Royal Visit of the Day: March 16

Labels:

, , , , , , , , ,
    Last week, Jordan's King Abdullah and Queen Rania paid a visit to their Moroccan friends, King Mohammed and Princess Lalla Salma. Their productive working trip is our superficial check in on the sartorial stylings of two stunning consorts.
    Princess Lalla Salma greeted her friend in a stark white Ralph Lauren ensemble with a close fit jacket and trousers which is futuristic and retro at the same time (you say Star Trek, I say 1950s dentist). I like it, actually, but only because it's allowing her face and piles of glorious red hair to run the show. Queen Rania arrived in a Nina Ricci coat that should look familiar to you, since the Countess of Wessex sported the same one for her birthday feature in Harper's Bazaar earlier this year. Sophie wore it over a printed dress and many of you wished for the coat alone, so the sartorial genie has seen fit to grant your request. I like both coat interpretations, but Rania is winning the shoe game by a landslide.
     
    Day 2 dawned with a very standard set up on the fashion front. Basic white dress: check. Basic suit in a great color: check. Moving on.
    An official dinner was held, and thank heavens we got an opportunity to see one of Lalla Salma's amazing caftans. Another traditional fabric nod goes to Princess Sarvath El Hassan (above, left), who was one of the other royals in attendance (a group photo, along with other shots from the trip, can be seen here). As for Rania, she wore the most unusual outfit of her trip, a bedazzled bishop sleeve blouse from Andrew Gn with a full-length skirt.
    Left to Right: Queen Rania's Nina Ricci coat, Princess Lalla Salma's Ralph Lauren Spring 2014 RTW ensemble, Queen Rania's top and styling from Andrew Gn Pre-Fall 2014
    Much like Lalla Salma's white welcome outfit, if Rania's dinner outfit works, it's because it's on Rania in particular. These outfits play to each lady's unique style, at the very least. I do appreciate individuality if nothing else.

    Photos: Royal Hashemite Court/Queen Rania Instagram, Moda Operandi, Style.com

Post Title

→

Royal Visit of the Day: March 16


Post URL

→

http://msallenfamily.blogspot.com/2015/03/royal-visit-of-day-march-16.html


Visit Wedding Fashion For Men allen family for Daily Updated Wedding Dresses Collection

Sunday Tidbits for March 15: Horses, of Course (And More)

Labels:

, , , , ,
    Heading up this week's tidbits, two kinds of horses, plus some Dutch/Danish cross over as we approach King Willem-Alexander and Queen Máxima's state visit to Queen Margrethe's territory this week:

    --First things first, Friday's Afghanistan Service of Commemoration in London has been covered in full at the Jewel Vault, so feel free to wander over there to discuss. (We won't be repeating coverage of the event here.) [Jewel Vault]

    --Crown Princess Mary traveled to London to present the Champions for Change Award to Princess Mabel of Orange-Nassau for her efforts to end child marriage with the Girls Not Brides organization. A well-deserved honor. [YouTube, ParisMatch]


    --Máxima, you vibrant tropical fish, you. What are you wearing here? (A deeply unflattering top from COS and a peanut necklace, that's what.) I trust you'll be on your best sartorial behavior for the big state visit. [YouTube, ModeKoninginMaxima, Facebook]


    --Princess Estelle got a special treat after Crown Princess Victoria's name day celebrations: a hand made rocking horse and wooden sword from the Life Squadron of the Life Guards, which includes items from old Guards equipment. [Livskvadron Facebook]
    Kungahuset.se

    --In the world of real life horses, one last update to this year's Cheltenham Races roster: Princess Anne helicoptered in after the Afghanistan service for the sole purpose of giving Camilla some competition in the fur hat stakes, and by the looks of it, she means business:
    Also, Zara Phillips is just DONE with our hat critiques, going out in a frenzied feathery burst of glory:

    --And finally, the tastiest headline of the week: Guillaume and Stéphanie Receive a Pretzel. [Luxarazzi]

Post Title

→

Sunday Tidbits for March 15: Horses, of Course (And More)


Post URL

→

http://msallenfamily.blogspot.com/2015/03/sunday-tidbits-for-march-15-horses-of.html


Visit Wedding Fashion For Men allen family for Daily Updated Wedding Dresses Collection

Royal Coats of the Week: March 13

Labels:

, , , , , , , , , , , ,
    COATS. Loads of them. Let's take a gander (and you might want to pop back to yesterday's Cheltenham post, which had a late update with day 3 attendees, while we're in coat mode):

    Yesterday was Crown Princess Victoria's name day, and Princess Estelle joined her in the courtyard for the festivities.
    TWO PURPLE COATS! A duo after my own heart and also my jumpy claps. (Estelle's coat is new from Swedish brand Livly, by the way.)

    Well, I'm done, that's all I need right there, but we'll soldier on for your sake, okay?
    Where there be coats, there be the Duchess of Cambridge, obviously. For a visit to the set of Downton Abbey, a new cream maternity coat from JoJo Maman Bebe. And you can pretty much just copy/paste whatever I said for her last winter white coat here, because I like them all.
    Racking up the appearances before her maternity leave, she was also out in Margate on Wednesday (and she'll be out today and some next week, and I'm sure we'll be getting to all of that in due time) (DUE time, guys) (heh) (I'm so glad it's Friday, forgive me):
    YAY for the return of the Hobbs animal print coat from her last maternity adventure. I like a simple coat in a divine white, but I also like a statement coat - especially when one is prone to basics in the accessory department.

    We haven't featured much of Mette-Marit's current events lately, because most of them have been of a quite practical nature, sartorially speaking. Like so:
    Here she is attending Kindergarten Day in Oslo this week. This is all fine and good for an outdoor coffee klatch with your wee friends, I get enough of the practical dressing in my actual life if you know what I mean, so I'll give it a pass. But she was just spotted in a rather fetching red trench, so maybe things are looking up.

    And this has been your weekly coat report.

    Photos: Kungahuset.se and via Getty Images as indicated

Post Title

→

Royal Coats of the Week: March 13


Post URL

→

http://msallenfamily.blogspot.com/2015/03/royal-coats-of-week-march-13.html


Visit Wedding Fashion For Men allen family for Daily Updated Wedding Dresses Collection

Tiara Thursday: The Rosebery Pearl and Diamond Tiara

Labels:

,
    The Rosebery Pearl and Diamond Tiara
    This striking tiara was once the property of a woman said to have been the wealthiest woman in England, Hannah, Countess of Rosebery (1851-1890), and was an important member of a jewel collection rich enough to rival a royal collection. The Rosebery Pearl and Diamond Tiara has a base of clusters of large button (bouton) natural pearls surrounded by old-cut diamonds and a top of seven natural pearl and diamond drops, all set in silver and gold. It's a versatile diadem with multiple detachable pieces; the top pieces can be removed (in the same fashion as the Londonderry Tiara, also crafted by Garrard) leaving the bottom row as a smaller tiara, and the buttons can also be used to form six brooches with the top pieces as pendants. A bracelet and brooch, each featuring more clusters of button pearls and diamonds, completed the set.
    The bracelet, brooch, and tiara close ups
    The tiara dates from about 1878, the same year Hannah de Rothschild married the 5th Earl of Rosebery. Born into the famous banking empire, she was the only child of Mayer de Rothschild and when he died in 1874, the fortune she inherited made her the richest woman in England at the time. Her aristocratic marriage did not come without obstacles, caused particularly by religion (she was Jewish, he was not, and there were hurdles to jump on both sides), but they became an influential couple and her money financed her popular husband's rise through the political structure. He eventually became prime minister, but she sadly would not live to see it; she died suddenly at the age of 39 in 1890.
    A Christie's employee shows off the tiara, brooch, and bracelet
    Following her death, her husband stored her jewels for nearly 20 years, until their eldest son married and the jewels were split between their four children. Harry, Lord Dalmeny (the future 6th Earl of Rosebery), wed in 1909 and this set of pearl and diamond jewelry was given to his bride, Dorothy Grosvenor, granddaughter of the 1st Duke of Westminster and sister to the 3rd Duke. It passed down in the family and was last known to be part of the collection of the current Duke and Duchess of Westminster, because it was included in a magazine feature on their family jewels. It was sold by Christie's in 2011 as the property of a private collector, where the tiara went for $1.9 million and the brooch and bracelet together brought in nearly $950,000.

