Royal Fashion Awards: National Day in Belgium

The Belgian ladies put on quite a show for National Day today, and it was an interesting sartorial display indeed.  Let's give out some awards, shall we?

Best Get Out of Criticism Free Pass

Queen Fabiola

Queen Fabiola's just cute.  She's earned the right to scarf it up, wear pants and no hat to a cathedral service, and to leave her house in the granny version of John Travolta's Saturday Night Fever wardrobe.

Most Mind Boggling

Queen Paola

This is a whole lot of look.  There is a planetary ring of lace around her head, and it's just the ignition in this giant sartorial explosion: we've got a basket weave jacket, a froufrou jacket closure, and a skirt that's both wrapped and too long.  I have no idea where to look first.  My head hurts.

Biggest Costume

Princess Claire

 I want to like this.  I'd like more princesses to channel a little fifties glamour every now and then.  She supported a young Belgian designer, Bernard Depoorter.  But...no.  I'm sure there is a woman that can pull this off at a day event without looking like she's on her way to a fancy dress party, but it's not Claire.

Best Close Call

Princess Mathilde at the Military Parade

This comes so close to being fabulous.  I like the orange on her and as far as NATAN goes, it's a pretty good fit.  And I love a giant hat. But she took it just a step too far - why the orange shoes?  You can just dip into the citrus cocktail, you don't have to jump in feet first.

Biggest Contrast

Princess Mathilde visiting a Food Stand

Looks like Mathilde just ran out of steam for her third outfit of the day (outfit 2 above, outfit 1 below).  This is...normal.  I guess that's what you get when you attempt to pull a sartorial hat trick.

Best Dressed

Princess Astrid

Uniforms: appropriate for the time of day, appropriate amount of costume.  It's a no fail solution. 

Worst Dressed

Princess Mathilde at the Te Deum Service

Mathilde has attended this event many a time in the past, so I'm not sure how she got so mixed up about the time.   It's not an evening event, yet this is what she wore.  That's an evening dress (sleeveless at the Te Deum! Scandal!), and a bad one at that.   This NATAN creation puts the waist of the dress right where no woman wants it and then has the audacity to add bulk with that strange black band.   The hair's evening wear too - there's no need to be that intricate during the day - and that hair ornament (can you call it a fascinator? I'm not sure you can) feels like something Spain's Princess Elena might wear with one of her olé! ensembles.  And then there's the shoes and the bag which is beige which makes no sense....I'm truly confused.   Mathilde's the only one that changed between the Te Deum and the military parade.  She just should have stuck with the orange number.

Photos:  Belga

Royal Fashion Awards: National Day Celebrations in Luxembourg

I'm feeling very spoiled: first, my favorite Luxembourg royals turn out in force for Victoria's wedding, and then they just roll right into National Day celebrations.  I think you already know the gentleman will be getting equal billing alongside the ladies in this very special edition of the Royal Fashion Awards.

Day 1
Guillaume and his little sister Princess Alexandra visited Esch-sur-Alzette, while their parents the Grand Duke and Grand Duchess visited Diekirch during the day.  The evening brought a fireworks display and all the rest of the family. (Almost.  Where for art thou, Félix?  You are the most delicious of them all.)

Left to Right: Hereditary Grand Duke Guillaume, Princess Alexandra (she wore just the pink sleeveless dress underneath during the day), Grand Duke Henri, Grand Duchess Maria Teresa, Prince Louis, Princess Tessy, Prince Sebastien

Day 2 - Day

In the morning, the family attended a Te Deum mass, and then the Grand Ducal couple and Guillaume reviewed a military parade.

L to R: Guillaume, Alexandra, Henri, Maria Teresa, Louis, Tessy, Sebastien

Day 2 - Evening

Gala time!  Very disappointed we aren't seeing Alexandra and Tessy here; both of them made tiara appearances two years ago.

Crown Princess Victoria has this Elie Saab in gray (and we just saw it, too).  The deep blue is gorgeous with her sapphire and diamond jewels, and I think we're working a new hairstyle here.  Love it, and love the gentlemen all dapper in their uniforms.

And now, for the awards.  Drumroll, please....

