February 2014 - WEDDING FLOWERS
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Royal Outfit of the Day: February 28

Grand Duchess Maria Teresa wore an Elie Saab couture gown to the pre-wedding dinner for the Prince of Asturias and Letizia Ortiz Rocasolano in May 2004. Earlier that year, Catherine Zeta-Jones wore the gown to the SAG Awards (pictured right; runway in center).
The Oscars are this Sunday and I care about precisely one thing: pretty dresses. (Okay, and also if LUPITA! is going to win.) In the spirit of the first thing, today's outfit is another red-carpet-to-royal style duel - and since it's Elie Saab, you know Maria Teresa is involved. She's added a bit of cape action/arm coverage, but also crucially added some diamond action. And that might give her the edge, though I'll be honest and say this is not my favorite Elie Saab gown. You?

Photos: Getty Images/Vogue/People

Tiara Thursday: The Cartier Indian Tiara

The Cartier Indian Tiara
An imposing tiara if there ever was one, the Cartier Indian Tiara is a design of Indian inspiration (hence the name) rendered solidly in diamonds, sapphires, and pearls. Its attribution to Cartier is likely but not definite, and it was probably made in the early 20th century. It belonged to a fascinating, if lesser known, royal figure: Princess Marie Louise (1872-1956).
Princess Marie Louise
She was born Princess Marie Louise of Schleswig-Holstein; her mother was Princess Helena, daughter of Queen Victoria and Prince Albert. She married the German Prince Aribert of Anhalt in 1891, but it was a disastrous match and was infamously annulled by her father-in-law in 1900 without Marie Louise's knowledge (she was conveniently out of the country at the time). She returned home to Britain on the orders of her sovereign grandmother and there she remained. When the Windsors ditched their German titles in 1917, Marie Louise dropped the "Schleswig-Holstein" and did not replace it with a substitute, being titled simply Her Highness Princess Marie Louise. To her family, though, she was affectionately known as Cousin Louie, and was reportedly quite a character. (Memorable exploits include bringing a supply of gin and tonic with her to the coronation of Queen Elizabeth II and subsequently hanging out of the carriage window in the rain to wave to the crowds on the way back from Westminster Abbey.)
Detail of the center element
It's not clear exactly how this large tiara came to be in Marie Louise's possession, if it was something she obtained for herself or if it was a gift, but events the tiara saw during Marie Louise's ownership include that rainy coronation in 1953. She never remarried and never had any children, and when she died, she left jewels to several different people (including the Queen and the Queen Mother). This tiara was bequeathed to her godson, Prince Richard of Gloucester. Prince Richard was the young second son of the Duke of Gloucester at the time, but he would grow up to become the Duke on his own following the unexpected and tragic death of his older brother. The tiara is now worn by the current Duchess of Gloucester, Richard's wife Birgitte.
The Duchess of Gloucester
We don't see this tiara on the Duchess very often these days, although it must be noted when she is in attendance at tiara-wearing state banquets, we don't normally get to see her. I don't know how much this tiara weighs, but considering it is this gem-packed and elaborate, I have to imagine it's not the lightest thing in the world. It's also the very definition of a statement piece, so sparing use seems only natural. (Luckily, the Gloucesters have several tiaras, so the Duchess' options are plentiful.)

What do you think: too much, or too fabulous?

Photos: Geoffrey Munn/Duke and Duchess of Gloucester/NPG/Getty Images/PA
Royal Outfit of the Day: February 27

Royal Outfit of the Day: February 27


This week Crown Princess Mary attended the premiere of the documentary about artist Asger Jorn, wearing a black blouse and skirt.
The length of the skirt combined with the volume on the sleeves here was just not working for me when I saw still photos (click here, and for more on the outfit) - so thank heavens for video, because this one is all about the movement. Surprise, surprise, Mary's managed to conjure up a ballet feel with an elegant flow from two pretty standard separates.

Royal Outfit of the Day: February 26

Queen Mathilde joined King Philippe for a visit to the media corporation Medialaan yesterday. Her black Natan dress is owned by Queen Máxima in gray. Click here for a video, offering the best looks at the outfit.
They're baaaack! The Natan twins, of course, for another round of Who Wore It Best? And though I still feel the toga-esque shoulder flourish is baffling, I'm giving this one to Mathilde - the gold belt and gold bracelet are making the look. (I'm not used to giving matchy-matchy Mathilde props for her accessories, this feels a little strange.) I suppose the benefit of the one-shouldered deal is that you can always look at it from one side only, and that's just what I'll be doing.

