WEDDING FLOWERS: Flashback Fridays
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Showing posts with label Flashback Fridays. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Flashback Fridays. Show all posts

Royal Pre-Wedding Flashback of the Day: June 12

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The festivities for Prince Carl Philip and Sofia's wedding start today (Friday), with a pre-wedding dinner this evening. We'll be back later for that. Until then, shall we revisit one of the most epic royal pre-wedding looks of all time?

On the night before Crown Princess Victoria and Daniel Westling's wedding, the Swedish royal family and their guests attended a dinner and concert. Victoria's look for the evening is one of my all-time favorite royal looks, because it's just the most...everything. Everything here is the MOST (and also, the BEST).


The most couture of couture dresses, a true example of the craft both in terms of workmanship (all that embellishment!) and in customization (an Elie Saab classic, similar to looks from the Spring 2010 Couture runway, but made bespoke for Victoria).

The most elaborate earrings, an impressive set created from a pair of diamond epaulettes (ornamental shoulder pieces often used on a military uniform) and worn for the first time at this event.

The most fabulous use of the family's heirloom diamond arrow brooch. Cupid's arrow, indeed!

The most dashing train attendant of all time. Who needs a lady-in-waiting when you have a husband-in-waiting, amirite?

Oh and also: the most adorableness. Whatever you do, don't forget the awwwwwww...
It's kinda rare to have pre-wedding events with as much fanfare as Victoria and Daniel did (she is the crown princess, after all; her siblings did/will have private dinners instead), thus making this level of MOSTness appropriate. But that's okay. This one deserves to be unique.

Programming Note: Today's a multiple post day, oh la la! Scroll down for a second outfit post (if you dare) and as I said at the top, we'll also be back later to chat about this evening's pre-wedding dinner in Sweden.

Photos: via Getty Images as indicated / Style.com

Royal Flashback of the Day: June 11

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Add another couple to the guest list for Carl Philip and Sofia's wedding: Billed-Bladet reports the Greek royal court confirmed that Prince Nikolaos and Princess Tatiana will be in attendance. This is encouraging news, I'd say, because Tatiana has turned in some A+ ensembles at past Scandinavian royal weddings. Let us examine:

Wedding of Princess Madeleine of Sweden and Christopher O'Neill, 2013
Her ensemble for Madeleine's wedding is my least favorite of these options, despite the fact that it is the only one with a tiara (the Antique Corsage Tiara), but in this case, that means it's still quite good. Even though it is a basic overall look, the fit and draping on this dress are dreamy. As they should be, for a bespoke gown from Armani Privé.

Her two previous appearances came prior to her own wedding. She had no tiara to wear, but she also had no order sashes to worry about, and she made the most of her appearances without those occasionally pesky ribbons.
Wedding of Prince Joachim of Denmark and Marie Cavallier, 2008
A purple gown has my heart no matter what, but all the pleated texture on this one was truly best showcased in those pre-sash days. This is from Angel Sanchez, who would later design Tatiana's wedding gown, and it was also worn by actress Nicolette Sheridan.


Wedding of Crown Princess Victoria of Sweden and Daniel Westling, 2010
It takes a LOT to best a purple gown for me, but then you have THIS RIGHT HERE. This is Carolina Herrera, and it is majestic. A sash worn here would have conflicted with the dress embellishment, so it was a perfect choice for a royal wedding guest appearance before her own wedding.
It even has a train! Such jumpy claps.
You can wrap these both up and put them in my imaginary princess closet, please and thank you.

Photos: via Getty Images, Gilt, Angel Sanchez

Flashback Friday: A Video Treat, Plus a Programming Note

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Next week is a holiday week in my part of the world (Happy Thanksgiving, American readers!), and I'm making it a holiday week for the blog too. We'll return the week of the 2nd with our usual shenanigans plus the end to your ultimate tiara collection.

Until then, allow me to leave you with this video treat:

Video, above
This is a documentary on British royal weddings made in the run-up to William and Kate's wedding. There's not much new here, fact-wise, but what makes it fun are the video gems on display - including a rare look at the 1947 wedding of Princess Elizabeth and Lieutenant Philip Mountbatten in color! Delightful.

Enjoy, and we'll return in a week!

Flashback Friday: Princess Alexandra's Gowns

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So many Princess Alexandras out there - today's about the one in Denmark, the one that used to be married to Prince Joachim and is now known not as Princess Alexandra but as the Countess of Frederiksborg. Today's about her princess days, though, specifically those majestic ball gowns she used to trot out. She had the fairytale look down pat, which makes her perfect material for a little Friday dress delight.

She married the second son in the family, but she did so in 1995, nine years before Crown Prince Frederik would marry and provide Denmark with a crown princess. Alexandra, by default, played a big role. She also married into a family headed by the dramatic Queen Margrethe, herself no stranger to a lush fabric and a big skirt. Add those things together, and you begin to see how enormous gowns with major trains came to fit right in.

And oh, did she love a train - and oh, how I love her for that. Several of these memorable frocks came from Jørgen Bender, Danish royal couturier extraordinaire. Bender also designed Alexandra's royal wedding gown. Others came from Henrik Hviid, who would design the dress for her second wedding, plus a selection of additional designers. She paired them with the Alexandrine Drop Tiara, which is her only one (and also a favorite of mine). Do I need to tell you that the purple one is my favorite? I hope not.

Sure, not every one was super successful - is that tartan? - and some are starting to look dated. Those that have followed her after her divorce know that her style is much updated now; in addition to the change in time, there's been a change in partners (both she and Joachim seem happy with their second spouses and on good terms with each other) and a change in status, making it all the more clear that she was dressing distinctly for her princess position. Which incidentally happens to be exactly why I loved her style, as I'll forever appreciate the effort.

Which is your favorite Alexandra look?

Photos: Polfoto/DR/Corbis/Scanpix

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