Royal Outfit of the Day: January 27

Queen Máxima accompanied King Willem-Alexander on a short introductory visit to Rome, wearing a mauve dress with a ruffled peplum under a camel coat, with gray pearl jewelry and a repeated feathered hat.

I must say, this outfit doesn't do anything for me. After giving it a closer look, I'm impressed with the details - the pearls are perfect with this color; even the nail polish is on point - but...nah. I see she's going with a cape effect on the coat there, but in the end it just looks like she lost her arms (some tragic accident involving the door to the family jewel vault, no doubt) or she grabbed her hubby's coat at the last second (particularly in motion, see the video embedded below).

Photos: Getty Images

Royal Outfit of the Day: January 21

Queen Máxima joined King Willem-Alexander to welcome French president François Hollande for an official visit to the Netherlands.

We've seen this whole thing before, of course, just with hair down and aquamarines on this time. Last time I gave the ridiculous sleeves a pass, but I'm afraid the pass has expired. They don't work very well when she's standing with her hands at her side, do they? Got to be awkward at lunch, too. They're just fighting for space, all sleeved up and nowhere to go. That makes two outfits this year that could use a serious volume reduction, and I'm starting to fear what could be next...

Video, above

Photos: Pool/Reuters

Royal Outfit of the Day: January 16

Queen Máxima, wearing Natan, accompanied King Willem-Alexander to host an annual New Year's reception. Princess Beatrix, Princess Margriet, and Pieter van Vollenhoven were also in attendance.

When Máxima arrived for this event (click here for that), I had a hunch that her coat and pose were giving us the best of a potentially questionable outfit. This event is normally private, but as though they were reading my mind, the royal house allowed a video inside (embedded below). And sure enough...my original thought that her hair and copious use of aquamarine jewels is indeed the best thing here. Unless she was going for a cone-shaped upper body from the start, in which case, well done.

Photos: RVD/Natan/PPE

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

Year in Review: 2013's Bests From Our Regulars

We have a handful of leading ladies around here that we follow regularly, and now it's time to reminisce about the best they looked this whole year - one of my favorite things to do. So! Much! Pretty!

I always enjoy going back through the year as a refresher, but in truth, I'm looking for the outfits that made such an impression they require absolutely no refresher. We're talking about the best of the whole year, after all. And you guessed it, those often come from those extra special events. These are my personal favorites, one for each lady...

Queen Máxima

Look at that, I'm sneaking two in right away: I think the glory that was Queen Máxima on inauguration day deserves a second best, which is excellent because I've recently decided that I am just as enchanted by the lace gown she wore during the evening celebrations as I was by the caped wonder she sported for the inauguration ceremony. (Both by Jan Taminiau, of course.) We know now that she has dipped back to her old ways in the months since, but never mind. We'll always have April 30th.

Queen Mathilde

Mathilde took a much lower key approach to her outfit the day her husband became king, but the official portrait they released included all the regal fierceness you could want: a simple Natan gown done in a strong color which played beautifully off of the purple of her Order of Leopold, a mega diamond brooch, and a new-to-her tiara development in the form of the bandeau from the Nine Provinces Tiara. A queen indeed!

Crown Princess Victoria

This one is easy. Soooo easy. Victoria's stunning Fadi El Khoury gown at her sister's wedding has certainly earned a spot on my list of all-time royal faves, right up there with Máxima's double best. Plus, everyone knows that WEE ESTELLE and a purse- and pacifier-toting Prince Daniel are the ultimate accessories. We got some jewel news out of it, too: this was a first appearance for Victoria in Lilian's Laurel Wreath Tiara and in the necklace Lilian so loved to wear.

Crown Princess Mette-Marit

Another number from Madeleine's wedding, Mette-Marit and her Emilio Pucci gown paired with her amethyst tiara. I've said it before, and I'll say it again: all this one has to do is bust out a train in pastel and there's a 95% chance I'll be sold.

Crown Princess Mary

Mary's Birgit Hallstein gown for the pre-inauguration dinner in the Netherlands took my breath away when she wore it, and it still does. Just so darn elegant. Add this to the list of all-time faves.