Photos: VTM/Getty

Royal Outfit(s) of the Day: February 25


Video: The Dutch royal family posed for the media last week during their annual Lech ski trip.
This is a bit old by now, but whatever - let's have some warm fuzzies from the Dutch royal family for our Tuesday. Here's what I love about this: usually the royal kids are the ones wrangled into matching outfits, but not this time!
 
Well played, grown ups.

Photo: NOS

Royal Outfit of the Day: February 24

Princess Madeleine attended the 2010 wedding of her sister Crown Princess Victoria wearing a forget-me-not blue chiffon gown, reportedly from Linda Nurk, with a crystal embellished bodice and ruffled skirt and removable shrug for use in the church.
Princess Madeleine and her husband Chris O'Neill welcomed a daughter a few days ago! Let's celebrate with some serious fashion and sparkle, as we do. This gown has to be one of Madeleine's most girly turns, all sparkles and ruffles as far as the eye can see. Having watched more than my fill of figure skating in the past days, I'm thinking you could chop the skirt, add some illusion netting, and fit right in at the rink. But even if that's not your taste, the jewels are something to behold, a special selection for a special occasion. Among the treasures on display are the Connaught Tiara and the processional jewels, or Processional Necklace. The necklace is made of Ceylon sapphires, diamonds, and baroque pearls, and was given to the new Crown Princess Victoria by her husband, the future King Gustaf V, for her procession into Stockholm after their 1881 wedding. It's a family piece that has been worn throughout the generations, and was the perfect accessory for this frothy gown, no?

Photos: Getty/Scanpix

Royal Outfit of the Day: February 21


Video: The Prince and Princess of Asturias visited the ARCO Contemporary Art Fair. Letizia wore a Felipe Varela belted beige trench coat with faux stone embellishment on the collar and cuffs, with wine-colored shoes and clutch. Click here for a gallery.
At first glance, I thought we had a little leopard print embellishment going on here - and that, really, I would have preferred over this bedazzled business. But that's all saved by her updo. Not really like Letizia to throw her hair back for a regular engagement, but this simple little chignon elevates the whole deal, does it not?
  
Photos: Getty/Semana/Antena3

Tiara Thursday: The Russian Pearl Pendant Kokoshnik

The Russian Pearl Pendant Kokoshnik (the original)
In a sea of fabulous imperial gems, today's tiara managed to become a favorite of Marie Feodorovna (1847-1928), wife of Tsar Alexander III. Featuring 25 of the finest pearls dangling from pointed diamond arches and floating like magic over a diamond base, this kokoshnik-shaped tiara was commissioned from court jeweler Bolin in 1841 for Alexandra Feodorovna, the wife of Nicholas I (some sources place its creation during the reigns of Alexander I or Alexander III). Though it belonged to the crown jewels and was not a personal possession, Marie Feodorovna enjoyed the tiara so much she kept it at her home.
The tiara (circled and close up) on a table of imperial jewels taken in the revolution
When revolution hit Russia in 1917, the Dowager Empress (as Marie Feodorovna was by then) went first to the Crimea before leaving the country on a ship sent by her nephew, King George V. She didn't know that she wouldn't return when she first fled, and so she took only "day jewels" and left the major pieces behind; when Prince Felix Yusupov attempted to retrieve items from her home for her, including this pearl pendant tiara, he discovered that they were already gone. The tiara was part of the masses of jewelry taken by the Bolsheviks and sold to profit the revolution. Though a replica would later be made by Soviet jewelers, the original left Russia and has yet to return.
The replica (note the difference in the pearl shapes between this and the original)
Christie's sold the original pearl pedant tiara at auction in 1927 and it was bought by Holmes & Co., who later sold it to the 9th Duke of Marlborough for use by his second wife, Gladys (1881-1977). The Duchess of Marlborough provided an example of the tiara in use, in the form of a self-portrait. When she died, the tiara changed hands again.
The Duchess of Marlborough
It was auctioned in 1978 and sold to the London trade, later ending up in the collection of Imelda Marcos. Marcos, First Lady of the Philippines during the presidency of her husband, Ferdinand Marcos, accumulated excessive amounts of shoes, art, jewels, and so on using (alleged) state funds. Hundreds of pieces of jewelry from her collection now sit in the Central Bank of the Philippines, confiscated after the Marcos couple fled to Hawaii in 1986. It has often been said that Imelda dismantled the Russian Pearl Pendant Kokoshnik, but it is seems is still intact among that collection, sitting in the bank vault. (I have remarked on the supposed dismantling on this blog and have been corrected by multiple readers, reporting that they have seen it in person or on film with the Marcos jewels. Below is an example of it shown on film.)
The original tiara, shown among the rest of the confiscated Marcos jewels. Click here to see it on film.
Since they were confiscated, the Marcos jewels have been the subject of occasional reports that the government plans to exhibit them to bring in more tourism or that the government will sell them at auction, but neither plan has been executed; legal issues and disputes have been ongoing. Geoffrey Munn notes in Tiaras: A History of Splendour that during previous sales of the tiara, its imperial history was curiously not mentioned. If this piece came to auction today, one can only imagine that the imperial connection would drive the price up far past its estimated value. As nice as it would be to see it in use again, perhaps the best hope at this point is to be able to see it on display some day.

