Week in Review: Princess Mathilde, 20-26 November

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

1. Visiting schools with UNICEF Belgium, 21 November.
2. a and b) Attending a round table on human trafficking, 24 November. The giant sweater masquerading as a coat is growing on me.

Photos: Belga

Week in Review: Princess Máxima, 20-26 November

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

1. a) Attending the premiere of the film Nova Zembla, 21 November, in a gorgeous black dress from Ralph Lauren (b). It's such a simple dress, and in a color that usually signals boring for me, but she does it just right with the jewels and the (neat!) hair (c-e). The shoulder ornament is a diamond aigrette dating way back to Queen Emma, and is the same one we saw her break out for her 40th birthday. One of the best Máxima appearances this year, don't you think?
2. Visiting the "Children Make Music" project, 22 November.
3. Two events on 24 November. Well, it's not like anything's going to compare to outfit #1 anyway.

Also in attendance at the film premiere were two of Princess Margriet's sons and their wives, Prince Maurits and Princess Marilène and Prince Floris and Princess Aimée. Aimée looks stunning and Marilène...has a lot of hair.

Aimée and Marilène

Photos: Dutch Photo Press/Net-a-porter/PPE/Nieboer/Royal House

Week in Review: Princess Máxima, 13-19 November

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

1. Visiting Deventer Home Entrepreneurs, 15 November.
2. Opening the Amsterdam Participation Market, 17 November.
3. Making a school visit, 18 November.
4. Attending the world premiere of a Dutch documentary, 18 November. The best in an extraordinarily typical Máxima week, I suppose.

Photos: PPE/Buys/Het Koninklijk Huis/ANP/Dutch Photo Press

Week in Review: Princess Mathilde, 13-19 November

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

1. Celebrating King's Day in Brussels, 15 November. I'm not even going to try and play like I'm pondering it: I LOVE the leopard. So help me, I do. It takes a lot to make an animal print classy and not trashy, and she's pulling it off with the assistance of those gray accessories. J'adore.
2. More celebrations at Parliament, 15 November. This, on the other hand...not so much. Too. Much. Fringe.
3. a and b) Visiting the province of Luxembourg, 16 November in a colorblocked coat which is lovely, but Princess Claire did it better (see below).
4. a and b) Visiting a literacy project, 17 November.
5. Launching the "Week of Reading Aloud", 18 November, in a combo that I disliked so much I think I ended up coming around to the other side and now find it oddly enjoyable.

King's Day is a family affair (except not for the actual King and Queen), and Princess Astrid is the only other one that hatted up, in her upturned mixing bowl with the Hello Kitty bow stuck on front. That eternal rebel Queen Fabiola went without (can't be messing up the hair, man)...

...as did Princess Claire, who seems now to be back in royal action with her errant hubby, Prince Laurent. In the realm of colorblocking, both Claire and Mathilde picked outfits that seem to be aiming for that young mod look, and Claire (who looks like she's 15 anyway) is just a better fit.

Photos: Zimbio/Getty Images/PPE/Nieboer/Belga

Week in Review: Princess Máxima, 6-12 November

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

1. Opening Money Week 2011, 7 November. A cape! Yay! I hope she swooped it around a bit, if so then I will forgive the matchy-matchy shoes.
2. At the opening conference of the European Office of the Sustainability Consortium, 8 November. A thoroughly typical outfit, topped with a new Natan coat.
3. Attending the Erasmus Prize award ceremony, 9 November. This is a little...lackluster, no?
4. Receiving the first coin made for Money Week, 10 November.
5. Welcoming Sinterklaas (St. Nicholas) with her daughters, 12 November. My, my, I'm not sure when the last time was our colorful Máx was this monochrome for whole week (leave it to her to go with a reddish week instead of a grayish one, at least - bless!). We need some color variety, and for that we turn to the A-Team and their jaunty chapeaux:

Well done ladies, well done.

Photos: PPE/v.d. Werf/Dutch Photo Press/Nieboer

Week in Review: Princess Mathilde, 6-12 November

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

1. a and b) Visiting Maison de la Parentalité, 8 November. Ah! Another contestant in our Best Red Coat Contest. So, kids, how about this one? I'm a little dubious about the split of the ruffles, but even if I wasn't, the matching shoes kill it for me. The over-matching is a Mathilde trademark, and one I wish she'd wean herself from.
2. At the Antwerp book fair with the family, 10 November.
3. Commemorating Armistice Day at the Menen Gate, 11 November. Love this. It's solemn for the occasion, but it's also just so cute, right down to the oversize poppy.

