Royal Outfits (and Royal News Updates) of the Day: June 2

Royal Outfits (and Royal News Updates) of the Day: June 2

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When it rains (reigns, sorry) it pours in the world of royal news! This weekend's bookends were two major announcements from two countries. Two recent outfits from ladies at the center of the breaking news for our Monday then...

First up: Princess Charlene is pregnant! The long-awaited announcement came on Friday. Congrats to them! Charlene was due to accompany Albert on an official visit to the Netherlands this week, but Albert will be flying solo now. So we'll adapt and drop back to cover one of the big annual Monaco events that we haven't touched on yet, the Grand Prix.

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The princely family attended the Grand Prix de Monaco on May 25th.

It's hard to go wrong with a strong, simple silhouettes, especially for Charlene. And she's even added a little extra something to her Akris dress with a red racing stripe down the center.

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I see what you did there, Char. Well played.

I wasn't as enamored with her one-sleeve wonder (also by Akris, naturally) at the gala (click here for a gallery), though I am by default a fan of her in a big color. Also, I continue to want most of what's in Beatrice Borromeo's closet, so there's that.

Second: King Juan Carlos is to abdicate! The Spanish king announced Monday that he will be stepping down in favor of his son, Felipe. (Here's a BBC article.) Juan Carlos has been plagued by scandal and his own ill health in recent years, so you can count me among those that thought he might join in on the recent abdication trend. We await more details. In the Spanish spirit, here's a recent Letizia outfit...

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Princess Letizia attended a language seminar on May 28th.

...and, well, they can't all be interesting. Spain may not really do the hats-n-gloves level of royal dressing (for engagements at home, at least), but what will be interesting to see is if Letizia sticks to her businesslike standard with her coming elevation to queen, or if she ups her sartorial game too. We shall wait and see...

Royal Outfit of the Day: March 31

Royal Outfit of the Day: March 31

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Princess Charlene attended the Rose Ball with the princely family. She wore a blue Akris gown and diamond and sapphire earrings made to match her Ocean Necklace/Tiara. Also in attendance was Princess Caroline, wearing Chanel, right down to the sneakers.

I was all about Charlene's dress - she looks fabulous, really - until I saw what's happening at the bottom. (Can we kill this sheer trend? Can we kill it with fire?) I have thus decided to pretend this look only exists from the waist up.

The rest of the crew was there, including a princess-y Beatrice Borromeo and Chanel-clad Princess Caroline and Charlotte Casiraghi. Click here for a gallery. And yes, your eyes do not deceive you - Caroline was sporting the same sneakers Karl Lagerfeld (designer of the ball) sent down the runway not so long ago, and my prediction that she'd be the royal to try these out came true. I guess she was injured, since she was using a cane, but let's be honest: she didn't need a reason for these.

Photos: Reuters/Getty/Palais Princier/Style.com

Royal Outfit of the Day: January 28

Royal Outfit of the Day: January 28

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Princess Charlene accompanied Prince Albert for the Sainte Devote service in Monaco, wearing Akris (the fabric, detail center, as seen in various pieces from the Fall 2013 RTW runway, right)

I have some quibbles about the boxiness of the jacket on Charlene here, but I'm falling in love with the chevron fabrics. It doesn't take much to get me to fall in love with a chevron to start with, but the subtle pattern, the added texture, and the interest created by the contrast of the thicker zigzag on the jacket and the thinner zigzag on the skirt is a genius way to make this so much more than just another charcoal suit. (Sidebar: When searching Akris looks for this particular one, I found myself absolutely charmed by quite a bit of their most recent offering, the Bonnie and Clyde-inspired Pre-Fall 2014 collection. Some potential there, no?)

Photos: AP/Reuters/Style.com

Year in Review: 2013's Honorable Mentions (...and Some Worsts)

Year in Review: 2013's Honorable Mentions (...and Some Worsts)

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We tackled the bests from the roster of royal women usually featured here, but they weren't the only ones accomplishing feats of sartorial splendor in 2013. Today's honorable mentions are for the stand outs among the rest of the royal crew! Excellent looks, plain and simple, left to right:

• Princess Charlene is trying, bless her heart, and she seems to know that purple and jewels are the quickest way to my heart. She simply killed it with this appearance.
• Speaking of killing it, the Countess of Wessex had an amazing year. Take your pick - this red number was just one of several bests.
• Princess Marie's sleek take on a Little Red Dress also needs to join my best list.
• I can't always pinpoint what I love about an appearance, and Princess Caroline's simple black dress is one such situation. Maybe it's the slightly longer necklace? Whatever it is, I thought she looked absolutely tremendous here.
• It wouldn't be a favorites list for me if it didn't include some Elie Saab, so Princess Madeleine's pre-wedding sparkles will cover me quite nicely there.
• Likewise, I require a dose of the couture mastery of Sheikha Mozah, so we'll go with this Valentino in the Netherlands.
• Plus, the Duchess of Cornwall got to make her big foreign royal event debut. I really enjoyed seeing her out and about this year, more and more regal and ready to step up when the time comes.

And just a few sentimental favorites, because it isn't all about the fashion...even here.

• Queen-to-Princess Beatrix was full of win this year, particularly the strong front she formed with Princess Mabel as they said goodbye to Prince Friso. On a more superficial note, the fact that she added an extra row of pearls to her big pearl tiara for the first time in a long time on her final night as queen wins all the things.
• The return of Crown Princess Masako to the international royal stage was completely lovely, and I hope we'll see more of her to come.
• WEE ESTELLE is my spirit animal. That is all.

And...The Worsts

Wouldn't be a proper year end wrap up without one last glimpse back at what made us cringe this year, would it? And then we never have to think about them again. Until one of these women decides to haunt us with a reappearance, that is.

• Princess Märtha Louise set the standard for the worst list early in the year in this number.
• Queen Máxima did a particularly bad thing with an ill-fitting dress and some black stockings recently, but for me, this Valentino (which she is the third royal to wear) is the year's true crime. It's the one time a tiara actually made things worse.
• Crown Princess Mary also wore the H&M mullet dress sported by Crown Princess Mette-Marit, but the addition of heavy black tights, SHOOTIES, and a jacket is such a peculiar look. She's managed to be both blergh and baffling, all at once.
• Princess Charlene at Princess Madeleine's wedding looks less a mess than the rest of those in this row, that is true - but. But. This one makes me sad. It's not just that she didn't wear a tiara to a tiara event, it's that this dress really could have used a tiara. Something, anything, to liven up this drab color which felt like a thud on the red carpet of a summer royal wedding.

Who makes your list of honorable mentions and worsts this year?

Photos: Getty Images/PA/Scanpix/Kungahuset/ANP