Year in Review: 2013's Honorable Mentions (...and Some Worsts)

We tackled the bests from the roster of royal women usually featured here, but they weren't the only ones accomplishing feats of sartorial splendor in 2013. Today's honorable mentions are for the stand outs among the rest of the royal crew! Excellent looks, plain and simple, left to right:

• Princess Charlene is trying, bless her heart, and she seems to know that purple and jewels are the quickest way to my heart. She simply killed it with this appearance.
• Speaking of killing it, the Countess of Wessex had an amazing year. Take your pick - this red number was just one of several bests.
• Princess Marie's sleek take on a Little Red Dress also needs to join my best list.
• I can't always pinpoint what I love about an appearance, and Princess Caroline's simple black dress is one such situation. Maybe it's the slightly longer necklace? Whatever it is, I thought she looked absolutely tremendous here.
• It wouldn't be a favorites list for me if it didn't include some Elie Saab, so Princess Madeleine's pre-wedding sparkles will cover me quite nicely there.
• Likewise, I require a dose of the couture mastery of Sheikha Mozah, so we'll go with this Valentino in the Netherlands.
• Plus, the Duchess of Cornwall got to make her big foreign royal event debut. I really enjoyed seeing her out and about this year, more and more regal and ready to step up when the time comes.

And just a few sentimental favorites, because it isn't all about the fashion...even here.

• Queen-to-Princess Beatrix was full of win this year, particularly the strong front she formed with Princess Mabel as they said goodbye to Prince Friso. On a more superficial note, the fact that she added an extra row of pearls to her big pearl tiara for the first time in a long time on her final night as queen wins all the things.
• The return of Crown Princess Masako to the international royal stage was completely lovely, and I hope we'll see more of her to come.
• WEE ESTELLE is my spirit animal. That is all.

And...The Worsts

Wouldn't be a proper year end wrap up without one last glimpse back at what made us cringe this year, would it? And then we never have to think about them again. Until one of these women decides to haunt us with a reappearance, that is.

• Princess Märtha Louise set the standard for the worst list early in the year in this number.
• Queen Máxima did a particularly bad thing with an ill-fitting dress and some black stockings recently, but for me, this Valentino (which she is the third royal to wear) is the year's true crime. It's the one time a tiara actually made things worse.
• Crown Princess Mary also wore the H&M mullet dress sported by Crown Princess Mette-Marit, but the addition of heavy black tights, SHOOTIES, and a jacket is such a peculiar look. She's managed to be both blergh and baffling, all at once.
• Princess Charlene at Princess Madeleine's wedding looks less a mess than the rest of those in this row, that is true - but. But. This one makes me sad. It's not just that she didn't wear a tiara to a tiara event, it's that this dress really could have used a tiara. Something, anything, to liven up this drab color which felt like a thud on the red carpet of a summer royal wedding.

Who makes your list of honorable mentions and worsts this year?

Photos: Getty Images/PA/Scanpix/Kungahuset/ANP

Weekly Royal Fashion Awards: November 5-11

Best of the Week

The Benelux Queens

 

Our newest pair of sovereign couples take the cake this week, as the Belgians paid a quick (super quick) introductory visit to the Dutch. Nice and neat queens, the both of them. I half expect Máx's shoulder bow to fly off and end up as some sort of epic butt bow on an outfit to come, but still.

Most Intriguing Trip

Crown Princess Victoria

Video: Victoria and Daniel made a short visit to Britain

Here's one that improves on video, I think. Because after seeing it in action and learning that it was Stella McCartney (a little nod to diplomatic dressing there, picking a British designer), I have upgraded Victoria from "Beetlejuice in SHOOTIES" to "Intriguing". It was a surprisingly fashion-forward trip for Victoria, as she also debuted a piece from the Isabel Marant H&M collection.

Left to Right: Stella McCartney and Isabel Marant pour H&M as worn by Victoria; Máxima in Russia; Mary in Mexico

Royal trips are starting to pick up again on the whole and in addition to the Belgians, the Dutch went to Russia, and the Danes have just started a visit to Mexico (we'll have the rest of the trip next week, so hang on for that). Máxima's last two outfits in Russia were pretty great, but overshadowed by the oddness of the whole visit - it closed a year which was focused on Dutch/Russian relations but which was also filled with problems and diplomatic messes. I mean, someone tried to pelt them with rotten tomatoes while they were there! They missed, but the whole visit just seems like one best put in the past.