Princess Letizia

I'm surprising myself here, but the heart wants what it wants. This is the lone best of the year that came from a regular event (an audience) and not a big fancy special occasion. And yet there's something about her Felipe Varela combo that just sticks - it's classic, but the animal print makes sure it still has that Letizia stamp on it.

The Duchess of Cambridge

As much as I would like to put her second-ever tiara appearance here, we don't know much about what that dress looked like! I'm going with wee George's christening instead, in custom cream Alexander McQueen.

Yes, we will have a look at some bests from other ladies (and also some worsts...), so stay tuned for those. Until then:

Which outfits make your list of personal bests for our leading ladies this year?

Photos: Getty Images/Jan Taminiau/Belgian Monarchy/Fadi El Khoury/Felipe Varela/PA

Year in Review: 2013's Royal Brides

As we continue to wrap up 2013's sartorial happenings, a look back at the lovely royal (and royal-adjacent, etc.) brides we covered here this year - because a royal wedding gown is always a highlight, no?

• In March, Princess Iman bint Al Hussein of Jordan married Zaid Azmi Mirza in traditional style. 
• In June, Princess Madeleine of Sweden married Christopher O'Neill in a Valentino gown.
• In August, Vicky Andrén married Gustaf Magnuson (the King of Sweden's nephew) in a Lars Wallin dress.
• In August, Kendra Spears married Prince Rahim Aga Khan in Manav Gangwani Couture.
• In August, Tatiana Santo Domingo married Andrea Casiraghi in a Missoni outfit. (Reports say they will hold a religious wedding in January.)
• In September, Claire Lademacher married Prince Félix of Luxembourg first in a dress from Jan Taminiau and then in a gown from Elie Saab (pictured).
• In October, Viktória Cservenyák married Prince Jaime of Bourbon-Parma in Claes Iversen. (They have since announced that their first baby is due in February!)

You could give me Elie Saab any day of the week and I'd be a happy camper, so obviously Claire comes out ahead for me in the 2013 bridal race. But we had a great variety this year and I'm guessing there's something here for everyone, so tell me:

Which royal wedding ensemble was your favorite this year?

Photos: Petra/Pool/Scanpix/The Ismaili/Palais Princier/Cour grand-ducale/Getty Images

Year in Review: 2013's Happenings

It's time to start wrapping up the year! (Yes! Already.) Let's begin with a glance back at some of the big royal events of the year. Oh, nostalgia...

Abdications Galore!

Video: Willem-Alexander's inauguration

The Year of the Abdication started with a surprise announcement from the Pope and just kept rolling on: the Dutch, Qatari, and Belgian thrones all changed hands this year. For sheer royal fun, the inauguration of Willem-Alexander has to reign supreme.

Hello, George!

Video: The Cambridges leave the hospital

The birth of Prince George was this year's designated royal event to pull major headlines all around - you couldn't escape it if you tried!

Weddings!

Video: Princess Madeleine marries Christopher O'Neill

We'll have a closer look at the brides of 2013, but a handful of royal weddings drew extra attention, including those of Princess Madeleine, Prince Félix, and Prince Jaime. Special nod to Madeleine and those wonderful Scandinavian royal weddings with all their gorgeous tiaras, of course.

Anniversaries!

Video: The Queen's coronation anniversary service

Last year was dominated by Jubilee celebrations and this year held a few notable anniversaries too, such as Queen Elizabeth II celebrating the 60th anniversary of her coronation, and King Carl XVI Gustaf celebrating his 40th year on the throne.

All this and so much more, including all the events we get to enjoy annually! Not a bad year, I'd say.

What was your favorite royal event of 2013?

Weekly Royal Fashion Awards: December 4-9

Hmm.

The Duchess of Cambridge

Video: William and Kate attend the London premiere of "Mandela: The Long Walk to Freedom"

Look, I find this outfit rather baffling, but the whole thing takes on an extra unimportant tone considering the death of the great Nelson Mandela was announced while they were at this premiere. William's short statement when they left is included in the video above. (Kate also paid a visit to a children's hospice, smartly wearing trousers to avoid any precarious situations when crouching to kid level. Click here for some video cuteness.)

