Weekly Royal Fashion Awards: July 7-14

Best in Normal

Pretty Much Everyone

A partial selection of engagements for Letizia, Máxima, and Mathilde

Letizia's pink dress is one of my favorites, and I also liked Máxima's orange dress (with brooch!) worn for an informal visit to Windsor Castle. But in all honesty, it was a pretty slow week. Things are slowing down on the whole, as they tend to do in the summer.

The Countess of Wessex at the Coronation Festival Gala

And I suppose it's too much to ask them all to kill a muppet just for our amusement. (Click here for more Windsors at the Coronation Festival.)

Best in Birthdays

Crown Princess Victoria

So thank heavens for Estelle! She came out to celebrate her mother's birthday, which is really a birthday present for us all. And the rest of the family was there too, I suppose.

And an Honorable Mention to...

A Sharing Family

The Hereditary Grand Duke and Hereditary Grand Duchess of Luxembourg paid a visit to New York, and once again the family shared clothes (hat tip to Luxarazzi for the spot) with Stéphanie wearing an evening gown previously worn by her mother-in-law. Who wore it best?

Who was your best dressed last week?

 
Photos: Getty Images/PA/ANP/WPA Pool/Abaca/Aftonbladet/MECE/Cour grand-ducale

Weekly Royal Fashion Awards: June 2-8

Best in Non-Wedding

Queen Máxima

A two day visit to Germany and an engagement back home

Almost everyone was pretty low key last week, ahead of the wedding in Sweden. Not a lot of sartorial news to report from most of our regulars (Letizia made a rousing return to her trouser-ed ways, newsflash!), except for one: couldn't be anyone but Queen Máx. She didn't come to the wedding (and I missed her pizzazz, I really did), but she gave us a week of hats + gloves + day jewels + glam sunglasses, and I'll take it.

Best of the Week

Princess Estelle and Her Handlers

Victoria, Daniel, and Estelle opening the Royal Palace at the start of National Day and then celebrating with the rest of the royal family, including a new portrait of Estelle

Sweden stole the wedding show and the rest of the week, and you know I'm talking about Estelle. Come on. First she gets a baby sash, and then she gets a baby national costume and all the best dates and a WEE BOW?! But never fear: others were putting on a show of their own, including an affectionate bridal couple (click here for a full gallery of National Day fun), and Victoria in a great white dress (check out her necklace!), which was not even her only good wedding week appearance and a precursor to her fabulous wedding frock. Go on, Sweden.

Who was your best dressed last week?

Photos: Getty Images/PPE/Aftonbladet/Kungahuset/K.Gabor/Scanpix

Weekly Royal Fashion Awards: May 12-19

Best in Brights

Queen Máxima

Mathilde visiting IOC Headquarters and opening a new area of Technopolis; Letizia opening an exhibit at the Prado Museum; Máxima attending the annual CGAP meeting, at the Appeltjes van Oranje 2013 award ceremony, and attending a dinner for the International Day Against Homophobia

Bright week for three of our major players, no? Máx gets all my love here. Because Mathilde just had to extend her Kermit suit to those atrocious shoes, and Letizia, well, she's bright for her but she can't play at this glow in the dark level (they both had less bright appearances as well, but meh). Máxima wins both the tame color of the week in her lovely lace, and the brights with her...whatever you call that pink number. If it wasn't Gucci, I'd swear she stole the sleeves from her mother-in-law.

Best in National Pride

Crown Princess Mette-Marit

The Norwegian royal family celebrate on May 17th, Norway's national day

This day always rocks because we get to see Mette-Marit in her bunad (her national dress), and that's ten kinds of lovely. But this year, we also got to see her in purple, which as you know sends me right over the moon. Jumps and claps. 

Prettiest in Pink

Crown Princess Victoria

Opening an exhibit on Princess Estelle's birth and christening, at a concert, and at the publishing of the banns of marriage for Princess Madeleine and Christopher O'Neill with the families

Victoria was so lovely this past week, in all her shades of pink, was she not? So much so that she outshone her sister at her own event - I mean, not literally outshone, because Madeleine's Pär Engsheden creation took care of that with the fabric choice, but still. (And yes, should you need some cute, on Monday Princess Estelle - and the rest of the Swedish royal family, but c'mon, we know who the star of the show is - welcomed their world champion ice hockey team to the palace. Click here for a gallery.)

And an Honorable Mention to...

