Royal Fashion Minute: The Spanish Royals Meet the Pope

You're Going To Meet The Pope...What Do You Wear?

Spanish Royal Family Greet Pope Benedict XVI at Zarzuela Palace Madrid Spain for World Youth Day 2011

Well, this is a FIRST--even for my BLOG--a (sort of) Red Carpet Report that includes THE POPE!!! I'm not really discussing Pope Benedict XVI but really the Spanish Royals --therefore the title "Royal Fashion Minute"... The Pope was in Madrid Spain for the World Youth Day 2011 events which are held every three years in a different country (Who Knew? Well, I certainly did not). There's been some demonstrations as a result because I guess the Spaniards have become much more secular lately...but really: What Did they Wear????



Infanta Estrellitas: The stars of this official "Spanish Royals Meet The Pope" photo-op were the Infantas Leonor and Sofia, daughters to Crown Prince Felipe and his stunning wife, Princess Letizia. They wore the cutest little flower-print dresses EVER--with matching strapped "ballet slippers". I guess to many observers, they "stole the show"! No word on who designed their little dresses (Hello Spanish Royals PR Department!! We need Names!!!).



Princess Letizia of Spain looked as chic as ever--but still "Catholic-proper" in a beige notched collar suit--with a slightly above-the-knee skirt (SHOCKING!) and very stylish matching stacked heels. Love the lace detailing on the sleeves and waistband!!



Shoes Shoes Shoes: La Reina--Queen Sofia--seen above bowing to his Holiness. Notice his red slippers made by papal shoemaker Adriano Stefanelli.



Yellow Queen: Queen Sofia wore a canary yellow Bouclé suit featuring a glove-length sleeved jacket and dress with nude peep-toe sling-back heels. This is what a Queen should dress like...to meet the Pope.

Royal Fashion Minute: Weekly Round-up--Princesses Eugenie, Beatrice, Princess Maxima of the Netherlands, Princess Letizia of Spain, and More!!!

MAJAH Royal Fashionistas...

First we go to the UK: Sarah Ferguson, Princess Eugenie and Princess Beatrice at the 13th Annual White Tie and Tiara Ball to Benefit Elton John AIDS Foundation in association with Chopard. Sarah wore a black beaded and embellished Escada Gown with lovely delicate tulle accent. Eugenie wore a fiery red Vivienne Westwood corseted gown from the Couture Collection and Beatrice looked amazing in a blush colored, beaded Elie Saab Gown. All three looked absolutely STUNNING! (Loving the evening clutches too!!) Good job ladies!!! Show those other royals that even after all you've been through, you've still got some (Fashion) Class!

Now, we are off to Spain and the ever-so-chic Princess Letizia of Spain attends the Principe de Girona Foundation meeting in this flower printed silk high-neck shift tunic/dress.

She accessorized with blush-colored peep-toe pumps (Letizia LOVES her high heels darling!), a belt to cinch the tunic dress and a very "Boho-Chic" chocolate brown leather purse with chain and pink flowers.

And now, onto The Netherlands: Argentine-born Crown Princess Maxima of the Netherlands arrives at the Royal Concert Building to attend a concert in Amsterdam in a very un-Royal "Egyptian blue"-colored JUMPSUIT with a rather "kooky" patchwork knotted shrug. It's all about a mess to be honest!!! I know she was going for "young, hip, cool" but instead she looks like she runs a Tarot Card Reading establishment in the "Red Light District" of Amsterdam. Stick to Haute Couture and Valentino Maxima. They do Daytime ensembles too!!! They cost $30,000 but they still do Daytime my dear!

And now, we are off to NY with the Belgium Royals: Prince Philippe And Princess Mathilde Of Belgium visit Central Park in New York City. Both look dashing and très elegant. If you are a royal and you're "touring", this is the way to do it! I didn't expect Princess Mathilde to be in tacky white capris and Croqs!!! (and thank Goodness she didn't go there!). The hint of orange color in the belt and shoes is FAB!

Back in London England, here we have Her Majesty Queen Noor of Jordan attending the Gala Screening of "Countdown to Zero", a documentary film that traces the history of the atomic bomb from its origins to the present state of global affairs. But let's get to American-born Queen Noor: She is one of the most elegant women in the world and always has been. The white pantsuit is both chic and effortless. This woman knows how to dress.

Finally, staying in England, we go to the Reception at 10 Downing Street to Celebrate The Duke of Edinburgh's 90th Birthday. Now, I know that Samantha Cameron, wife of the UK Prime Minister David Cameron, is not a Royal, but in the photo above, she's next to one (LOL!). Anyhow, Mrs. Cameron did a Re-Do. In terms of fashion. In the photo above with Her Majesty Elizabeth II, she is wearing the same Jonathan Saunders dress she wore with....

Michelle Obama to serve the military at a BBQ at 10 Downing Street last month when Mrs. Obama and President Obama made their official visit to the UK. I think it might be too soon to do a "Re-Do" but maybe she forgot. Maybe next time, her press office should put Polaroids/photos of when and where she wore her dresses so she is reminded. On a good note: Samantha is quite a Recycle-ista!!!

William and Catherine Royal Wedding Guests Red Carpet Fashion Report: Part ONE!

Reporting From the Royal Red Carpet...

Viva España: Queen Sofia, Crown Prince Felipe and Princess Letizia of Spain

First up on my "William and Catherine Royal Wedding Red Carpet Fashion Report" is the Royal House of Spain. Queen Sofia of Spain wore a mauve-colored silk taffeta suit with jeweled button accents and stand-up shawl collar. I think she looked great; loved the color! And as always, she has her pashmina shawl which she never leaves her Palace without! Her son, Crown Prince Felipe, dashing in uniform and Princess Letizia...

Wore a pleated mousseline blush-colored dress by designer Felipe Varela and matching shoes by Magrit. The dress was simple, understated and "Wedding Guest Appropriate". I would have loved to have seen a more dramatic hat however.

L'Afrique C'est Chic: Prince Seeison and Princess Mabereng of Lesotho

A good friend of Prince William and Prince Harry, Prince Seeison Bereng Seeiso of Lesotho was accompanied by his wife Princess Mabereng Seeiso, who wore a colorfully printed floor-length fitted "Mermaid"-style gown.

Takchita Couture: Princess Lalla Salma of Morocco

Princess Lalla Salma is the princess consort of King Mohammed VI of Morocco and she showed up sans her husband (but with some SERIOUS body guards!) to the Royal Wedding, in a traditional Moroccan caftan gown or takchita in silk organza, gold center front covered buttons and gold embroidered applique.

Dutch Royal Treats: Prince Willem-Alexander and Princess Maxima of The Netherlands

Prince of Orange Willem-Alexander and his wife, Crown Princess Maxima of the Netherlands. Maxima wore a blush pink Chantilly lace dress featuring a "belted" waist tie and scalloped edges. Her "hat" was more of a turban/pillbox combination and very 1950's Retro.

Millinery Divas: Zara Philips and Crown Princess Mathilde of Belgium

Two Royal Guests stand out for their fabulous Philip Treacy (of course!) creations. On the left, Zara Philips--only daughter of Princess Anne (Prince William's aunt)-chose a gunmetal colored hat of buckram with twisted side detail. On the right is Crown Princess Mathilde of Belgium...

Seen above with her husband, Prince Philippe of Belgium, heir to that country's throne. She looks rather chic in an Armani Prive custom-made teal-blue satin "trumpet"-style dress and matching jacket that featured interesting waist-drape tie. The black asymmetrical ankle-strapped pumps are rather stupendous. Her hat: Philip Treacy. Her necklace: AMAZING!

Blue Boring: Queen Margrethe II of Denmark

Queen Margrethe II of Denmark was a disappointment for me. Usually HRH is the Go-to gal for KRAZEE florals and dresses and suits that an old Costume Designer who has retired to Boca would wear--and that's why I LOVE HER! But for William and Catherine's Wedding, she came rather conservatively dressed, in a lilac blue coat-and-dress ensemble. No prints, no KRAZEE. Boring. Even the hat did not excite me. At least, she had a winning smile which actually was the best thing she "wore"!

Wrinkled Duchess: Maria Teresa of Luxembourg

Another snooze-fest in terms of "Royal Wedding Red Carpet Fashion" was Maria Teresa, the Cuban born (yep!!) Grand Duchess of Luxembourg, one of the smallest countries in the world. Wrinkled, ill-fitting and almost cheap-looking. The style of the dress and suit ensemble is better suited for--dare I say it--a commoner, as opposed to the Duchess of a country!

