Gold Star: Máxima in the Evening

I added Máxima's evening attire to the post on her inauguration gown, but I'm gonna feature her again because it needs to be said: girlfriend looked good. It was her second Jan Taminiau look for the day (huzzah! Can we get a switch to mostly Taminiau instead of...well, you know?), a burgundy-purpleish lace number with an elegant neckline and just enough train to make it count without dragging her down.

 

This was worn to the water pageant and the dinner following, and unfortunately because it was outdoors and on the water she ended up covering that masterful dress with a wrap (two wraps, part of the time) for most of the evening. But the dress wasn't the only sparkling thing: this was no tiara event, but Queen Máx still wore diamond stars in her hair, because she's our girl.

Video: A stop on the river cruise, and the gown in action

The King was in black tie, while the princesses wore their Natan dresses from earlier in the day with capes also provided by Natan.

Bea was there too, in purple no less. Once again, she's not only color-coordinated with Máx, but they're jewel-coordinated too - notice the diamond stars on her shoulder - and I am once again charmed by their teamwork. Bea's accompanied there by her sister Margriet, wearing Addy van den Krommenacker, as several members of the family were.

Left to right: Mary, Mette-Marit, Letizia, Mabel, Victoria

The royal guests were there too, though this was not their event and their presence was subtle. Mary repeated her gown from the Luxembourg wedding, and managed to sneak in some bits from her ruby parure (major earring alert!), so she was my default fave. Mabel's surprisingly understated in her Viktor & Rolf, but still all bow-ed up. (I've heard from several of you that the bow on her shoulder at the inauguration was, according to reports, in fact a bow from her wedding dress, which just breaks my heart. She looked especially emotional all day.)

Christina, Juliana, Annette, Sophie, Laurentien

Annette's wearing her inauguration dress without the jacket. I thought it was curiously dramatic with, and without I'm in love.

Mathilde, Margarita, Mozah, Aimée, Marilène, Irene

Plenty of glitter and sparkle among the guests, you know I approve. I loved Victoria's hardware above, and - this will come as a shocker - Mozah's particularly enchanting to me. (Some of you called her day outfit scary. No, my loves, no. We call that fierce.)

Gold stars nearly all the way 'round, don't you think?

And oh yes, before I forget, there was a brunch today for those still around, and then the royal family departed the palace to get back to business.

NOS has a short video of a few of the guests departing, click here to see. And click here to see Princess Beatrix leaving, once again with cheers of "Bea Bedankt" ("Thanks Bea") in the background.

Photos: NOS/PPE/DutchPhotoPress/Getty Images

Gold Star: The Return of Prince Harry

Harry's tour of duty in Afghanistan is done!

 He's back, and he has entertaining headgear.

As good an explanation as any for a little somethin' to look at on your Tuesday, no? Gold star.

Gold Star: Another Royal Wedding Ahead!

Princess Madeleine of Sweden (the youngest child of King Carl Gustaf and Queen Silvia) has announced her engagement to her boyfriend, Christopher O'Neill. And I have to say, this announcement has Gold Star written all over it.

First, I give it a gold star for timing. Just when the low starts to set in after the Luxembourg wedding, just when we begin to realize there's not another huge European royal gathering anywhere in the near future - BAM! Mads and Chris save the day! What kind and generous people they must be. Gold star!

Next, I have to give them a gold star for the announcement. That's cuteness. Watch to the end. Gold star!

A gold star is certainly in order for the ring. That's just classy. Gold star!

Madeleine also gets a gold star for the bounce back factor, because this is not her first time at the engagement rodeo. She announced her engagement to beau Jonas Bergström, a Swedish lawyer, in 2009. But allegations of cheating on Jonas’ part became a public scandal, and the engagement was called off in 2010. Madeleine fled to New York City, where she made a home and met Chris, who works in finance. Gold star for (what we hope will be) a happy ending!

And now they’re set to marry in the summer of 2013, and I’m set to freak out over what should be another tiara extravaganza. I don't expect it to be quite as grand as her sister Crown Princess Victoria's wedding, but I think we're in for a good sparkly show. All. The. Gold. Stars!

