Week in Review: Grand Duchess Maria Teresa, 4-10 December

Here's what Maria Teresa wore from 4-10 December:

1. At the closing of the European Year of Volunteering, 5 December.
2. Hosting a reception at the Grand Ducal Palace, 8 December.
3. The Nobel Prize Awards Ceremony, 10 December. I think the side view shows the good the dress can do, when not chopped in half by a sash.

Photos: Ministry of Family and Integration/Cour gr ducale/Svenskdam

Royal Fashion Awards: The Nobel Prizes 2011, Part 1

The Nobel Peace Prize was awarded in the presence of the Norwegian royal family today, and over in Stockholm the rest of the Nobel Prizes were celebrated with royals from Sweden and Luxembourg present. They have their prizes; we have our awards for the sparkliest event we’ve had since this summer…

Worst in Christmas

Grand Duchess Maria Teresa

Well, Maria Teresa did what I hoped she'd do: got her Elie Saab on. But alas, this repeated gown could headline a seminar titled How Not to Wear a Sash 101. And her pairing with the Chaumet Emerald Tiara kicks off an unexpected theme for our ladies today: Christmas! 'Tis the season indeed. (Boy, she really must not travel with a hairdresser. I'm worried about this baby slipping off!)

Most Elegant

Queen Silvia

Another pre-wedding event repeat (from a different wedding, of course), Queen Silvia's altered Jacques Zehnder (I believe) gown is perfection. Unfortunately, she has done That Which I Wished She Would Not Do, and brought out The Pronger, a.k.a. the Nine Prong Tiara, a.k.a. Queen Sophia's Diamond Tiara. It has history, it has diamonds from here to the North Pole, it has sparkle...and it has antlers. I suppose every Christmas festival needs a tiny bit of reindeer love.

Best Sparkle Spirit

Crown Princess Victoria

YAY!!! I wanted Saab. She delivered Saab. (UPDATE: Nope, it is not by Elie Saab.) I wanted something new in the tiara department...and she almost delivered it, wearing the brooch, earrings, and hairpins from the Leuchtenberg Sapphire Parure. Sadly she paired it with the Six Button Tiara which I am no fan of, but I'll let it go because the rest is exactly what we haven't seen from her throughout this pregnancy. She abandoned her tent dresses for a bump-clinging gown, she abandoned her thrown-together look for a thoroughly coordinated blue party, and she even abandoned her love of comfort for the evening in a gown that has to be heavy and earrings so cumbersome they require the use of small over-ear wire hangers to distribute the weight. She and her sequined bump are the prize shiny ornament on our Nobel Christmas tree.

Biggest Missed Tiara Opportunity

Princess Christina

If the Six Button must be worn, Christina should be the one to do it. She just does it best. Instead, she stuck with her small pearl and diamond tiara (which she owns personally). Obviously she was elegant as always...if it ain't broke, don't fix it, I suppose. (By the way, lest I come across as too harsh on the button front, I'll say this: it was out-sparkling the Nine Prong Tiara on the broadcast by quite a bit.)

Most Consistent

Queen Sonja

Keeping up the Christmas theme, Sonja was sleek in red with a gift-wrapped bow at her waist and a ribbon sculpture on her head during the day, and elegant in snow white for the evening. (Note to Sonja: look, you don't need so much extra business happening. You're lovely. Keep it simple, just like this!)

Biggest Contrast

Crown Princess Mette-Marit

Perfect as the quintessential Ice Princess in Valentino during the day (even with a little Goth misletoe wreath on her head...all the better to elicit smooches from Hunky Haakon, I suppose), it all went astray in the evening, in her second Valentino of the day. First of all, Marie-Chantal already did this look. Second of all, she's not a grandmother from the olden days. And third...and this might be the only time I will ever say this...she should have stolen her mother-in-law's dress.

And Just Because...

The Rest of the Men

Haakon can't be the only one getting some appreciation. That's just not fair; after all, he's not the only one that got all spruced up. Gentlemen, well played.

Who is your best-dressed for the day? Worst?

Nobel events continue on Sunday, so tune back in for Part 2!

Photos: Scanpix/Expressen/Svenskdam/Getty Images/Reuters Pictures/Daylife/Zimbio

Week in Review: Grand Duchess Maria Teresa, 16-22 October

Here's what Maria Teresa wore from 16-22 October:

1. At the episcopal consecration of the new Archbishop of Luxembourg, 16 October, repeating the suit from the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge's wedding. Hey, better than last week, no complaints!