Best of the Rest

Princess Letizia

Letizia at a ceremony and an awards presentation; Máxima at an anniversary event, presenting a prize, and at a performance; Mathilde making another city visit; Kate promoting Poppy Day

The rest of the week was a mixed bag, and this is a far from complete round up. (Mary, for example, had a couple other appearances including a concert where her own outfit was nothing compared to her father-in-law's sartorial flair - video link.) (And there was Estelle, but she's the automatic highlight.) I'll honor Letizia's bit of sparkle, while diplomatically ignoring the jumpsuit.

Who was your best dressed last week?

P.S.: If you're interested in the Remembrance Day events in the U.K. or the Tiara Watch they had there last week, head over to the Jewel Vault!

Photos: RVD/HKH/TT/Kungahuset/Getty Images/AP/RTL/Mexico Presidency/Getty Images/DutchPhotoPress/ANP/Lesoir/WPAPool

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

Weekly Royal Fashion Awards: September 29-October 5, Plus a Double Tiara Watch!

An Honorable Mention, For Starters...

Prince Harry

Video: Harry visits Australia

Seemed right to start with Harry in uniform. Carry on.

Worst in Everyday

Crown Princess Mary

Mathilde visits Lamur and opens a festival; Mary attends an opening and an awards presentation (in By Malene Birger), Letizia marks Santos Angeles Custodios Day and attends a dinner

I left out a whole lot of regular events for our usual suspects this week, on account of boredom. Even some of these aren't so interesting (Letizia, serviceable as ever but a sartorially forgettable week overall). Mathilde's my favorite here, despite a hat that looks like she's been hit by a pumpkin pancake at certain angles (now I'm hungry), because of that lovely strong blue dress. And Mary, sadly, takes the prize of (dis-)honor for the most memorable outfit here, adapting the non-slip flower stickers from my grandma's shower for dress purposes.

Best in Parliament

The Danish Royal Family, and Their Flowers

Video: The Danish royals (Queen Margrethe, Prince Henrik, Crown Prince Frederik, Crown Princess Mary, Prince Joachim, Princess Marie, and Princess Benedikte) attend the opening of Parliament

They've got a whole little coordinated color scheme going on here, and yet the thing I like best is how well each bouquet matches each lady's outfit. (Doesn't say much for the outfits, I suppose.)

Best in Visits

Crown Princess Victoria

During the state visit from Portugal to Sweden, and visiting the U.N. in New York (far right)

The fall state visit season delivers again, with a repeated blue Elie Saab that would have won but for the shoe match overkill and a black floral Dolce & Gabbana that needs no coat to improve it. So nice she wore it twice! And state visits give us more goodies too...

Tiara Watch!

All due snaps to Queen Silvia for coordinating her red sash with her ruby tiara (the Edward VII Ruby Tiara), but I feel deprived of an opportunity to see Victoria take the rubies out for the first time. She had on a red dress (repeated Escada) and everything! Oh well, she can never go too wrong with the Cut Steel Tiara anyway.

Worst in Visits (and Tiara Watch #2)

Queen Máxima

King Willem-Alexander and Queen Máxima paid a one day visit to Norway and were received by the Norwegian royal family, and they hosted the President of Israel for a visit including an official dinner

Not the Norwegian visit, everyone was looking shipshape there. But the dinner...well. On the plus side, she's playing in the jewel vault again (she's converted the Pearl Button Tiara back to the version with diamond stars she wore for her wedding, something we haven't seen in several years) and she's busting out a tiara at a black tie dinner (when others would go without). But on the other hand: WOE. That same Valentino gown that has previously sucked both Marie-Chantal and Mette-Marit into its vortex of frump has claimed another royal victim. I'd normally say a tiara makes everything better, but in this case I think it's done the impossible and made matters worse. Never has it been more clear that this should have been left in the one room schoolhouse.

MAN. I'm grumpy today, huh? I might be more in need of those pumpkin pancakes than I thought. Let me leave you with something that pleases me, before I tend to my urgent carbohydrate requirements:

And One Last Honorable Mention to...

Princess Caroline & Crew

Charlotte Casiraghi, Princess Caroline, Princess Stephanie, and Andrea Casiraghi attend an AMADE gala

There's no nightmare-inducing pedicure shoes. There's no need to search for some deep, artsy appreciation for the imagination of Karl Lagerfeld. They just look good, Caroline most of all. Just plain chic. Caroline has a level of elegance that's downright soothing when employed properly. (And yes, Charlotte's purse does have a tiara on it, and no, I don't have that in my closet, and no, I don't know why not.)

Who was your best dressed last week?

P.S.: We have a wedding to discuss tomorrow, so hang on to your comments for that!

Photos: Belga/Abaca/TV2/BT/Malene Birger/Getty Images/BestImage/Portugal Presidency/IBL/DutchPhotoPress/AP/Getty Images

Weekly Royal Fashion Awards: April 14-21

Best in Housecoats

The Duchess of Cambridge

Video: Attending the National Review of the Queen's Scouts

At first glance, this is totally a housecoat from the 1950s - and now that little curl on the hat is nothing but a hair curler in my brain. 

Best in Fancy

Princess Letizia

At the launch of a campaign against cancer; attending a concert organized by the Luca de Tena Foundation

Oh la la! Well, look who decided to be fancy once again.

Best in Birthday

Crown Princess Mary and the Danish Royal Family

Celebrating Queen Margrethe's birthday with the traditional balcony appearance, with a close up on Mary's brooch

Last week was a busy one for royal birthdays: Margrethe plus Henri and Sébastian of Luxembourg on the same day, Elizabeth II plus Isabella here on the same day, and others. Margrethe and Mary seemed to have a bit of a turquoise theme going on, though I think Mary has a bit to learn in terms of brooch positioning from her mother-in-law - this seems a bit of a fancy caterpillar, crawling across her shirt.

Queen Margrethe and Prince Henrik; Prince Joachim, Princess Marie, and family

Best in Print

Princess Mathilde

At a symposium on victim assistance (with a special escort); at a gala evening benefiting the King Baudouin Foundation; attending an awards ceremony; visiting the province of Luxembourg

This is a pretty good week for Mathilde, no? Don't even mind the paintbox leftovers at the end there.

Worst in...I Don't Even Know

Crown Princess Mette-Marit

Attending the Coop Environmental Awards; visiting Arbeidsinstituttet

I was like, "Oooh, Märtha Louise is running the competition for Worst of 2013," and then M-M was like, "OH REALLY?!" So she took that thing Mary wore that was already dubious, and she did...I don't know, but SHOOTIES are involved.

Best in Combos

Crown Princess Victoria

Visiting the Sweden-America Foundation

I like purple. I like zebra (on the shoes). Therefore, I suppose I like this.

And a Bonus Tiara Watch...

Grand Duchess Maria Teresa

Gala evenings during the Grand Duke and Grand Duchess' state visit to Austria

I didn't understand why Maria Teresa let Natan put a big ol' fake brooch on her outfit for her son's wedding, and I really don't understand why she allowed it on a gala evening - she has some large brooches, the real deal, to use instead. (Sadly, the dress had even more issues, click here for more pictures.) We take solace in the everlasting loveliness of the Belgian Scroll Tiara she is wearing, and of the fact that she brought back Elie Saab for the next evening event.

Who was your best dressed last week?

Photos: BestImage/Getty Images/Scanpix/Kongehuset/Stella Pictures/Abaca/Belga/Sweden-America Foundation Facebook/SIP/Cour grand-ducale/Tageblatt

Tiara Watch: A State Visit in Denmark

Last week Queen Margrethe and her family welcomed the President of Finland, Sauli Niinistö, and his wife, Jenni Haukio, for a state visit because it's about time the tiaras had a little lap around the track, some fresh air and exercise. But first: hats!

The airport arrival, left to right: Crown Prince Frederik (partially obscured), Crown Princess Mary, Princess Marie, Prince Joachim (behind), Princess Benedikte, Prince Henrik, Jenni Haukio, Queen Margrethe, President Niinistö. Far right, Crown Princess Mary accompanies the First Lady on a visit to the Royal Danish Fine Arts Academy.

I just love how into state visits the Danish royals get. Who shows up to the airport? Everybody, that's who, including Princess Benedikte and her Carmen Sandiego hat. Margrethe looks every bit the lovely Snow Queen, so long as you omit everything from the ankles on down.

The evening of the first day means gala time! The blue sash you see here is the Order of the White Rose of Finland. Margrethe wore just one section of her Floral Aigrette Tiara, omitting the sections she usually wears on the sides of her hairdo. Mary wore her wedding tiara, which looks a little sad to me now without its pearls, plus a reconfigured blue lace dress. As much as I like that dress, I'm not so sure it's the best background for all the business that needs to be pinned on for these occasions - a bit busy, maybe. I know one thing for sure: someone needs an aquamarine tiara.

The banquet, L to R: Mary, Frederik, Marie, Joachim, Margrethe, Benedikte. Not pictured: Henrik.

Marie in her floral tiara obviously owns a bit of my heart in her purple number (so does Benedikte in Queen Ingrid's Star and Spike Tiara, prison stripes and all), and she's got my interest too, thanks to a little switch up she did with the portrait of Queen Margrethe she wears on her shoulder. Arriving, above, the portrait anchors her sash - but by dinner time, she switched sides (click here to see) to the left, where it is traditionally worn. (But it wouldn't have been the first time someone wore it on the right side for an event; Mary did so at Crown Princess Victoria's wedding, for example.)

The return dinner, L to R: Margrethe, Henrik, the First Lady, the President, Benedikte, Mary. Not pictured: Frederik.

And finally, the President and First Lady held a dinner in return, with no messy pins to worry about. Benedikte held down the elegant fort while Margrethe was...Margrethe, basically, which is sort of like your childhood piano teacher all gussied up for the big recital in her finest white tights. And Mary sported what is apparently the latest in wearable tablecloths from the H&M Conscious Collection.

Who was your state visit best dressed?

Photos: Scanpix/Kongehuset/Lehtikuva/Billed Bladet/Corbis

Weekly Royal Fashion Awards: January 20-26

Good news, good news: we have some color this week!

 Best in Red

Princess Letizia

At the annual reception for foreign ambassadors, visiting a nursing home

And she's back in my most favorite color for her, excellent. Interesting new addition to her court dress wardrobe, isn't it?
 

Best and Worst in Davos

Crown Princess Mary, Crown Princess Mette-Marit, and Princess Mathilde

Attending the World Economic Forum in Davos

You can always find a handful of royals in Davos - these are just a few appearances. Seems everybody but Mette-Marit's floaty red skirt got the "No fashion! All business! For the peoples!" memo.

Worst in Old Man Pants

Princess Mathilde

At a forum meeting in Gent

I was with you until you stood up. Leave the high-waisted plaid trousers to the golf course, I think.

Best in Black and White

Crown Princess Victoria

Attending a seminar, and a concert

Oh, so close - and we almost got through a whole week without my whining about blergh. Oh well. I'll allow it.

Who was your best dressed last week?

Photos: Getty Images/Pool/BestImage/Kongehuset/Scanpix/AFP/Nieuwsblad/Kungahuset

Week in Review: Crown Princess Victoria, 27 May-2 June

1. Presenting the Astrid Lindgren Memorial Award, 28 May.
2. At a meeting for the Nordic Museum, 30 May. Love the polka dots, and love that Victoria's back in action!

Photos: Purepeople/BestImage/Svenskdam

Week in Review: Crown Princess Mary, 7-14 May

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?

Photos: TV2/Billed Bladet/Getty Images/Zimbio/Daylife

Week in Review: Crown Princess Mary, 30 April-6 May

1. Launching a campaign and attending a conference, 2 May.
2. At the Copenhagen Fashion Summit, 3 May.
3. Attending a Fashion Summit evening event, 4 May.
4. Unveiling a new portrait of herself for the Children's Aid Foundation, 6 May. Mmmm....meh. Not digging this week's matches, skirts to tops and belts and purses and whatnot. Except for this dress because, as you may know, purple is my kryptonite.

Photos: Purepeople/Abaca/sn.dk

Week in Review: Crown Princess Mary, 25 March-7 April

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.

Week in Review: Crown Princess Victoria, 22-28 January

1. Visiting EKN, 23 January.
2. Attending a concert for the Royal Palace Youth Music Festival, 23 January.
3. Visiting the Ministry of Education and Research, 25 January.
4. At Members' Day for the Institute of Internal Affairs, 26 January.
5. Commemorating Holocaust Memorial Day, 27 January.

Photos: Lehtikuva/Svenskdam

Week in Review: Crown Princess Victoria, 15-21 January

1. Visiting Astrid Lindgren Children's Hospital, 19 January.
2. At the headquarters of Save the Children in Stockholm, 20 January.

