commerce
A custom dress from Beulah (which has now been put out for mass purchase), and an absolutely gorgeous updo (Team Updo!). Beulah's designs are distinctive to say the least - the flowing skirts and sleeves - and they aren't my favorite in general, but this is a perfect example of the point I was just trying to make: it's appropriate above all.
And that's where we'll leave off for this installment of W&K's Great Adventure. Until next time...
It's happening: William and Catherine have set out upon their yearly Grand Adventure. (I don’t know if you’ve heard...people might be just a leeeetle bit excited. Ahem.) (No judgments, mind you.) They will hit Singapore, Malaysia, the Solomon Islands, and Tuvalu before they head home, and we’ll be checking in with them periodically via our new Royal Trip Report feature. Let’s hit it:
Day 1: Arrival in Singapore and a visit to examine an orchid named for the late Diana, plus one named for them
To everyone who said she should switch up those ubiquitous nude LK Bennett shoes: she also has LK Bennetts in off white which is basically slightly lighter nude, guys. SHE SHOWED YOU. Bahaha.
The dress print; her clutch and those fascinating shoes
Anyhoo, on to the dress. Hand painted orchids on custom Jenny Packham, because of the orchids and all. Lovely but not my favorite. That's okay, because there are better things to come.
Day 1: State dinner hosted by the President of Singapore
Better things like this, for one. But first, let's handle the disappointment: I'm afraid it's time we all learned that "state dinner" doesn't necessarily mean white tie and tiaras. Facts are disappointing.
The dress, plus her diamond bracelet and black clutch
Fortunately, I never expected a tiara event, so that leaves me open to throw up the jumpy claps for this lil’ number. This dress is fantastic! Firstly, it is PURPLE. Secondly, it is groovy. And thirdly, it’s from Prabal Gurung who was born in Singapore. CONNECTIONS. Boom. I hope this gets worn again and doesn’t disappear into the Land of Worn Once Upon A Time.
Day 2: Visiting Gardens by the Bay and the Rolls Royce plant
Day 2 started off with an Alexander McQueen suit (well, you know how it goes, it's really Sarah Burton for the Duchess of Cambridge and not so much "McQueen") in white broderie anglaise paired with her giant navy wedge shoes.
Rocking the safety goggles as is her royal duty to do, a look at the fabric, sapphire earrings, and those Stuart Weitzman wedges
The wedges, I'm afraid, are a particularly clunky end to this light and bright outfit. I'm not anti-wedge on principle, mind you, but it's all about styling. Anyway, at the Rolls Royce plant she was tasked with finished off the plant's first airplane engine by pushing in the last blade. Upon successful completion she flexed her muscles for the crowd, and that's adorable, so all dodgy shoe choices are forgiven.
We’ll pick back up with the rest of Day 2 and onwards on Friday. How do you think the Duchess is doing so far, sartorially speaking?
1. Day 1 of her official visit to the United States with Prince Felipe, in New York City, 20 June. 2. Still on day 1, 20 June. Máxima has this skirt too, who wore it best? 3. a) Day 2, at Harvard University in Cambridge, Massachusetts, 21 June, in b) Oky ^ Coky which she also c) added a cardigan to.
4. Still day 2, 21 June. This seems to be the pink and white trip 5. Day 3, back in New York, 22 June. 6. Dinner for the XVII US-Spain Council Forum in New Jersey, 22 June. Odd dress there. Linebacker shoulders and a ruffle right in front...hmm. A+ for the hair, though. 7. At the closing of the forum with secretary of State Hillary Clinton, 23 June, repeating from Armed Forces Day. An appropriate, if not thrilling, sartorial trip on the whole, I'd say.
Alternate Title: The Wessexes Rock Gibraltar. Heh.
Trusty ol' Ed and Soph Wessex were shipped out once again for another destination on the Windsor Jubilee Whistle Stop Tour last week, in between the big Jubilee weekend and the current round of June festivities. This time they hit Gibraltar, that source of so much angst between Spain and the U.K. (Gibraltar disputes are why Queen Sofia was not permitted to attend Queen Elizabeth's jubilee celebrations this year and so on.) Nevertheless, the Earl and Countess were received with welcome Union Jack-draped arms.
After a round of new outfits back during the Caribbean tour and another few for some of the jubilee celebrations, it looks like Sophie's fashion has settled firmly back in rerun territory. We saw the dress and jacket from the Epsom Derby separated, two reruns from the Caribbean, the chic beige dress from Zara and Mike's pre-wedding celebration, and unfortunately the big white pantsuit yetagain. Can this one be retired yet?
I believe this is it for the Wessex Traveling Jubilee Machine. A few tours are yet to come, including more travels for the Prince of Wales and Duchess of Cornwall and an outing for the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge.
1. Attending the 150th anniversary of Notary's Law, 28 May. 2. a and b) Day 1 of the couple's official visit to Portugal, 30 May. 3. Day 2, 31 May. Looks like she's wearing a frilly bib under there.
4. Official dinner in Lisbon, 31 May. Wow. 5. Day 3, 1 June. 6. Attending the European Heritage Awards in Lisbon, 1 June. 7. Back in Spain for Armed Forces Day, 2 June. After one of the worst outfits on the overly casual scale we've seen from her (I'm talking about you, turquoise cardi stolen from the infantas' closet), the rest of the week is absolutely lovely. I'm surprising myself with how much I like this last one: so bland, yet dignified. A little texture and some coordination interest saves the day.