    Video: The tiara modeled prior to auction
    The Rosebery Pearl and Diamond Tiara was purchased by the Qatar Museums Authority Collection, as it was marked when included in a recent Victoria & Albert Museum exhibit on pearls. It's an important piece, thanks to its history (Christie's called the set "Victorian ancestral jewels of the first rank") and the large and rare size of its natural pearls, and I'm glad it is with an owner that frequently loans items for display around the world. It is such a curious and theatrical piece when the top row of pearls is installed - those drop pearls would be inverted on most other tiaras, and the triangular effect of this set up is quite dramatic - I can't help but think it would also be right at home on a movie set too.

    Too dramatic for you, or just right?

    Photos: Christie's, Auctioneers video, Getty Images as indicated

Post Title

→

Tiara Thursday: The Rosebery Pearl and Diamond Tiara


Post URL

→

http://msallenfamily.blogspot.com/2015/03/tiara-thursday-rosebery-pearl-and.html


Visit Wedding Fashion For Men allen family for Daily Updated Wedding Dresses Collection

Royal Races of the Day: March 12 (Updated)

Labels:

, , , , , , , , , , ,
    Hats, anyone?
    The Cheltenham Festival races are on, and you can always count on a Zara Phillips sighting. And that Zara sighting will typically be in a dark neutral (check) and a small hat with some sort of froofy embellishment (check check). That tall collar sure is handy for shrinking down and going incognito, though.
    A little pattern to liven up the game on day 2, and I do like any sort of white/black thing. She coordinates well in her check with the Duchess of Cornwall, who also put in an appearance yesterday:
    This is really all part of her uniform, and I can't disagree with that. A nice fit, and that soft green scarf is a great color for her. And her standard fur-trimmed hats, well...
    ...I sure do like her daughter Laura's red hat, is what I would say about that. (Son Tom was also there, just on her other side.)

    Speaking of people that enjoy horse racing...don't question the segue...the Princess Royal was at a reception at Buckingham Palace, and this is noteworthy:
    Noteworthy because is that a sparkly version of a Cosby sweater, or what? Discuss. (P.S.: Check the scalloped shoes too.)

    UPDATE:
    Day 3 of the festival is upon us, and these two hats are my favorites yet! Exclamation point!
    Lady Gabriella Windsor showed up in this vibrant blue hat, which I adore. This shade of blue as an accent is just one of my favorite things, can't be helped.
    And Zara was there again in another shade of blue that I happen to adore. The luxury of her fur wrap and my favorite hat on her in some time is checking all the right boxes.
    The color's a little duller here, but still a win in my book.

    Photos: via Getty Images as indicated

Post Title

→

Royal Races of the Day: March 12 (Updated)


Post URL

→

http://msallenfamily.blogspot.com/2015/03/royal-races-of-day-march-12-updated.html


Visit Wedding Fashion For Men allen family for Daily Updated Wedding Dresses Collection

Royal Outfit Grab Bag of the Day: March 11

Labels:

, , , , , , , , , , , ,
    Hello and welcome to another edition of "Hmm, What Else is Going On?" I will be your host, and this is my random selection of outfits for chitchat:

    Here's Queen Mathilde, with King Philippe, paying a visit to the Vatican and Pope Francis on Monday and exercising her privilège du blanc for the first time. Queen Robocop used a combination of crutches and a wheelchair to get around due to her knee injury, as she has been doing of late, but still managed to look incredibly elegant. Respect. I'm such a sucker for simple designs in white.
    I love that she chose a veil - because when don't I love a veil? - but this one was rather in your face. And I mean that literally, because it was obstructing one side of her face in several photos. Maybe she's just really getting into her Robocop groove, and can only show one side of her face at a time.

    Here's Queen Máxima kicking off the Week of Money for schools on Monday. She really likes this swing coat, and I really like it when it's open, at least. Anyway, the beige base left space for her statement jewelry:
    Which is...alive? Possibly? That necklace clearly has ulterior motives. I'm scared. Moving on...

    Here's Mary opening Grønningen's 100th anniversary exhibition this weekend, and her skirt is also alive, amoeba-style. Actually it's a paisley pattern, and it's from Joseph.
    .
    I mean, what can you say? Typically elegant. Totally Mary.