Photo: Église Catholique à Luxembourg

Style Speculation: Elie Saab Spring 2012 RTW

I saved my favorite collection for last! If you haven't figured it out already, I'm a huge Elie Saab fangirl. (Ladylike with a touch of bling? Sign me up.) So you'll have to excuse me while I have a bit of a picturegasm:

Elie Saab Spring 2012 Ready-to-Wear

Potential royal models:

Grand Duchess Maria Teresa, Queen Rania, Crown Princess Victoria, Princess Beatrice

This collection was Saab at his finest, starting out with beige and moving through a rainbow of saturated colors one at a time. Princess Beatrice was a front row guest; I hope she scooped up a whole range of these perfect day dresses. They're just perfect for the royal grind, and there's no end to the royals I'd like to see wearing them. The Countess of Wessex and Crown Princess Mary come to mind for starters. (Why isn't Mary an Elie Saab girl, and who can we petition to make that happen?)

The green number with the jacket there should become a royal uniform, no? And I'm in love with the first yellow dress here: this would be perfection on Victoria (after baby, of course).

There were some interesting takes on sleeves for evening gowns in this collection which I hope we'll see on Rania and Maria Teresa. Máxima would be an interesting new Elie Saab client too, especially in the evening wear department.

See the full collection here.

And finally, for those that share my Saab love, you'll want to make some time to see the collection in motion:

Who would you like to see wearing this collection?

Photos:Alessandro Viero/GoRunway.com/Style.com

Royal Trend Watch: Paris Fashion Week

The fashionistas have been out in full force for quite some time now at fashion weeks in New York, London, Milan and finally this past week in Paris. It was Paris and the Spring 2012 Ready-to-Wear collections that brought a few select royals and their front row styles out to play. Princess style at a fashion show is a curious phenomenon: to stick to your regular royal uniform, or go fully fashion-forward decked out in your designer of choice?

Left to Right: Princess Charlene at Akris, Princess Beatrice at Elie Saab, the Princess of Venice and Piedmont (Clotilde Courau) at Balmain

Charlene and Beatrice both stuck to outfits that they would wear any day of the week; though Clotilde looks like she dressed special for the show, she's really doing the same. Beatrice wins this group for sure. Her simple Elie Saab sheath (quite similar to what we've just seen Kate in, by the way) is a master class in the power of color.

But Bea doesn't win the week. No, for that we have to go with a princess that really did put a royal spin on the fashion week trends: Princess Sirivannavari Nariratana of Thailand (she's the daughter of the Crown Prince of Thailand).

L to R: At Balmain, Christian Dior, Lanvin, and Hèrmes

Princess S. (one time typing the full name is enough for me) is quite the fashion girl, you see. She's a designer and a student of fashion, and has even showed in Paris herself. Also, she's an international badminton player. Everybody loves a princess of all trades! (Well...maybe not everybody. There was a bit of a kerfluffle when she tried to introduce herself to Princess Beatrice at the Elie Saab show and was rebuffed by Bea's bodyguard. Awkward.)

L to R: At Louis Vuitton, Chanel, and Elie Saab

I'll admit it was a bit jarring at first to see her go full-on Morticia when we last saw her in demure national dress in Monaco, but I'm ending the week a big fan. There are loads of princesses working the sensible trends; we have plenty of room for one that loves fashion and isn't afraid to let you know it. I say: work it!

Which one's your favorite royal outfit from Paris Fashion Week?

Photos: lehtikuva/Getty Images/Daily Mail/Daylife

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

Week in Review: Grand Duchess Maria Teresa, 19-25 June

Here's what Maria Teresa wore from 19-25 June:

1. Pre-National Day visit to Niederanven, 22 June. As noted previously, the red and pink version of the purple dress she has.
2. a) Concert, 22 June, b) the detail on the jacket (and some cute married peopleness), c) the runway version from Elie Saab. The best of the National Day celebrations for me!
3. National Day, 23 June. This has got to be Natan, I mean, what other explanation is there? Those are Natan shoes (owned also by Maxima and Mathilde), and that is the same hat she wore in Norway, just in blinding pink this time.

