Week in Review: Crown Princess Mary, 11-17 December

Here's what Mary wore from 11-17 December:

1. Shopping with her sisters in Australia, 12 December, in a repeated Heartmade top and some saucy Nike kicks.

Photo: Bauer Griffin/Zimbio

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

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

1. Attending an awards dinner, 29 November. A classic repeated Letizia LBD. Can't go wrong.
2. a) and b) At the XIVth State Congress of the Voluntary work, 1 December. Mmm...maybe we should've left the scarf on, I'm thinking.

Photos: Xunta/WireImage

Week in Review: Grand Duchess Maria Teresa, 20-26 November

Here's what Maria Teresa wore from 20-26 November:

1. Visiting a school, 21 November.
2. Attending a conference, 24 November.
3. Presenting the Edward Steichen Award, 24 November.
4. Awarding the Grand Duke Adolphe Prize and attending the International Bazaar, 26 November. Yeah, I got nothing. I suppose it's too much to ask for every week to be fun.

Photos: Daniel Clarins/Luxemburger Wort/Cour gr ducale/Wort/Nico Muller/Serge Waldbillig

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

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

1. Attending the Anders Wall lecture, 21 November.
2. a) Awarding the Polhem Prize, 23 November, in (b) By Malene Birger. See, this is what I was talking about last week: this is not a maternity dress, it's just a dress that happens to fit over a bump. And you can tell, because the front hem is higher than the back one. Don't get me wrong, I'm delighted to see her in a (not black) color and some sparkle, but this is my new pet peeve.

Photos: Lehtikuva/Svenskdam/Malene Birger

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: Crown Princess Mary, 13-19 November

Here's what Mary wore from 13-19 November:

1. Opening a new campaign for The Mary Foundation, 14 November. Gah! I love this jacket! And the Day Birger et Mikkelsen blouse underneath is a really interesting but lovely pairing.
2. Opening a youth conference, 16 November. We've seen this Prada number before - from last year's Parliament opening, when she was pregnant with the twins! It's an unusual color combination, but I love it, and the blue shoes are a perfect touch.
3. Arriving in Australia for a combo private and official visit, 19 November. Speaking of the twins, Princess Josephine here doesn't look too impressed with her first glimpse of Australia, but I'm sure she'll warm to it. The Australian trip is where we will pick up next week.

Photos: Purepeople/Abaca

Week in Review: Princess Letizia, 6-12 November

Here's what Letizia wore from 6-12 November:

1. Visiting an international tourism fair in London, 7 November.
2. At a gala dinner put on by the Spanish Chamber of Commerce in London, 7 November, repeating one of my very favorite Letizia looks! Huzzah.
3. Attending an event for the ONCE Foundation, 11 November. Hey, a whole week of some of my favorite Letizia dresses (they're all Felipe Varela, by the way)! It's like a little present.

Photos: Daylife/Getty Images

Week in Review: Crown Princess Mary, 30 October-5 November

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

1. Unveiling the 2011 Christmas Seal, 31 October. I think the gray legs are where this one goes off the rails.
2. Celebrating the 50th anniversary of the Danish Special Forces, 1 November. Very mysterious, like she might have some spying to do later. Love it!
3. a) Accompanying the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge at the UNICEF Aid Dept in Copenhagen, 2 November, with Frederik in what certainly looks like a blue velvet suit (b)...okay. As for Mary, this looks like the outfit she had on in the office that day and just tossed on a coat to dash out for a second. Does that make her the epitome of the "dress not to overshadow the cause" rule? 
4. Visiting the Home Guard Guarding Division in Kosovo, 3 November. Oh, I do love a lady in uniform.
5. Attending Jarl Friis-Mikkelsen's 60th birthday party, 5 November.

Photos: PPE/Colourpress/RPP/Purepeople/Abaca/Reuters/Daily Mail/Billed Bladet/MSN Starlounge

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 Letizia, 23-29 October

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

1. Opening the National Congress of the Family Enterprise, 24 October, a) quite a recent repeat, and b) with the coat.
2. Audiences at Zarzuela Palace, 27 October. Yeah, this goes back to crossing the "too casual" line once again. A plain t-shirt with a Mr. Rogers cardi thrown on top doesn't make the cut.