What would you like to see happen to this tiara?

Photos: Fersman/De Kongelige Juveler/Diamond Fund/GMA

Royal Outfit of the Day: February 20

King Philippe and Queen Mathilde continued their introductory country visits, spending the day in Italy. Mathilde wore a custom layered Armani dress and jacket with a matching hat. The fabric was seen in different form on the runway at the latest Armani Privé couture show (shown upper right corner).
She wore Armani - of course she wore Armani, she and Queen Paola both have a tradition of using Armani for special events, and this fits the special event definition. Mathilde's really been going all out with these last few introductory visits, and using an Italian designer in Italy fits in perfectly. I would rank this as the most sophisticated look we've seen yet.

Photos: RTL/VTM/Getty/Style.com

Royal Outfit of the Day: February 19


Video: Princess Letizia, wearing a repeated Felipe Varela dress with a coat, and her husband opened the headquarters of Agencia EFE last week. Click here for a gallery.
I've always liked this little number - it's fresh and simple, very Letizia, but the skirt length keeps it fun. Also, what's this? Earrings, big ones? Letizia, is that you?!
Her dress and earrings (from a previous appearance)
Photos: Getty/Felipe Varela

Royal Outfit of the Day: February 18

Queen Mathilde accompanied King Philippe on a short introductory visit to Germany yesterday, wearing a red dress with pleated detailing and a jacket with pleated details on the pockets and collar, from Belgian designer Pierre Gauthier. She also wore a matching hat, maroon gloves and clutch, and black shoes. 
I usually love a big red outfit, and I can't really pinpoint just why this is bringing out the mehs for me. What I do know is that it's probably a good thing she left behind the yellow bouquet she received on arrival; with the red outfit and black shoes, she was probably already close enough to their mutual country flag colors.

Photos: RTL/AFP/Reuters
Royal Outfit of the Day: February 17

Royal Outfit of the Day: February 17


Video, above: Queen Máxima attended a conference and opened an exhibit last week wearing a Natan dress and Fabienne Delvigne hat.
On the one hand, this outfit is doing excellent things for her figure when seen in action (above); on the other hand, the color blocking (well, color blocking with drab colors) isn't necessarily coming off so hot in photos (click here for a gallery). On the one hand (I have a lot of hands) (and a lot of parentheses), the hat is helping tame her hair, which we all know can be unfortunate sometimes; on the other hand, the front view makes her look like an extra from Troop Beverly Hills. So what I'm saying is I don't know about this, and you should make up my mind for me.
He may not be perfect, but he's perfect for me

He may not be perfect, but he's perfect for me


In my last post, I mentioned that I had not been a Valentine's day fan until my husband, Taylor, converted me. 


He loves it and he wanted to change my mind about the cheesy, commercialized, pink, heart-filled holiday. 







We had been dating for almost 4 months when February rolled around. 









We were at the point in our hearts that we attended each other's ward and family Christmas

Thinking About Weddings - Boutonniere


 Boutonniere is a french word meaning 'button hole' and is the name for a flower or small bouquet worn on the lapel of a man's jacket.  Boutonniere have an interesting history, with some suggesting the practice started with flowers being worn by men going into battle.  The boutonniere was very popular in Victorian times. Suits were made with a special opening and loop on the lapel so as to accommodate a flower, usually a carnation.  More recently, the boutonniere has become something worn only on special occasions.  The button hole on the lapel has almost disappeared from modern suits and the boutonniere has evolved into a single flower or small bouquet that is wired, taped and pinned to the left jacket lapel.

Natives are brilliant flowers for weddings, and in the case of boutonniere they really shine.  If natives are well prepared,  they can last really well removing worry about wilting which can be a problem for boutonnieres.  With an increasing focus on locally and sustainably grown seasonal produce, native flowers are becoming much more popular as wedding flowers.

I've spent a lot of time on the internet, trawling through wedding blogs and sites and found there was a lack of inspiring native boutonniere collections, so I thought I'd make one!  Some of these are my own work, and some are ideas that I've found on my "travels".  I hope you find some inspiration here.


These buttonholes feature the intensely coloured Tasmanian Waratah.  A November wedding was perfect as these natives are at their best in late spring.  The bride themed her wedding colours around these beautiful Tassie blooms with ivory, red and grey.  The grooms buttonhole stands out using a larger specimen and adding a red leucadendron.  The foliage is Agonis Flexuosa and the white Berzelia or Button Bush adds the gorgeous ivory highlight to make these bouttoniere really special.   





Dryandra are an Australian native from the protea family.  They are wonderful long lasting flowers with leaves that have a lovely texture and growth habit.  This early spring boutonniere utilises the Dryandra Formosa flower and highlights the zig zag foliage.  The golden Dryandra is teamed with early season Berzelia or Button Bush, still fresh green before the white flowers emerge, and a glossy gum leaf.  


This groom's boutonniere was from a January wedding with an Australian Native theme.  A large gum nut foraged in spring and dried with the seeds removed is the main "flower".  It is teamed with a Leucadendron Pisa, picked late so its central cone glows silvery green.  Some Berzelia Button Bush adds creamy white.  The background foliage is the lovely Nothofagus Cunninghamii or Myrtle - glossy green dainty leaves bely the sturdiness of this fabulous foliage.  There is also a Leucadendron Christmas Cone giving a touch of red.


A summer boutonniere using an orange Grevillea flower and foliage, teamed with some cyprus foliage. The addition of dried summer grasses adds texture for a rustic, country wedding.  

This larger style boutonniere uses the ever popular Safari Sunset Leucadendron and teams it with some lovely textured foliage.  I love the colour of the leucadendron against the suit fabric.  The green really makes it pop.

These gorgeous boutonniere are fun and light.  They use Leucadendron Pisa, Flannel Flowers and Serruria or Blushing Bride, and team them with some light native foliage.  The two attendants buttonholes are smaller and utilise one main flower.  The grooms buttonhole is distinguished by being larger, and incorporating all of the blooms used.  This is a great way of getting variety and making sure the most important boutonniere stands out.

I love this buttonhole using eucalyptus buds with feathers.  I think they work really well with the fabric of the suit.  The colour of the twine used to wrap the stems really makes the buttonhole work too.

These boutonniere are a great example of how "mismatched" can really work!  They are all different, but the rustic, textured style ties them all together.  As long as the groom stands out in the crowd, theres no reason why all the buttonholes need to be the same.


These late summer boutonniere are "mismatched" again.  Working on a theme using pink and orange they use lots of different natives.  They are tied together by the common use of twine and the foliage - zig zag Banksia foliage and cyprus.  Some of the flowers used are Geraldton Wax, Grevillea, Kangaroo Paw, Boronia, Summer Grass, and dried Leucadendron Cones.  


This is the grooms boutonniere from the same wedding as the picture above.  It uses a selection of the other flowers but adds Brunia, tying it in with the brides bouquet.  It is also bigger overall, making sure the groom is the star of the show!

Hopefully, you've found some inspiration for a native flower wedding here.
For more boutonniere ideas, see my Swallows Nest Farm Pinterest board or the Martha Stewart Weddings list of Boutonniere

Royal Outfit of the Day: February 14

Crown Princess Mette-Marit wore this pink tiered gown with an embellished belt to Crown Princess Victoria's pre-wedding events and afterwards for other events, including these official portraits.
I thought we needed something for Valentine's Day, something appropriately frilly and pink and red. And when you need something froofy and pastel, your girl M-M always has you covered. Mette-Marit has a series of these sorts of gowns, and this one like most of the rest comes from Norwegian designer Peter Dundas at Emilio Pucci. I fall for them every time, because 1) they suit her and 2) they are so different from what she wears to go about her daily business, and I'm a sucker for someone just openly getting their princess on. This one makes a great base for her red accessories (red stones in the earrings, plus the red ribbons involved in her sash and family order), and it makes a perfect Valentine treat for us on this February 14th.

Photos: Sølve Sundsbø/The Royal Court
It's already February?!?

It's already February?!?

All at once, I can't believe it is halfway through February already and I wish it were over. Haha. School is rough and London is calling our names.



Valentine's day. Usually that would be my perfect excuse for chocolates and romantic comedies. Up until last year, that is. 