The "How old are you, again?" Awards

Princess Alexandra, Day 2 - Day, and Princess Tessy - Day 1

Alexandra went woefully older than her youthful age for the Te Deum, and for proof you need look no farther than the fact that Máxima wore the exact same thing on the exact same day.  Tessy ran straight in the opposite direction for the fireworks - this is like a little girl's party dress, not something you want to see on a mother of two.

The Coco Chanel Award
Princess Tessy, Day 2 - Day

Louis's baby mama turned it on for the Te Deum, didn't she?  This is trés chic.  A little black dress, barely accessorized - it may not actually be Chanel, but it's surely worthy of praise from the Great One herself.  A great multi-use choice for Tessy, who certainly doesn't have a need to go buying outfits suited solely for royal duty.

Fiercest Pose Award
Hereditary Grand Duke Guillaume, Day 1

Dare I say, this is the most attractive picture of Guillaume I've ever seen?  And I'm predisposed to finding all his pictures attractive.  The beard, the stare....oh my.  Someone had to make up for Félix's absence.  Well done, G. 

Worst Dressed
Princess Alexandra, Day 2 - Day

Oh, NATAN.  A bow flopped straight on top of the boobs is flattering only to flat-chested runway models (who, coincidentally, are not exactly NATAN's target customer).  And the yellow....is it mustard?  Or something out of either end of a sickly baby?  On its own, I'm a big fan of the hat - she's working a whole International Princess of Mystery air here - but the wide brim combined with the lines of the dress are making her shorter and wider than she really is.  Alexandra, you're a lovely girl.  But please, wait at least 10 more years before you become a full-time NATAN patron.

Best Dressed
Grand Duchess Maria Teresa, Day 2 - Day

See what happens when our Grand Duchess gets it right?  Day 1 might have included some dodgy ruching choices, but this makes it all better.  The suit is divine, and the hat gives it a retro flair - my favorite MT is the MT that gets her Eva Perón on.

UPDATE!

A video from the National Day celebrations, as referenced by Mlle. Sunshine Awesome in the comments below, is online now: view it here.  It's a very interesting watch - Maria Teresa appears at around 9.30.  I grabbed a few quick screen caps:

 The dress Alexandra is wearing has many layers, like something Mette-Marit might wear.  It has great movement.  And Tessy is shining in fuchsia, which is an excellent complement to the family's turquoise tiara she's wearing.  Alexandra appears to be wearing the same tiara she's been seen in before, the smaller of the family's floral tiaras (they have at least 2 diamond-only floral ones that I'm aware of):

Photos: PPE/Nieboer/Mark Renders/Getty Images/Cour gr ducale/C. Hommel/Belga/RTL

Let's Hear It For The Boys: Crown Princess Victoria's Wedding

It's not just the ladies that get all dolled up for the big events, you know; the gentlemen bring their very own version of the glitter.  Let's sit back and admire them for a minute, shall we?

Sovereigns on parade (left to right):

1. King Carl XVI Gustaf of Sweden:  Sometimes the King can look so dour; it was lovely to see him emotional and happy today.  He gave a rose to the Queen during his speech in honor of their 34th wedding anniversary (which is today!), and then danced a super cute waltz with her.  Awww.
2. King Albert II of the Belgians:  He always has the most amiable expression on his face, doesn't he?
3. King Constantine II of Greece:  I know men in white tie have the option of wearing sashes over their shoulders or around their waists, but his always looks like it's about to fall off.
4. Prince Albert II of Monaco:  Unfortunate waistcoat.  And marry Charlene, already!
5. Grand Duke Henri of Luxembourg:  Dapper as always.
6. King Harald V of Norway:  Anyone sitting beside him or Constantine at these events always seems to be having the grandest of times.  They must be quite the cut-ups.
7. King Abdullah II of Jordan:  Years ago, I saw him on Larry King, and the two of them were discussing the fact that they both have wives much taller than themselves.  He seemed quite proud of it, and I've liked him ever since.

Future sovereigns on parade (left to right):

1. Prince Philippe, Duke of Brabant:  I think I liked him better without the beard.
2. Willem-Alexander, Prince of Orange:  Have you ever heard him speak?  He has the BEST voice.
3. Crown Prince Haakon of Norway:  One half of the cutest Crown Princely couple around, in my humble opinion.
4. Felipe, Prince of Asturias:  He always looks so serious, but tonight at the banquet they showed him totally animated, smiling and laughing and entertaining the ladies at his table with a story, and suddenly I'm remembering just how cute he is.
5. Crown Prince Naruhito of Japan:  Don't you wonder if he misses the days when his wife accompanied him?
6. Crown Prince Frederik of Denmark:  Very cute, getting emotional today.  He and Victoria (and Haakon too) are quite close, I think.