I think it's a little too early to speculate on a dress designer, but it's never too early for tiara speculation. The Swedish royals have a wedding tiara tradition happening with the Cameo Tiara, and that's what I'm putting my money on. That and the family wedding veil. I know some of you have a bit of a problem with the Cameo Tiara, but I think Madeleine and her superb tiara hair can make it work. What are you guessing so far?

Click here to see the tiaras Madeleine's worn so far.

Photo: Kungahuset

Gold Star: Elena's Chic National Day

Everyone turns it up for National Day in Spain, as well they should. The gents never go wrong with their uniforms, and Queen Sofia doesn’t usually go wrong with her own version of the uniform, in one of her army of ladylike skirt suits. Princess Letizia brought her A game in tweed with a little lacy detail on the top. I hardly ever notice her jewelry because she uses it so sparingly, but the earrings (dangling, with pearls) are a fantastic complement here.

And look at Infanta Elena. Wait, let me rephrase that: LOOK AT ELENA.

In Oscar de la Renta, a designer she's worn previously and her mother wears often

I died from the chic. This blog is coming to you from the afterlife. Now, I know she has a closet full of high-end designers and couture cultivated during her years of marriage to a man with an eye for fashion, but she also enjoys shopping at the Crazy Town Mall. You just never know with her. But this is…divine. The retro silhouette with a touch of fur for luxury, the delicate slingbacks, the hair. (The hair!) Stop it, my hands hurt from the jumpy claps. A gold star is the perfect accessory here, don’t you think?

Photos: Getty Images/PPE/Abaca/Style.com

Gold Star: Beatrice and Her Accessories

The York girls are such a sartorial roller coaster, I love it. When they (or, I suppose, the stylists they're said to have) get it right, they're so deliciously on point. And Beatrice pulled a win last week which is so fab I'll retroactively forgive her for that Ascot butt ruffle incident.

Attending the Britain Creates 2012: Fashion & Art Collusion VIP Gala, in Roksanda Ilincic (right)

She's appropriately flying the flag fully with her Roksanda Ilincic dress, Anya Hindmarch clutch, and Nicholas Kirkwood heels, but it's the particular combination of all three that puts some jump in my claps. She hasn't gone bridesmaid-matchy or overly safe (look Ma, no nude shoes!) but the blue on the spectacular shoes pulls out the blue cuffs, and the pink on the bag brings out the slight blush tone of the rest of the dress.

Gold star: awarded for a refreshing break from the royal accessory stalemate.

Photos: Getty Images/Roksanda Ilincic

Gold Star: The Queen in Northern Ireland

Another day, another historic moment for the Queen in her Diamond Jubilee year: a peace-making visit to Northern Ireland with the Duke of Edinburgh in tow. And as always, the Queen shows the royal world exactly how diplomatic dressing is done.

On arrival, her Wedgewood blue outfit was covered with lace which looked like shamrocks from afar. (And her hat totally looks like it has the Girls of Great Britain and Ireland Tiara wrapped around it, no? Now that's how we show 'em who's boss.) Her brooch, meanwhile, went the actual shamrock route: a cluster of three diamond shamrocks tied with a small ribbon of green which looks like emeralds. The Shamrock Brooch doesn't seem to have a known history or any other known appearances right now. Based on the specific nature of the design (shamrocks, very region-specific), I would imagine it was a gift from a group associated with Northern Ireland; since it doesn't appear she's worn it for any previous visit to this region, I'd guess it was a recent gift. Guesses, guesses.

The Shamrock Brooch

The second and final day of the trip, on which I desperately wanted to give HM a hug, included a headline-making handshake with Martin McGuinness, Deputy First Minister of Northern Ireland and a former leader in the IRA. Lord Mountbatten and three others were killed by an IRA bomb in 1979. But true to form, both the Queen and the Duke of Edinburgh carried on with smiles on their faces.

And the Queen honored the area again in her outfit, this time by using the color green - but an acid green, which was a nice way not to dose herself in emerald like some comical drunk American pretending to be Irish for St. Patrick's Day. The outfit was covered in gold accents and was complemented by the Frosted Sunflower Brooch, a gold sunflower with a diamond center and diamond-studded petals which was made for the Queen by Garrard and appears frequently. I suppose it's not for nothing that some see the sunflower as a symbol of peace.