Photos: Daylife/Getty Images/Zimbio

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

Week in Review: Princess Letizia, 9-15 October

Here's what Letizia wore from 9-15 October:

1. Meeting with World Heritage leaders, 10 October. Some of you said you got a bad 1970s flashback from this, but I actually like it. I may be swayed by my current state of fall pumpkin baked goods bliss.
2. National Day, 12 October.
3. Opening a technology fair, 13 October. National Day is still my favorite of the week, but even this more casual look isn't bothering me as much as her usual cardigan looks do.
4. In Barcelona visiting an exhibition and attending an awards ceremony, 15 October. A great repeated cocktail dress, and a super cute picture. Directly in competition with one other for Cutest Letizia Picture of the Week:

You think they're making her explain why she left her crown at home?

Photos: Bekia/Mujer Deelite/Daylife

Week in Review: Princess Mathilde, 2-8 October

Here's what Mathilde wore from 2-8 October:

1. a) Attending the Europalia Brasil Festival, 4 October, in a delicate dress I suspect is from Natan (rather similar to what we saw Princess Alexandra in for Luxembourg's National Day in a way, don't you think?), and with her intriguing taste in jewelry (b and c) on full display. I love a statement piece, but heart-shaped rocks cross the line from unique to cheesy in my book.
2. Visiting two Youth Competence Centers, 5 October. This might be as close to badass as our sweet Mathilde gets, and I like it. 

The whole family turned out for the festival:

Paola and Astrid did their regular elegant thing. Fabiola was, well, fab in a way only she can be. And Philippe and Mathilde cuddled. You know, as they do. You said you liked Mathilde because she warms your snarky hearts, so I'm just trying to oblige. (It was nice to see all the love for Mathilde last week, by the way. I really liked some of the alternate feature suggestions you had too - I have some thinking to do.)

Photos: Purepeople/Abaca/PPE/van Katwijk

Royal Fashion Awards: Spain's National Day

Oh, kittens. It was a pretty day in Spain, and I'm not talking about the weather. As much as I delight in a good fashion disaster (sheer entertainment value, you know), sometimes it's just nice to sit back and enjoy some elegant ladies do their royal thang. Like so:

Best Pastel

Queen Sofia

How cute is this? You know I'm dying for the purple, and her take on the three-quarter length suit sleeve is especially fetching given our recent discussion about Letizia's pushed up jackets.

Prettiest in Pink

Infanta Elena

Two levels: a wee bit of Pretty in Pink on the jacket there, and a truly pretty in pink lace skirt. Might I suggest jumping on the Máxima and Mathilde train and crafting a matching jacket for next time, Your Royal Highness?

Best in Spectator

Felipe Juan Froilán and Victoria Federica

Elena's kids watched from the sidelines with friends. That Felipe looks like an impish little fellow, no?

Biggest Relief

Princess Letizia

After a casual break last year, it was nice to see her get her princess on in such a tasteful suit. That color really brings out her coloring, doesn't it?

Best of the Day

Infanta Cristina

Jumpy claps, I tell you. This is a beautiful dress and jacket. Just amazingly well constructed. I like it all, especially her hair which is looking particularly lovely. And I am most certainly awarding extra points for the husband factor, thank you very much.

Who wins your best dressed for this year's National Day?

Photos: Bekia/Zimbio

Week in Review: Princess Máxima, 2-8 October

Here's what Máxima wore from 2-8 October:

1. Opening the new trading floor of the Amsterdam Stock Exchange, 3 October. The poof on the skirt sort of looks like it was desperate to escape the straight jacket above.
2. a) Opening the Brazil Festival in Amsterdam, 3 October, b) in blindingly shiny Halson Heritage. Basically, since her sister-in-law has a lock on the saggy torpedo boob category, Máx here decided to shore up the "locked and loaded" torpedo boob category. I think I'm going to get Princess M. a mirror for Christmas this year, you guys want to chip in?
3. Attending the MBO Gala, 4 October.
4. Opening the TERI research institute, 5 October.