HMM.

Queen Máxima

Attending a concert given in Princess Beatrix's honor

Well, the outfit above is nothing compared to the level of bafflement this brings. From the unflattering bands to the messy skirt to the overly dark stockings - I just can't.

Best of the Rest

Crown Princess Mette-Marit

Mathilde visits Hong Kong (this was my favorite from the trip - click here for a nice video featuring more), Haakon and Mette-Marit at a meeting, Victoria pays a visit to discuss bioenergy, Mary hosts a holiday reception for her foundation

Some lovely business happening here, but the winner has to be Mette-Marit - she's alive! (She's been out of commission for weeks due to a neck problem that required surgery, if you haven't been following your Norwegian royal news.)

Who was your best dressed last week?

Photos: Raad van State/RTL/Kronprinsparet Fond/Lehtikuva/Maryfonden

Weekly Royal Fashion Awards: November 20-December 3

Most Improved

Queen Máxima

Visiting Colombia and Venezuela; returning home for more engagements including celebrating the 200th anniversary of the Kingdom of the Netherlands (4th, 5th, 6th from left). At far right, her mixed print look on the Spijkers en Spijkers runway.

Some of the things worn during Máx's tour of the Caribbean (her tour, yup - I think she may have brought a date) were a bit dubious - which was why I was happy to see her move on to a couple quick country visits and then home once again. I can't even get mad at her ridiculous, ridiculous sleeve action because I thought her makeup was so on point. Of course, she had to throw us a loop at the end, nabbing a look straight from the runway, unfortunate neck scarf and all.

Best in Fine

These Ladies

Letizia in Valencia and at an awards ceremony; Kate at a gala; Mathilde at a palace event and on an official visit to Luxembourg; Victoria at a seminar; Mary at a school

Well, this is obviously not comprehensive (none of it is, ever), but there was a lot of just fine work going on while I was on hiatus. I mean, fine. Nod. Approve. Forget. I did have a few favorites, including any sort of simple dress (Letizia, Mathilde), and Mary's turn there struck me with a spot of extra elegance. I also can't help but love Grand Duchess Maria Teresa for turning up the volume to welcome the Belgians - the hair! Now that's a thing of beauty. (See a video on the visit here.)

Tiara Watch!

Sweden warmed up for their sparkling Nobel festivities with an official dinner featuring Queen Silvia in the Connaught Tiara and some amethysts (YUM) and Crown Princess Victoria in the Cut Steel Tiara - with that repeated metallic Jenny Packham dress, she must have been one sparkly sight to see.

And that's all that happened in tiara news, I think. Right, guys? (Ha.) Anyway, discussion on the Duchess of Cambridge's front page-making tiara jaunt and which pieces she wore is happening over at the Jewel Vault.

And an Honorable Mention to...

Prince Harry

Video: Harry talks about breaking his toe in advance of his South Pole trek

Last but not least, here's a bearded Harry being cute in Antarctica, because I care.

Who's your best dressed?

Photos: ANP/PPE/Pool/DutchPhotoPress/Getty Images/Spijkers en Spijkers/Casa Real/PA/RTL/IBL/Abaca/Scanpix/Kungahuset

Weekly Royal Fashion Awards: November 12-19, Plus More Stuff

Best in Regular Stuff

Crown Princess Victoria

Mathilde at a couple palace events and visiting a hospital; Kate out and about at a charity; Mary at a meeting; Victoria at the Royal Swedish Academy of War Sciences' formal gathering, at a couple engagements and holding an audience

Call this the non-trip category - and call Victoria the winner, if only for giving us at least one evening gown, even if it is a repeat and even if it is another almost-tiara-but-not occasion.

Brightest in Trips

Queen Máxima

Yesterday we caught up with the traveling Danes and Spaniards, today we have a partial selection of the Dutch on their ongoing introductory trip to the Caribbean. Máx on a big trip is usually like catnip to me, so I'm not sure why this one's left me feeling rather meh so far. Ah, well, they're not done yet. No matter what, I remain impressed at her ability to dig up so many neon-flavored outfits.