The Frosted Sunflower Brooch

For clever diplomatic dressing and sheer dedication to pushing on, this gets Gold Stars galore.

Photos: WPA Pool/Getty Images

Gold Star: The Duchess and the Updo

Hey, look at this bit of colorful, lacy, floaty, delicate loveliness:

 In Jenny Packham at the Team GB gala Friday

No, seriously - LOOK:

Gold star: awarded for letting us know that one is practicing one's tiara hair, even though our wait to see one in another tiara will probably be much too long. Gorgeous.

(Now that we have that sorted, Catherine, can we chat about getting the hubs a new tux? Great, thanks.)

Photos: Pacific Coast News/WPA Pool/Getty Images Europe/Zimbio

Gold Star: Lovely Ladies in Lace

Black lace can be tricky, don't you think? I mean, I can't think of another fabric that can vary so wildly and so quickly between utter tart and depressed Morticia in Victorian mourning. But when you get it right, when you hit just the right balance...sometimes there's nothing better. And two royal ladies have caused the jumpy claps this past week for doing just that.

I have been hoping that a royal lady would sport this Collette Dinnigan dress since I saw it on Rachel McAdams and Nicole Kidman. It's just so lovely, this dress. Feminine and lovely and lovely some more. I hope for stuff like that all the time, and it never happens. But it happened! Crown Princess Mary made it happen, at an awards ceremony on Sunday. Jumpy claps! More exclamation points!!

But before Mary did that, Princess Letizia had a little jumpy clap action all her own happening.

This new Felipe Varela number is one of those things that only Letizia could wear, and she does it so right. Feminine and lovely all over again, and just delightful.

Gold stars all around!

Photos: b.dk/bt.dk/Mujer Delite

Gold Star: Cambridge Black and Bling

Did your teacher give out gold stars when you were a kid? Mine did. And while sometimes those stars were for a job perfectly done, other times they were for progress well made. You know, a little encouragement along the way. It is in this spirit that I award the Duchess of Cambridge her first ever Gold Star.

Because tonight, at The Sun Military Awards, Catherine busted out her first major piece of ice since that tiara she wore that one time - a new necklace and bracelet, a wedding gift. Seems to be a diamond necklace with circles of diamonds alternating with fringes ending in petite flowers made of colored stones, maybe rubies. The bracelet appears to be a part of the demi-parure, as we can see the same motif and colored stones. (And we pause for a FAQ quick hit: What are the stones? Don't know for sure. Who gave them to her? Don't know. Can it be a tiara too? Don't know. Isn't the bracelet just the one she's worn before but with different inserts? Doubt it, as they're different scale and have different spacing.) She paired these pieces with the same diamond earrings we've seen several times before.

These are the most substantial jewels we've seen her wear, and simply breaking them out is something worth a little applause around here. The velvet Alexander McQueen gown is applause-worthy too - simple and black, but it fits her incredibly well. Stunning. And when you have a piece like that necklace, you don't need competition.

Would it have been MAJOR jumpy claps if she would've pulled the hair back? Yes. Are there other things to pick at? Of course, and I'm sure many of you will do so in the comments. But, baby steps. Step 1: put the diamonds on. Step 2: do other things. Gold Star, Catherine.

And another two Gold Stars for her escorts, Cambridge No. 2 and Prince Harry, for suiting up the James Bond way. You can never go wrong with a tux.

Photos: Getty Images/Reuters/Daylife/Just Jared/Grazia

Gold Star: Queens with Diplomatic Flair

Dressing diplomatically is an art form, if you ask me. The outfits on a royal foreign trip are not the point of the thing - even someone as frivolous as I can admit that - but when they're done just right, they can help the whole operation along. A detail here or there can be just the thing, a little exclamation point, to emphasize thoughtfulness, consideration, and respect for the other country. Today we're handing out gold stars to two queens for just such exclamation points.

Many of you have asked to be kept updated on the lovely new Queen of Bhutan, so here you go: it seems the photogenic King and Queen haven't stopped moving since the wedding. They've paid state visits to India and Japan, and have touched down in Singapore and Thailand. This past week has seen them visit the United Kingdom. Talk about your trial by fire, and for a 21-year-old queen at that: Jetsun Pema laughs in the face of royal brides taking the slow route into their new lives!

