Week in Review: Princess Máxima, 27 November - 3 December

Here's what Máxima wore from 27 November - 3 December:

1. At the Prince Bernhard Culture Fund Awards, 28 November. Va-va-voom! This is a great dress. Me likey.
2. a and b) Opening a new care home, 29 November. Meh.
3. a) Attending a gala dinner during an official visit from Mali, 29 November, in b) a repeated dress and shrug made of...used tinfoil from Máx's last highlight?

Photos: Getty Images/Zimbio/PPE/Buys/112 Nederland/Nieboer

Week in Review: Princess Letizia, 20-26 November

Here's what Letizia wore from 20-26 November:

1. At the farewell ceremony before departing for an official visit to Chile, 21 November.
2. In Chile, day 1, 22 November. Hey, I'm just happy any time she goes with red.
3. Still on day 1, 22 November, in Felipe Varela. Now, see, this is the kind of thing that only Letizia could pull off. Lurve.
4. Official dinner, 22 November. This is a chic little outfit...but, urgh. Maybe sleeves are better. Not exactly flattering on the upper body.
5. Day 2, 23 November. Another cute little white number that's just childlike enough only she could handle it.
6. Still day 2, 23 November, and the much worn navy suit has returned.
7. Day 3, 24 November, prepped and ready for a Chilean safari...or something.

Photos: Terra/Daylife/Getty Images

Week in Review: Crown Princess Mary, 20-26 November

Here's what Mary wore from 20-26 November:

1. Day 1 of the couple's trip to Australia, 20 November, beginning with (a) flats and a hat to open the Sculpture By The Sea exhibition and then (b) ditching the hat and switching to heels for more events. Prefer the hat version, myself.
2. Meeting the Governor-General, 20 November. Simple but lovely dress, the perfect background for what we're all really looking at: the twins!
3. Day 2, 21 November. Ah, yes! Much better without some strange winter jacket on top.

4. a) Dinner on day 2, 21 November, in (b) a repeated dress from Diane von Furstenberg. Look familiar? It's the short version of the dress Carole Middleton wore to the evening bash after William and Catherine's wedding.
5. Day 3, 22 November, in an outfit that morphed as the day went on. She took a repeated dress (which many of you will be happy to see again, its last appearance was much loved) and topped it with a hat (a) and then wore it without the hat (b) and then added a ruffled front cardi (c - while checking out a portrait of herself, which must be a surreal experience) and also wore it with both cardigan and hat. And that's what we call coming prepared for all eventualities!

6. Day 4, 23 November. I usually just go for whatever picture shows the outfit fully, but I couldn't resist the ridiculous chicness of this pose in that Egg chair. I like the outfit, too, but the chair...sorry, I'm an interior designer. Can't help myself.
7. Dinner, day 4, 23 November, repeating another dress from when she was pregnant with the twins - early on, during Nikolaos and Tatiana's wedding festivities.
8. Day 5, 24 November. Love the more casual shirt with the slim fit white skirt.
9.  Dinner, day 5, 24 November. Oh, no. Not a fan of the random patchwork business.
10. Day 6, 25 November. Hmm...a lovely pop of color and print, or way too much of a 1970s flashback?

11. a) Reception on day 6, 25 November, wearing b) a new Georg Jensen necklace. (Here's the full fantastic red dress.) This whole trip was a showcase of jewelry from all Mary's regulars: Marianne Dulong, Ole Lynggaard, and of course Georg Jensen. Several items were new, too, which makes one wonder if she's sitting on a stash of unimagined size, or if she's found other ways to work out loans for herself.
12. a) Day 7, 26 November, repeating outfit #2 but adding a brooch (b). Strange positioning there, no?
13. Gala dinner to finish out the official portion of the trip, 26 November. I do believe this is a reworked version of the dress she wore to Victoria and Daniel's wedding - the strange lace on the top has been removed, and the shoulder drape has been added. I did not like it then at all, and now I am in love. Perfect!