Now, I shall go and pout that we have yet to see any gala photographs from this year's National Day celebrations. No party this year, or just being shy about it?

Photos: PPE/Hola/Tageblatt/Yannis Vlamos/Gorunway.com/Style.com

Week in Review: Princess Beatrice, 19-25 June

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

1. a - f) On holiday in the French Riviera, and showing up all those people that made fun of her in a bikini a few years ago. You go, Bea!
2. Attending Elton John's White Tie and Tiara Ball, 23 June, a) on Beatrice and b) from Elie Saab. It's just my idea of heaven, you know?

Now, the big Beatrice style news this week: the Daily Mail (yeah, eye roll) says Bea has hired a stylist, who is responsible for the Elie Saab, and all the way back to that Roland Mouret that I loved so very much. I believe it, and I'm not at all surprised. The article says that she got help after the royal wedding debacle, but it wouldn't surprise me if there was a stylist involved in getting her into Valentino couture for the big day. (I won't blame the stylist for that hat, though. That's all Treacy's fault.) I say good for her, and I hope the stylist is teaching and not just dictating when it comes to these wonderful ensembles.

The Daily Mail also names a price for that Elie Saab wonder: £73,000. Nancy left a comment asking if we all believed that price. Here's my answer: I believe 100% that is a valid price; I believe 0% that Bea paid anything nearing that, if she paid at all. This is couture. We're talking every single embellishment (probably the priciest embellishments available) hand sewn, custom everything. If a regular Jane such as myself walked into Elie Saab off the street, I bet that's the bill I'd get. But Bea, working through a stylist...paid after a hefty discount, or wore the dress as a loan for the night. What do you think?

Photos: Bauer Griffin/Zimbio/Xclusive Pix/Daily Mail/Umberto Fratini/GoRunway.com/Style.com/Wire Image

Royal Fashion Awards: Luxembourg's National Day

Yesterday was National Day in Luxembourg! You know how I love it when the Lux royals come out to play. The family attends the Te Deum mass, and then the Grand Duke and Hereditary Grand Duke review troops and watch a parade with the Grand Duchess. And they get all dressed up and everything:

Best Pepto Bismol

Grand Duchess Maria Teresa

THIS IS A LOT OF PINK. I like the shape on her. I certainly do like my Grand Duchess in a bit of color and a pillbox hat. And yet...THIS IS A LOT OF PINK. Also, I'm concerned that the thing on her shoulder might be trying to eat her alive.

Worst U.M.O.

Princess Tessy

What's a U.M.O., you ask? It's an Unidentified Millinery Object. I feel like if Dale Chihuly did hats, this is the hat that Dale Chihuly would do. Except that he'd do it in a rainbow, and I'd probably have to like it on principle if he did. But he didn't, so I'm out. (And so, probably, are the rest of you that have no clue what in Chihuly hell I'm on about.) I'll say this for it: girlfriend seems to be working it. And so is her husband...really, Louis? A matching tie?

Worst Raincoat
Princess Alexandra

Look how lovely Princess Alexandra is. Another Alexandra to add to my list of royals that I want to hang with. And that's why this coat pains me so. Standing still, it's passable, but in action (see her walk here)....no. Nooooo.

We usually get a picture or two of the gala (think: MT in a tiara), so I'll update when those pop up.

On the day before National Day, the family gets the party started by visiting various spots around the country: on Wednesday, the Grand Duke and Duchess visited the municipality of Niederanven, and the Hereditary Grand Duke and his sister Princess Alexandra visited Esch-sur-Alzette. Then the whole family comes out for a band performance and fireworks show in the evening.

Best in Day-Glo

Princess Alexandra

Once again, Alexandra has worn Natan, and once again, I am dubious. But this is fairly suited to her age (as far as Natan goes) so I'll buy in. If nothing else, it made her easy to spot in the crowd, right?

Best in Sparkle

Maria Teresa in the Evening

Here's MT in her (and my) beloved Elie Saab. And while I could quibble over fit and what have you, I won't. Because this is super elegant and classy. Also, it sparkles.

Best in Red

Maria Teresa in Niederanven and Tessy at the Concert/Fireworks

Looks like Maria Teresa has a red version of the purple dress we just saw in Norway! Nothing wrong with that. Nothing wrong with Tessy here, either. Looks like she might have a little military flair going on in the jacket, which I love. (Also: Louis, if you're gonna match your tie to your wife, this is the way to go about it.)