Naturally, she's brought with her a whole array of colorful national dress options, some of which are shown above. It's nice not to have to spend time coming up with synonyms for beige for a change, isn't it?

We also got a few tastes of her Western style, just for a little variety.

Well, there's that beige problem again, but the only thing we can conclude here is that Her Majesty has a taste for expensive handbags: I spy Chanel and an elusive Hermès Birkin bag.

This is not what she gets her gold star for, though. Diplomatic dressing, that's our point here.

Her white outfit, worn while debuting the King's photography book in New Delhi, is both gorgeous and the perfect nod to Indian style; but the real winner is the kimono in Japan. Their visit seemed to be a great success, and gamely sporting another culture's national dress is the perfect sartorial expression to sum it up. Well played.

From a 21-year-old queen just getting her feet wet to one that's the definition of a pro, our second gold star goes out to Queen Elizabeth.

This week saw the Queen host a state visit to Britain from Turkey, including some married people cuteness and a little forward-facing side-eye directed at the First Lady's intriguing taste in footwear. (Suddenly I'm dying if she noticed Sheikha Mozah's icicle boots.)

It's the state banquet, though, that gets our star. And not just because she seems to have decided to go with "giant diamonds" as her accessory theme for the night, either (though that's certainly grounds on its own). She chose this night as her first public outing of Queen Victoria's magnificent waterfall brooch, and it was no mistake: the brooch includes diamonds given to Victoria by the Sultan of Turkey. Sneaky little diplomatic gesture, isn't it?

She wore the brooch with the coronation necklace (also from Queen Victoria) and a pair of earrings once worn by her mother which were another fabulous part of the Greville inheritance. The brooch is supposed to be a part of the summer exhibit at Buckingham Palace next year, "Diamonds: A Jubilee Celebration". Start shopping for plane tickets now if you need them, kids.

Another notable brooch popped out to say farewell to the Turkish guests: an emerald carved with a rose on the front and surrounded by diamonds, a gift from the Ladies of India to Queen Mary for the Delhi Durbar in 1911.

Since we're talking jewels, you know, as we do, this trip also gave us good shots of two royal ladies we don't usually get to see in their state visit finery: Princess Anne sat in Camilla's spot for the banquet (Camilla was out sick) wearing the Festoon Tiara, and Princess Michael played the lead royal lady role at the Guildhall banquet (that's usually the Duchess of Gloucester's spot these days). She wore one of my favorite Kent tiaras, an oh-so-pretty diamond and pearl number, and paired it with a rather costume-ish bodice decoration. I suspect that it's fake (look at the size of those pearls!) and that it might even be a part of the gown, which is...odd. She did manage to cover up appropriately for the devout Muslim guest of honor, so I suppose points have to be awarded for that.

Do you have a favorite moment from these trips?

Photos: Getty Images/Reuters/Daylife/Hello/Royal Collection

Gold Star: Marie in Japan

With Victoria skating along in her maternity style and leaving us with "What a glow she has!" as our only source of praise, it's time to shed a little light on another member of the royal baby boom that's having a better sartorial time of it.

Princess Marie hasn't been hitting it out of the park at every appearance (come on, nobody does - that's unrealistic), but she's made some particularly lovely choices during her visit to Japan with Prince Joachim.

For a meeting with Empress Michiko, this black dress and white coat combo is simple but alarmingly chic. All thanks to the collar, I think.

Adding a jacket over a tighter fitting dress is a perfect way to remind people that you still have a shape under there (Victoria, take note) while still keeping it classy.

Oh, and this one is my favorite. Enough for a gold star all on its own. Bright color, perfect fit, flattering as can be. Gold star: awarded for not letting us forget that you've still got it, even with a baby on board.


Photos: Profimedia/Billed-Bladet

Gold Star: Princess Beatrice in Italy

She did it again!

Yes, that's right, Princess Beatrice (a.k.a. Princess Beatrice's stylist, but pssh to the details) has once again orchestrated an Elie Saab appearance, this time at the pre-wedding party in Italy for Formula 1 heiress Petra Ecclestone's ridiculously over the top nuptial shindig this past weekend. It's just so cute, and fun! (And her SHOES are SPARKLY.) Gold star.