Photos: Daylife/Getty Images/Reuters/Zimbio/Georg Jensen

Week in Review: Princess Máxima, 30 October-5 November

Here's what Máxima wore from 30 October-5 November:

1. Continuing the visit to the Dutch Caribbean in Bonaire, 31 October. Favorite outfit of the trip.

2. In Curacao, 1 November. Another visor hat!
3. Another Curacao outfit, 1 November. The return of the first visor hat! Woe is the top of her head, in the Caribbean sun. I do think the suit itself has potential, though. Get some non-Natan heels and a chignon up in there and we'd be in business.
4. Evening outfit, 1 November. I can't be objective when so many pics show this one needing another inch or two at the hem. As is, she's going to have to clasp her hands in front and swing that skirt like the bell it is to win my affections.
5. Second day in Curacao, 2 November.
6. Evening outfit, 2 November.

7. Moving on to St. Maarten, 3 November. Yeah, I would have been fine if we could have had just this red hat only, and not this red dress at all.
8. Another St. Maarten outfit, 3 November. Jewelry aside, this is another favorite look: simple but bright and cheery!
9. Evening outfit, 3 November. It's...a toga?
10. Visiting St. Eustatius, 4 November.
11. Visiting Saba, 5 November. Probably shouldn't like the repeated painting dress...but I do! Go figure.

Accessory and hair glimpses:

A bit dicey, this trip. Apart from her tiara appearances, Máxima is always at her best when she's on these pre-planned excursions - as opposed to her daily grind - but I'm still feeling a little let down. I shall seek consolation in the sapphires.

Photos: PPE/Nieboer/Dutch Photo Press

Week in Review: Crown Princess Mary, 23-29 October

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

1. Continuing the New York trip with a visit to a New York Jets football game followed by a visit to the Jacob Friis Settlement House, 23 October. Strikes me as another odd combo, the spring-y jacket with the black and the snakeskin. Not that I have a better suggestion for what a princess ought to wear to a football game, mind you.
2. a) Day 5, the final day in New York, 24 October, in an outfit from (b) Designers Remix. Is it a dress or a shirt/skirt combo? Would be weird as one dress, right?
3. Taking a stroll after the final engagement, 24 October.

Photos: Purepeople/Abaca/Getty Images/Daylife/Zimbio/Bauer Griffin

Week in Review: Princess Máxima, 23-29 October

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

1. Opening an exhibition at Dutch Design Week, 24 October.
2. a) Two events on 25 October with an accessory swap (b and c) in between, starting with creepy spider brooches and ending with a gorgeous pair of earrings. This isn't the first time she's done this dress with gray tights and brown shoes. It baffles me.
3. Attending the "Development of Business" conference, 26 October. I told you I love capes and I won't be swayed, even if this is a bow-tie mess.
4. Arriving in Aruba for a 10 day official visit to the Dutch Caribbean with Queen Beatrix and Prince Willem-Alexander, 27 October. Mustard! Now there's a statement color.
5. a) Official arrival ceremony on day 1, 28 October.  Okay. Let's talk about this. At first glance, my reaction was: "FABULOUS!" She looked so glam. And then I sussed out what was really happening with the hat (b). And then I thought: "Is she making a pit stop poolside in Boca Raton later?" So...there you go. At least I still think her shoes are fabulous, even if I do fear for her toe circulation.

6. a) Visiting a music festival on day 1, 28 October in a hat fit for Mango from Saturday Night Live (b).
7. a) Official welcome reception, day 1, 28 October, repeating a dress worn at Nikolaos and Tatiana's pre-wedding reception. At least there's a brooch (b)!
8. a) Visiting a national park and a residence on day 2, 29 October, with hat (b) and some serious earrings (c). Oh, you don't pull out your bling for a trip to the national park? How sad for you.
9. a and b) At a women's shelter on day 2, 29 October. And this is exactly why our Máxima is particularly well suited for a Caribbean tour. Well, that and this too:

Right at home, no?

Photos: Daylife/Getty Images/Purepeople/Abaca/24ora.com/DutchPhotoPress/PPE/Nieboer

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

Event Roundup: The Duchess of Cambridge in North America

The Duke and Duchess of Cambridge's North American trip has given us days and days of outfits galore, and now it's time for a little retrospective. You can review all the trip entries here:

Day 1: Arrival and Ottawa

Days 2 and 3: Canada Day and Montreal

Days 4 and 5: Quebec and Prince Edward Island

Days 6 and 7: Northwest Territories

Days 8 and 9: Calgary

Days 10 and 11: Los Angeles

Day 12: Los Angeles and Departure

So, how did she do?