Do you have any Luxembourg favorites?

Photos: PPE/v.d.Werf/Tageblatt

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

Week in Review: Grand Duchess Maria Teresa, 29 May - 4 June

Here's what Maria Teresa wore from 29 May - 4 June:

1. Attending a mass for the Octave.
2. At the closing of the Octave of Our Lady of Luxembourg, 29 May. Strange brim on this hat, no? Very...severe. Or something.
3. The welcome ceremony to kick off the state visit from Luxembourg to Norway, 30 May. Ah, the Spring Wonder again! And this time it's grown a little pillbox hat and a cornucopia of fresh produce (maybe?) as a brooch. Still love it, I do. Fantastic shape for her, and she's uniquely suited for this color scheme.
4. More events on Day 1 of the state visit, 30 May. Also worn sans hat. Plain, but I like it.
5. The gala dinner, 30 May. It always bothers me when she uses her wraps as permanent parts of her dress. [Caution: rant ahead.] Can you imagine how annoying that must be? To eat and shake hands and such while keeping your wrap permanently glued to your upper arms? I mean, if you're uncomfortable showing off that part of your body, just don't wear strapless gowns. [End rant.]

Let's pause for a brief diamond break, shall we? We shall.

On her head, Joséphine-Charlotte's Diamond Belgian Scroll Tiara; around her neck, a necklace that can also be worn as a tiara (though not very successfully, in my humble opinion). You will not find that piece in my list of Maria Teresa's tiaras as I've never seen a picture of her wearing it as such. (Same goes for the other tiara-convertible sapphire necklace and sapphire bracelet the family has.) I'm sure someone will correct me if I'm wrong on that, but until then, I'll just assume she agrees with me about the unsuccessfulness of its tiara capabilities.

[And now we return to our regularly scheduled weekly review...]

6. Day 2, 31 May. Uh oh, the Shapeless Suit has returned. A shame.
7. More on Day 2. Sort of the same as Outfit 3...so yes, I really do like this shape on MT.
8. Still on Day 2, the Day of Outfit Changes, I guess, which means she has to repeat Outfit 1!
9. Reception at the end of Day 2. Apparently, we all liked this dress so much when she wore it in red, she went and ordered a second in Kermit Green! We can assume this one is also Elie Saab, then. I confess, I miss the gorgeous deep red, but this is still a great dress. (And you see what I mean about a gown that just covers the arms, MT? So much easier!)

Here, the state visit road ends for our Grand Duchess, even though her husband and the Norwegian royals carried on for another day. Maria Teresa's brother is very ill in the States, and she departed to be with him. You can see the rest of the state visit from the Norwegian side in Mette-Marit's week in review post.

Let's backtrack for a moment to the other significant event of the week: the closing of the Octave in Luxembourg usually gets a fair family turnout, and this year was no exception.

 Left to Right: Princess Tessy, Princess Alexandra, Prince Louis (half hidden behind Alexandra), the Hereditary Grand Duke, the Grand Duchess, the Grand Duke

Love, love Tessy's look, from the big ol' hat right down to the red purse. Alexandra's not making a bad showing either, though she seems a bit thrown together, with her beige(-ish?) fascinator, white coat, navy or black dress, and black shoes.

And the gentlemen...well, they certainly make them dapper in Luxembourg, don't they? Even the littlest family members turned up for the day's balcony appearance:

Prince Noah and Prince Gabriel, sons of Louis and Tessy, dapper princes in training. (Good call taking the hat off, Tessy. Can't you just see one of those boys yanking it off and giving it a toss over the edge?)

Photos: Siste.no/Cour grand-ducale/RTL/Tageblatt/Mark Wilwert/Wort/Vic Fischbach/Getty Images/Daylife/AP Photo/Reuters

Week in Review: Grand Duchess Maria Teresa, 24-30 April

Here's what Maria Teresa wore from 24-30 April:

1. Attending the pre-wedding dinner in advance of the royal wedding, 28 April. One good...
2. The Duke and Duchess of Cambridge's wedding, 29 April...and one bad. Well, you can't win them all, I suppose.