It's only been a week since we were caught up with all the world's sovereigns gathering at Windsor, and yet the Jubilee party people have already been racking up more shenanigans. Let's play catch up:
The annual Chelsea Flower Show brought out several royal visitors, including Queen Elizabeth. Poor dear doesn't seem to have noticed that she had a spiderweb stuck on her head.
I note wryly that this is not the same hairnet as we saw last year, but rather a new one from Angela Kelly. Because you can never have enough of...those.
Left to right: the Countess of Wessex, the Princess Royal, Princess Alexandra of Kent, Princess Michael of Kent, the Duchess of Gloucester
Plenty of other Windsors came out to play in the flowers, too. Most all of them seem to have received the garden-frolicking Spring memo...except for Anne. Who is always, unstoppably, just Anne.
Thankfully she (and her mother) came to their springtime senses in time for a huge Buckingham Palace garden party. Loveliness!
And finally for the queen, she attended a celebration of the arts the other night, where she acknowledged awkward curtseys from the likes of Joan Collins like a champ. Once again, she was accompanied by a posse of family members, most noticeably Sophie in her most va-va-voom appearance of the week. Me likey.
Some of the Duchess of Cornwall's Canada outfits
Last but not least, across the ocean the Prince of Wales and Duchess of Cornwall made a speedy Jubilee visit to Canada. Sartorially speaking, it was just Camilla doing her Camilla thing; the biggest piece of note for me was her maple leaf regimental brooch from the Queen's Own Rifles of Canada. Rather a large piece, where regimental badges are concerned, and I think quite nice. Lucky Camilla.
1. Opening of the Cancer Society Solkampagne 2012, 8 May. 2. Arriving in South Korea for an official visit alongside her husband, 10 May. 3. Day 1, 10 May, straight out of the past, which means I should like it more than I do. 4. Official dinner, 10 May. Using stealth bits of the ruby parure - ring, bracelet, earrings, and leaves in the hair. Nicely done. 5. Day 2, 11 May. I think I prefer this in the entirely Saturday Night Fever mode (a.k.a. all white).
6. More on day 2, 11 May. Oooh. I very much like where this is going. Another interesting hairdo as well. 7. Day 3, 12 May. 8. More of day 3, 12 May. Ah yes. The eternal test of royal composure: pulling off the construction hat with aplomb. 9. Day 4, 13 May. 10. Visiting the DMZ on day 4, 13 May. 11. Day 5, 14 May. White and/or pastel seems to be the theme of the trip, eh?
1. Making a visit to a swimming meet, 25 March. 2. Visiting the National Memorial during the visit of the Prince of Wales and Duchess of Cornwall, 26 March. 3. Official dinner for the British couple, 26 March. 4. On the last day of the visit, at the set of The Killing, 27 March. Shame about the boots there, but the ladies were told to avoid heels due to the terrain (she replaced them with regular shoes for the rest of the day).
5. a) Opening a mother and child center, 28 March, in b) H&M. 6. Attending the premiere of the movie A Royal Affair, 28 March. I can't look. The shoes, my eyes, they hurt. 7. a and b) Opening the e-Skills 2012 Conference, 30 March.
Arrival in Sweden. First picture, L to R: Queen Silvia, the Prince of Wales, the Duchess of Cornwall, Prince Carl Philip
How cute is Silvia's little suit with that bow? A classy butt bow: it can happen. Camilla, meanwhile, was still sporting the Balmoral tartan she departed Norway in.
L to R: Princess Madeleine, Prince Carl Philip, the Duchess of Cornwall, King Carl Gustaf, the Prince of Wales, Queen Silvia, Crown Princess Victoria, Prince Daniel
The next day, the royal family - all of them! - hosted the British visitors for lunch. Now this is a treat, isn't it? Victoria's out and about for the first official time after little Estelle's birth, and she's wearing a color and it's not a tent so we won't talk about the shoes. Even Madeleine's there, though not in one of her more flattering outfits. Camilla wore a navy outfit that she seems to wear all the time.
Other events included a Diamond Jubilee reception and a museum visit, as well as a private dinner and visit to the Drottningholm Palace Theater (see below - even Princess Christina pitched in!).
Then then it was off to the last stop of the trip, Denmark.
Arrival in Denmark, with Crown Princess Mary and Crown Prince Frederik
Crown Prince Frederik and Crown Princess Mary met them at the airport, where Camilla's understated coat was no match for Mary's burst of Spring color and print and sleeveness (it's a word).
The royal couple were hosted by the whole Danish royal family for an official dinner. Princess Marie turned out - because apparently everybody puts their maternity leave on hold for Chas and Cams! - as well as the elegant Princess Benedikte. Camilla wore an oft-repeated gown but couldn't hold a candle to Mary's elegant strapless dress...or Queen Morticia Margrethe's spiderweb.
A spiderweb topped with the dreaded Golden Poppies, no less! Oh, Marge. Is it Halloween already? Let's take solace in the wondrous diamond demi-parure that is part of Camilla's collection and all the sorts of dress ornamentation displayed by the Danish princesses.
There were hats and plenty of purple on display (YUM) during the rest of the trip. Aren't the ladies oh-so-elegant at the wreath-laying ceremony on the far right above? I might be inclined to give this hat-off to Camilla, surprisingly enough.
The last day brought some fun for our royals: billiards for the gents and a visit to the set of The Killing for the ladies.
Might have been more fun for Camilla than for Mary. Everybody duck!
And that's that! Charles and Camilla have plenty of Commonwealth visiting up their sleeves this year - next up is Canada in May.