    Photos: via Getty Images as indicated, Farfetch

Post Title

→

Royal Outfit Grab Bag of the Day: March 11


Post URL

→

http://msallenfamily.blogspot.com/2015/03/royal-outfit-grab-bag-of-day-march-11.html


Visit Wedding Fashion For Men allen family for Daily Updated Wedding Dresses Collection

Royal Event of the Day: March 10

Labels:

, , , , , , , , , , , , ,
    Yesterday was Commonwealth Day, and three Windsor couples came out to mark the day at the annual observance service at Westminster Abbey.
    Leading the pack in beige tweed, the Queen repeated a Karl Ludwig coat and Angela Kelly hat. Her brooch coordination was excellent here, with the Gold Filigree Brooch (a relatively new bauble that first appeared in 2012) picking up the flecks of gold in the fabric. You can read about the brooch and the rest of Her Maj's jewels for the day (she also attended an evening reception) over at the Vault. She was accompanied by the Duke of Edinburgh. He wore a suit.
    My best dressed for the event, believe it or not, was the Duchess of Cornwall. This blue Bruce Oldfield ensemble is quite flattering for Cams, with just a touch of richness from the velvet trim. And I'd say that even without the threat of an attack from her pet snake, wrapped in velvet and curled up around her Philip Treacy hat.
    She accessorized with her favorite pair of pearl earrings and one of her famous pearl and diamond chokers (the larger of the two with all diamond clasps that she regularly wears). She was accompanied by the Prince of Wales. He wore a suit.
    And finally, the Duchess of Cambridge, who arrived awash in pale pink. Her Jane Taylor hat was new (honestly, though, she has such a collection of these percher hats in beige and pinky beige and light pink that they all started blending together quite some time ago) and her bespoke McQueen coat was a repeat from her last pregnancy. The highlight of the appearance for me? A new pair of earrings from Kiki McDonough, morganite drops on small diamond hoops. More pink jewels always, please and thank you.
    Oh, and she was accompanied by the Duke of Cambridge. He wore a suit.

    Your turn: Your best dressed for the day?

    Photos: via Getty Images as indicated.

Post Title

→

Royal Event of the Day: March 10


Post URL

→

http://msallenfamily.blogspot.com/2015/03/royal-event-of-day-march-10.html


Visit Wedding Fashion For Men allen family for Daily Updated Wedding Dresses Collection

Royal Flashback of the Day: March 9

Labels:

, , ,
    Hi, hello, it's time for another flashback to Queen Margrethe's last big birthday bash, in 2010:
    Crown Prince Frederik wasn't the only one with double the dates for the concert event; Crown Princess Victoria arrived with both her brother, Prince Carl Philip, and her then-fiancé Daniel Westling in tow.
    Victoria's dress, from Pär Engsheden, is made from layers of ruffly stripes in the palest of pastels and grays, exploding into a tail feather train just waiting for a shake. It was a repeat, also worn for the King's Dinner during the Nobel festivities in 2008:
    So apparently, this dress was assigned light blue sash with pearls and diamonds duty. That's the Danish Order of the Elephant in the 2010 photos and the Swedish Order of the Seraphim above, nearly identical except for which shoulder they are worn over; Prince Carl Philip is wearing the Seraphim sash, if you were wondering why his and Victoria's are going in opposite directions. And for tiaras, we have the Diamond Bandeau in 2008 and the Four Button Tiara in 2010.
    I think it works pretty well in that capacity, but the train does give me pause. The pale color scheme gives it less of a showgirl flair than, say, Princess Marie's similar train in hot pink, but it's still a downright hazardous design. And I mean that literally, as you can see at about the 3:27 mark in the video below, when it appears Carl Philip steps on her tail on the way up the steps and nearly brings the house down. Brothers, you just can't teach them anything.
    She recovers with a laugh, but maybe the dress didn't. I don't think we've seen it since.

