WEDDING FLOWERS: Kids
News Update
Loading...
Showing posts with label Kids. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Kids. Show all posts

Prince Carl Philip & Sofia’s Wedding: The Swedish Royal Family

Comment   


The Swedish royal family has a history of turning up the sartorial volume significantly when it comes to big events. Did they succeed at their prince’s wedding? Well…yes and no. Let’s give out some awards and discuss:

(Hint: Click the tiara names to go to their individual entries!)

Best in Predictable
Queen Silvia
I predicted she would wear the Leuchtenberg Sapphire Tiara, most of us predicted she would wear the Leuchtenberg Sapphire Tiara, she wore the Leuchtenberg Sapphire Tiara. And HUZZAH for that, because it is and remains a sparkly wall of diamonds with gorgeous blue at the top, and you can’t go wrong with that.
She added it to a dress in light lilac silk satin with embroidery of lace, sequins, and stones, all of which was a little bit on the shiny side for me. (Silvia in anything embellished and shiny: also predictable.)
With Sofia's parents. Photo: Mattias Edwall/Kungahuset.se
The King wore the mess dress model 1878 uniform of the Admiral of the Fleet with insignia from the Order of the Seraphim, the Order of Vasa, and the Order of the Sword. His medals are Gustav V's Jubilee Medal II, Gustav VI Adolf's Commemorative Medal, the Order of the Polar Star, and the Order of Vasa.

Best in Surprises
Crown Princess Victoria
I asked for some tiara switcheroos, and BEHOLD: the Connaught Tiara, worn for the first time by Victoria. I wanted to see that one on the bride, but I’ll settle for it on anyone!
With Sofia's sisters. Photo: Mattias Edwall/Kungahuset.se
Victoria wore a custom dress from the H&M Conscious Collection – also a surprise because, well, H&M at a royal wedding?! Victoria’s a big supporter of the company but even at that, this one surprised me.
Was it a good surprise? It’s growing on me, I’ll say that. It has the grand scale we’ve come to expect, even if it does appear to be covered in tire tracks. Both Victoria and Prince Daniel were wearing the Order of the Seraphim, and Daniel also wore the Order of the Polar Star.

Best of the Family
Princess Madeleine
I could give this to Madeleine just for getting all dolled up when she’s about to pop, but this isn’t a sympathy best; this is a WOW under any circumstances. This soft apricot pink Elie Saab was smoothly adapted for her maternity needs and her diamonds had all the necessary sparkle. As expected, she stuck with her Modern Fringe Tiara, which I'm guessing is the one she finds most comfortable. She added the Vasa Earrings, huge diamond numbers that date all the way back to the Vasa dynasty, and which are probably anything but comfortable.
Madeleine wore the Order of the Seraphim and Chris O’Neill wore the Order of the Polar Star. They brought Princess Leonore with them, and she topped today’s heirloom baby clothing stakes by wearing a dress that goes all the way back to King Gustaf VI Adolf, her great-great-grandfather. (Leonore seemed fascinated by the tiaras during the ceremony. I think this kid and I would get along.)

Best in Honeybadgers
The Haga Princesses
Princess Christina (in the mulberry dress) and Princess Désirée (in hot pink)
Listen, I think I’m a bit in love with the Haga Princesses, a.k.a. the four sisters of the King. Princess Margaretha is the best dressed here, in her fabulous Aquamarine Kokoshnik Tiara, but the rest of them could clearly care less what we think, and I just can’t help but love ‘em a bit for that attitude. Honeybadgers don’t care, man! Princess Christina doesn’t care that I’m tired of her picking the Six Button Tiara over and over again. Princess Désirée doesn’t care that she’s sporting the Cut Steel Tiara with what is basically a hot pink caftan.
Princess Birgitta (in the trousers) and Princess Margaretha
And Princess Birgitta REALLY doesn’t care that she’s not, in fact, headed to a beach soirée around her Mallorca home. She’s gonna wear her palazzo pants with a fur tossed on top as the only concession to her northern location, and she doesn't care what you think! I mean, this is basically a jumpsuit with the Baden Fringe Tiara. Don’t you have to love it, just a little bit, at least?? Come on. The absurdity, it’s delicious.

Coming up later: the international guests. Until then…

Who was your best dressed Swedish royal family member?

Photos: via Getty Images and SVT video, Mattias Edwall/Kungahuset.se
Royal Events of the Day: June 9

Royal Events of the Day: June 9

Comment   
After their mixed bag evening concert appearance marking the 100th anniversary of the 1915 Constitution and women's suffrage, the Danish royal family united themselves in millinery and tried again on Friday. A more universally successful outing this time, I think:

Queen Margrethe turned up in her birthday suit, and I mean that literally, as this is the suit she wore for her big birthday celebrations this year. It's been put in her regular wardrobe rounds, which is great because a) she looks fab and b) I get to keep calling it her birthday suit.