Quibbles about fit, color, and relative hair messiness aside, I think the overall answer is clear: she knocked this trip out of the park. She gave the sartorially-obsessed lot of us plenty to talk about, and yet the fashion remained a footnote to the trip. The focus stayed on the real purpose of the trip: introducing themselves (and their causes) to Canada and the rest of the world. Kate's not a fashionista, and I think that was precisely the note she intended to hit. Mission: accomplished.

But since this is a sartorially-obsessed zone, one last question...

Which look is your favorite?

Vote, and make your case in the comments!

What was your favorite Kate outfit from the North American trip?
	1. Navy Smythe Jacket and Roland Mouret
	2. Navy Erdem
	3. Black Issa
	4. White Reiss with Red
	5. Purple Issa
	6. Gray Catherine Walker
	7. Blue Erdem
	8. White Joseph with or without Jacket
	9. White and Navy McQueen
	10. Nike Jacket with Skinny Jeans
	11. Navy Trench with Skinny Jeans
	12. Beige Malene Birger
	13. Navy Trench
	14. Beige Burberry Shirt with Skinny Jeans
	15. Navy Smythe Jacket and Skinny Jeans
	16. Yellow Jenny Packham
	17. Western Kate #1
	18. Western Kate #2
	19. Red Catherine Walker
	20. Lavender Roksanda Ilincic
	21. Green Diane von Furstenberg
	22. Printed Jenny Packham
	23. Lilac Alexander McQueen
	24. Navy and White Whistles
pollcode.com free polls

Week in Review: The Duchess of Cambridge, 10 July - 16 July, Part 1

And so the odyssey comes to an end. We pick back up on the last day of the Cambridge's trip to North America:

1. Last day of engagements in Los Angeles and departing for home, 10 July, wearing a white pleated skirt and navy crochet top from Whistles with navy heels, her nude clutch, a cross necklace and those diamond and sapphire earrings.

Is it wrong that when I first saw this, I felt a strong Heidi flair, and that's what made me love it? Well, no matter. Kate went out the way she came in: in navy. But despite that color that's become my archnemesis over the course of this trip, I really do love this. It's so girly! I love the detail and the little bow at the waist. And I love that she returned to her inexpensive high street roots for a visit to disadvantaged kids in Skid Row. You all know I love couture more than anything else, but sometimes that's just not right. A well played case of fashion diplomacy, once again.

If we see Kate again this week, we'll do part 2 for the week.

Click here for final thoughts and the trip wrap up!


Photos: AP/Daily Mail/Just Jared

Week in Review: The Duchess of Cambridge, 3 July - 9 July, Part 1

Here's the last installment of Kate's North American trip wardrobe, now on to the next:

 1. Attending a morning prayer service and visiting Quebec City on day 4 of the trip, 3 July, a) on Kate and b) from Erdem, worn with her LK Bennett nude heels, nude clutch and sapphire/diamond earrings.

2. Finish up in Quebec and arriving on Prince Edward Island, 3 July, a) the Joseph dress on its own, b) with a jacket (see the tweed in c), d) the LK Bennett clutch.

Fact: Erdem makes things that are not blue lace dresses. I thought I'd tell you, just in case you didn't know. I'm a little bit flabbergasted that the "Frugal Duchess" bought two such similar dresses from the same pricey designer! I like this one much better (not navy, not so much lace, blue for Quebec), so I'm left with regrets that she'd switched up the first frock of the trip. I have no regrets on outfit 2, though - as soon as she added the pink tweed jacket, I fell in love! A perfect princess outfit, but still fresh. The waist on the dress and the length of the jacket are a match made in heaven. So far, my favorite outfit of the trip.

3. Visiting Province House in Charlottestown, 4 July, a) and b) from Alexander McQueen, worn with navy pumps and her diamond/sapphire earrings.

4. Watching William practice water landings in a Sea King, 4 July, a) and b) a ponytail shot. Then racing dragon boats (c) in a Nike windbreaker, boat shoes and skinny jeans, and pulling a Grace van Cutsem (d), in black wedge slingbacks.