5. Opening the new council of state's offices, 5 October. Now this is lovely, I'm liking all the different textures, and the A+ reuse of last year's Prinsjesdag hat.
6. In Rome to open a Mondrian exhibit, 6 October. Another day, another reused Prinsjesdag hat...I suppose if you're going to wear your Indiana Jones hat anywhere, it might as well be to a museum. But I can't help but think a Mondrian exhibition would have been the place for #3 up there.
7. Opening the Exodus House, 7 October, a) with and b) without wrap.
8. At the 40th anniversary celebration of the Introdans company, 7 October. Oh yes, I do love this repeated Alessandra Rich gown. It could be very Morticia on anyone else, but with that personality and that giant jewelry, it's just chic. (I am of course ignoring the hair, as I usually attempt to do.)

She's such a worker bee, our Máxima. She deserves some praise, so just in case you can't find anything worth loving above, feast your eyes on the ring from #5 (worn with matching earrings, natch):

Photos: Purepeople/Abaca/PPE/van Katwijk/Nieboer

Week in Review: Princess Letizia, 25 September-1 October

Here's what Letizia wore from 25 September - 1 October:

1. Opening the Basque Culinary Center, 26 September. Elegant. Crisp clean white is ages better than a gray or beige suit!
2. Opening a seminar on language and journalism, 28 September. Little jumbled, but that orange bag is adding a needed pop.
3. Attending an awards presentation for the Spanish Foundation Against Cancer, 30 September. Lovely, and I think someone got a haircut.
4. Opening "VIIth National Congress Scientist - Relatives MPS Spain", 1 October. The cardi makes this quite casual, but she's doing so much color experimentation - for the whole week, really - that I'm a happy camper. Delightful.

Photos: Purepeople/Abaca/Hoymujer

Royal Fashion Awards: Denmark's Parliament Opening, 2011

'Tis the season for parliament openings and pictures of royals desperately trying not to yawn their way through them. Today it was Denmark's turn. It's not a fashion show...until we make it so. Let's go:

Worst Repeat

Queen Margrethe

Alas! Barbie's race car has ridden again. Oh, Marge. Only you.

Best in Class

Princess Benedikte

So simple there's almost nothing to talk about. Sometimes that's all it takes to win the day!

 Most Puzzling Sartorial Math

Crown Princess Mary

Hat: good, little bit of a 40s flair. Coat: good, nice strong color. Dress: black, can't really go wrong there. Three strong components, and yet the whole ends up less than the sum of its parts. It's almost too casual...or something.

Best Anti-Sleeping Photo Device

Princess Marie

If Inspector Gadget were a gangsta...he might employ this method of preventing a photographer from snapping a pic at just the second he chose to rest his eyes during a boring political speech. Marie, on the other hand, just looks like she grabbed from her incognito chapeau closet rather than her princess closet.

Who stood out at today's parliament opening for you?

Photos: PPE/ddp/Kongsted/Purepeople/Abaca/Hanne Juul/Billed-Bladet

Week in Review: Crown Princess Victoria, 18-24 September

Here's what Victoria wore from 18-24 September:

1. Attending a memorial in Uppsala, 18 September.
2. Visiting Turku in Finland, 19 September, a) with and b) without coats. Different shooties are still shooties. Sigh.
3. Official dinner in Turku, 19 September. Ah! Very thankful for the repeated color and print.
4. Day 2 of the Turku visit, 20 September.
5. Attending an emergency simulation exercise, 21 September.
6. At the opening of "Victoria Square" in Haparanda Tornio, 22 September. Three shootie appearances in one week. I have a headache.

Photos: Lehtikuva/Purepeople/Abaca/Suomen Kuvalehti/Kaleva

Week in Review: Princess Máxima, 18-24 September

Here's what Máxima wore from 18-24 September:

1. Attending the baptism of Princess Margarita's daughter Paola, 18 September (Margarita is Willem-Alexander's cousin).
2. a) Prinsjesdag, 20 September, with b) a close up on the beadwork.
3. Receiving a book of poetry and attending the premiere of a musical, 21 September.
4. Opening the World Music Contest, 22 September. A sparkly delight repeated from the Qatar state visit.
5. In Washington, D.C. attending the International Monetary Fund and World Bank meetings, 23 September. Well, I suppose if anyone can pull off the double animal print, it's Máx...

You really can't see what she wore for outfit 1 but it doesn't matter because Holland's next top models were in the house:

Werk!

Photos: Profimedia/Dutch Photo Press/PPE/Nieboer/Getty Images/Daylife