And an Honorable Mention to...

The Hats of National Day in Monaco

Video, above

Charlene's coat is giving me Star Trek bathrobe vibes, but you have to give the Monaco crew: those were some actual hats. All hats or no hats, no fascinator shenanigans here.

And One Last Addition...

The Countess of Wessex

Video, above

So much going on right now, I nearly forgot to give Sophie her proper due for rocking her Benjamin Button fabulousness in Valentino red while celebrating Doctor Who at Buckingham Palace. Do you think if I wrote to the palace really nicely, I could get her secret for de-aging? Because I'm just getting older over here, and it's not fair.

Who was your best dressed last week?

Photos: Belga/Getty Images/VTM Nieuws/WPA Pool/Kongehuset/Scanpix/Kungahuset/TT/Lehtikuva/DutchPhotoPress/ANP/NOS

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

Wedding Wednesday: Princess Aimée's Gown

HH Prince Floris of Orange-Nassau, van Vollenhoven and Aimée Söhngen

October 20 & 22, 2005

Naarden, Netherlands

The youngest of Princess Margriet of the Netherlands and Pieter van Vollenhoven's four sons was the last to marry, and his nuptials came just a couple of months after those of his brother Prince Pieter-Christiaan, their engagements having been announced at the same time. (This is the last of the four weddings to be covered here, see previously: Maurits and Marilène, Bernhard and Annette, Pieter-Christiaan and Anita.) Floris met Aimée Söhngen while both were studying at Leiden University.

Aimée's civil wedding outfit and her religious wedding gown were both designed by Lidy de Joode. For the civil ceremony, she wore an apricot dress made of lace on a floral background with a jacket of tangerine crepe and a matching pillbox-style hat. It is prim and proper as can be, and combined with her chosen hairstyle gives off a serious Jackie Kennedy vibe.

Video: The civil and religious weddings

In a way, her dress for the church ceremony two days later also has a retro feel. It reminds me of multiple royal wedding gowns from days gone by with its unadorned body, high and simple neckline, long sleeves, and luxurious thick fabric (silk Mikado, in this case). A slim skirt rests underneath an overskirt that splits from the front of the waist and extends back to a wide long train. The dress does have a tendency to look stiff in certain poses, but that happens sometimes with heavier fabrics (this is the same type of fabric used by Valentino to create Máxima Zorreguieta's gown). Aimée finished the look with a veil sprinkled with pearls, and - like the rest of the van Vollenhoven brides - she donned the Ears of Wheat Tiara from the Dutch family collection.

I'm always back and forth on this dress: is it too simple, or just simple enough? I can't help but think it lacks a little personality, but the simple gown does allow her face to shine through. Anyway, this couple is still going strong and over the summer welcomed their third child, a son Willem Jan, to join daughters Magali and Eliane.

What do you think: too simple, or just simple enough?

Photos: ANP/Het Koninklijk Huis/RVD/DPA

Weekly Royal Fashion Awards: October 22-28, Plus a Tiara Watch!

Best in Annual Events

Princess Letizia

Video: The 2013 Prince of Asturias Awards ceremony

Each year, the Asturias couple head to Oviedo for a couple days of engagements surrounding the big show, the Prince of Asturias Awards. It almost always ends up being one of Letizia's sartorial highlights of the year, and 2013 is no different - look at her, all sparkly and green! Like a tasteful Christmas tree come two months early.

Asturias Awards events

I mean, I could have done without the 1980s flashback tuxedo-dress, but on the whole - a good week in LetiziaLand.

Best in Returns

The Duchess of Cambridge

At a charity dinner

Ooh, this is lovely. I know many of you will cry out for a necklace here, but I actually think it's styled perfectly for this occasion - add a necklace and you'll need to pull the hair back or up, but the dress works well with the cascading locks she loves so much. Welcome back to the fray, Kate.

