Princess Charlene of Monaco in Vogue Japan

Monaco's Princess Charlene gets a big spot  in Vogue with the cover of  Vogue Japan's Health & Beauty special section.

Charlene takes some hits for her clothes as she favors monochrome looks and rarely wears any of the jewels to which she no doubt has access. While her style might not be my style ( I'd wear the jewels ), I do think she almost always looks very elegant .  Yes a jewelry piece here and there would be an improvement but that's up to her I guess.

The Vogue cover shot is gorgeous and very Charlene. She has those swimmer 's shoulders and she likes to show them off . She's got a cool, nonchalant elegance here and her lip shade while subdued is such a pretty one.

Naturally of the inside shots, the one with the dog is my favorite. 

What do you think ? Love  it or not ? Monaco makes a nice photo backdrop doesn't it ?



All photos: Vogue Japan

The Netherlands Coronation and Queen Maxima

 
If you are a royal watcher as I am , then yesterday was a very big day. We saw the Dutch throne of the House of Orange-Nassua being handed over from resigning Queen Beatrix to her son Willem -Alexander . The Dutch do this as a normal thing. The monarch abdicates in favor of their heir when they feel it's time to step down.

The new king's wife the former Crown Princess, now Queen, Maxima is one of my favorite royals. She hails from Argentina and  has the most high wattage smile , which is often on. She also loves jewelry and isn't afraid to wear a lot of the baubles at her disposal. She piles it on , which if I were a princess or queen would be just how I would do it. Let me  in that vault. Now that she is queen I imaghine we'll see even more bling brought out. Somehow on her it never seems in your face or overkill . She wears it well.  For royalty,  both Maxima and her husband seem rather down to earth. Or as much as one could be in their situation.

For the investiture ceremony ( less pomp and formality than a British one would be) Maxima wore not only a cobalt blue dress but a matching, swoon worthy cape by Jan Tamaniau .  And then there's the huge sapphire tiara.  The perfect complement , no ?

Completing the day were the new King and Queens three blonde daughters , all in blue as well . Princesses Amalia, the future queen, Alexia and Arianne.

Get Your Diamond Jubilee On

That I am an avid Anglophile is no secret. It's not just the royal family thing, it's everything. I truly love it there and love almost all things British.

Naturally with the Diamond Jubilee  there there is a plethora of the UK themed items. Give  me an item with the Union Jack on it and I'll want it. It's been hard not to go on a buying spree because even if the item is kind of silly( Corgi necklace?) I want it.

In the Jubilee spirit here's a round up of some rather fun items celebrating that Sceptred Isle. Some are silly, some are neat and one is extravagant. No matter, because browsing is awfully good fun too.   They are from UK and US  sites but the UK  ones  ship here.

Judith Leiber bags are always amazing. I've admired them since the '80s. If only I'd bought one them when the price was in the low hundreds  as I recall. So while this Big Ben  bag is not in my budget it is something to admire.

Corgi Necklace- You thought I was kidding didn't you? There are many styles out there, cause Corgis like all dogs, are cute . Anna Lou of London gives us one with a crown ( matching ponytail holder available too ) .  20 £

Elemis - Elemis is a top british skincare brand that makes some amazing products including the aptly named Spa@Home line.  Their Frangipani Monoi Body Oil smells better than it has a right too, instantly taking you to a valley of flowers in Hawaii . There is also Lime and Ginger Body Wash for a zesty pick me up, and the matching  Lime and Ginger Salt Glow which has become a cult favorite.  Try also the Elemis Spa@Home Treat Your Feet Foot Cream with jojoba oil and shea butter for utter foot bliss. It's non greasy but makes feet softer within one use. Prices range from $ 30 - 50.

You can  find Elemis at http://www.timetospa.com/  .

Boden Beachcomber Bag - Hit our shores and fly a different flag with this soft Union Jack  printed tote from Boden . $ 78

Nail Rock- These nail wraps come in many designs but I have wanted these metallic Union Jacks for so long.  Princess Eugenie was seen rocking a similar look at the Epsom Derby yesterday. Available at Topshop and Asos .
Also at select Wal Mart stores.

Visit Britain Mugs- Visit Britain is the tourism arm of the country and they have a cute array of gift items, many with free worldwide shipping. The Queen mug is 8£ , there is a  Bone China Tankard for 19.95£  as well as Olympic merchandise.

Duchess Kate's First Garden Party

Today at her Buckingham Palace Garden Party debut, The Duchess of Cambridge really got it right. Especially with her makeup. I am not usually a fan of her makeup at all, and while it's really not up to me obviously , it's drives me nuts.

Today was a softer look, she left off most of the deep, thick eyeliner that does her no favors and so now we can see her eye are quite pretty. The blush was a little more subdued, and her lip color is perfection.  It's been said she's a Bobbi Brown and Lancome fan, so I wonder ....

The dress is the Emilia Wickstead repeated from last week's Jubilee Luncheon, but she/it looks much better here. I thought then and still think it's a bit too old of a look for her, but somehow it suits the garden party better.  Of course I adore that hat so maybe that's made it better to me.

Even more surprising for royal watchers, Princess Anne pulled out another fabulous, feminine look. Today was  elegant beige  and brown  , last week was a  rich pink suit. This is not usual Anne but it should be. She does herself a disservice with her usual bad frocks.   These fitted  and pretty outfits are where it's at.


photos: daily mail

Princess Eugenie dons star stockings

Stockings/tights are the "thing",  we keep hearing. And hey I like them - to a point. And in the UK they are really the thing and have been for awhile. We didn't  jump to this trend on our own you know.  While I'm not much for  sheer nude, I do like a good pattern which brings me to the post's point- these star stockings on Princess Eugenie.

It's rare that I like the York girls style, although I do like them and  never feel any need to emulate them  but the stars? These I love.  I want. Any UK'ers know where they came from ?

Since the 80s I've had a thing for unique printed stockings. In fact I still have a few pair left, some in their packages un-opened.  You know the neon trend for 2012,  well I did neon  back in the day.  Once in the form of lime sheers. Yes I did and I loved them. Managed to stop people in their tracks in the Village in NY and that was not easy to do in those days. I had lime earrings and a top too as I recall so it was a bit OTT.  That was the 80s. God bless them.

So now in the 2010s we are back to printed hose. Looks like I need to shop the UK online a bit more since I don't fit in my maps , pearl beaded or tweed ones anymore.

*** Anyone besides me remember The Sock Shops in NY? They were so damn cool then. I just found a Sock Shop UK online. Oh boy.

The Queen and Her Corgis

Not fashion or beauty related, but as I love the Royals, and dogs, had to post this pic. It's from 1973 and shows the Queen and her Corgis . It's widely known how much she adores her dogs and often said she gets on best with dogs before people ( I can  relate ).

What's fun is it's unposed, so far we know( her purse and papers on the ground seem like she had just arrived and was loving up the dogs)  and shows an unguarded and fun side of the Queen. Super cute dogs too of course.



Picture via The Daily Mail

Charlotte Casiraghi Covers French Vogue

Finally someone has put Charlotte Casiraghi on a magazine cover. She  gets the coveted September issue no less, of French Vogue.

Personally I think she's one of the most stunning ladies on the planet.  She has Princess Grace of Monaco for a grandmother and Princess Caroline for a mother and has inherited the best of their ( impressive in the beauty realm) genes  and seemingly no bad ones . She's a bit more made up  here than we usually see her  , since she tends for a more natural look and well when you're that pretty you can. I hope someone publishes the inside pages soon, so far we just have the cover shot.

Up until  recently she's kept a fairly low profile , concentrating on being an equestrienne and hitting the occasional couture show ( Caroline wanted her kids raised out of the paparazzi's eyes. ) Now she could conquer the world if she chose.

( I also secretly thought she and Prince William would have been THE match. Those Grimaldis are a bit wild for the Brits but would they have made a  stunning couple or what? )

Duchess of Cambridge as Best Dressed- My Thoughts

The Duchess of Cambridge making the Vanity Fair best dressed list has prompted   me to put down my own thoughts on this subject. I don't see The Duchess as Best Dressed,  more like Well Dressed.   You know, polished. A look/idea that seems to have been forgotten a bit.

I truly think that so many people have become so accustomed to seeing starlets in lace knickers  ( see Rihanna with nipple covers in Barbados)  and a throng of singers/celebs in bodysuits , that when someone comes along and wears tailored clothing,  and , gasp, sleeves , they don't know what to do.  Sleeves have become an endangered species it seems. 

 Here's the thing- sleeves can be nice .  Short and long.  All the oohing and ahhing over the wedding gown- it has sleeves . People were raving about the lace sleeve detail like they had never seen them before.  I bet the youngest never had. For years every society bride and not so society seemed to get married in the same plain silk strapless dress. Even Vera Wang said after making Ivanka Trump's dress (  so gorgeous and with sleeves ) that she was so glad to finally not do a strapless again. Even if much of that is her  very own fault.

Does Kate look  lovely ? Does she look polished? Yes.  Does she look amazing? Sometimes. I haven't been a fan of a lot of her looks but some I adore. The red maple leaf hat in Canada- adore ( but the pendant just doesn't go with it). The Grey Katherine Walker in Canada - adore.  The Jenny Packham yellow dres in Canada- snore. 

 Kate does sometimes seem to  have a  bit of a style rut. Obviously she knows what she likes and what works on her  or she thinks does, and she is sticking to it  all the way.  To her defense , the rules of the Monarchy certianly define what she can wear in many ways. All those nude stockings? Not because she thinks they are the greatest thing ever, but that protocol demands she wear them. She 's  30, do you really think she wants to wear hose every single day ? She went barelegged aplenty when single  and pre -  engagement. Modern women were overjoyed at throwing the stockings away for most occasions.  ( Well most of us were at least. I know no one under the age of 50 who willing wears them ). I bet Kate would  go bare too , if she could.  That said, I also  have noticed stockings, especially black semi -sheers being far more popular in the UK than here.