Photos: Getty Images/Daylife

Week in Review: Crown Princess Victoria, 24-30 April

Here's what Victoria wore from 24-30 April:

1. Easter with Daniel's family, 24 April.
2. Pre-wedding dinner in advance of the royal wedding, 28 April.
3. The Duke and Duchess of Cambridge's wedding, 29 April, a) on Victoria, and b) from Elie Saab. My favorite!
4. Attending a wedding after party at Pavlos and Marie-Chantal's house, 29 April. Update: This dress is from Filippa K.
5. Back in Sweden for the 65th birthday of the King, 30 April. And...back to suits and ponytails. She gets an excuse for being in London until midnight and back in Stockholm by noon on duty again, I guess.

What's your favorite outfit this week?

Photos: Aftonbladet/Getty Images/Daylife/ANP

Royal Fashion Awards: The Pre-Wedding Dinner

Well, this is a delectable little treat: Lady Elizabeth Anson hosted a pre-wedding dinner for the royals in town for William and Kate's wedding, and we actually got some good pictures!  (Well, not of everybody - yet - but we'll get to that. And many thanks to my twitter friends Alpa and liltinglimes for help in finding some of these ladies!)

So many of these ladies really turned it out tonight. Let's give out some awards, shall we?

Best in Black

Princess Eugenie

Left to Right: Princess Eugenie of York; Julia Ogilvy; Zara Phillips

Black may be a safe choice, but it makes it easy to get it dead right, and these three ladies are living proof. I had trouble naming a winner; Julia is purely elegant, and Zara's hair and shoes are fantastic. In the end, if only because I haven't seen a great Zara pic yet, Eugenie wins the day. Not just because of the dress, but because this is Vivienne Westwood. MORE VIVIENNE WESTWOOD, please. Talk about a designer that can dress a figure like Eug's and keep it fresh and young. Love.

Best in Back

Crown Princess Pavlos

L to R: Marie-Chantal, Crown Princess Pavlos of Greece (front and back); Tatiana, Princess Nikolaos of Greece & Denmark (front and back)

These two gowns, lovely though they may be, seem as safe as a black gown...until they turn. Surprise! Marie-Chantal's got a ribbon tail that may just be the remainder of a game of pin the tail on the donkey with her five kids, and Tatiana's got sparkles, all the way down. Good thing M-C's gown is amazing enough from the front to still run away with the category.

Best in Fire

Crown Princess Victoria

L to R: Princess Mathilde of Belgium; Grand Duchess Maria Teresa of Luxembourg; Crown Princess Victoria of Sweden; Queen Sonja of Norway; Princess Michael of Kent

So many ladies feeling the warm colors this evening, like it's Fall and not Spring. Not that I'm complaining: they're looking good. Mathilde always looks good in orange, though I wish she'd quit with the bridesmaid shoes. It's a wedding, darling, but you're not actually in it. Very similar silhouette to Princess Michael, and very flattering for them both. Also in bright construction colors: Sonja, who basically owns this same dress in every traffic light color on the block. And that's fine, but it's a little harlot with the lips and flower, no? Much better is Maria Teresa in her Elie Saab, which is actually giving her a waist and not making her carry a wrap over her arms. But the one I love best is Victoria, who is in Escada. Victoria in a strong color and a fierce hairdo: that's all I need.

Best in Blue and Traditional

Princess Alexandra

L to R: Queen Elizabeth II; the Queen of Brunei; Queen Anne-Marie of Greece; Princess Alexandra of Kent; Princess Anne, the Princess Royal; Queen Margrethe II of Denmark; Queen Sofia of Spain

Loads of ladies opted for the print/blue/bronze territory. All the Queens look good: I mean, this is about as typical as you get for all of them. Princess Anne's got a fantastic figure, no doubt, and she would have made my best for the night if I wasn't so thoroughly disturbed by her cleavage. It's just...I wasn't prepared for that. Feeling a little scarred. Good thing Princess Alexandra, adorable like a basket of kittens, is around to sooth me. She wins.

Best in Easter Egg

Autumn Phillips

L to R: Crown Princess Katherine of Yugoslavia; Autumn Phillips; (top) Katharine, the Duchess of Kent; (bottom) Princess Maha Chakri Sirindhorn of Thailand

We're close enough to Easter to justify dressing like an Easter egg yet, aren't we? If we're not, don't tell these ladies. Though you know I love purple (and a gleeful Duchess of Kent), I'm giving this one to Autumn, simply for working it so soon after having a little one.

