You have spoken Baguettes. The community has decreed the winner of the Contemporary Wedding Gown Game to be Crown Princess Mette-Marit, wearing a gown designed by Ove Harder Finseth. This gown used a much-beloved Queen’s coronation gown as inspiration, was a marvel of construction, and made the wearer look like she was floating on a cloud.
It was a fine choice all around and a fun, spirited game. Thank you to all the participants and a deep curtsey to all the runners-up, who all garnered passionate support and were all beautiful in their dresses. Remember, we embark on the “Road Less Traveled” of wedding gowns this Friday. Start researching your choices!
Getty
Photo calls! Country visits! Tree plantings! See it all and more here! On a more serious note, there are also photos of the historic flooding hitting western Europe. Our hearts go out to those who are experiencing such disaster.
Back in the Bag
Speaking of weddings, remember last year when Princess Beatrice realized we all needed a boost and got hitched just to cheer us up? Her husband has posted a very sweet anniversary note to her.
Monaco
The Monacos headed en famille (sans Charlene, who remains recovering in South Africa) to the Red Cross Summer Concert. It was sweet to see them support Prince Albert. Thanks to Polka Popp, we have identification on most of the clothes. Charlotte, no surprise, donned Chanel, from the Summer 2021 resort collection. Her mother followed suit in a bedazzled Chanel tea-length dress. Tatiana Casiraghi is wearing Giambattista Valli, and La BB is adorned in my favorite designer Dior.
Netherlands
The annual photocall brought out a colorful array of Dutch royals. The Queen wore a yellow linen floral from Zimmerman, Alexia was jaunty in a pair of mint green Zara jeans, and the Princess of Orange sported a bold red Tommy Hilfiger blazer. The King beamed and the “baby”, Ariane, showed that she is going to hold her own in a family of tall folks.
Japan
Princess Akiko, the daughter of the late Prince Tomohito, was recently interviewed about preserving court clothing. I tried to summarize from the terrible Google translate function, but I think you all might be better off reading it yourselves. There should be an English translation button in your browser, and maybe it’s better than what I came up with. Clicking through to the article is definitely worth it, for there is some beautiful embroidery there.
The Princess specializes in Japanese art and is familiar with court costumes after the Meiji era, and I am sure her help is invaluable to the process.
July 14: Tokyo Shimbun published an interview with Princess Akiko about conveying the culture of court clothing to posterity.
📸 https://t.co/HPRS13VL8c pic.twitter.com/pQYEuqbSi2— Prisma 😷 (@ImperialJPNfan) July 18, 2021
Britain
Flashback from 2018! (Somehow this got into our current Getty feed – but still worth a look!)
The Queen attended the ceremony honoring the Queen’s Young Leaders Awards Ceremony. We were treated to some beautiful clothes on both Her Majesty and the award recipients. In the slide slow, Ms. Reekelitsoe Molapo from Lesotho wears a spectacular matching turban and dress, Ms. Elizabeth Kasujja from Uganda absolutely sparkled and brought elegance in the form of a train (LOVE), Ms. Priscilla Umutashya Ruzibuka from Rwanda swathed herself in a glowing shawl, Ms. Chikondi Violet Mlozi from Malawi wore a dramatic print, and Ms. Deane De Menezes from India is glowing in a golden sari.
Spain
The Queen and King greeted the Spanish Olympic team in advance of their travels to Japan. Letizia wore both a Carolina Herrera dress and slingbacks, and as usual they work for her. The woman owns the red.
Comments
Sit down in our salon, enjoy your friends, pass around the nibbles, and let’s engage in some sparkling conversation. We look forward to your contributions to the discussion throughout the week.