The Danish Royal Family

A gathering was held this weekend to celebrate the confirmation of Prince Nikolai, oldest son of Prince Joachim and his first wife, Alexandra. Look how they all color coordinated in their blues - now that's teamwork.

Who was your best-dressed last week?

Photos: Getty Images/Photonews/Nieuwsblad/ANP/DutchPhotoPress/Stella Pictures/NTB Scanpix/BestImage/Steen Brogaard/Kongehuset

Royal Trip Report: Haakon and Mette-Marit in Indonesia

It's just a trip-filled time of the year, isn't it? Royals getting out and about one last time before they settle in for Christmas and whatnot. The Norwegians got in on the action last week, as Crown Prince Haakon and Crown Princess Mette-Marit paid an official visit to Indonesia. They promoted Norway, and I'm promoting her clothes, as I do, because this trip featured a few absolutely lovely outings for dear M-M.

It wouldn't be Mette-Marit without some typical M-M outfits, of course, meaning some plain clothes and some uninspiring pairings. But thankfully, there's more.

Just to spice things up, the couple paid tribute to their hosts by donning local gifts: a shawl from the first lady for Mette-Marit for an official dinner, some traditional skirts for both, and a printed fiesta of a shirt for Haakon (a gift from the embassy). I'm puzzled by Mette-Marit's pairing of that business jacket with that floaty dress, but I find myself sufficiently distracted by a man that can wear a skirt wrap with flair, so I don't care.

My favorites obviously begin with her outfit on arrival: it's purple, it's detailed, the earrings are killer, and it's purple again. I also nod my head in her general direction for a bit of shine and a brooch with some hair ornamentation (I appreciate her attempt to give us a hat - every trip deserves a hat). But my very very favorite is her crisp white suit filled with intricate detail. That's the Nordic ice princess I know and love!

Which was your favorite outfit?

Photos: Kronprinsparet Facebook & Twitter/Scanpix/Kongehuset/Getty Images/Stella Pictures

Weekly Royal Fashion Awards: Catching Up

Oh my. It's been...uh...some time since we talked regular royal fashion, what with all those royals going casual at the Olympics and then retreating for their summer holidays. We got the Paralympic outfits out of the way yesterday, let's have a massive round up from the rest of our leading ladies since whenever it was we last chatted, shall we? (Note: this is not every outfit.)

Most Family-Oriented Return

Princess Mathilde

Left to Right: A family photocall with the extended Belgian royal family; the first day of school.

Mathilde has returned to her royal engagement business, but first she had some family business to take care of: a massive family photocall, where pink seemed to be the name of the game, and taking the kids to school. Looking pretty mommy chic on the Mathilde scale, I'd say.

Strictest Return to Form

Princess Letizia

At the opening of a conference; visiting a business school

 One simple sheath dress, one pantsuit. That's Letizia, in a nutshell.

Best Return to Princess Form

Crown Princess Mary

The inaguration of Campus Roskilde; the awarding of the Skt.Loye Prize; Visiting a kindergarten; at Circus Danneborg; A wreath-laying ceremony; Visiting two towns

Two hatted, gloved appearances: Mary's back in action, kids. Lovely mauve hat aside, though...my heart belongs to the orange Marc Jacobs. It's swishy! Jumpy claps. Mary gets bonus points for being a sporty royal too - and not a spectator sporty sort, à la the Olympics, but an actual sporty one: first, she swam in the channels of Copenhagen, wetsuit and all (she's patron of the Danish Swimming Federation), and then she played basketball. In heels and a hat, as you do. And it was adorable. Click here to see.

Best Use of Sporting Gear

Princess Máxima

At a conference; celebrating the 60th anniversary of the Maastricht School of Management; celebrating the 5th anniversary of the Pet'je af Foundation; swimming for ALS

Mary wasn't the only one wetsuit-ing up this week! Máxima was at it too, swimming in Amsterdam Canal for charity. But in Máxima's case, I think it might just be the highlight of her sartorial week, as the rest is meh. Colorful meh, but meh nevertheless.

Biggest Hodgepodge of a Week

Crown Princess Mette-Marit

At the confirmation of her son Marius; visiting Oslo Renovation for an introduction to municipal waste management; at the Fretex charity shop

Have you ever seen such a mix of royal outfits in one spot? Traditional in national dress, dressed up in saucy Prada heels...and a blazer over a Harvard t-shirt. I have no idea what one ought to wear to tour a municipal waste facility, but this strikes me as odd. Perhaps she should have investigated the wetsuit option.