A slightly less shiny star (a Bronze Star?) goes to her sister Princess Eugenie at the wedding itself:

Must be Vivienne Westwood, and you know how much I love her in anything Westwood. YAY for curves doing all the right things.

And while we're at it, a couple of stars with no shine (Transparent Stars?) to Beatrice once again and her mother at the wedding:

Not so bad. Really, if we could just get Sarah to go ahead and buy the next size up (there's no shame in that, Sarah; sometimes - like this one - it'll actually end up making you look skinnier), and get Bea to give that dress a wee tug in the Northbound direction, we'd be set.

 Photos: Bauer Griffin/Zimbio/Yannis Vlamos/GoRunway.com/Style.com/XposurePhoto.com/DailyMail/Reuters/Daylife

Gold Star: Beatrice and Eugenie at the White Tie and Tiara Ball

All this Ascot debate over Princesses Beatrice and Eugenie and their developing styles must have ended with me on Team York, because the second I saw their appearance at Elton John's White Tie and Tiara Ball last night, I fell in love.

First of all, Eug. She's in red (again!) and she's working Vivienne Westwood (again!). I mean that, too: she's working Westwood. This is exactly why I say she should be strictly a McQueen and Westwood girl, you see. That corset business is perfect for a curvy gal. And with a little practice, she can flaunt the "couture without a care" vibe, which is precisely what she's doing with that casual hair and those gold earrings. Love, love, a thousand times I love this.

Second of all, Bea. BEA. Princess Beatrice has brought Elie Saab to the Windsor family!

Elie Saab couture, even, bless her heart. First she busts out Valentino couture at the royal wedding, now she's in Elie Saab couture...I like where this is going. Mrs. Cambridge has the high street covered, there's plenty of room for Beatrice to fly the couture flag. Love, love, love.

Gold star, both of you. I love it so much I'll even throw this out there: The Ferg's not looking half bad either, in Escada. We'll call it the power of the transitive property of fashion.

Photos: WireImage/Daily Mail/Style.com

Gold Star: Queen Elizabeth in Ireland

As you most likely know, Queen Elizabeth and the Duke of Edinburgh made a state visit to Ireland this past week. This visit was heralded as one of the most historic of the Queen's reign, and it certainly stood out. The Queen and the Duke were praised for everything from their peacemaking presence to their sheer stamina (how flattered they must be, so many people shocked they just don't keel over these days). We're here, of course, to praise the clothes.

The Queen is usually dressed by her own personal dresser, Angela Kelly. She must have great influence, this Angela; she's even got the Queen in nude shoes! Whatever she's saying, I'm glad the Queen is listening: from the vibrant emerald green on arrival to the 2,091 hand-sewn embroidered shamrocks adorning her evening gown, every outfit is flattering for this 85-year-old monarch, with just the right nod to the occasion.

And being the Queen, she's always sure to bring us some bling. No day is complete without a brooch:

Top row, left to right: one of Queen Victoria's bow brooches, a gold brooch with carved rubies, the Australian Wattle Brooch

Bottom row, left to right: Prince Albert's sapphire brooch (a wedding gift to Queen Victoria), the aquamarine clips, an interesting new brooch that was perhaps a gift from the President, the smaller of the Cambridge emerald brooches without the usual emerald drop

And the real sparkle, of course, comes at the state dinner:

Many, including myself, wondered if we'd see the Queen in her emeralds while on the Emerald Isle, but of course we overlooked the most obvious choice of all: the Girls of Great Britain and Ireland tiara, a wedding gift to Queen Mary (who gave it, in turn, as a wedding gift to the Queen), and the Queen's favorite. With this, she paired a diamond necklace that looks nearly identical to the King Khalid of Saudi Arabia necklace, but isn't the same (oh, to have a collection that large!). The brooch is in the shape of an Irish harp, and has been reported to be Swarovski crystals.

I must also give a tip of the non-royal hat to Ireland's President, Mary McAleese. She's been involved in several state visits lately, and I'm always impressed.

Mostly dressed by Deborah Veale here, she's neat and stylish without trying too hard. Gold stars all around!

What did you think of the Ireland visit?

Photos: Getty Images/Daylife