The McQueen is jaunty in a sort of old-timey croquet way, like she could have borrowed her inspiration from something the Queen Mother would have worn for sport in her day. Fitting for a visit to Prince Edward Island, land of Anne of Green Gables. It's much better in movement, hence the second shot there, because it needs a little more shape and a little more attitude (which might be why I like it better on Sarah Jessica Parker - and you know how I feel about navy). She made a good hair choice for a windy, rainy day with her ponytail, and I don't have much to say about the sportswear - other than I am ashamed of Prince William for busting out those nasty trainers again (and am very, very sad for the person that had to clean them up), and I wish they would have worn the Canada jerseys they were given for the dragon boat race. They broke the rules! Should've been festive and gone for it, kids.

5. Arriving in Yellowknife for the next leg of the tour in the navy trench and navy heels, 4 July.

After careful consideration, and in spite of my Kate-spawned animosity towards navy blue, I have decided that I need that trench. I promise to wear it in a fashion that will make it easy for you to tell that I've not gone stripper underneath without a squint and a prayer.

Do you have a favorite outfit so far? How are you feeling about navy?

Photos: Reuters/Daylife/AP/Daily Mail/Bancroft Media/Michael Dunlea/Just Jared

Week in Review: The Duchess of Cambridge, 26 June - 2 July, Part 2

If you need a refresher, here's where we left off with The Adventures of Kate and Wills in Canada. Now, to finish out the week through Saturday:

1. Canada Day, 1 July, a) Kate's outfit, b) the Maple Leaf Brooch, c) the red shoes, d) the dress from Reiss, e) the hat from Lock and Company, f) the clutch from Anya Hindmarch.

Confession: I'm disappointed. If there was a day to get a new dress, and make it from a Canadian designer, today would have been the day! It's Canada Day! I can't help but think that it looks like she planned on repeating the Reiss dress from her engagement photographs, and at the last minute, panicked and realized it wasn't Canadian enough. Cue the red shoes and stuck-on maple leaves in the hat. There's just a lot going on here.

2. Evening concert on Canada Day, 1 July, a) on Kate, b) the dress from Issa, worn with Prada pumps and another Anya Hindmarch clutch, and c) the maple leaf brooch again with diamond earrings.

After the Maple Leaf Brooch (on loan from the Queen, also worn by the Queen Mother and the Duchess of Cornwall) spent most of the day underneath Kate's hair, she threw it in the evening mix with an updo (yes!) and a purple Issa dress. This one I like standing up, not sitting down. (Weird, right? That's me.)

3. Day 3 of the Canada trip, 2 July, a) the Kensington dress from Catherine Walker with an Anya Hindmarch clutch, b) the back detail (with a bonus precious wee one), c) gamely sporting a chef's coat, d) the shoes, and e) swapping to black Prada shoes and a black Anya Hindmarch clutch.

A brand new designer on parade: Catherine Walker, she of my favorite Diana gown ever (and Carole Middleton's wedding outfit and so much more). A savvy choice, as Walker was French. I love the sweet sleeve and neckline details, and you know I love the first shoes of the day. But later she switched back to basic black, leaving me to wonder if they were uncomfortable or if she (gasp!) got them muddy in a tree planting haze. I long for an updo, though. There was a lot of hair flicking, even more than usual, what with the planting and meeting kids and playing chef, plus the back detail of the dress really deserves to fly on its own.

And now I'd like to give a shout out to an unsung fashion star on this trip so far: Prince William.

Two cases in point: lookin' good at the concert, and pulling a Barack by losing the jacket while on a hospital visit. I like to spread the praise around, you know.

Yes, I know this doesn't bring us up to everything she's worn so far, but you'll have to sit tight. In the mean time, did any of these three tickle your fancy?

Photos: Just Jared/AP/Reuters/Daily Mail/Camera Press/Mark Stewart/Splash/Michael Dunlea/Bancroft Media

Week in Review: The Duchess of Cambridge, 26 June - 2 July, Part 1

During the Cambridge's North American tour, I'll be splitting Catherine's looks into multiple review posts since even I don't write posts as crazy long as a full week would be. So, Part 1:

1. At the royal box for Wimbledon, 27 June, a) on Kate and b) with the LK Bennett shoes on display; c) the dress from Temperley London, and d) Secret Agent Wills at Wimbledon, just because I find him entertaining. Kate also wore those diamond and sapphire Are-They-Or-Aren't-They-Diana's earrings again, as well as the famous Bracelet of Controversy, and carried a beige clutch and a brown jacket.