Best of the Rest

Crown Princess Victoria

Victoria at a meeting and at a formal gathering for the Royal Swedish Academy of Engineering Sciences; Mathilde finishing up her visits around the country with her husband; Máxima with her husband in Greece

That blue dress, which we've seen before, is just so elegant on Victoria, I'm not even mad at her for not wearing a tiara (it's not a tiara event, despite the otherwise extremely formal dress code). Besides, someone else got their tiaras out last week, so I'll live. Read to the end for that...

A (Dis?)Honorable Mention to...

This Dress, AGAIN

Alexandra of Sayn-Wittgenstein-Berleburg and Kate in 2012; Alexandra of Luxembourg in September and Madeleine just this past week

I'm starting to get mad at this dress and it's not even poor Madeleine's fault. There are two different designers here, Jenny Packham and Tadashi Shoji, yes - but come on, same difference. I loved it at first and now all I can ask is: Are we done yet? (On another note, Madeleine will be in attendance at this year's Nobel Awards! Huzzah for maternity tiara fashion! Please don't let it be another version of this dress.)

Plus an Honorable Mention to...

The Hereditary Grand Duchess of Luxembourg

Video: Guillaume and Stéphanie have an audience with the Pope

I don't cover Stéphanie here as much as some of you would like, but there's no denying the girl can wear a veil.

Speaking of cool things to put on your head (segue, nailed it), time for that little Tiara Watch I promised.

The Norwegian royal family hosted a gala for parliament and Queen Sonja busted out her mega emerald set. I'm entranced by the movement or perhaps lack of movement of her skirt - click here for video, the royal party enters at 10:38 (including Haakon and the King - and Haakon, yes). And Princess Astrid was in attendance, dutifully wearing the largest tiara at her disposal, her turquoise diadem, as though trying to do whatever she could to make up for the family being down a tiara-wearer in Crown Princess Mette-Marit's absence. Bless.

Who was your best dressed last week?

Photos: Getty Images/PA/Style.com/Matches Fashion/BestImage/Stella/EdA/Orange Grove/DPP/ANB

Wedding Wednesday: Princess Anita's Gown

A year of double Dutch royal wedding fun began in February of 2005, as Princess Margriet of the Netherlands (then-Queen Beatrix's sister) and her husband Pieter van Vollenhoven announced the engagements of their two youngest sons, Prince Pieter-Christiaan and Prince Floris. The family also announced that neither couple would be asking the government for permission to marry, thus placing them out of the line of succession to the throne. (They would be excluded by now anyway - Dutch law limits the line based on degree of relation to the monarch, and they aren't close enough now that their cousin Willem-Alexander is king.) We have previously covered the weddings of the eldest two van Vollenhoven sons (Prince Bernhard and Prince Maurits) and between this week and next we'll complete the set.

HH Prince Pieter-Christiaan of Orange-Nassau, van Vollenhoven and Anita van Eijk

August 25 & 27, 2005

Apeldoorn & Noordwijk, Netherlands

First to marry that year was Pieter-Christiaan, who met his fiancée Anita while they were both working in London. They married first in a civil ceremony at Het Loo Palace in Apeldoorn, where the bride opted for a patterned outfit from Andrew Gn (Gn works out of Paris but is Singapore-born; Anita lived in Singapore for a time).

The couple at their civil wedding, and the coat on the runway

The three-quarter length jacket tops a matching skirt underneath, all done in silk with a vivid coral print in colors of green, turquoise, and yellow. The sleeves, neckline, and pockets feature stone embellishment. She accessorized with matching shoes, a yellow flower hairpiece at the back of her head, and a coordinating bouquet. The print and the heavy embellishment make for one bold look, despite the classic and demure shape (it's actually one of my least favorite civil wedding looks, to tell you the truth). But any thought that such a loud ensemble would foretell a drastic gown for the religious wedding proved to be quite wrong...

...as the wedding gown proper is completely classic bridal. For the church ceremony, Princess Anita turned to Dutch designer Frans Hoogendoorn. The result is a dress made of cream duchess satin with a boat neck three-quarter sleeve top of lace. A separate train stretches back three meters and is covered by a tulle veil with lace appliqué. Like other Dutch brides, she wore the diamond Ears of Wheat Tiara on top of her soft updo.