    Photos: via Getty Images as indicated

Post Title

→

Royal Flashback of the Day: March 9


Post URL

→

http://msallenfamily.blogspot.com/2015/03/royal-flashback-of-day-march-9.html


Visit Wedding Fashion For Men allen family for Daily Updated Wedding Dresses Collection

Sunday Tidbits for March 8: One Christening, Two Lookalikes, and More

Labels:

, , , , ,

Post Title

→

Sunday Tidbits for March 8: One Christening, Two Lookalikes, and More


Post URL

→

http://msallenfamily.blogspot.com/2015/03/sunday-tidbits-for-march-8-one.html


Visit Wedding Fashion For Men allen family for Daily Updated Wedding Dresses Collection

Tiara Thursday (on a Friday): Empress Farah's Turquoise Tiara

Labels:

,
    The Duchess of Gloucester's outing of the Teck Turquoise Tiara this week has put me in a turquoise mood, so let's chat about a tiara that's grown to be rather a favorite of mine. This one was worn by Farah Pahlavi, the third wife and Empress (or Shahbanou) to the last Shah of Iran.
    Empress Farah's Turquoise Tiara
    It's only fitting that a great turquoise tiara would by a Persian shahbanou; mining of turquoise and decorating with the stone is part of Iran's history, and Persian turquoise is famed for its quality. More than one turquoise tiara is tied to the dynasty, but this is my favorite of the known options, like a colorful version of the Antique Pearl Tiara from the Netherlands. The base contains a central round turquoise stone with oval turquoises to the sides in a diamond framework, and a top of nine upright turquoise stones in a graduating height arrangement. A pair of pendant earrings were worn with the tiara, and there was also a turquoise necklace to pair with it.
    Farah
    This tiara was made for Farah's personal use, unlike the Noor-ol-Ain Tiara or her Seven Emerald Tiara, which were created as part of the crown jewels and remained with the state when the monarchy was abolished. However, the Empress did not take this tiara with her when she left the country, and today she does not wear tiaras to the royal events she attends. But when it was in use, she wore it to perfection (the high center point made it an especially good fit for the tall updos she sported back then), and it's a shame we don't get to see it today. But of course I would say that, since I think it might be my favorite of the Iranian tiaras.

    Where does this rank on your list of favorite Iranian tiaras?

    Photos: Wikimedia Commons

Post Title

→

Tiara Thursday (on a Friday): Empress Farah's Turquoise Tiara


Post URL

→

http://msallenfamily.blogspot.com/2015/03/tiara-thursday-on-friday-empress-farah.html


Visit Wedding Fashion For Men allen family for Daily Updated Wedding Dresses Collection

Royal Outfits of the Day: March 6

Labels:

, , , , , , , ,
    If you had asked me to guess which of our royal ladies would be sporting a leather top and a bedazzled animal print skirt...
    I would not have picked Mathilde, that's for sure. I suppose she is one of the ones capable of taking these materials (which on description alone sound like a reject from the Pretty Woman wardrobe department) and making them queenly, so there's that. (Here's a gallery with photos from this and other appearances.)

    While we're catching up on our Benelux queens, Máxima opened the Máxima Channel yesterday (namesake aquatic transportation routes: just another perk of being royal) wearing a patterned Natan dress with beige accessories.
    Not too shabby, I'd say. Of course, this is the front view, which is the safe side. From the back, one must beware the ninja hat pins, ready at a moment's notice to cut you down or maybe knit you an emergency scarf, I'm not really sure. (Here's a gallery.)

    Photos: @Monarchie_Be, Remko De Waal/AFP via Getty Images

Post Title

→

Royal Outfits of the Day: March 6


Post URL

→

http://msallenfamily.blogspot.com/2015/03/royal-outfits-of-day-march-6.html


Visit Wedding Fashion For Men allen family for Daily Updated Wedding Dresses Collection

Double Tiara Watch of the Day: March 5

Labels:

, , , , , , , ,
    Your regularly scheduled Tiara Thursday post will be up tomorrow, but for today: The tiara-wearing streak rolls on!

    The Swedish state visit to Finland continued yesterday, starting with another pair of serviceable suits...
    ...and rolling on with a white tie return banquet. (Click here for some photos, here for a video.) White tie return dinners (and the tiaras that come with them) are something we don't see so often these days, as things grow ever more informal, so this was a nice touch.
    Queen Silvia took care of the crowding caused by her sparkly neckline at the previous dinner by moving all her extra glitter to the sleeve area on her dark velvet gown. She topped that with the Nine Prong Tiara, a.k.a. The Pronger, a.k.a. Sil's Party Antlers, a.k.a. Fireworks, But For Your Head. I'm not in love with this appearance either, but I am impressed that Silvia brought her #2 and #3 tiaras for the occasion (the Braganza Tiara being #1). Whether she's making a statement about the importance of the trip or just trying to make up for the lack of a tiara occasion on their last state visit, it doesn't matter. Just more big tiaras. (Even if they are the Pronger.)

    Over in Britain, the state visit from Mexico continued with the traditional banquet at the Guildhall, given by the Lord Mayor and the City of London Corporation. And as usual, the Duke and Duchess of Gloucester were on hand to contribute to the tiara power. (Just the Duchess with the tiara contribution, though. Not the Duke. Though that would be a sight to see.)
    And it looks like the Duchess brought out her turquoise set, the Teck Turquoise Tiara and its accompanying jewels, which is a fantastic change from her regular Gloucester Honeysuckle Tiara. I do adore this tiara, and I love that she's taken the opportunity to pin the two brooches on the front of her dress, stomacher-style. (By the way, the Duke is wearing the sash of Mexico's Order of the Aztec Eagle, while the President is again wearing the Order of the Bath.)
    Credit where credit is due, the banquet has tiara power with or without the Duchess, courtesy of the Lord Mayor's wife, Gilly Yarrow (seen above, far left). Her tiara, a nice diamond scrolling number, is one she's worn previously. So that's a triple tiara watch for the day, I guess. Not too shabby.

    And finally, a non-tiara note:
    A state visit that includes a trip to Downton Abbey (for first lady Angélica Rivera and the Countess of Wessex) is my kind of state visit.

    Now, is somebody going to do us a kindness and wear a tiara out tonight so we can keep this streak rolling, or what?

    Photos: Vesa Moilanen/AFP via Getty Images / IS TV video / Justin Tallis/AFP via Getty Images / @BritishMonarchy

Post Title

→

Double Tiara Watch of the Day: March 5


Post URL

→

http://msallenfamily.blogspot.com/2015/03/double-tiara-watch-of-day-march-5.html


Visit Wedding Fashion For Men allen family for Daily Updated Wedding Dresses Collection

Tiara Watch of the Day: March 4

Labels:

, , , , , , ,
    State Visit Month, I love you. Yesterday gave us two more state banquets to drool over: the state visit from Mexico to the United Kingdom (which has been covered in full over at the Jewel Vault, so please head thataway for discussion) and this one we're about to talk about right now.
    Kungahuset.se
    Sweden's own King Carl XVI Gustaf and Queen Silvia headed out for a state visit party at the neighbors' place, a.k.a. Finland. They were received by the Finnish president, Sauli Niinistö, and his wife, the always well-turned-out Jenni Haukio (above). Liked the color of Silvia's suit, liked CG in uniform, everybody looks swell, etc. Let's get to the tiaras. (Okay, just tiara. Not plural, because we can't have everything I guess.)
    Let's hear it for the Leuchtenberg! The Leuchtenberg Sapphire Tiara with accompanying necklace and earrings, that is. Any time Silvia brings out her blue big gun, it's cause for celebration.
    However...(you knew this was coming...) I'm mad at this dress. I don't mind that Sil is doing a little color combining - I like that a lot, actually, because why wait for a blue dress to bust out these baubles? - but the spangles on this most figure skater-y of dresses combined with the collar* are seriously inhibiting my love of the Leuchtenberg necklace. That's too much going on up top. For shame, red dress, for shame.

    *Your Order Report: The King and Queen are both wearing the collar of Finland's Order of the White Rose. The President has on the collar from Sweden's Order of the Seraphim, while his wife has the sash of the Order of the Polar Star, a lower Swedish order also often given to members of fellow royal families that aren't either a monarch/consort or an heir. These are the primary ones on display; each is also wearing home order(s) as is typical.

