Week in Review: Princess Mathilde, 23-29 October

Here's what Mathilde wore from 23-29 October:

1. Continuing the economic mission to China, day 3, 23 October, with a sort of a giant sweater coat (a) over a printed Natan dress (b - you know, it's 98% Natan, I don't even bother pointing it out these days).
2. Day 4, 24 October, in a coat with orange accents (a) over an orange dress (b). The coat is especially cute here, and I'm really really happy she didn't opt for a pair of her favorite orange pumps.
3. An evening reception on day 4, 24 October, after which she departed the China trip to go home for Elisabeth's 10th birthday (her husband stayed on).
4. Attending an autumn concert at the Royal Palace in Brussels, 28 October. Some bad prom hair there, with those odd curls at the front, but at least she goes for the updo, right?!

The concert was a family affair, with Paola and Fabiola looking their usual classy selves and Princess Astrid...well, you know, she's apparently going to run the New York City Marathon with her husband and son Amadeo, and that's impressive enough to shut my couch-sitting wine-drinking self up about a shiny sea creature coat or two.

UPDATE: Mathilde also attended a working lunch with a group of female entrepreneurs on October 27th.

Photos: Nieuwsblad/HLN/Purepeople/Abaca/APAPictureDesk

Week in Review: Crown Princess Mary, 16-22 October

Here's what Mary wore from 16-22 October:

1. Visiting the United Nations Fund for Population Activities and a school in Harlem on day 1 of the crown princely couple's visit to New York City, 20 October. Look familiar? (Malene Birger dress, this time paired with an Isabel Marant jacket.) Yeah, sometimes I get lazy and don't want to dig very far back in my closet either.
2. Opening an art exhibit alongside other Scandinavian royals, 20 October. This is a beautiful dress. Some felt she was overdressed, given that Queen Sonja and Queen Silvia wore more basic skirt suit sorts of things, but I thought it was a perfect young take on the occasion.
3. Visiting the 9/11 memorial site on day 2 of the visit, 21 October in a black coat over a Heartmade dress.
4. At the opening of the BIG architectural studios, 21 October. Same dress, with a different Heartmade jacket on top.

5. a) Attending the Scandinavian-American Foundation Centennial Ball, 21 October, in a gown from Ole Yde (b).
6. a) At the "New Nordic Cookout: A Taste of Denmark" event at Union Square Greenmarket on day 3 and then squeezing in some shopping in flats at Saks (b), 22 October. Should've stuck with the flats for the whole day, I'm thinking. Odd gray shoes there.

I'm going to dub this NYC trip (which will continue in next week's review post) the trip of Excellent Separates and Curious Pairings. I do not get, at all, the pairing of that bright and happy floral dress in 3 and 4 with either of those somber jackets or those gray and black Prada shoes. Most curious.

Photos: Purepeople/Abaca/Billed-Bladet/Zimbio/Bauer Griffin/Daylife/Reuters/AP Photo

Week in Review: Grand Duchess Maria Teresa, 9-15 October

Here's what Maria Teresa wore from 9-15 October:

1. An audience with a delegation of Special Olympics participants, 12 October.
2. Attending the Red Cross' annual fashion show in Luxembourg, 12 October. Oh, MT. This is a bad bad outfit. It is not your sartorial friend.

Photos: Cour grand-ducale/BGL/BNP/PARIBAS/Jean-Claude Ernst/Tageblatt

Week in Review: Princess Máxima, 11-17 September

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

1. a) and b) Opening the new headquarters for Dutch company Van Leeuwen, 12 September. You see, we may grumble about the daily messiness of Máxima's hair, but it just means she's impervious to an actual messy hair situation. Point: Máx.
2. Attending the 50th anniversary gala of the Dutch National Ballet, 13 September, with (a) a wrap upon arrival that she later (b) removed. While I can certainly appreciate the logic of wearing the closest thing you've got to a tutu to the ballet, something's not right. I think the Queen Bea gets my vote for best dressed here.