I hate to say it again, but classic is really the ultimate word here - it's not a particularly unique design, you can draw comparisons between this and many other royal wedding gowns, but it's one that manages to look lovely in all forms. Today, we see this couple at extended Dutch royal family events and they now have two children together, Emma and Pieter.

What do you say: classic or no?

Photos: ANP/AFP/Seeger Press/Het Koninklijk Huis

Weekly Royal Fashion Awards: October 15-21

An Honorable Mention, For Starters...

The Duke of Cambridge

Video: Prince William carries out an investiture

Since Harry in uniform won the top spot a couple weeks ago, it only seems fair to offer the same to his big brother. Here's Wills looking dashing in uniform while taking a step forward in the world of senior royaldom by performing his first investiture on behalf of the Queen. (And of course his lovely wife was back in the game - see what I did there, lolz - this week as well, in repeated casual mode.)

Best in Hat

Queen Máxima

Left to Right: Mathilde continuing her visits around the country with the King; Máxima opening all kinds of stuff, really

Máx may have stuck to gray, but at least there were no visors. Also, she hilariously repeated her outfit from the Luxembourg wedding of 2012 just as we took a look back at her royal wedding guest appearances - minus the giant feather hat this time, though, because one doesn't have time to check ceiling heights and such for everyday use.

Best in Non-Hat

Princess Letizia

L to R: Mathilde at an AIDS and HIV event, at a fashion event, a concert, and an audience; Letizia in Totana and at an audience at Zarzuela; Victoria at a prize ceremony

Mathilde continued her foray into Belgian design variety with an outfit for her fashion event from Ann Demeulemeester, thankfully stopping short of the full runway version, and Victoria went for sparkle, but Letizia's simple black skirt and leopard blouse are winning this as far as I'm concerned. She looks good.

And a Final Honorable Mention to...

Princess Estelle

Princess Estelle attended a tennis tournament

And her parents were with her, I guess (details, details). Estelle! Automatic jumpy claps. You'll want to click here to see her big arrival, shaking hands, being awesome, etc.

Who was your best dressed last week?

Photos: Belga/Wort/ANP/PPE/DutchPhotoPress/VTM/Getty Images/Best Image/World Children's Prize Foundation

Flashback Friday: Máxima at Royal Weddings

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

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

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

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

Which appearance is your favorite?

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

Weekly Royal Fashion Awards: October 6-14

Most...Interesting

Queen Mathilde

Video: The King and Queen visit Liège

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

Best in Visits

Crown Princess Victoria

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

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

Best in Annual Events

Princess Letizia

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

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

Best of the Rest

Crown Princess Mary

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

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

And an Honorable Mention to...

Princess Charlene

Attending a Ralph Lauren event in Paris

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

Who was your best dressed last week?

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

Royal Fashion Awards: A Wedding in the Netherlands

Over the weekend, the religious wedding of Prince Jaime of Bourbon-Parma and Viktória Cservenyák was held in Apeldoorn in the Netherlands (the private civil marriage was held earlier in the week). The bride is a Hungarian-born lawyer; the groom is the son of Princess Irene of the Netherlands and the late Carlos Hugo, Duke of Parma. He's one of the cousins of King Willem-Alexander, and we have a nice selection of the extended Dutch family for our review today. But first...

The Bride and Bridal Party

Click above for a video.

Viktória wore a wedding gown from designer Claes Iversen. The dress is made of ivory silk crepe and crepe georgette and features a largely unadorned body with a wide neckline that dips in the back, an empire waist, three-quarter sleeves, and a slim skirt. The sole embellishment on the front is at the bottom of the skirt, where there are embroidered flowers in fabric accented with crystals and beads (which the Fug Girls likened to her having walked through a field of spitballs...and well, once you get that in your head, there you go). She towed a train of moderate length (by royal wedding standards, at least!) matched by her veil of Swiss Dot tulle with a lace border. It was a rather plain dress, I thought - plain, but extremely sweet. She dipped into the Dutch family jewel vault for the Ears of Wheat Tiara, which was also used as a bridal diadem by several other recent brides in the family, plus a diamond bracelet and diamond earrings. You can vary the number of ears of wheat you wear with this tiara and she wore the full version with eight ears, though a drawback to using this one as a wedding tiara is that veils tend to conceal a few of the ears at the edges.