    Photos: Kungahuset.se and via Getty Images as indicated

Post Title

→

Tiara Watch of the Day: March 4


Post URL

→

http://msallenfamily.blogspot.com/2015/03/tiara-watch-of-day-march-4.html


Visit Wedding Fashion For Men allen family for Daily Updated Wedding Dresses Collection

Tiara Watch of the Day: March 3

Labels:

, , , , , , , ,
    On Sunday, the King and Queen of Spain welcomed the President of Colombia and his wife for their state visit to Spain.
    For the welcome ceremony, Letizia wore a repeated dress from Spanish label Oky^Coky which has the look of separates (but isn't) with a Felipe Varela black coat and Magrit beige heels. I do like the mix of textures here and the softness added by the blouse portion, but this is a state visit, and this isn't what we're here for.
    There we go! Monday night gave us what we needed, a gala dinner complete with tiara (the Spanish Floral Tiara, worn with her wedding earrings which were a gift from King Juan Carlos and Queen Sofia, her fleur de lys brooch, and the riband and star from Colombia's Order of Boyaca). Queen Letizia's Varela dress is another repeat, originally worn for the Dutch inauguration in 2013:
    I was definitely a fan of this ensemble at its original appearance, with a jaunty hat (so many of you couldn't handle the angle, but I liked it) and the color worked quite nicely with the light blue of her Spanish sash. The dress is still lovely as ever and she looks fantastic - but I can't help but note that I am starting to see a pattern emerge from her recent tiara appearances.
    Take a look at the 2014 Mexican state visit, or her Carolina Herrera black gown from last October's state visit (which I loved, but still). You take a sheer neckline, a slim silhouette, add in some lace or other doodads, throw the Spanish Floral Tiara on top, and VOILA! You've got yourself a Letizia tiara appearance. Anyone else feeling my déjà vu here?
    But there is a positive side to all these similar appearances: Letizia has apparently switched her favorite tiara from the Prussian Diamond Tiara (worn for her wedding, and for the majority of her subsequent tiara appearances) to the floral tiara, and that's a change I can get behind. She can wear that bauble all she likes, right up until she decides she should give it to me instead, ahem.

    Photos: via Getty Images as indicated

Post Title

→

Tiara Watch of the Day: March 3


Post URL

→

http://msallenfamily.blogspot.com/2015/03/tiara-watch-of-day-march-3.html


Visit Wedding Fashion For Men allen family for Daily Updated Wedding Dresses Collection

Royal Flashback of the Day: March 2

Labels:

, , , , ,
    As noted yesterday, this month should bring us some treats to discuss (we'll be checking in with the Spanish state visit tomorrow). Typical me, though, I'm already looking forward to some of this year's big royal events, primarily Queen Margrethe's 75th birthday celebrations in April and the Swedish royal wedding in June. I predict that my excitement will lead to random outfit flashbacks involving previous similar events in the weeks to come, so you've been warned. Starting...now!

    For Queen Margrethe's 70th birthday celebrations, a gala concert was held on the first night of the big royal gathering. Today's flashback features two of the gowns from that night on two of our lovely crown princesses:
    Unfortunately, a volcano in Iceland decided to erupt just as the celebrations were getting underway, wreaking havoc on the travel plans of many of the scheduled royal guests. Crown Prince Haakon was among those delayed (he was coming off a solo visit to the Middle East), but Mette-Marit made it in time and Crown Prince Frederik pulled double date duty to escort M-M and Mary.
    Mette-Marit's dress hits everything she typically goes for, no? A little bit of ruffle, a little bit of floral. A thoroughly standard appearance with one exception: we got to see the Amethyst Necklace Tiara instead of her standard Diamond Daisy Tiara! Only because the Diamond Daisy would make a later appearance and not because she actually chose this one first, but still.
    Mary brought out her big gun, the Danish Ruby Parure, and this was its first public appearance after she had the shape modified to her tastes. She wore the ruby earrings with pearl pendants, the brooch, and the ruby bracelet as well. All of which served as a perfect complement to her sleek white Jesper Høvring gown, with the shoulder strategically placed to accommodate her Order of the Elephant riband. This was a winner for me, and I think it's time we see this gown again. Please?

    Photos: via Getty Images as indicated

Post Title

→

Royal Flashback of the Day: March 2


Post URL

→

http://msallenfamily.blogspot.com/2015/03/royal-flashback-of-day-march-2.html


Visit Wedding Fashion For Men allen family for Daily Updated Wedding Dresses Collection
Subscribe to: Posts (Atom)

Popular Posts

My Blog List