Fancy New Blog Stuff

Oh, friends, have I got some updates for you. Here's what's new around the blog:

New commenting system: I installed a new commenting system for the blog, Disqus, which I think is a little more user friendly than Blogger's and lets you do fancy things like put clickable links in your comments and reply directly to other user comments. You can also subscribe to keep up to date on conversations happening in the comments. Take it for a spin!

New pages: We've got two new pages for your viewing pleasure...

Meet the Royals

A handy-dandy who's who guide to everyone we've ever covered on the blog, for your quick reference.

Royal Wedding Headquarters

A one-stop shop for all wedding-related posts on the blog. It's time to gear up for royal wedding season - you don't want to be unprepared!

New blog feature: And speaking of royal wedding preparation...this week I'm rolling out a new feature:

Tiara Thursdays

Each Thursday we'll take a look at a new tiara! Because, who doesn't need more bling in their lives? 

From this Thursday until the first royal wedding of the year (that one in London, you remember) we'll be covering tiara suggestions for one Miss Catherine Middleton, since we all know that the diamonds make the wedding day.

Programming Note: Sunday 20 February

The blog will be down on Sunday for a bit for some blogkeeping. Fret not the error messages!

Happy New Year!

Welcome to 2011, my lovelies! What did you do with your New Year's Eve? Did you party it up?

No judgments. We all need a stash of stories that'll make our future descendants blush. Personally, I passed the evening in my usual fashion:

I highly recommend it.

Announcement time! Nostalgia's gotten the best of me, and I've been choosing my favorite 2010 outfit from each of the ladies I cover regularly here. I'll be sharing those this week, starting tomorrow, so be sure and show up to tell me what I forgot. Then next week the regular weekly/monthly recaps will pick back up - new year, new fun to comment on!

Friends, I hope the new year brings you many moments like this:

And not a single, solitary moment like this:

Many thanks to those of you that have joined in my fun this past year, and I hope you'll stick around for another year of sartorial splendor!

Look at these fancy updates.

I have, at long last, done a bit of housekeeping (blogkeeping?) around this place. Observe:

• Over to the right you will now find a link to this handy dandy event roundup of the Greek royal wedding posts, for your viewing pleasure.
• You will now find all of the related weekly and monthly review posts including Crown Princess Victoria's wedding linked up to that event roundup post.
• Once again on the right, you will find links to the royals covered here by country, to aid you in searching out your favorite royal. The "Other Royals" tag includes all countries not regularly covered here.
• And you will also find, to your right, a box to subscribe to the blog. One musn't miss one's updates.

And may I say, in closing, much love to those of you that still visit the blog despite the sporadic posting. Things are looking up for a return to a regular posting schedule soon!

Random Tidbits

Things that are currently flipping my skirt up, just because I feel like sharing:

• Givenchy will no longer hold couture runway shows; instead, privileged clients will view the collection by private appointment.  They make specific note of "assorted royals" unable to attend runway shows due to security and thus in need of private showings.  Who are these assorted royals, hmmm?  I know Rania is a Givenchy fan, but one Queen does not an assortment make.  It's killing me a little bit that our dear fashionable royals will be sporting amazing couture and we will not be able to give them credit for it, because the rest of us aren't rich enough to lay eyes on Givenchy's best work.  Harrumph. [Huffington Post]
• That infamous black dress worn by Lady Diana Spencer during her engagement (you remember, the cleavage-y one) was recently sold at auction.  I thought this piece, interviewing the owner of the auction house, was a fascinating behind-the-scenes look.  Bonus pic of the dress and other Emanual items that went on the auction block.  [Fashionista]
• And, saving the best for last:  MORE WEDDINGS!!!
• Our favorite little engaged flower from Victoria's wedding, Tatiana Blatnik, will wed Prince Nikolaos on August 25th in Greece.  The most urgent question of all: will this be a tiara event?  Well, ok, that's the second most urgent question, but we don't have any hope of learning what the dress looks like before the big day.
• And another shining star, Charlene Wittstock, will also get her day in the sun - Albert has finally announced their engagement.  Why this announcement couldn't have come last week to save poor Charlene the awkwardness of being "just" a girlfriend at a royal wedding is beyond me, but I won't complain - another amazing wedding dress is in the works! 

Update: Did you see Charlene's ring?  Holy crap!  Best royal engagement ring in quite some time - and by best, I mean BIGGEST: