Monday, April 30, 2012

Fashion Awards: Catherine One Year Later

It has been a year since Catherine Middleton married Prince William of Wales in a ceremony on April 29, 2011 at Westminster Abbey in London. Since then she has wowed us with her style. Here are my favourites of her first year as a duchess:

Casual Wear

In Canada Day 6

Casual

Casual looks are hard to chose since they are casual. I liked them all (like I do with all Kate’s clothes) yet, I liked when Kate was in Yellowknife, Northwest Territories while visiting Canada in July of 2011.

Coats

All of them!

Coats

I love every single jacket Kate has worn. I would love to buy all these coats ASAP. My all time favourite jackets would be at Garter Day, in Calgary, Canada, Zara Phillips’s Wedding, Christmas, and in Liverpool.

Dresses

In Canada Day 4 and Attending African Cats

Dresses 1

Dresses 2

Dresses 3

I love all of Kate’s dresses, I would love to wear all of them but, I can’t. I know I only put a ribbon on only one dress but I realized I liked 2 so I am just going with that.

Best Skirts

In the US Day 12

Skirts

Kate has only worn 2 skirts in her marriage with William. Since I didn’t like the Military inspired outfit, I liked the other one that she wore in the US.

Earrings

At National Memorial Arboretum Appeal

image

I love all of the earrings Kate has ever worn. My favourite would be to the National Memorial Arboretum Appeal Gala.

Evening Dresses

At the ARK 10th Anniversary Gala Dinner

Evening Gowns

I love ever single evening dress Kate has ever worn but my favourites would be the one where she wore to the ARK 10th Anniversary Gala Dinner and at the Military Sun Awards and to the premiere of War Horse.

Sunday, April 29, 2012

Late Fashion Friday: Duchess of Cambridge – Before a Royal

Title

A Year ago the Prince William and Catherine Middleton married at Westminster Abbey in London. Since then, the Duchess of Cambridge has wowed us with her fashion. Although, it wasn’t always like it. Take a look:

Catherine - CasualKate - Casual

When Kate (below row) walked out onto the streets, she would normally wear boots, a cardigan, a shoulder bag. Now, with her marriage she has to play things more safe. She wears flats, wedges, heels, (normally not sneakers.) jeans, dresses, and an cardigan.

Catherine - Day DressesKate - Day Dresses

Kate (below row) wore things less safe than her married life. she wore v-neck dresses, although now, she usually wear a high neckline, I wish she would wear something more daring.

Catherine - Evening DressesKate - Evening Dresses

Kate (below row) rarely wore evening dresses, when she did she wore them, they would wear it with a low neckline. Catherine now wears them more often and sometimes with a low-cut.

Catherine - HairKate - Hair

Kate (below row) has her usually hair one part over the eye and curly at the bottom. Catherine now wears her hair up, half up-half down, just curly on the bottom.

Catherine - HatsKate - Hats

Kate’s hats (below row) were just small fascinators. Now the Duchess of Cambridge still wears fasinators but, they are larger. She also wears hats that cover the whole head.

Thursday, April 26, 2012

BIG Random Royal News!!: A Luxembourg Royal Engagement

The Hereditary Grand Duke of Luxembourg (Guillaume) will marry Countess  Countess Stéphanie de Lannoy later this year. Congrats to Guillaume and Stéphanie!

Wednesday, April 25, 2012

Wedding Wednesday: Duchess of Cambridge’s Gown

In 4 days, Prince William and Catherine were married in London and were named the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge. So let’s get into the magical dress:

Front

Catherine chose Sarah Burton for Alexander McQueen (that was not my guess for the designer). Her dress consisted many, many, many pieces of lace. On her sleeves, there were 4 different kinds of flowers. 

Train

I love the shape of the train, it’s so nice. The dress was 2 meters and 70 centimetres or near 8 foot 10 inches. The Train as well had lace on it. The lace was made by the Royal School of Needlework (they didn’t even know that it was the lace for the royal Wedding dress. – They had to change their needle every 30 minutes, and wash their hands I think every hour.)

Back

The back of Catherine’s dress include 58 buttons, a bustle and lace galore!

Under the Dress

Under the dress she had a big skirt of tulle (Tulle gives a puff.)