Miss Diva of Greece: Marie Chantal, Crown Princess of Greece & Princess of Denmark

On the other spectrum, leave it to Marie Chantal of Greece, wife to Prince Pavlos, to bring it when it comes to some fashion. Marie Chantal wore Chanel Spring 2011 Haute Couture darlings. A gray-lilac tweed dress with "spiderweb" hand beaded embroidery. Notice that her style has longer "glove length" sleeves. It is a Couture-ordering client's prerogative to change things a bit--especially when you are paying about $30,000 for a custom day dress darlings! Her flower-adorned hat: Philip Treacy.

For now, we'll end our "William and Catherine Wedding Day Red Carpet Report" with Prince Pavlos of Greece's father and mother--former King Constantine II and Queen Anne-Marie (she's from the Danish Royal Family, in case you didn't know). Both look quite handsome, elegant and Royal Wedding Appropriate, just the way exiled royals who have no country to rule should look like.

Royal COUTURE: Spanish Royals Host the Emir of the State of Qatar and Sheikha Mozah bint Nasser

Outfit Change...and COUTURE...DIVA!

First Class Travel Ensemble: Sheikha Mozah of Qatar and Queen Sofia of Spain

Well kids, just in time for the Royal Wedding of Prince William and Catherine Middleton (she doesn't like to be called "Kate" you know), I decided to add some Royal Fashion to cap off your "Fashion Mondays". It seems that the Spanish Royals--King Juan Carlos, his wife Queen Sofia and the Crown Prince and Princess, Felipe and Letizia, played hosts to the Emir of Qatar and his "Fashion Plate" wife, the most exquisite, Sheikha Mozah bint Nasser who made an official visit to Madrid today.

Welcome To Diva-Land: Sheikha Mozah and the Emir of Qatar, King Juan Carlos and Queen Sofia of Spain

I've covered Sheikha Mozah here before in my blog, because well, she's a MAJOR Fashion DIVA! Her Highness loves COUTURE and is especially known for her chic turbans. When she and her husband arrived, she was wearing a perfect "traveling outfit": An ivory column gown (yes, you read right: A GOWN!), matching jacket and turban--all cinched with a leather belt and accessorized with a clutch.

Violet Outfit Change: Spanish Royals welcome Qatar Emir and his wife, Sheikha Mozah

Hours later, for the official "Welcoming Day Photo Op", Her Highness Sheikha Mozah did an Outfit Change (yes she did, huney!) and went with a deep violet fit-and-flare gown featuring a high bias-cut roll-neck collar, triple waist darts and a cinched contrasting black belt--along with a matching violet turban and black peep-toe pumps.

In the photo above, one can almost caption it with Queen Sofia telling Her Highness Sheikha Mozah (in a Spanish accent) "Seriously! You HAD to do an outfit change! I stayed the same! I just took my jacket off!!"

Couture Caftan: Sheikha Mozah of Qatar inn Chanel Spring 2011 Haute Couture

For the Evening Gala State Dinner hosted by the Spanish Royals, Sheikha Mozah went all out GLAMOUR--opting for Chanel Haute Couture Spring 2011. Yes kids: COUTURE! You always wonder who is actually ordering--and paying for--Haute Couture? Look no further than the Middle East darlings.

Sheikha Mozah decided to order--and wear--one of the looks from Karl Lagerfeld's Chanel Haute Couture Collection--a fully hand-beaded caftan/coat with matching inner gown, estimated at approximately $100,000. Yes, that's what a hand-made coat and gown costs when it is Couture. Here it is in the photo above on the Chanel Spring 2011 Haute Couture runway, and as you can see, Sheikha Mozah of Qatar ordered it with lining, thank you very much! She's a Lady, after all.

Of course, she had to add her own unique touch and accessorize it with her iconic turban. How do you say "Très Chic" in Arabic?

Incidentally, it comes from the same collection that actress Michelle Williams' 2011 Academy Awards Red Carpet gown came from (photo above).

Now, my story wouldn't be complete without giving "Nick Fashion Props" to Princess Letizia of Spain and what she wore: A modern one-shoulder midnight blue silk charmeuse-and-crepe column gown with side-drape cascades. Modern, fresh and stunning. Olé!