Taylor loves this holiday. His goal of Valentine's Day 2013 was to convert me. 



And he succeeded!



I have to tell

Tiara Thursday: The Mountbatten Tutti Frutti Bandeau

Starting around the 1920s, Jacques Cartier took inspiration from Indian design and popularized a style of jewelry design using an interesting combination of colored stones: rubies, emeralds, and sapphires, sometimes accented with white diamonds. The colored stones might be faceted, cabochon, or carved, and the motif was often nature-themed. The distinctive combination of red, green, and blue stones would later become known as 'Tutti Frutti'. Tutti Frutti wasn't huge in tiara design, but one important example is this bandeau tiara which belonged to Edwina Mountbatten, wife of Lord Louis Mountbatten.
The Mountbatten Tutti Frutti Bandeau
Designed by Cartier of course, the Mountbatten bandeau is typical of the Tutti Frutti style. The sapphires, rubies, and emeralds are carved and probably came from India; they act as fruit and leaves on the branches of a diamond-set tree. The platinum tiara can be worn in true bandeau fashion across the forehead, and breaks into two separate bracelets. (It has been photographed used as two bracelets, but I'm not aware of an example of it in use as a bandeau.) It was made in October 1928 and purchased the following month for £900. Edwina Mountbatten (1901-1960), later the Countess Mountbatten of Burma, was known for her fashionable dressing (among many other things), so of course her jewelry was right on trend. She and her husband would later serve as Viceroy and Vicereine of India, adding significance to the Indian inspiration of this design.
Edwina Mountbatten wearing some of her other jewels, and a close up of the bandeau
Proper Tutti Frutti jewelry made by Cartier in the heyday of the style is extremely valuable and routinely grabs high prices at auction today. The value of the Mountbatten Tutti Frutti Bandeau was brought into the news in 2004, when the British government placed a temporary export ban on the piece. The law allows them to do that for items of particular significance to keep them from leaving the country; apparently the bandeau had left the Mountbatten family and was about to change hands again and be exported. This piece is valuable because it is Cartier in this particular style, but also because it was made for Cartier by English Art Works in London. The company was set up by Cartier and staffed exclusively by British craftsmen, providing important jobs for a struggling British industry and allowing British customers to buy without feeling unpatriotic for purchasing from a French company. Thus, the Mountbatten Tutti Frutti Bandeau has great significance to British jewelry making history. A suggested value of £300,000 was set. The ban apparently worked: in 2008, it was loaned to the permanent jewelry exhibit at the Victoria & Albert Museum.
Máxima and her necklace
We don't see a tremendous amount of this style in use by today's royal houses. The best example of tutti frutti style jewelry (likely not Cartier, but the style) we see on the royal beat today is a necklace and bracelet set from Queen Máxima's collection. This is a love it or hate it style, I think, and while I wouldn't want it to see it all the time, as an interesting accent piece I love it. And I'd love to see someone give a tiara like this a try!

Love it, or hate it?

Photos: WikiCollecting/NPG/V&A/CBS

Royal Outfit of the Day: February 13

Queen Silvia attended the Semper Opera Ball in Dresden, wearing a repeated Jacques Zehnder apricot and gold brocade gown.
Silvia's worn this dress before, to both Crown Princess Victoria's pre-wedding dinner and the Nobel Prize ceremony in 2011, and it's always classic Silvia elegance. But check the necklace and earrings this time. A jewelry collection large enough to allow her to perfectly match an apricot gown? Respect, Sil. Respect.


Photos: Getty Images
You meet, you connect and your forget

You meet, you connect and your forget

You know the feeling when you missing someone? Its hard to explain, but when I wake up eveyday, apart of me is wanting a certain recognition of the  connection between all of us. Life is hard when you try to ensure everything is in a perfect state, when in reality people change, and even worse take for granted certain things in life, including myself.

You meet, you connect and you forget.


Royal Outfit of the Day: February 12


Video, above: The Duchess of Cambridge attended a gala at the National Portrait Gallery wearing a repeated dark blue Jenny Packham gown with the diamond Nizam of Hyderabad Necklace, on loan from the Queen's collection, and a pair of diamond earrings she's worn several times.
The last time we saw this dress, many of you cried out for a necklace, and voilà - here ya go! This is an interesting loan from the Queen, one of her wedding presents and a necklace she's continued to wear over the years. (For more on the piece and its history, click here for the Jewel Vault.) My verdict? Dress: Love! Diamonds: YAY! Hair: Let's talk about the diamonds again!
Here's Kate, the center part of her necklace (all that lovely detail does get a bit lost when in use), and her gown. Click here for another video - diamonds are always worth seeing in action. Pictures for your in depth exploration here, here, or here.