Most Colorful Princess

Crown Princess Victoria

Opening Stockholm Fashion Week; the Polar Music Awards; awarding the Junior Water Prize; at the Export Hermes Awards; at an event for the Swedish Brain Foundation

Look at all that blissful color! It's enough to make you forgive a dodgy batch of shoe choices. (Clunky on multiple occasions and too much green at once. Dodgy.) Naturally, my favorite is the saucy yellow number - she always goes a little bit funky for this event - and the hair down. Down! Variety: it's the spice of life.

What's your favorite princess outfit for this week (or weeks, whatever)?

Photos: Getty Images/Scanpix/Bekia/dutchphotopress/tv2/Svenskdam/Purepeople/Abaca

Week in Review: Crown Princess Victoria, 8-14 July

1.  Celebrating her birthday at Solliden, 14 July, with the rest of the family including Princess Estelle, the most serious baby ever.

I don't think Estelle likes the look of you.

Later on Carl Philip and Madeleine joined the fun for the annual concert, where Madeleine wore summer everything (including the same sandals as her sister from the morning) plus a winter coat.

And then this happened:

So, the King's tradition of undignified rain gear on his daughter's birthday is alive and well for another year! Huzzah.

Photos: Getty Images/AFP/Svenskdam

Week in Review: Crown Princess Victoria, 3-9 June

1. Attending a meeting of the Climate and Clean Air Coalition with Hillary Clinton, 3 June.
2. National Day, 6 June. Delightful national costumes as always, and a special double dose this year as Princess Madeleine turned up for the annual palace opening in one too!

Photos: Daylife/Kungahuset

Week in Review: Crown Princess Mette-Marit, 20-26 May

1. a and b) Day 1 of a three day visit to the County of Møre og Romsdal, 24 May.
2. a, b, c) Day 2, 25 May. 
3. a and b) Day 3, 26 May. On the Mette-Marit scale – where the top includes jaw-dropping evening appearances and the bottom is composed to such mismatched day appearances you’re quite certain she suffered a power outage and got dressed in the dark – I’d rate this trip in the middle. Nothing particularly zesty, no (except the bunad, obviously), but matched enough to appear some thought went into it. And sometimes that’s all you get.

Photos: Side2/NRK/Purepeople/BestImage/Kongehuset/Scanpix/Svenskdam

Week in Review: Crown Princess Mette-Marit, 13-19 May

1. National Day, 17 May. Huzzah for the bunad and all, but listen to me: if ski hats with veils are becoming a thing, I am done. DONE, I SAY.

Photos: Dagbladet/Purepeople/Abaca/Jil Sander

Royal Fashion Awards: The Jubilee Sovereigns' Luncheon

As promised, the world’s sovereigns descended upon Windsor Castle today for lunch with Queen Elizabeth to celebrate her whopping 60 years on the throne. Historic picture time!

Anyway, several basic suits and a few mishaps with the Bedazzler later, here’s what we came out with:

Best in Boss Ladies

Queen Elizabeth

Left to Right: Queen Beatrix of the Netherlands, Queen Elizabeth II, Queen Margrethe of Denmark

This lunch is being touted all over as the most exclusive lunch in the world, but this right here is the most exclusive club: the queens regnant. The Jubilee Girl wins it for obvious reasons, though Queen Beatrix gets some serious bonus points for looking so thrilled to see her girl QEII. Time for some queenly girl talk! 

Best in Shoulder Doodads

Queen Paola

L to R: The Duchess of Cambridge, Grand Duchess Maria Teresa of Luxembourg, Queen Paola of the Belgians, Queen Rania of Jordan

I loved Kate’s demure pink Emilia Wickstead number and was so delighted to see her wearing a brooch (some sort of homage one way or the other to the Broochiest Queen of All perhaps?) that I bumped her up to a special little category. But when it comes to shoulder doodads, she still needs some practice: she kept forgetting her brooch was there and covering it up with the hair. I still prefer that to Maria Teresa’s hubcap shine (repeated from National Day), or the top that Queen Rania stole from an Egyptian mummy on the way up north, but Queen Paola wins this one. She’s lovely, and she’s purple. Done and done.