Photos: Dutch Photo Press/Bekia/volkskrant.nl

Royal Fashion Awards: Garter Day 2011

You guys, I love Garter Day. Celebrating the oldest order of chivalry in the world? How much more royal can you get? Most of the gentlemen and selected ladies turn up in their Hogwarts finest (yes, I did make a Harry Potter reference last year, and I will make one every year that we do this thang), but we do get a few ladies that turn up in their English-hatted best for our entertainment too. So let's get to business and throw some awards out on the table.

Best Future Repeat

The Duchess of Cambridge

I saw two opinions on this Katherine Hooker coat and Rachel Trevor-Morgan hat today: OMGAMAZINGOMGSOPRETTY, or ...why is she dressing like a 60-year-old? I could agree with you either way, actually. This is very similar to what the Countess of Wessex has been wearing lately, and the Countess is 46 years old. It's very similar to the silhouette that Camilla wore today, and Camilla is 63 years old. But there's a reason why this style crosses generations: it's universally flattering. It's like the International Princess Uniform. And you know we'll be seeing this for as many years to come as Kate's figure/tailor will allow.

Best in Benjamin Button

The Countess of Wessex

Speaking of the 46-year-old Countess...damn. Sophie looks younger than she did when she married Edward, no? Loving her with her hair up. Thus, I hereby confer a second Benjamin Button title (the first belongs to dear Marie-Chantal, of course) on our Sophie. Well played, Countess.

Best in Froof

The Duchess of Cornwall

This lady has a tremendous ability to pull off a wackadoodle hat. Personally, I love it when she whips that talent out and lets it shine, and this harried Cousin It chapeau is just the thing. Add in a new coat, flattering as can be, and I'm sold.

Best in Bling

Queen Elizabeth

This is one of the times when she brings out the serious daytime bling - every year, the Queen's earrings are killer. Now, these are some sapphire and diamond earrings: Kate, take note. (Yet another reason why I love Garter Day: excuses for diamonds in the daylight are always welcome!)

Best Knight

Princess Alexandra

Garter Knights, left to right: the Duke of Edinburgh, Princess Alexandra of Kent, the Duke of Gloucester, the Duke of York, the Princess Royal, the Duke of Kent, the Prince of Wales, the Earl of Wessex, the Duke of Cambridge

I heart Princess Alexandra, plain and simple. There's no one more elegant, especially in velvet and feathers. As I threw out on Twitter earlier today, we need to get a petition started for Alexandra to take Kate under her wing and teach her the Princess way. Who's with me?

Best Enthusiasm

Lady Louise Windsor

And you thought smiley Kate and her blushing husband were the tops of the cute tree. Good thing Louise, watching from the side with her school chums, is here to show you what's up. More Louise, please!

Best Theme

Lady Sarah Chatto

You know how I don't like neutrals. You know how I don't like it when people wear the same thing over and over again. Well, I'm breaking all my rules. Here's Lady Sarah (attending because one of her sons was pageboy for the Queen this year), looking a whole lot like she did yesterday, and a whole lot like she did at the wedding, and I don't care. This lady is on a one-woman crusade to bring back 1950s glam, and I am behind her all the way. You go, Lady Sarah! Show 'em how it's done!

Worst in Mysterious

The Duchess of Gloucester

Here's Birgitte, only seen because she's sitting next to Anne. You can also see her hiding between Kate and the gentleman on the right in the first picture in this post. Barely visible because once again she's not worn anything of note. How sad! She's so utterly lovely (and a total candidate for another Benjamin Button award, I'm telling you). I'm not saying she should start borrowing from the millinery closet of Princess Beatrice, but we could do a little better than navy/black, right?

Who topped your best-dressed list at the Garter Ceremony?

Photos: Getty Images/Daylife/Reuters/Isopix/Newspix/Belga

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

Here's what Victoria wore from 22-28 May:

1. Day 1 of the official visit to Germany with Daniel, 24 May. This is cute and fun - thumbs up.
2. Dinner on Day 1, 24 May. Compared to the other dresses in this row, this one is my least favorite. Just a lot of stuff going on here with all the ruching and big jewelry and such.
3. a) Day 2, 25 May, and b) from Escada. Another Escada thumbs up from me - feminine, all around loveliness.
4. Day 2 again, 25 May. I should probably give out the same crap I usually do to the likes of Mathilde for all the matching accessories, but I won't. Because those shoes are fierce, and that dress is perfect.

