Royal Closet Raid of the Day: December 8

Royal Closet Raid of the Day: December 8

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It's shaping up to be a busy royal week, and I thought we'd kick it off with a little excitement for the sparkliest event coming our way: the Nobel Prize Ceremony, on the 10th. And to do that, another in our series of closet raids is in order. This time we're stealing borrowing admiring respectfully items from the wonder of Queen Silvia's wardrobe.

Silvia has all the age-appropriate daywear you could ask for, but she also has years and years of some of the most spectacular royal gowns around. There's a selection there no matter what your age - just ask her daughter Princess Madeleine, who borrowed one of the gowns worn to the Nobel Prize Ceremony for her wedding reception!

 Watch video of this occasion here.

The Nobel ceremony dress archives are the real treasure trove here, and I think I might have to go with 1999's grand number from Jacques Zehnder (one of Silvia's favorite designers), a light pink silk brocade woven with gold roses and featuring a serious train at the back. Gotta have that train, that's one of the things Silvia's best at.

And I might also be swayed here by her use of the majestic pink topaz and diamond demi-parure from the family collection - drool. The set dates from the early 1800s in Russia, where it belonged to Grand Duchess Maria Pavlovna. Made of pink topaz stones surrounded by diamonds and set in gold and silver, the demi-parure includes a necklace with pendants, earrings, and two brooches (one smaller and one larger with a pendant). It's featured in the book Jewels from Imperial St. Petersburg by Ulla Tillander-Godenhielm, where its roots are described as such:

"The set was a gift by Dowager Empress Maria Feodorovna to her daughter Maria on the occasion of the birth of her second daughter, Augusta. It was inherited by Augusta (1811-1900), later Queen of Prussia and Empress of Germany. She passed it on to her daughter Luise (1838-1923), Grand Duchess of Baden, who in her turn bequeathed it to her daughter Viktoria (1866-1929), Queen of Sweden."

And it has remained in Sweden ever since, where it is currently worn exclusively by Queen Silvia. She uses it as a grand accompaniment to her diamond tiaras, as illustrated in some striking new portraits recently released by the royal court:

Gorgeous. Just wrap those up and we'll be good, actually. But - back on track now - if you need gown inspiration, the Nobel organization has the details on the Queen's gowns, and here's a fun video with many of the Nobel years in a quick flash:

And now, my question to you...

If you could have one thing from Silvia's wardrobe, what would it be? 

Photos: Nobel Prize video, De Kongelige Julever video, Anna-Lena Ahlström / kungahuset.se

Royal Closet Raid of the Day: September 26

Royal Closet Raid of the Day: September 26

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We haven't played fictional dress up in the closet of our favorite Swedish crown princess yet! I didn't know that the Duct Tape Disco Incident was going to occur, but frankly I'm glad I saved this particular closet raid, because now I really need a dose of Victoria at her best.

If I could grab just one thing from Victoria's closet for myself, it would not be one of her Elie Saab gowns.

#170174732 / gettyimages.com

It would be one that is Saab-esque! Unpredictable, that's me. This is from Fadi El Khoury, a Swedish couturier who was pretty new to the Swedish couture game (after working for Lanvin and Dior) when Victoria chose to give him her support.

This masterpiece was described as “a greige rosé dress with aubergine accents. The dress is made from hand-dyed double-sided silk organza with layers of hand-dyed tulle in three shades, silk threads, Lurex threads, pearls and Swarovski crystals in amethyst and pale grey opal.” Victoria's bespoke gown featured an altered bodice, sleeves included.

I know some of you weren't as moved by this one as I was, but that's okay - more for me. Victoria has a whole closet of gowns and other delicious tidbits for your daydreaming pleasure. As for me, wrap this one up, and I'll wear it to the grocery store. Yup. Don't even care.

If you could have one thing from Victoria's wardrobe, what would it be?

Photos: Vittorio Zunino Celotto via Getty Images, Fadi El Khoury, Frankie Fouganthin/Wikimedia Commons

Royal Closet Raid of the Day: September 12

Royal Closet Raid of the Day: September 12

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Earlier this week, we discussed something Crown Princess Mette-Marit might steal for her own closet, and now it's time to turn the tables.

I thought I might struggle to find something I'd steal respectfully borrow for myself from M-M's wardrobe, since a lot of her day-to-day stuff is, shall we say, less than distinctive. But in the end the choices were a little too plentiful for my wee brain to handle. Something froofy? (I'm not averse to a good ruffle every now and then.) Something from the shoe department? (She does have some fierce kicks.) Something from the national dress portion? (The artistry involved in a bunad, come on. That's amazing.) But no, I've settled on this one...for now:

A Valentino coat, all the better to mask the pile of shoes I just wouldn't be able to resist nabbing while I'm at it. Sure, why not.

If you could have one thing from Mette-Marit's wardrobe, what would it be?

Photos: NRK.no/Style.com/Stortinget

Royal Outfit of the Day: August 29

Royal Outfit of the Day: August 29

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When it comes to raiding Queen Máxima's closet, there's just one true question at hand: could I resist the urge to steal a cape for my very own? Sporting a cape makes everything 112% better (scientific fact). Very tempting indeed. The daywear section wouldn't hold much of a draw for me, but the cape would have some serious competition from more than a few numbers from the gown section. Temptation all around...

Máxima, and her family, on the evening of the King's inauguration, 2013.

...but ultimately, I think this little number would give the cape its greatest challenge. Of course, it's related to the cape - a cape cousin - since it is also Jan Taminiau and belongs to the same day and same massive occasion, Willem-Alexander's inauguration (both outfits are pictured below). But the raspberry gown is delicious in its own right. I'd just need some diamond stars to stick in my hair just like the new queen did, and I'd be set. (Surely they wouldn't miss it if I nabbed a few of those while I was at it...)

Which outfit tempts you most from Máxima's closet?

P.S.: It's a three day weekend! We'll be back on Tuesday.


Photos: NOS/Jan Taminiau