Best in Blue

Sheikha Mozah

L to R: Queen Anne-Marie of Greece, Princess Charlene of Monaco, Sheikha Mozah of Qatar, Queen Sonja of Norway

You know Sheikha Mozah’s my girl crush, right? The lady’s got flair - flair enough to steal her category right from under the NON-BLERGH suit of Charlene, wrinkles and all. As thrilled as I am to see Charlene back in that gorgeous Mediterranean blue hue, the feat of hairspray sculpture up top is way beyond her years.

Best in National Dress and Etc.

Empress Michiko

L to R: The Queen of Brunei, Princess Srirasm of Thailand, Princess Lalla Meryem of Morocco, Empress Michiko of Japan, Sheikha Sabika of Bahrain

Here’s the category for those of you disappointed in the lack of tiaras at the lunch – why, the Queen of Brunei’s outfit alone gives you plenty of ornamentation. I’m a sucker for those gorgeous caftans the Moroccan ladies treat us to, but this one goes to the empress, for pure adorableness.

Worst in British Glimpses

The Countess of Wessex

L to R: Princess Eugenie of York, the Countess of Wessex, Princess Beatrice of York

Precious view glimpses are around of some of the other British royal ladies. We’ve got two different takes on the Princess Gladiator from the York gals: Bea in gold-wrapped super hero mode, and Eug in a toga thing. I’m pretty sure I love what Beatrice is cooking up there, but I can’t tell. On the other hand, I don’t need a better look to know that Sophie’s depressing me.

Best of the Rest

Crown Princess Margarita

L to R: Queen Silvia of Sweden, Crown Princess Katherine of Serbia, Crown Princess Margarita of Romania, Queen Margarita of Bulgaria, Queen Mesenate Mohato Seeiso of Lesotho

Two things I love: when Crown Princess Katherine comes out to play at the royal events, because she always looks so darn friendly, and when Crown Princess Margarita does the same, because she always puts on her royal best. Like so many of these other ladies, she’s gone the prim and simple route with a skirt suit, but there’s something about her dainty red take that jumps out above the rest.

Worst in Hot Glue Ornamentation

Inkhosikati LaMbikiza of Swaziland

Did you know that this lady here was one of the King of Swaziland’s multiple wives before this lunch? I’m guessing you didn’t. But you do now. So...mission accomplished?

Who was your best dressed at the luncheon?

P.S.: The evening event is still to come.

Photos: Getty Images/Reuters/AP/WPA Pool/Zimbio/Daylife

Week in Review: Princess Charlene, 25 March-7 April

1. a-e) Visiting Lapland, 25-27 March. Shoulda been a Scandinavian princess - the dress suits her, no?

Photos: Daylife/Aftenposten

2011 in Review: Crown Princess Mette-Marit

Best of the Year

I like it when she gets saucy on us. This is the only Mette-Marit appearance that truly made my jaw drop this year. What can I say? Sometimes you have to wait a while between stunners from her, but she's got some serious game when she feels like playing it.

Runners Up

I just love it when she puts those little caps on the back of her head. Probably would hate it on anyone else, but with her nearly white hair and striking features, it just works. I also like it when she gets her LBD on, and also her purple on, and her perfect princess on, with a special mention for getting her national costume on. Gorgeous.

Worst of the Year

I fully expect her oddly colorful, slightly Oompa Loompa schoolgirl look to garner many mentions here, but for me, the worst was the height of something that brings her whole look down for me: such casually thrown together combos. What was with the business coat thrown over the frilly dress? She usually restricts her odd combos and too-basic business wear to her everyday dealings, but this one stuck out for being included in a state visit.

Which outfits make your best and worst lists for Mette-Marit in 2011?

Photos: FVN/Getty Images/Daylife/Aftenposten/AVB

Week in Review: Crown Princess Mette-Marit, 18-24 December

Here's what Mette-Marit wore from 18-24 December:

1. The annual Christmas photoshoot, 19 December. Oh, you know she rocks the bunad (that's the traditional costume), and this beautiful blue number might just be my favorite one yet.
2. Christmas Eve church service, 24 December.

Photos: Vidar Ruud/ANB

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

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

1. Attending a relative's confirmation, 28 August. Back in national dress, just like I like her.
2. At the welcome ceremony beginning the state visit from South Africa to Norway, 31 August. What a difference a red lip makes, am I right?
3. a) The state banquet, 31 August, in b) Valentino. Well, it's a different take on the ruffles she's so fond of, I'll give her that. Actually, I'm digging the dress, I'm just not sure about the hippie-esque vibe alongside her orders and tiara. Even if her tiara is made of daisies.
4. Visiting Zurich International School, 1 September.
5. At the opening of the One Young World Summit in Zurich, 1 September. LOVE. Perfect LBD for her.