Photos: Purepeople/Abaca

Week in Review: Crown Princess Victoria, 11-17 December

Here's what Victoria wore from 11-17 December:

1. The King's dinner for the Nobel laureates, 11 December. Wow, some of you really hated this one. I don't know...it still doesn't bother me. Mind you, I'm working with a SHOOTIE and non-maternity dress frame of mind.
2. a) Meeting the winners of the Nobel Peace Prize, 12 December, in b) a By Malene Birger dress.
3. a and b) Receiving the palace Christmas trees, 15 December. Still looking for an appropriately funky canvas for that Lanvin for H&M necklace, I see.

Photos: Svenskdam/Malene Birger/Kungahuset

Week in Review: Crown Princess Victoria, 13-19 November

Here's what Victoria wore from 13-19 November:

1. a and b) On an official visit to Järfälla, 14 November, wearing an H&M maternity coat with a By Malene Birger scarf. The coat is actually maternity wear, which is awesome because I think she's been making do with tent dresses and repeats intended for not-pregnant people for too long - as you can see in (b), because that coat is from pre-pregnancy days and it will not close anymore.
2. Attending a lunch at the palace, 15 November.
3. a) At the World Child and Youth Forum at the Royal Palace, 17 November, in a dubious shoe choice with those tights. The whole family was there, with an apparent winter white and/or brown dress code (b and c).

This one is actually from 11 November, presenting awards at the Royal Swedish Academy of War Science's gala:

And I think we might finally have a winner! A great maternity gown, even if she has caught her sister's fur shrug flu (this one is from Malina). This gives me great hope that she might pull out something stunning for the upcoming Nobel Prize ceremony. Fingers crossed, everyone!

Photos: Purepeople/Abaca/Kungahuset/Lehtikuva

Week in Review: Crown Princess Victoria, 25 September-1 October

Here's what Victoria wore from 25 September-1 October:

1. Meeting with the Arctic Council working group, 27 September.
2. a) Attending the opening of the General Synod, 27 September. The Crown Princess seems to have been hit in the head with a giant flying penguin. The Crown Princess would prefer you not mention it (b). I do hope there were no casualties.
3. Opening a children's culture center, 28 September. I suppose if you're going to go the tent dress route, you might as well get one with a big ol' arrow pointing towards the culprit of your tentish ways.
4. At a charity dinner, 28 September. Well, hello there baby bump! Nice to finally meet you properly.
5. Visiting a cancer center in Stockholm, 30 September. In the context, I can't help but think this looks like a hospital gown.

Photos: Kungahuset/Purepeople/Abaca/Svenskdam/Finest.se/Lehtikuva

Week in Review: Crown Princess Mary, 11-17 September

Here's what Mary wore from 11-17 September:

1. a) Celebrating the 250th year anniversary of "The Arabian Journey" at Copenhagen's Concert Hall, 17 September, in a skirt (b) from H&M and a Prada bag and shoes. I'm just a sucker for a full skirt, I can't help it.

Photos: H&M

Week in Review: Crown Princess Victoria, 28 August - 3 September

Here's what Victoria wore from 28 August - 3 September:

1.  Naming a paddle steamer boat, 29 August, in a symphony of beige.
2. Attending the 2011 Polar Music Prize ceremony, 30 August. I find this...questionable. Questionable sheerness, questionable hair...just questionable.
3. Visiting Gothenburg, 31 August, with (a) and without (b) the coat. SHOOTIES. Yes, I am having a conniption, you called it right. What a cute, swingy take on the sack dress she's favoring on account of the bébé...ruined by a dubious pair of boots. Le sigh.
4. Celebrating the 75th anniversary of the Swedish National Union of Local Governments, 2 September. A cute little tropical antidote to those horrible winter shooties.

Photos: Svenskdam/ANP

Week in Review: Crown Princess Victoria, 19-25 June

Here's what Victoria wore from 19-25 June:

1. Attending the opening of an exhibit at the Prince Eugene's Waldemarsudde Art Museum, 21 June. Repeating her H&M dress, YSL sandals, Malene Birger bag. Meh.

Week in Review: Crown Princess Victoria, 12-18 June

Here's what Victoria wore from 12-18 June:

1. Lunch with Prince Turki of Saudi Arabia, 14 June. Hmm...not sold on this one. Bit random, isn't it?
2. Attending the annual meeting of the friends of the Drottningholm Theatre, 16 June. The pink is always my favorite, that's a given.
3. At a dinner for the AAPKI Foundation, 13 June.

Photos: ANP