I said it on Twitter, and I'll say it again: kicky little tennis dress. I like it, and I'm ever so glad she didn't have to put the jacket on top. The detail on the back of the straps would bug the crap out of me if I wore this - looks like the kind of thing that would get all messed up on your seat back, or that someone could stand behind you and flick at. (I guess this means we know Secret Agent Wills isn't the kind of husband that annoys his wife for sport.)

2. Leaving Heathrow Airport for Canada, 30 June, a) on Kate, b) the dress from Roland Mouret, and c) the jacket from Smythe. Her shoes are Manolo Blahniks and her bag is Mulberry.

Basically, if I had the money - and the body, but that's a different discussion - my daily uniform would be Roland Mouret and Manolos. Kudos are due to Mrs. Cambridge here: she went French (Mouret), Canadian (Smythe), British (Mulberry) and Fabulous (Blahnik), all in one outfit. That's the mark of a black belt in international political dressing. And this is just the ho-hum, excuse me while I board my private plane look.

3. Arriving in Canada and the first events of the day in Ottawa, 30 June, a) on Kate, and b) from Erdem, with the same shoes and clutch as at Wimbledon. She also wore the diamond and cabochon sapphire earrings she wore on engagement day.

4. An evening barbecue with young people, 30 June, in an Issa dress.

I'd say Erdem's the biggest Canadian name in high fashion, so the second outfit of the day is a smart move indeed. There's that black belt again, karate-chopping her way into Canada's arms. As for the actual dress...eh. Maybe I'm just a little burnt out on the navy overload, or maybe I'm just not a fan of navy lace dresses. I have no complaints of substance here, it just doesn't flip my skirt up. Sadly, neither does the last dress (which she's had for a long time and was last seen the day before the wedding), and I blame it on one thing: the shoes. Can we have the Manolos back, please? (And yes, I know, more comfortable, long day, etc. But my shoe-loving heart wants what it wants.)

How's she doing so far? Do you have a favorite look yet?

Photos: PA/Daily Mail/Film Magic/Getty Images/Daylife/AP Photo/Net-a-porter/Globe and Mail/Chris Wattie/Reuters

Week in Review: Crown Princess Mette-Marit, 10-16 April

Here's what Mette-Marit wore from 10-16 April:

1. Arriving in Ghana for the start of her official visit with Haakon, 12 April. Can't say I love this, but I do love seeing her in color. And this is certainly a blue explosion!
2. Day 1 of the visit, 12 April. Repeating this lovely Scandinavian top and simple black skirt.
3. Dinner on day 1, 12 April. Color: good. Shoes: good. Shape: missing in action.
4. Day 2, 13 April. Possibly as simple as simple gets, but fits in with the events of the day.
5. Evening of Day 2, 13 April. Could do without the necklace, which is more of a breastplate sort of thing.
6. Day 3, 14 April. What a pretty dress. Am dying for her to lose the cardi and let it shine.

Interesting accessories and details this week:

A lot of neutral outfits, but she's added pops of color with some turquoise jewelry, and a cheery yellow purse. And of course they act as great backgrounds for the officially provided accessories. A couple pairs of flats, one homelier than the other, and two interesting braids (again, one homelier than the other). The only place where the accessories fall completely flat is the addition of the necklace to outfit 5 (which looks like a part of the dress but isn't, see here). Too much, and an inexplicable combination with the gold earrings.

Best and Worst of the Week

I'm just happy to see dear Mette-Marit, I feel like she's been quite incognito so far this year. I like the fit of 5, but the necklace ruins it for me. So I'll go 6, for the love of color. And despite the fact that I love a color explosion, 1 is my worst. The red belt trim is just not flattering, and the ponytail's mighty plain. And you?

UPDATE: One more outfit, at the Mali AIDS Summit.

Photos: Svenskdam/Hola/Scanpix/StellaPictures/Kongehuset.no/Lise Aserud

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 Máxima, 27 March - 2 April

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

1. Arriving in Vietnam for an official visit, 28 March, and a) back view. This is a NATAN coat and Fabienne Delvigne hat. In fact, basically everything this week is that combo. This dress/coat thing looks...well, amateur is the best I can come up with: trying awfully hard, but just not quite quality. Mainly I'm distracted by the hair. I love a fancy ponytail, but there's fake hair at play here. And unless we're creating a nest for a major tiara, I can't get down with that.
2. Dinner the first night, 28 March. NATAN blouse (shapeless) and wide trousers (shapeless).
3. Second day in Vietnam, 29 March. Now, this is more like it.
4. Day 3 at the People's Committee, 30 March....okay. Flattering dress, but...no.
5. a) Day 3 visiting some Dutch companies, 30 March, and b) donning an especially unflattering safety suit. Pretty good, all things considered, no?
6. Networking dinner, 30 March. Why no evening dresses this trip? This is just a whole lot of beige.
7. Day 4, 31 March. Matchy-matchy orange...no thank you.