5. a) Day 3, 26 May, and b) from Lanvin. Here's the thing about snakeskin print: a little goes a long way. Shoes AND a dress? No. (Also, I don't know, was this really the best choice for a visit to the Holocaust Memorial?)
6. a) Dinner at the Swedish embassy on Day 3, 26 May, and b) from Escada. I miss the pretty hair-down situation from when she wore this back in August.
7. Day 4, 27 May. Loving the dress, and loving the idea of adding a belt...just not loving this belt. Looks a little cheap-o to me, the way it stands apart from the dress.

Best and Worst of the Week

Surprisingly difficult to pick a best this week! I liked both of the pink Escadas, but in the end the fit and the jewel tone blue won the week for me. It wasn't at all hard, on the other hand, to pick a worst: just a giant NO on the snakeskin affair.


Photos: PurePeople/Abaca/Svenskdam

Week in Review: Princess Letizia, 10-16 April

Here's what Letizia wore from 10-16 April:

1. Arriving in Jerusalem at the start of an official visit to Israel and Palestine, 11 April. I'm torn. Two things I love: a crisp and professional white suit, and hot shoes. But...they don't go together. The suit's better for the occasion...but you know how I feel about shoes. Oh, conflict.
2. At the welcome reception on the evening of Day 1, 11 April. Pretty dress and a little something different with the hair. I'll give it a passing grade!
3. a) Visiting the Israel Museum in Jerusalem, and b) arriving in Amman with added scarf, 12 April.12 April. Like the color, dubious on the stripes.
4. At the Martyr Memorial Museum in Jordan, 13 April. Are the sleeves supposed to have that little flair that looks like they're just half pushed up, or are they actually just half pushed up and stuck there?
5. Lunch with the King and Queen of Jordan and visiting a university, 13 April. Kind of like a pink version of that gray dress that I like, minus some frills. I wish the shoes were nude instead of an exact match, but that's a great color on a great dress.
6. Last day in Jordan, 14 April. An oft-repeated outfit that I haven't changed my opinion on.

Best and Worst of the Week

It was a toss up between the evening dress and the new pink dress, but in the end the fancy hair and Jimmy Choos won out for best of the week. Worst was the navy suit, mostly because she's worn it so much in the past.

And we can't forget about Queen Rania:

I'm in from the knees to the shoulders. Don't get the opaque stockings or the two-tone pinkish shoes, and am terribly distracted by the hair. Not as sleek as usual for Rania, but very much a modern Queen, and that's a fact I can't complain about.

Photos: DiarioFeminino/Reuters/Getty Images/Daylife/Zimbio/Scanpix

Week in Review: Princess Mathilde, 3-9 April

Here's what Mathilde wore from 3-9 April:

1.  Meeting with businesswomen on the 2nd day of her economic mission to Russia with Prince Philippe, 4 April.
2. Visits on Day 3, 5 April. Very Russian-looking.
3. Evening reception on Day 3, 5 April. Eh, NATAN. Typical.
4. Visiting a children's home in Moscow, 6 April. Not bad, this.
5. Lunch with Russian women and a museum visit, 7 April. This is cute, this black and white number.
6. Attending a piano concert in the evening, 7 April. Purple, well, you know how I feel about that. Would have opted for a little less action in the fabric bunching and coordinating shoes rather than matching ones, though.
7. Visiting a charitable foundation on the last day of the visit, 8 April. Very typical Mathilde, but it works for her.

Best and Worst of the Week

Outfit 2 is nice and warm and very appropriate for the location. It reminds me of what she wore to the Eucharist Mass, and it's my best of the week for her. My worst, on the other hand, is the first outfit: I liked it when she was seated, but standing up...

Well, it's just wrong to let a garment do that to you. Shame on that dress.