BouquetThe Duchess of Cambridge's wedding shoes hand-crafted by Alexander McQueen<br /><br/><br /><br/>The Royal Collection (C) 2011, Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II.<br /><br/>Images for use ONCE and ONLY in connection with the Summer Opening of Buckingham Palace, 23 July - 03 October 2011. Images must not be archived or sold-on. <br /><br/>

The bouquet was small (and I don’t like comparing things to Princess Diana but, it was very small compared to Diana’s.) The bouquet included myrtle, lily-of-the-valley, sweet William and hyacinth flowers. The shoes were nice too, they were made by McQueen and the lace by the Royal School of Needlework.

EarringsHair

The earrings were hand-made for Catherine, the top part was because of the scrolls on the tiara and the acorn is suppose to resemble the Middleton family emblem. The tiara that Catherine wore was the Cartier Halo Scroll Tiara. Catherine wore her hair half-up, half-down.

The only thing I would have liked more was Catherine, used too much Grace, and Margaret inspired dress then just Catherine Elizabeth Middleton style.

Tuesday, April 24, 2012

Tiara Tuesday: The Wessex Wedding Tiara

When, Prince Edward, Earl of Wessex married Sophie Rhys-Jones on June 19, 1999 a big tiara mystery started. The Tiara or any parts of the tiara were seen before. (Minus the diamonds.)

Up-Close

During the time that Edward and Sophie just married it was reported that her diamond tiara made out of four open scrollwork motifs (but they reported 3) came from the Queen’s private collection and designed and remodeled by the Crown Jeweller, Garrard.

The Couple

The place where the diamonds and parts came from were a mystery. Plenty of theories have been said over the years (a lot of talk over tiara, wow). The 4 parts are actually from four detachable antemions from Queen Victoria’s regal circlet. (below)

Queen Victoria's Regal Circlet - Diamonds

If you look in the lid you can see the 4 parts of the tiara. Many people have drawn lines between the history behind the Jewels the Queen has given to her daughters-in-law. Diana, Princess of Wales got the Cambridge Lover’s Knot Tiara. Sarah, Duchess of York was given her wedding tiara. And we all know those didn’t end well…

Sophie

The tiara has been given hate. (It’s just a tiara, gosh.) This tiara is Sophie’s go to tiara, wearing it to royal weddings and galas. She wore the tiara to Mette-Marit and Haakon, Märtha Louise and Ari, Mary and Frederik, Victoria and Daniel, Charlene and Albert. She although has worn other tiaras too:

Other Tiaras

The Aquamarine Tiara which I am sure was bought. And the Floral Button tiara was a loan at Crown Prince Frederik and Mary Donaldson’s Wedding.

Sunday, April 22, 2012

Random Royal News: The 2nd “Wedding” of the Year

Well, today was the Civic Ceremony (That’s why I put quotation marks on the Wedding.) of Princess Maria Carolina of Bourbon-Parma and Albert Alphons Ludgerus Brenninkmeijer.The couple were engaged just on January 9, 2012. The soon-to-be Prince and Princess both studied at a university (something that rarely happens.) They knew each other for at least a year, I don’t know where they met though. So here are pictures of the future bride and groom:

Civic Dress

Maria wore a (I am just guessing) satin blue dress, knee length, short sleeves and some sort of things going on in the top of the dress. Maria is the daughter of the late Prince Carlos Hugo of Bourbon-Parma, Duke of Parma and Princess Irene.

The Groom

Her is the soon to be royal groom. The groom is a very rich man, his family owns C&A France. Albert is the third child of Alphons Brenninkmeijer and Cecilé Duwaer.

image

Princess Laurentien was in attendance, other big Dutch Royals will come and see the real wedding on June 16, later this year.

The next royal wedding is with Prince 'Ulukalala of Tonga and Hon. Sinaitakala Fakafanua. They will marry on May 4, 2012.

Late Fashion Friday: Queen Elizabeth II’s Style

Yesterday, was Elizabeth’s 86th birthday! Happy Birthday! So, I am young. She is old yet, I really love Elizabeth’s Style. She is like the Duchess of Cambridge but of older age. So here are Elizabeth’s Style in her later years:

Blue

Blue would probably be the Queen’s most used colour. And she looks absolutely great in Blue.

Brown

Beige and Brown is not a favourite of the Queen. Although, she does wear the colour on un-official occasions (ex: horse racing.)

Floral

Floral is a must have for the Queen. She has to at least wear something floral ever week. And if it is not week it would be ever month. I am not a big fan of floral but, the Queen looks great in it.

