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

Week in Review: Charlene Wittstock, 19-25 June

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

1. a, b, and c) More pre-wedding interviews. Good grief, so many interviews, I didn't even attempt to make sure I had them all. All the interviews in the world won't make this wedding as popular as William and Kate's, kids, that's just the way it is. And since I'm clearly in a catty mood already, I'll just round it out: outfit 1c has been stolen from the set of The Golden Girls, and should be returned ASAP.
2. Attending the St. Jean procession, 23 June. See also: the fantastic detail on the dress fabric, and the shoes. This, I think, is lovely.
3. At the Jumping International de Monte-Carlo, 24 June. I like this one too. Very demure.
4. Cocktail party for Jumping International de Monte-Carlo, 24 June, a) on Charlene and b) from Lanvin. It's not so much the dress I take issue with here as it is the shoes. If you look in the dictionary under the term "clodhoppers", I believe you'll find a photo of these babies. Also, she makes a totally comical picture next to stuffy old Albert.
5. In Athens for the opening ceremony of the Special Olympics Summer Games, 25 June. I'd need to see this outfit in action to judge. Because this is the sort of thing that you just have to commit to, no hesitation, and a photo can't tell me if she did that. You know what I mean?

Photos: Profimedia/Reuters/Daylife/Style.com/GoRunway.com/Yannis Vlamos

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: Crown Princess Victoria, 20-26 March

Here's what Victoria wore from 20-26 March:

1. At a youth house in Borlänge, 24 March.
2. Visiting a bakery in Stora Skedvi, 24 March. Oh, the perils of being a royal. Sanitary gear ruins any outfit.
3. At the Governor's dinner in Falun, 24 March, a) on Vic and b) on the runway. Purple, yay.
4. Visiting Sälen, 25 March. A little boring, but not bad.
5. In Lindvallen, 25 March.

Best and Worst of the Week

Once again, I find myself fixated on the accessories. My best of the week goes to the simple plum velvet dress in Outfit 3, and the saucy purple shoes that went along with it. My worst goes to an outfit that I want so badly to like, but just can't: Outfit 1. It's red, which is amazing, but it just doesn't work. Shooties. The white part of the top peeking out from under the red jacket. And just not a funky enough canvas on which to wear this red Lanvin for H&M necklace. I love it, I really do. But it doesn't go with a plain old suit. You'll probably disagree with me, so head on down to the comments and speak your mind!

Photos: Profimedia/Abaca/PurePeople

Royal Fashion Awards: Monaco Rose Ball 2011

Monaco's Rose Ball usually brings us a whole array of fashion to gawk over, but that wasn't so much the case this year. The royal family bowed out due to the recent death of Princess Antoinette (Prince Rainier's sister and Prince Albert's aunt). Still, there were a few appearances worth discussing (and awarding), so let's get to it:

Most Appropriate

Andrea, Charlotte, and Pierre Casiraghi

The Casiraghi trio were sent to man the festivities in the absence of Albert, Charlene, and Caroline, and they made their mother proud. The gentlemen stuck to basic tuxes (because you can't ever go wrong with a James Bond move) and Charlotte opted for Lanvin. It's not something I would have in my closet, but it's perfect for her: sticks to her couture-without-a-care style without venturing into flashy, inappropriate territory. And she accessorized with a brooch handed down from her grandmother, Princess Grace, as the icing on the cake.

Worst Boho

Tatiana Santo Domingo

Andrea's long-time girlfriend, socialite Tatiana, has an interesting style indeed. It's a talent, really: the ability to take any piece of clothing, no matter how expensive (such as this Missoni gown), and turn it into something that looks like a thrift store find. A talent or a curse, I suppose - you be the judge.

Best Duchess of Windsor Move

Beatrice Borromeo

With Charlotte's style toned down for mourning purposes, Pierre's other half turned hers up to an animalistic level. Does that necklace not scream Wallis, Duchess of Windsor to you? That's all I can think about. Such ornamentation is typically not my drug of choice, but I find this quite intoxicating nonetheless. It's either tacky or fashionable, depending on your taste I suppose. I think she's working it.

Worst Royal Barbie

The Duchess of Castro

Here we have the Duke and Duchess of Castro, also known as the other Charles and Camilla. (Charles is one of two claimants to the head of the House of Bourbon-Two Sicilies.) Camilla here is clearly trying to fill the fashion void left by the absence of Caroline and Charlene, to a most disastrous plastic end. Yikes.

What did you make of the showing at this year's Rose Ball?

Photos: Pascal Le Segretain/Zimbio/Getty Images Europe/Pool