Photos: ITN/Royal Collection/Jenny Packham
Royal Outfit of the Day: February 11

Royal Outfit of the Day: February 11

Various royals have been attending the Winter Olympics in Sochi, Russia, including the Princess Royal, who is an IOC member.

King Willem-Alexander and Queen Máxima have been making the Olympic rounds, even managing to be correctly identified on American television (which is saying something - although according to the speed skating broadcast I caught yesterday, that was their third day in a row at the event, so they had to get it right at some point), Princess Charlene was there looking chic with Prince Albert, and other royals have made the rounds too, but Anne is definitely my fave so far. Is there any better representation of the Games in Russia than that hat? Or her overly ecstatic reaction to the opening ceremony?

I think not.

Royal Outfit of the Day: February 10


Video: Queen Mathilde accompanied King Philippe for a short introductory visit to France. She wore a pale pink coat with a bow at the shoulder designed by Raf Simons for Christian Dior, paired with a matching hat and Dior handbag.
Obviously, this is a perfect designer-to-event match: Raf Simons is Belgian and he designs for a legendary French label. And it's also a hilarious match (to me), since I just mentioned the possibility of Mathilde in Dior a couple weeks ago when we were chatting about couture. And it's hilarious (to me, again) that even with a different designer, the volume and the bows don't quit. Anyway, I'm glad to see she's chosen something with a vintage Dior feel, as ladylike as can be. It's also very sweet, which suits Mathilde perfectly, and it even improves in movement (see the video above). Well played.

Photos: AP/RTL

Royal Outfit of the Day: February 7

Crown Princess Mary's four appearances in her burgundy velvet Birgit Hallstein gown. By planning ahead with extra fabric, they were able to drastically alter it from a maternity gown to its current state, according to the designer.
Mary had a birthday this week! She turned 42, and that requires a celebration. I prefer to celebrate with tiaras and gowns, how about you? (She's been out and about this past week, but nothing birthday worthy, I say.) I compiled a list of my favorite Mary outfits when she turned 40 and would certainly have more to add by now, but this is a classic favorite. There's a sort of medieval feel to the original maternity gown (worn twice while pregnant with Princess Isabella) that I just find delectable, and the gown's debut featuring the full necklace and earrings from the ruby parure with the tiara as Queen Ingrid wore it will always be one of my favorite royal gala appearances. I'm not as much a fan of the current version, but I love that it shows the evolution of her style - planning ahead since maternity wear has limited use, and reflecting the new flexibility of the ruby set that she's so clearly enjoying. Either way, regal as can be, and totally birthday worthy.

Photos: PPE/BT/Scanpix

Tiara Thursday: The Savoy Pink Tourmaline Tiara

The Savoy Pink Tourmaline Tiara
When Princess Elisabeth of Saxony (1830-1912) married Prince Ferdinand, Duke of Genoa, in 1850, she received a grand gift from her new mother-in-law, Queen Maria Teresa of Sardinia: a full parure of jewelry, including a large tiara, an intricate necklace, a brooch with three pendants, large pendant earrings, and two bracelets. One of the bracelets is now used as a choker, and the earrings can be worn in two versions. The set was originally designed in diamonds and garnets, the garnets able to be switched out for pink tourmalines. (The stones here have been reported as different materials: garnet/tourmaline per Jewellery of the House of Savoy by Maria Gabriella of Savoy and Stefano Papi, or pink topaz replaceable with turquoise or jet per Vincent Meylan's Queens' Jewels.) At one point in time, some elements of the parure were set with coral and coral beads.
Two earring versions; the tiara side view
The tiara, which we see today used with the pink tourmaline option, includes oval tourmalines set in diamond surrounds of a floral design separated by rectangular tourmalines topped by floral elements. Most of the rest of the parure mimics the floral design of the tiara, though the bracelets were at one point redesigned by the jeweler Musy with Savoy knots separating the colored stones.
Marina, wearing the choker/bracelet, earrings and (shown left) the tiara, tilted back
Princess Elisabeth and Prince Ferdinand had two children together. Their daughter Margherita (1851-1926) married King Umberto I of Italy, and the parure came to her when Elisabeth died. It is still with the Italian family today. It has been worn in recent years by Marina, wife of Vittorio Emanuele, Prince of Naples, and by their daughter-in-law Clotilde, wife of Emanuele Filiberto, Prince of Venice and Piedmont. (Vittorio Emanuele is the son of the last King of Italy, Umberto II.)
Clotilde, wearing the tiara and small earrings, and the large earrings
The tiara received its best outing in recent years when Clotilde wore it on her wedding day in 2003, and the two ladies have used pieces at various royal wedding celebrations. We don't get a lot of opportunities to see this set in action, which is unfortunate since it is one of the grandest pink stone parures around.