Best and Worst of the Week

I'm afraid this wasn't such a good week for Máx; the worst has to be the neon yellow number from outfit 4. The cut of the dress may be flattering, but check out the accessories, which might as well be a loan from one of her daughters. And the back...listen. I don't mean to sound like the old biddy who can't believe the kids these days and their short shorts, but spaghetti straps? For an official function? Should have put on the cardigan and kept it there. Maybe I just don't like it because it makes me feel like a grandma to complain about it. (I'm not. I'm young, and fresh like a daisy.) And maybe I just like the white outfit more because it gives me less to complain about. I'm not wild about the snakeskin with this dress, and I'm not wild about the hair, but I'll take it over anything else this week.

And you? Are you happy with this Vietnam showing?

Photos: PPE/Dutch Photo Press

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

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

1. Welcoming Charles and Camilla for their official visit to Spain, 30 March. The gray coat is back, and she's shaking it up with a different dress underneath (the actual matching dress this time) and a bare leg. See, I don't mind the repeating so much when you shake it up a little bit (even just a tiny bit).
2. Gala dinner for Charles and Camilla, 30 March. It's red (which we love), it's a full skirt (which I love), and the hair's fantastic. So why don't I love this one fully and completely?
3. Visiting a guide dog center with Camilla and then lunch with C & C and the King and Queen, 31 March. The dress of indeterminate color returns, and we can see that it is actually red. Very much enjoying the shoe change - give those platform pumps a rest!
4. At the opening ceremony of a young entrepreneur's congress, 1 April. Looks like somebody's ready for summer, rocking a white suit already! Can't argue with that.

Best and Worst of the Week

Hmm. I like both of the red appearances (naturally), and I feel like I should be head over heels for the Lorenzo Caprile, but I'm not. Just too much going on there for my tastes - the texture on the skirt and the bodice are competing for my visual attention. (Best hair of the week, for sure, to be fair.) Nothing's really bad this week, either; can't complain about the gray or the white. How about you?


Photos: Zimbio/Getty/Terra/Profimedia

Week in Review: Crown Princess Victoria, 16-22 January

Here's what Crown Princess Victoria wore the week of 16-22 January:

1.  Day 1 of her official visit to the UAE, 17 January. This is the outfit that prompted the royal court to issue a pregnancy denial (for whatever that's worth).  If you didn't want to encourage pregnancy talk, why would you wear your top like that? She knows people are watching, right? Hmm.
2. A reception on Day 1, 17 January. Love this jacket, and this is an interesting contrast to the bump-friendly day outfit.
3. Day 2, 18 January. This is clean and simple. I'll buy it.
4. Day 3, first outfit, 19 January. Well, this looks familiar. Day 2 is my preference; without the fresh white color these kind of suits can age a girl.
5. Day 3, second outfit, 19 January. Simple and casual for a visit to a national park.
6. Day 3, third outfit, 19 January. Love it!
7. a) Day 4, 20 January, and b) the coat from Armani. Fantastic coat, odd shoe pairing. Elegant jacquard and...reptile? 

Best and Worst of the Week

 I just love outfit #6! Great contrast between the cardigan, the texture of the skirt, and the shine of the shirt. Not a bad week, but this one shines the most for me. Outfit #1 also has some good contrast going on, but it's my worst of the week because of the Bump Factor. Don't get me wrong, I'm hoping the palace will have an announcement for us soon, I just don't see a bump elsewhere this week and wouldn't go stirring up speculation if I didn't need to. But that's just me. Where do you stand on the bump speculation situation?

On another note, check out the total lack of color this week! I think she looks good, but I'm getting a little worried about all these princesses and their neutrals. 2011 better get more colorful, and quick!

Photos: ANP/PPE/Svenskdam