For August, the month of Crown Prince Haakon and Crown Princess Mette-Marit’s 20th anniversary, and Mette-Marit’s birthday month, we are going to take a tour of the designers that have helped the crown princess craft her royal image. Let’s start off the process with the royalist of royal designers. We have discussed Valentino’s work with Queen Sofia previously, but Mette-Marit also wears the designer often.
For the 2013 ascension dinner of King Willem-Alexander, the Crown Princess chose a blue and white patterned Valentino gown, one which also contains some beading – something I was unaware of during the initial wearing. The court dress (day dress with hats) is a tricky one to master and I admire Mette-Marit’s floral headpiece approach. I think a hat might make this ensemble too heavy.
Early in her royal career, Mette-Marit wore a sleeveless blue Valentino gown to Crown Prince Felipe and Letizia Ortiz’s pre-wedding party. This is a baby steps-to-royal dressing gown, but the color is flattering to the wearer.
The Crown Princess was reaching for Valentino frequently during those heady days of royal weddings. For Prince Frederik and Mary Donaldson’s pre-wedding dinner, she wore a light blue Valentino strapless gown with a matching jacket.
Mette-Marit has developed a preference for more coverage, and for Charlene Wittstock and Prince Albert’s wedding she chose Valentino’s long sleeve dress with a folded asymmetric neckline. The color is the palest of pinks.
For the 20101 Climate Conference, the Crown Princess wore a sleeveless nude dress, embellished with sequins on the overlay. This dress is popular; Crown Princess Mary has worn it as well.
The Crown Princess continues her relationship with the design house to this day. She’s worn lots of other Valentino designs – let’s see them in the comments.