Is this your favorite pink tiara?

Photos: Getty Images/Point de Vue

Royal Outfit of the Day: February 6

Princess Letizia joined Prince Felipe and the King and Queen for the annual reception for foreign ambassadors, wearing a new Felipe Varela dress with embellishment on the sides and sleeves, plus matching shoes and a clutch purse.
A new court dress, and a color variation from all her previous options? Well, I'm sold.

Video, above: The event requires morning suits for the royal gentlemen and long court dresses for the ladies. It is a day event, though, which is why there are no tiaras, etc.

Photos: Pool/Getty

Royal Outfit of the Day: February 5

Crown Princess Victoria, along with Prince Daniel and Princess Estelle, paid a two day visit to Umeå. For one of the engagements, she wore this fringed dress from Swedish label Hunkydory (per Johannas Kungliga Modeblogg) over black leggings.
I wanted to see video of this in action because if you wear this sort of thing I can only assume you'll be dancing at some point. The Twist is called for, really. I don't really understand the point of wearing something like this if you're not going to shake it. But alas, the royal court uploaded a short Vine of the engagement, and it is Twist-free. I'm sure it was only the crutches that held her back.

Here's a gallery including some of the other events from the trip, including WEE ESTELLE on a SLEIGH, for heaven's sake. Just in case you need a fringe-free palette cleanser.

Photos: Kungahuset/Hunky Dory

Royal Outfit of the Day: February 4

The Dutch royal family attended a 'farewell party' for Princess Beatrix, a performance to celebrate her reign, on Saturday. Princess Beatrix wore purple with diamond accessories and a gray wrap on arrival; Queen Máxima wore a new blue Natan gown (runway, far right) and sapphire and diamond accessories.
Sure, Máxima gave us something to talk about (that sapphire brooch at her waist? Hasn't been seen in decades, a wee treat for those of us that pay attention to such things), but Beatrix is the real star of this show, and our real outfit of the day. Purple gown (love), megawatts of diamond shine (all things combined - the size of diamonds in that necklace! the size of that brooch! - she totally out-blinged Máxima), and a huge, huge smile to top it off.

Case in point, the above video. Watch from 3:25 at least. Sparkly and giggly, that's how I like my Beatrix!

Click here for a gallery including other family members.

Photos: Getty Images/Reuters/NOS/Natan
Royal Outfit of the Day: February 3

Royal Outfit of the Day: February 3

Andrea and Tatiana Casiraghi held their religious wedding in Gstaad on February 1. (Their civil wedding was last August.) The bride was dressed in a Valentino couture gown and cape, shown in the sketch and description above shared by Maison Valentino on Twitter. She also wore a diamond fringe tiara.
Tatiana, previously known as the queen of boho style, had several surprises up her sleeve for her big bridal appearance: she opted for Valentino, a classic royal wedding gown choice, and she went for a diamond tiara! But proving she still has her own take on things, the gown included lace macramé, and the hairdo she chose to showcase the tiara was enormous at the back - think Queen Silvia at the Nobel Prize Ceremony in the 1980s. Completing the look, the double cashmere cape with hood mink lining added a serious winter fairytale quality.

As of this writing, no photos from the ceremony or official pictures have been released. Only snaps from the comings and goings outside: click here for a gallery from Vanity Fair, or here for one from Oggi.

About that tiara: The fringe most often associated with the Monegasque family is the necklace worn by Princess Caroline, but a close look at the tiara worn by Tatiana shows it is not Caroline's fringe because the spikes are different. There is also the fringe tiara worn by Princess Charlotte of Monaco, Caroline's grandmother, which may be either (or neither) option - but pictures from Charlotte's time make it hard to tell, in my opinion. Fringe tiaras are devilishly similar! (Caroline's necklace has been exhibited in the past. I would be curious to know if anyone has seen it in person and remembers whether "official" exhibit information linked it to Princess Charlotte?)