Yet more princes (top left to right, then bottom left to right):

1. Prince Henrik of Denmark:  The always-eccentric complement to Margrethe.
2. Carlos Morales:  Yummy hubby of Princess Alexia.
3. Prince Laurent of Belgium:  Looks....like he always looks.  Confused, maybe?
4. Inãki Urdangarín, Duke of Palma de Mallorca:  Yummy hubby of Princess Cristina.
5. Prince Constantijn of the Netherlands:  Married to Laurentien.  Isn't the sash supposed to go outside the vest?
6. Prince Nikolaos of Greece and Denmark:  The man that brings us the lovely Tatiana.  Well chosen, Nik.
7. Prince Friso of Orange-Nassau:  Married to Mabel.  Shouldn't he have said something about that...ensemble?
8. Ari Behn:  Loved it up with Märtha Louise the whole weekend.  Super cute.
9. Prince Edward, Earl of Wessex:  Representing England in Garter blue.  Those are some high-waisted trousers.

Naturally, I saved the best for last:

My personal favorites, left to right:

1. Prince Philippos of Greece and Denmark:  Looking more and more like his older brothers every day, no?
2. Prince Guillaume, Hereditary Grand Duke of Luxembourg:  Now here's a beard I can get on board with.  My personal favorite hops between Guillaume and his brother.....
3. Prince Felix of Luxembourg:  For the life of me, I can not understand why the cameras did not pay more attention to Guillaume and Felix (and Philippos, too).  Do television directors need the concept of a cute, unmarried prince explained to them? 
4. Prince Carl-Philip, Duke of Värmland:  How adorable was he, standing next to Daniel in the church?  He looked so proud of his sister.  Almost makes up for the fact that he's dating a pin-up girl, or whatever.
5. Prince Daniel, Duke of Västergötland:  While I can't say he makes my favorite list for cuteness, he won me over today.  Crying at the altar would have been enough, but then he gave that speech....wow.  I can't say I was a fan before the wedding, but now I'm on board.

Well done, gentlemen.  A dapper turn for you all.

Royal Fashion Awards: Garter Day 2010

I like to make up my own little scenarios for what plays out behind the scenes whilst these get-ups are donned:

Feather-poufiness competitions! 

Sword fights! (Casualty on the right!)  Don't even try to pretend like you wouldn't go swooping about like Severus Snape if you owned one of these outfits.

But I digress.  There weren't that many royals present (out of uniform, at least), but lets give out some fashion awards anyways, shall we?


Best Dressed
HM The Queen

Because nothing says "monarch" like an outfit that requires 2 full-time train managers.


Best In Show, Non-Monarch Division
Lady Nicholas Windsor

Is this just about the most British thing you've ever seen, or what?  You've got your hat, your umbrella, a hubby decked out in morning dress.  Delicious.  And the tastiest part of the ensemble is most certainly the coat.  How great is this?  Perfect fit, nipping in at the waist like that is always a good move.  Love a navy and tan combo.  The only thing I would change are the shoes - those ankle straps are chopping off her legs.


"Yikes!" of the Day Award
Sophie, Countess of Wessex

This suit is recycled from last year's Ascot.  You'd think royal etiquette would dictate that one shouldn't attempt to compete with the madness of a Garter hat and robes, but you'd be wrong.


Biggest Snooze of the Day
The Duchess of Gloucester

Look above: she's half cut out of the picture in green by Sophie.  I don't even need to see the whole outfit; I can't find a picture of her where she isn't behind people, or half cut out.  Enough said.

Photos:  Steve Parsons/WPA Pool/Getty Images/Adrian Dennis/PPE/Nieboer/Photo Pool/Anwar Hussein Collection/Belga/WENN.com

Princess Anne Blends Right in at Trooping the Colour

I really, really love that Princess Anne goes all out military at these events. I can't think of another female royal that wears a uniform to this extent at a major royal event. You go girl!


Photo: Bauer Griffin/Zimbio