Photos: Lavenir/Boekenbeurs/Zimbio/Getty Images

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: 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: 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: Princess Mathilde, 16-22 October

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

1. Day 1 of the couple's economic mission in China, 21 October. Saucy little jacket, no? Looks fab.
2. Day 2, first outfit, 22 October.
3. Day 2, second outfit with (a) and without (b) the cape, 22 October. I am currently obsessed with capes, just so you know. Anything fun and swoopy with maybe just a dash of Severus Snape works for me.

An excellent start to the China visit - more next week. Mathilde's looking fantastic, these are all super flattering outfits. And hey, you know who else was in China for an economic mission recently?

That would be Guillaume, also known as the Hereditary Grand Duke of Luxembourg, also known as the only unmarried European heir of decent legal age left, ladies.

And in other Mathilde news, new pics were released to celebrate Princess Elisabeth's 10th birthday.

The family that coordinates together stays together. Go team purple!


Photos: Nieuwsblad/HLN/SIP/Charles Caratini/Cour gr ducale

Week in Review: Princess Máxima, 9-15 October

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

1. At a "Women in Detention" symposium, 10 October.
2. Opening the 25th Cinekid Festival, 12 October. Well, I like this outing of last week's shirt better, but this is still not a banner week. Just kind of meh all over.

Photos: Dutch Photo Press/Purepeople/Abaca

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

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 Mathilde, 25 September-1 October

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

1. Visiting a group of farms, 26 September.
2. At the 25th anniversary celebration of the Plattelandsklassen, 29 September. A very typical Mathilde week. (Which is one of the reasons that I'm on the fence as to whether I should keep covering her with "Week in Review" posts...lovely as she is, she doesn't give us much to talk about. I'm undecided.)

UPDATE: She also attended European Job Days Brussels on 1 October. Purple: yay! Fit: nay!

Photos: Life/Belga/Europa

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

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

1. Visiting Mexico as part of her roles with the G20 Global Partnership for Financial Inclusion (GPFI) and the U.N., 30 September, in a repeated Natan frock.

Photo: Clicnoticas

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

Week in Review: Princess Mathilde, 11-17 September

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

1. a) and b) Attending a memorial for the 9/11 attacks, 11 September.
2. a) and b) Visiting the 'Infirmieres de Rue' association, 13 September, in an oft-repeated dress.
3. At a gala evening for the King Baudouin Foundation, 14 September, in a homemade aluminum foil concoction!

Photos: Nieuwsblad/Belga/Nicolas Maeterlinck/Svenskdam

Week in Review: Grand Duchess Maria Teresa, 11-17 September

Here's what Maria Teresa wore from 11-17 September:

1. Celebrating the 100th anniversary of the steel industry in Luxembourg, 15 September. The Luxembourg royals are back from their summer vacation, rested and tanned, and MT's back in a great repeat for her (wrinkles and all!).
2. An audience with Nobel Prize winner Muhammad Yunus, 16 September. This one's perfectly serviceable too, though it makes me wonder if they celebrate Halloween in Luxembourg.

Photos: RTL/Cour grand-ducale

Week in Review: Princess Mathilde, 4-10 September

Here's what Mathilde wore from 4-10 September:

1. Accompanying Princess Elisabeth as she opened the Princess Elisabeth Children's Hospital, 7 September. Princess Elisabeth was the star of the show; accompanied by her proud parents, she gave a little speech and was generally adorable.
2. Attending the opening of the Volunteer Village at the European Parliament, 8 September. Dashes of orange: lovely. Pretending that you actually are an orange: not so much.
3. Visiting a microcredit project, 9 September. This one's cute, though.
4. At the opera, celebrating Poland's EU presidency, 9 September, wearing a green dress we've seen before.

Photos: Svenskdam/APA PictureDesk/Belga

Week in Review: Princess Mathilde, 28 August - 3 September

Here's what Mathilde wore from 28 August - 3 September:

1. First day of school for the Belgian crew, 1 September. Cute little family, no?
2. Meeting with people from Casa Hogar at the Palace of Laeken, 2 September. Lovely shape for her, but I'm not going to lie: from far away, it looked like there might be some sort of spaceship print happening on there. Like perhaps she stole her son's sheets and had a dress made. It's leaves or something, really, but once you get a picture in your mind...game over.

Photos: Dutch Photo Press/Svenskdam