Crown Princess Mary showed off the versatility of her wardrobe, as she is prone to do, by taking reused pieces and remixing them into a new ensemble. I find myself wishing that the white coat was a color other than bright white, but that's a piddly complaint for a great look.

And though she plonked her hat on her head at a most unfortunate angle, Princess Marie was also standard but nicely put together on the whole. Rounding out the royal crew was Princess Benedikte, elegant in pink, and her look can be seen in this gallery. Crown Prince Frederik and Prince Joachim were there as well. They wore suits.

While we're in Denmark, one other big event happened this weekend: Princess Isabella baptized a ferry which was renamed in her honor on the island of Samsø. It's the first time she's taken the lead on her own official engagement. Naturally, she brought along a lady-in-waiting for some support:
Very handy when your lady-in-waiting doubles as your mum, I would think. And like her mum, she's clearly already received her membership to Team Updo. Fancy bow and all!
Isabella even received a gift of jewelry for her troubles, a mother of pearl bracelet and necklace with multiple pendants. It's no Festoon Tiara, but it's a nice gift for a young princess.

The mother/daughter team was dressed a little more casually for the event than we usually see when royals christen ships (hats, that sort of thing).
But then again, most royal ship christenings are not directly followed by fishing, strawberry picking, and hanging out with a variety of wild animals. When in Rome, etc.

Photos: Julian Parker/UK Press via Getty Images

Royal Trip of the Day: June 8

Comment   
The Swedish royal family celebrated National Day on Saturday. Before Crown Princess Victoria got to that, though, she embarked on a two day trip to Portugal that revolved around the Volvo Ocean Race and included a stint sailing with Team SCA in addition to other engagements. I'm going to say...tentatively...she's officially got her style mojo back. Celebrate! (While knocking on wood, come on now, don't jinx it.)

My love for this Preen dress is REAL, and I will tell you about it every chance I get. Take note.

MY LOVE FOR PURPLE DRESSES IS ALSO REAL. And this one is so, so great - so great she couldn't help accessorizing with lavender earrings.
More pieces for her collection of Shourouk costume jewels, which is going to grow at an exponential pace if matching gems to dresses is required.

And this one is the best use of her big Jenny Packham collar/necklace we've seen yet. Success at last! 

As they have done in past years, the family released a new picture of Princess Estelle as a greeting for National Day. (Photo: Kate Gabor / Kungahuset.se)
Victoria's trip lasted right up until National Day. A little too close to National Day, actually, because flight troubles in Denmark on the way back resulted in her having to travel overnight by car instead, cutting it close with a packed day of engagements waiting at home for her. That day began with a fun white look for Victoria at a citizenship ceremony and ended with the rest of the royal family at the annual concert.

The concert means national costume for everyone! Well, for the ladies. The gents don't play along. Sofia Hellqvist added to the blue and yellow festival this year, missing only the white kerchief which is for married women.

A very pregnant Princess Madeleine modeled a maternity version of the national dress, wisely opting out of the bumpy carriage the rest of the family took. Just a few more days left to hang in there...

Photos: via Kungahuset and Getty Images as indicated, Lyst

Royal National Day of the Week: May 19

Comment   
Sunday was national day in Norway, and you know what that means...
It's Bunad Time! One of my favorite Times, second only to Tiara Time. And Big Gowns With Trains Time. And Royal Wedding Time.
The Crown Prince and Crown Princess and their whole family - Princess Ingrid Alexandra, Prince Sverre Magnus, Marius Borg Høiby, and labradoodles Milly Kakao and Muffin Kråkebolle - gather outside their Skaugum home to watch the local children's parade go by. Traditional costume (bunad) all around, and even a festive bow for the pups.
The bunad Mette-Marit wore this year is from Vest-Agder, the county where she grew up. Each version is related to a specific area and M-M has several to choose from, which is a luxury as they are not at all cheap. The craftsmanship is wonderful, and I just love seeing these traditions alive and well.