Photos: hln.be/Belga/Scanpix

Week in Review: Princess Madeleine, 27 March - 2 April

Here's what Madeleine wore from 27 March - 2 April:

1. Visiting a project in Florida for the World Childhood Project, 2 April. Oh, this is cute. And absolutely appropriate for a royal visit in Florida.
2. Attending a charity dinner for the World Childhood Project, 2 April, a) on Madeleine and b) from Marchesa. This is a pretty dress, but I can't say I'm wild about where the waist hits her, and I can't say I didn't want to reach in and tug it up a bit for her in some of these pictures.

She's not the one I want to talk about at this gala, though. Queen Silvia was there too:

 

Poor gal. Just got over a terrible sickness, and now she's been swallowed whole by a roll of ribbon. This is another one from the designer Yuki, who certainly has a creative mind.

Photos: Isopix/Hola/Style.com

Week in Review: Crown Princess Mary, 29 August - 4 September

Here's what Crown Princess Mary wore the week of 29 August - 4 September:

1.  Conference for the Brain Injury Association, 31 August.  What is that skirt made of?  Is it leather or is it fake?
2. Memorial concert for Queen Ingrid, 31 August, a) from Ralph Lauren b) on Mary, 31 August.  I like this up until I see one of the many photos for this event in which the Crown Princess's bra strap is showing.  Whoops.
3. Conference on polio, 3 September.  A much repeated top, most recently seen out and about in Stockholm. 

 Best and Worst of the Week

 I just love that Heartmade top, and I love that she's worn it for purposes ranging from casual to daywear to eveningwear.  It makes a much better combination with that skirt than anything from the first outfit of the week does.  I don't care what that skirt is made of, it doesn't sit or move well.  Looks cheap.  And the shoes don't make any sense to me.

Photos: Belga/msn.dk/Svenskam/Zimbio/DANAPRESS

Week in Review: Crown Princess Victoria, 29 August - 4 September

Here's what Crown Princess Victoria wore the week of 29 August - 4 September:

1.  Polar Music Awards, 30 August, and the Escada dress and Yves St Laurent shoes that are reappearing after Nikolaos and Tatiana's pre-wedding party.  This is a little too rock star for a princess, I think, but at least she's showing that model a thing or two.  Mostly I can't handle the shoes. 
2. Attending the final concert of the Östersjöfestivalen, 2 September, a) from the back and b) from the front.  It's one dress but it would be so much better as a top tucked into a high-waisted skirt, no?  It needed something, but that necklace wasn't it.
3. Attending the ceremonial first blasting of the Karolinska hospital in Stockholm, 3 September.  Lovely color, but this outfit scares me.  It's too much like the Victoria of yore: dressing too old (the boxy cut on that jacket isn't flattering) and it marks the return of the dreaded ponytail.

I can't pick a best from these selections.  I refuse!  We've seen how good she can do, and these things are just not it.

Photos: Svenskdam, svt.se

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

Here's what Crown Princess Victoria wore the week of 13-19 June:

1. Gym visit, plus a party at Madeleine's apartment, 15 June.
2. Cathedral visit, 16 June.
3. County Governors Dinner, 16 June.  Roger Vivier shoes.
4. Cathedral visit, 17 June.
5. Private wedding dinner at Drottningholm, 17 June, a) on the Elie Saab runway, and b) in action.  Repeat from those fantastic portraits released early this year.
6. Cathedral Visit, 18 June.
7. Government reception, 18 June.  Also Elie Saab Spring 2010 Couture.
8. Pre-wedding dinner and concert, 18 June, a) on the red carpet, and b) on the Elie Saab runway.
9. The wedding, 19 June.  Oh, did you forget that was this week?  Good thing I reminded you.

Ho-hum, just another week in the life of a Crown Princess.

Best and Best of the Week

 I tried to name a worst of the week, I really did, but the closest I came was #6, and there's nothing wrong with it.  Seriously, if that's the worst you can do, you deserve 2 bests. 

Victoria and Daniel are on their honeymoon now, and they don't have anything scheduled until 21 August (hell of a honeymoon, huh?), so it might be a while before we have another week in review post for Victoria.  

Photos: Reuters/Daylife/Scanpix/Aftonbladet/John Foremost/Camera Press/Marcio Madeira/Expressen