I was quite charmed by the girls in the bridal party (including Zaria, daughter of Princess Mabel and the late Prince Friso), whose dresses featured sashes in shades of yellow to orange or peach. The dashing groom matched the boys of the wedding party in classic morning suits with gold ties.

A selection of the guests:

Best in Dark

Princess Aimée

Left to Right: Princess Mabel (with daughter Luana), Queen Máxima (with the King and their kids), Princess Aimée, Juliana Guillermo, Princess Laurentien (with Prince Constantijn and their kids)

Mabel is in mourning, obviously. (You might remember that the couple's engagement was, in a strange coincidence, announced shortly before Prince Friso's death announcement.) Mourning or not, several of the other ladies opted for sedated shades as well; I was originally tempted to give this one to Máx for manning the hat ship in a sea of fascinators, but on second thought - Aimée looks incredible! The fabric has a bit of sparkle and a menswear flair, and the waist design is perfect for a new mum (she and Prince Floris welcomed their third child this summer). 

Best in Color

Princess Beatrix

L to R: Princess Margriet, Princess Christina, Princess Irene, Princess Beatrix, Princess Margarita, Princess Carolina, Princess Marilène, Princess Anita

On the other hand, some ladies went for strong colors, and bless them for it. So much here to love: Irene looks amazing in the perfect red for her (I don't buy into the whole anti-red thing for weddings, not at all, not even for the mother of the groom), plus both Carolina and Marilène are rocking purple (hilariously similar looks, and obviously they both have good taste in color). But it's Beatrix that has to get my win here - just a wee change to her standard hat shape makes a world of difference. Also, I just love her for showing up in something light and bright.

What did you think of the wedding dress? Who was your best dressed guest?

Photos: Blauw Bloed/PPE/DutchPhotoPress/Getty Images

Wedding Wednesday: October Brides

October! Fall! Brides with long sleeves! Here's a sampling for you:

 

Infanta Cristina of Spain and Iñaki Urdangarín

October 4, 1997

They may not be the most shining example of the Spanish royal family these days, but oh, to reminisce. Such loveliness, and I think one of the best uses of a floral tiara at a wedding ever.

Viscount Linley and the Hon. Serena Stanhope

October 8, 1993

More on this one to come.

King Jigme Khesar Namgyel Wangchuck of Bhutan and Jetsun Pema

October 13, 2011

The most colorful addition to the royal wedding craze of 2011.

The Duchess of Alba and Pedro Luis Martinez de Irujo y Artacoz

October 14, 1947

Actually, she's had more than one October wedding over the years. But this is my favorite. (Extra tip of the veil to her daughter, Eugenia, who rocked the same tiara in a sort of medieval style for her October 1998 wedding.)

Prince Gustaf Adolf of Sweden and Princess Sibylla of Saxe-Coburg and Gotha

October 19 & 20, 1932

Parents of the current King of Sweden, since he's having a jubilee year and all.

Lord Nicholas Windsor and Paola de Frankopan

October 19 & November 4, 2006

These two were also guests at the recent Luxembourg wedding.

The Hereditary Grand Duke of Luxembourg and Countess Stéphanie de Lannoy

October 19 & 20, 2012

More recently wedded bliss, ah.

Prince Floris of Orange-Nassau and Aimée Söhngen

October 20 & 22, 2005

More on this one to come too, I think.

Prince Charles of Bourbon-Two Sicilies and Camilla Crociani

October 31, 1998

The "other" Charles and Camilla - and her wedding gown is a lot less ooomph than I might have expected given some of the stuff she's worn since.

Who's your favorite October bride?

Photos: Hoymujer/Getty Images/Vogue