Pink

Pink! Yah! My favourite colour, Pink looks really good on the Queen, whatever shade or whatever hat. (I am fond of every hat and coat she is wearing here.) Lovely Queen.

Purple

I think the Queen looks good in purple, but a specific colour of purple. I like the light colour on her (far left) and the darker blue (3rd to the left) but, who am I to judge? It’s her classic fashion choice it’s her opinion.

Red

Red is a good colour on Elizabeth (Wait, what am I saying, all of them look good on her.) But, Red looks really good on her.

White

White is a favourite of the Queen at a State Visit. 2nd and 3rd to the left were a State Visit from Turkey. And I have to say she looks great in white.

Yellow

Queen Elizabeth’s favourite colour is Yellow. So, I wonder why she doesn’t wear Yellow a lot more. But, we all remember the day where she wore Yellow ironically, William and Catherine’s Wedding.

Wednesday, April 18, 2012

Wedding Wednesday: Queen Margrethe’s Dress

Her Dress

Princess Margrethe of Denmark and Count Henri de Laborde de Monpezat

June 10, 1967

Queen Margrethe and her husband, Prince Henrik, have proved to be quite the dynamic duo through the years. But they almost never met. The future Queen of Denmark and the French diplomat were both invited to a dinner party in London while the princess was studying there. He considered cancelling when he heard she'd be there; he assumed she'd be quite the bore. Needless to say, he went anyway, and found her fascinating. Margrethe didn't fall in love that night but when she eventually did, she fell hard.

Margrethe & Henrik's EngagementEngagement Ring

The couple at the press conference announcing their engagement, and Margrethe's ring

Queen Margrethe has a healthy respect for tradition but isn't afraid to have her own crazy style. That streak starts with her engagement ring: these two large diamonds set in yellow gold make up a ring that is far from a conventional choice and is a sign.

Dress

Margrethe and Henri married in Holmens Kirke in Copenhagen at the close of days of glittering celebrations. She made a traditional selection for her wedding dress designer: Jørgen Bender, a favorite of her mother Queen Ingrid and a staple royal couturier. The resulting gown combined family traditions and the theatrical touches Margrethe's creative mind requires in to a gown with touches straight out of an old royal painting.

The silk dress featured a flared skirt, long sleeves and a square neckline. The front showcased several family traditions: the lace down the center is a piece of lace passed down from Queen Ingrid's mother, Crown Princess Margaret of Sweden, from her own wedding gifts. This lace (along with another narrower piece of lace) has been used on various family wedding gowns.

Plain Dress

The gown without the lace, which was removed for use by other brides

In the center of the lace, she pinned a special family brooch. The diamond daisy brooch was commissioned by Ingrid's father from diamonds belonging to Crown Princess Margaret, and was a wedding gift for Ingrid (she wore it on her wedding day too). "Daisy" is the affectionate family nickname of both Crown Princess Margaret and Queen Margrethe herself, making it an extra precious symbol. She also carried daisies in her bouquet that day, and had them placed in her bridesmaids' hair.

The Tiara

Both the veil and tiara were family heirlooms from Margaret: the Irish lace veil was and is worn by many family members, and her use of the Khedive of Egypt Tiara (another of Margaret's wedding gifts) helped solidify it as the traditional family wedding tiara.

Train

The six meter long silk train descended from Margrethe's shoulders and ended with an unusual squared edge detail which echoed the gown's neckline. A theatrical feature for a creative bride, I'm sure.

Front & Train

The wedding was a joyful affair with one dark spot: the absence of Margrethe's younger sister, Queen Anne-Marie of Greece. Her husband, King Constantine, was deeply embroiled in the political turmoil that eventually led the family into exile at the end of 1967. The Danish government did not want him in the country, and so the couple stayed away. In what seems to have been her own little form of vigilante retribution, Queen Ingrid placed pictures of the couple all over Fredensborg Palace, where the reception was held.

Top

Henri adopted the Danish version of his name, Henrik, and was made a Prince of Denmark. They have two sons, Crown Prince Frederik and Prince Joachim, and Henrik became the prince consort when Margrethe ascended the throne in 1972. Theirs has been a successful match, and seemingly a solid one; apart, that is, from one foible which involved Henrik fleeing to France in a huff, feeling downgraded after Frederik was chosen first to lead a New Year's Court reception in Margrethe's absence in 2002. (Well, I said it was an eccentric match.)