It's a state visit, so we'd better do a tiara roundup:

Mette-Marit in her Diamond Daisy Tiara, Queen Sonja in her massive emeralds, and Astrid...oh, Astrid! These are her wings. (See also: horns, antennae, and feathers - which is what they're actually supposed to be.) Every time she wears this, she takes another step up on my list of royals I'd like to have a drink with. You just can't sport something like that without a great sense of humor.

Gown check:

I think that's a new gown for Sonja, and a passable one at that; and a multi-repeat from Astrid, per usual. Plus a rather...erm...bountiful gown for the South African First Lady there. Wow.

Photos: fvn.no/Kristin Ellefsen/siste.no/Valentino/blich.ch/Schweizer Illustrierte

Week in Review: Crown Princess Victoria, 10-16 July

Here's what Victoria wore from 10-16 July:

1. Out for a walk.
2. Attending a ceremony to unveil trees that she and Daniel received as wedding gifts, 13 July, a) on Victoria and b) from Diane von Furstenberg with those YSL heels. This is one of those things that I hate on the hanger, but actually on her it looks pretty good. (And hey: no ponytail!)
3. Celebrating her 34th birthday, 14 July. Simple, but effective. 
4. At her birthday concert, 14 July. 

It was a very cute week in Victoria Land, from delight at wedding presents and birthday fans...

...right down to getting drenched with the family while enjoying her birthday concert. Gotta love the trash bag rain protection!

Photos: Getty Images/AP Photo/Daylife

Flashback Friday: Oh, Canada!

After extensive research including strenuous minutes of googling, I've come to a conclusion: strange things happen in Canada. Well, to the royals at least.

The Queen wears trousers! Prince Philip listens to...rapper-type people!

William and Kate are heading off to Canada (with a pit stop in California) soon (peruse the Canadian itinerary here and the American one here), and all eyes are on the fashion. All my eyes are, at least. There are some serious fashion hurdles ahead of the Duchess, so I thought we'd take a look back at how past royals have handled these Canadian obstacles, and what handy trip tips we can offer to the lovely Kate.

Hurdle #1: The Cowboy Hat

William and Kate will indeed be sporting ten gallon cowboy hats during their trip, just as multiple family members before them have. I think the fashion question here belongs not to the Duchess, but to the Duke: will William wear a bolo tie? Dear God, let's hope not. That's not a good look for anyone.

Hurdle #2: The Action Trip

The trip itinerary has spawned the greatest comparisons to the Canadian tour undertaken by the Duke and Duchess of York at the height of their popularity (yes, they were popular, once). The Yorks had an action trip, mucking in instead of observing. That's exactly what the Cambridges are doing; their events include playing street hockey, captaining dragon boats, cooking, and more. Let's hope they dress more appropriately for their boating turn, and that they remember this one simple fact: strangling people, no matter how fun, is never royal.

Tip #1: Dress thyself in red and white.

Hurdles aside, one thing Kate must be sure and bring along for a successful Canada trip is plenty of red and white. The whole purpose of the trip is to fly the Canadian flag, so she might as well jump full in and make it her uniform. Especially when the couple's going to be there on Canada Day and all. There shouldn't be too many opportunities for evening wear for the Cambridges, so perhaps we'll be spared another attempt at crafting a gown from the Canadian flag.

Tip #2: Bring on the maple leaves.

Same goes here as for the red and white: if it's on the flag, it should also be on the royals. Brooch it up, bedazzle something - Kate can do whatever she pleases with the leaf du pays...but I say once again, there's no need to be comical about it. Let's stop just before we reach Fergie territory. (Sound advice for life, really, not just for maple leafage.)

Tip #3: Put it on with a smile.

This one's universal, but since it's the Cambridge's first big trip, it's worth saying: no matter what someone hands you, you're gonna have to put it on and smile. Doesn't matter if it's actually cool (Roots gear, anyone?) or terribly odd (bedazzled 3D specs? Huh?), just grin and sport your new present. And if you start to feel ridiculous, just remember: it could be much worse.

Sometimes they make you get ALL dressed up, just for photographer giggles. It's a hard knock royal life.

What are you hoping to see from our next feature film, The Cambridges Take North America? Do you have any extra tips to offer?

Photos: Getty Images/Tim Graham/Anwar Hussein