Next, they joined up with the King and Queen to greet the Oslo children's parade from the balcony of the Royal Palace. Traditional dress is gone, and hats are in place instead. I never give the gents enough credit for upping their own game with top hats here. King Harald and Crown Prince Haakon, consider your brownie points awarded.
With her fedora and her shades, Queen Sonja looks like her efforts to go incognito were deviously foiled by a family that refused to give her the dark coat memo. Crown Princess Mette-Marit's in Prada, and against all odds (Prada = not usually my fave) I am COVETING that coat. Shame about that thing crawling up the side of her head.
Prada Spring 2015 Ready-to-Wear

Photos: via Getty Images as indicated and Style.com

Royal Pre-Wedding Event of the Day: May 18

Comment   
Yesterday, a service was held for the marriage banns of Prince Carl Philip and Sofia Hellqvist, followed by a reception. Similar services were held prior to the weddings of Carl Philip's sisters, Crown Princess Victoria and Princess Madeleine, and they each yielded some interesting looks.
Group photo, with Sofia's family / Kungahuset.se
This time, around...we seem to be stuck in a sea of blergh, alas. (At least as far as the bride and ladies on the groom's side are concerned, that is.)

The bride and groom received gifts at the reception. Although I do like the thought of them just randomly posing with props.
This is a perfectly princess appropriate outfit on Sofia, which may just be my problem with it. It's appropriate-d itself (you know what I mean) all the way out of any sort of personality. But I'm also still a card-carrying member of Team Sofia, so I also kind of just want to pat her on the head for trying. (By the way, the court made it official: she'll be Princess Sofia, Duchess of Värmland after the wedding.)

Here are the King and Queen. Looking like they usually do. Silvia's outfit could be interchangeable with Sofia's, honestly.

I originally thought Victoria must have been wrangling Estelle at some point, resulting in a severely disheveled skirt and waist, but nope - the dress is indeed designed with that two level hem and loose pleats at the waist. Still, I'll take the dress any day if we could get rid of the forehead bolted Philip Treacy hat.
Dress by Filippa K
Also, Princess Estelle was in Marie-Chantal Children, the children's clothing line by Marie-Chantal of Greece. And Prince Daniel was in a suit.

Finally, Princess Madeleine (carrying Princess Leonore, also clad in Marie-Chantal). Not only does her Treacy hat mimic the curls of her hair in a fun way, she managed to keep it off her forehead, and thus is my default best dressed for the day.

Photos: via Kungahuset and Getty Images as indicated, and Filippa K

Royal Fashion Awards: Monaco's Twin Christening

Comment   
Prince Albert and Princess Charlene christened their twins on Sunday in a day filled with sunshine and Dior and royal fashion awards:

The Stars of the Show
Hereditary Prince Jacques and Princess Gabriella
The babies wore Dior, as though it could be any other way: bespoke Baby Dior cotton christening gowns embellished with Calais lace, floral embroidery, pleated detailing, and each baby's own monogram. Matching bonnets were worn on arrival at Monaco Cathedral. That's Jacques with his mother and Gabriella with her father, by the way.
Royal christenings often feature heirloom christening gowns, and while I have no idea if that was an option for this princely event, new gowns were a nice way to handle the logistics of a twin baptism. Plus, the monograms were a posh way to make it easy to distinguish between the two kids. They also had pink and blue pacifiers with their names on them.

Best Dressed
Princess Charlene
The proud mother could make my best dressed based on the wattage of her smile alone, but her outfit was killer too, staying true to her minimalist self while adding a little bit of a retro flair. She was also dressed in Dior couture (the only kind of Mommy and Me dressing I can get behind) in a dress with a three-quarter sleeved short top and a skirt with a slight fullness. The small ribbon of the Order of St. Charles is pinned to her top.
Charlene went the Mette-Marit route, docking her hat waaaay on the back of her head. And though I'm itching to move it forward, this outfit is a winner no matter what.

Biggest in Hat
Princess Caroline
As though compensating for the lack of millinery on her immediate family members, Princess Caroline went straight for the XXL size with her own hat. A striking selection, all the better to draw attention as she cutely fussed over her new niece.

Biggest in Bright
Princess Stephanie
Caroline pulled herself away from the pack with her hat, and Stephanie did it with her bright blue and bold white graphics, making her instantly recognizable on the steps there. It's a much fresher choice than we usually see her make, and I'm actually surprised how much I like it.

Best in Hat
Beatrice Borromeo
Caroline wins on hat size, but when it comes to the best of hats, I think I have to go with the woman who will be next to officially join the Casiraghi clan. She's partially hidden but so far, so chic.

Most Color Coordinated
The Duchess of Castro
And finally, it's not a big Monaco event without Prince Carlo and Princess Camilla of Bourbon-Two Sicilies, the Duke and Duchess of Castro. Picking up something of a blue theme among many of the other guests, the other royal Camilla added a harlequin spin. And if you're at all familiar with her style, you would expect no less.

Who was your best dressed at this twin christening?

Photos: via Getty Images as indicated, Monaco info screencaps

wedding

[australian native wedding][recentbylabel2]

Featured

[Featured][recentbylabel2]
Notification
Wondering what style of flower bouquets you'll choose for your big day?
Done