Fabulous Foliage

Grevillea foliage

One of my favourite things about floral design is the foliage.  I know, the flowers are the main event, and I grow them so, well, they're important!  But foliage is the "spice" of an arrangement.  It can make or break a gorgeous bunch of flowers.  Not to mention the incredible colours and textures of foliage! So I love foliage ...  I love the foraging, the discovery of a new bush or tree that has fresh new growth just begging to be picked and admired.  I love the colours - think of the purplish blues of some new eucalyptus growth, or the incredible teal blues of some of the conifers and junipers.  Rich burgundy, pale yellow, silver, soft green, dark rich green - oh the possibilities!  And I love the textures - soft and silky, feathery, wide and structured, spiky, curly, neat, unruly!  


Its the variety that appeals.  Foliage is not just "greenery".  It can be so much more.  Some of our australian natives produce some spectacular foliage.  Grevilleas often have amazing leaves, and are often on sturdy long stems.  I use grevilleas growing around my home to provide the structure for a bouquet.  I have some maroon and orange flowering hybrids the have wonderfully shaped leaves.  As a bonus, they often have a flower or two on each stem, adding more colour.  Look for leaves that have new growth that's firm, not floppy.  Pick them as long as you can, following the stem back into the bush to find where it joins onto the branch.  Put them in water soon after you pick them and they'll stay fresh for weeks.  (You'll know if you've picked too soon - the smaller leaves at the end of the stems will wilt.)


Sometimes, when foraging for foliage, you need to be selective about stems that have insect damage.  I personally don't mind a little bit of damage - I think it adds charm.  But on the whole, it's good to select the stems with the cleanest, freshest leaves.  Putting foliage in a vase or arrangement shines a spotlight on it.  It comes under more scrutiny than it would on a bush or tree.  It's easier to make the selections out in the bush and leave the damaged leaves to the insects and wildlife that clearly love it too!

Banksia Grandis

These Banksia Grandis leaves are just spectacular, aren't they!  They are quite large - around 30 cm long and 5 cm wide, and deeply zig-zagged.  There are a number of Banksias that have leaves like this, but varying in size.  Speciosa has long slender zig-zags.  Banksia Baxterii has less curled and scaled down versions of these incredible shapes.  And Banksia Brownii has long, fine zig zags.  They're incredible to use in an arrangement.

Banksia Speciosa



Even grasses can be used as foliage.  At this time of year with grasses full of summer growth and setting seed, they can be really gorgeous in an arrangement.  I love driving along country roads in summer and seeing the incredible variety of colours and textures just in the roadside grasses.  Purple, yellow, pink, white - and all manner of shapes and textures.  


I have a number of favourite foraging spots on my property.  One of them is at the top of a steep rise where you can glimpse the town, the bay and the little local islands through the incredibly tall eucalypts that have been untouched for 50 years.  In the undergrowth on the edge of the bush there are some fabulous native plants growing.  One I discovered not long after we moved here, really caught my eye.  I looked it up and found that it was actually sold as foliage for the export market!  And here it was growing wild in the bush.  It's called Pimelea Nivea.  

Pimelea Nivea

My "Plants of Tasmania" book tells me it's common name is Bushman's Bootlace.  I found out why it got this name the first time I tried to pick it.  The bark or outer coating of the stem is incredibly strong and fibrous, and when you try to snap a branch the bark won't break, instead coming off in long, seemingly unbreakable strips. Next time I used my shears!  The leaves are small and richly green and glossy.  The growth habit of the plant is long and slender, with lots of long upright branches covered in the green leaves.


Underneath, the leaves and stem are white and softly sueded.  The contrast is really charming.  Pimelea Nivea also has lovely flowers in spring and summer.  Clusters of dainty white flowers appear on the very ends of the stems.  I love using this foraged foliage whether its in flower or not.  And the adventure of picking it in the "wild" adds to my enjoyment of it!


This is a recent vase of flowers I made for my house, using entirely foraged foliage and a few of my summer pincushions.  It was such fun to combine the colours and textures of the foliage, and highlight them with the simple orange pincushions.  


I couldn't do a blog post about foliage without making a special mention of eucalyptus foliage.  Our own australian gums provide some of the world's most popular foliages.  Again, the variety of colour, texture and shape is almost dizzying.  Some eucalyptus foliage has that incredible silvery white bloom that, combined with the colour of the leaves underneath produces some spectacular colour effects.  This basket above is filled with foliage from a medium sized gum behind my house.  People often ask, "what is that flowering tree?" when they see it from a distance  The foliage is almost iridescent, glowing purple.  I'm not sure of the type gum, but I find myself coming back to it again and again for inspiration.  Silver dollar is one of the most well known eucalypts sold as foliage.  But considering we are surrounded by them, why not experiment!  Have a look in your back yard and see what you can create!










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