Best of the Not Pictured

Lady Gabriella Windsor

L to R: Lady Davina Lewis; Sophie, Lady Frederick Windsor; Lady Gabriella Windsor

I'm still scouting out photos of some of the royals we're missing, but we have a few quick glimpses of these ladies. Davina's quite cute in her fur. I'm really not liking what I've seen so far of Sophie Winkleman (also see here- yeesh, the hair), so I'll give it Lady Gabriella.

Best in Princess

Princess Letizia

L to R: Charlene Wittstock, Princess Letizia from the front and side, and Princess Beatrice

Ah, now we're talking, right? Don't you just love it when princesses (and princesses-to-be) actually dress up like, well, princesses? I love Charlene's bit of fluff, she's a tall drink of water and she can wear it. Beatrice, on the other hand, has bitten off a little more than she can chew, but it certainly does show off that body. And you always have to award points for that. It's Letizia, though, that was the star of the show tonight. This is just one giant princess-gasm, no? This Felipe Varela is perfect for black tie toned down as it is tonight, and it'll be even better repeated and iced up for a proper gala. Jumpy claps indeed.

Best of the Worst

The Countess of Wessex

L to R: Camilla, the Duchess of Cornwall; Sophie, the Countess of Wessex

Well, Camilla didn't stay for the whole thing, which probably explains how utterly under dressed she is (though, if you're going to just throw something on from the closet, why not make it a gown?). Really, she's in this category because it felt too mean to Sophie to stick her here all on her own. The Countess is suffering from a broken rib, poor thing, but there's just no excusing this. Not the rat nest hair, not the too-deep plunge (please! Princess Anne already took care of that!), not the too short hem with the heels peeking out, and most of all: not the boob flaps. What the what? WHY? I just can't.

Who makes your best- and worst-dressed of the night?

And hey, if you see better pics (or anyone we're missing), let me know!

UPDATES

More pictures have arrived! Let's feast:

First, royals that we now have better pictures for.

L to R: Lady Frederick Windsor, Lady Gabriella Windsor, the Duchess of Kent, Zara Phillips

Well, now that we can see Lady Frederick in all her bouffant glory, my final verdict is: no. Lady Gabriella’s not too bad, but there’s nothing fetching happening here either. Our new full-length picture of the Duchess of Kent shows sparkly shoes and a bag; I’m not sure I’ve seen so much glitter in combo with a cross necklace since Madonna’s naughty Catholic phase. And Zara’s face front pic proves that the hair and the shoes are the stars of the show; that sash-type sleeve isn’t doing her any favors.

And now, brand new royals!

L  to R: the Duchess of Gloucester, the Countess of St. Andrews with Lady Amelia Windsor, and Lady Ameila full length, Lady Marina-Charlotte Windsor, Lady Nicholas Windsor, the wife of the King of Swaziland

At long last, the lovely Birgitte, Duchess  of Gloucester, has appeared. Too bad she’s chosen something designed to bring out her gray hair. She’s also suffering from print overload, as is the King of Swaziland’s wife over there on the right. Much simpler, and better, are the Countess of St. Andrews in her basic sheath and her daughters Amelia and Marina-Charlotte. Note Amelia’s pink shoes; note also that she is 15 years old, the exact age to at which to rock this deliciously mismatched outfit. Her 18-year-old sister Marina-Charlotte is looking much more grown up and absolutely stunning, right? Those must be some good genes. And the last of the Kent family to emerge in the late photos is Lady Nicholas Windsor, a.k.a. Paola. A lovely lady in an unfortunately short and overly-ruffled gown with a bird’s nest hairdo (there are braids in there, I think…) and shoes borrowed from Ginger Rogers’ last show. Oh well, the Kents can’t win ‘em all.

We also have Princess Lalla Salma of Morocco, sneaking by:

Looks like another caftan, probably lovely.

And then there's this lady that I recognized from the wedding, where it appeared that she was with the Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi (wife? daughter? eh?):

Though she seems to have come prepared to entertain the guests as part of a traveling black tie clown troupe.

Photos: Daylife/Getty Images/Reuters/PacificCoastNews.com/Zimbio/Isopix/Mark Stewart/CameraPress/Pascal Le Segretain