And so she has to wear suits and sleeves. Balance youth with court protocol and that she does pretty well,  although leaning more towards protocol than youth.

But I  still don't see her as best dressesd. You want a best dressed in royal- see Crown Princess Mary of Denmark( below).  But I like well dressed and I like polished even more. Here's hoping she will eventually find herself willing to try  a few new things with a little panache and really become a style star. In the meantime if she gets  designers to add more sleeves to things, then I am all for it. If she gets people to cast off their hooded sweatshirts, I  am even more all for it.

Get the Royal Wedding Look - Carolee Earrings

When Kate Middleton walked down the aisle  Friday to become The Duchess of Cambridge she wore a lovely pair of diamond earrings. A gift from her parents, hers are oak leaves with a dangling acorn, though it's hard to see the details.

 Kate ( or her parents) chose wisely. The earring are just right for a wedding look. More than just a simple stud  which would get lost  and pale next to the dress and tiara, but not so big as to overtake the look from the  face or dress. A little dangle and subtle flash.

It's a look any bride can get and Carolee has the perfect pair.   These earring have a small dangle and while not an acorn, a  center pear shaped crystal stone. Just like Kate's, they are more than basic, but less than showy.

 What's nice is the price at $ 36.00 and knowing that you are buying a piece of jewelry that should last years. I have  Carolee pieces dating back to the late 80s that look as new as ever. Some were very unique and large so not worn a lot, but other got more use.  It's always been a line  for quality and there is a wide selection that not just bridal but also for anyone  looking for solid costume jewelry.

You can see more at http://www.carolee.com/

The Royal Wedding 's Royal Guests

I'm not just a anglophile and UK royal fan but  tend to follow most of the  royals of Europe as well. A who's who ,but not all of them, gathered at the Abbey for the wedding this weekend. So lets take a lot at their fashion choices.

Absent were Crown Princess Mary of Denmark who always cuts a fashionable fugure She' s an enigmatic one who  is lovely but doesn't always look terribly happy .    However, her mother in law, Queen Margrethe looked fabulous in a bright blue coatdress ensemble( exceptiong the very unmatching shoes). 

Crown Princess Mette Marit of Norway  was also not on hand, but two of my favorites were. Crown Princess Victoria of Sweden, one of the happiest looking brides I have ever seen at her own wedding last summer , and Crown Princess  Maxima of the Netherlands. Maxima always has this  big laughing smile on her face .  She seems happy,  makes a cute couple with her husband and has those adorable 3 blonde daughters .

 Victoria was in  a soft peach Elie Saab ensemble that was just abit sexy. She is a newlywed after all. It struck the right note between pretty  but not too much.

Maxima was looking pretty in a nude lace  suit . She had her smile on  along with a perfect hat ( looking pill box style perhaps) and along with a lovely chignon.

Also attending in her 1st international  event since her engagment was Charlene Wittstock , the next royal bride.  Wearing Akris in a pale grey, she was very understated , almost too much so , but she is a beautiful woman and she was wearing the perfect  peach lipstick at least.   Armani is rumored to be dressing her for her nuptials and she tends to go  sleek, so we'll see come July.

The Royal Wedding and Some Fine English Perfume Houses

With the Royal Wedding just days away, and finding myself in full  wedding fever mode as well as an already being an  extreme Anglophile ,  I thought I'd highlight some great UK  brands.  Not simply brands Kate might use, because I realize not everyone  has the wedding fever.  These names  cover more than  that, ones that yes, often are used by royals, but are also just incredibly good in case your craving a touch of Brit .  You don't  even have to cross the pond to get them.

In the realm of fragrance, France is often first thought of as the place to go. Britain however, has many top  perfume companies , some dating back centuries.

Penhaligons has a nice but manageble list of perfumes along with matching bath and body for men and women. They  hold 2 royal warrants from the Duke of Edinburgh and Prince Charles. Princess Diana is rumored to have been a fan of Bluebell,  a scent I was once told is quintessentially English.  A personal favorite here is Malabah, a  rich, spicy  and warm oriental as well as their Violetta.

Creed has serviced royalty for generations.  Originating in the UK in  1760 then moving to France at the behest of Empress  Josephine, they are said to have created their Royal Water for Princess Diana,  Fleurissimo for Princess Grace and  the  gorgeous  rose based Fleurs de Bulgarie for Queen Victoria who also gave them a royal warrant. Prince Charles is known to love  Green Irish Tweed  from the company, which is one of my favorite men's scents.  Personal favorite - Love in Black, a  deep violet inspired by Jackie Kennedy Onassis.

Ormonde Jayne is newer than  the above two, but no less a great perfume house. They have a cult following and ship to the US, often offering free shipping several times a year including this Mother's Day.  One of their  newest , Tiare ,combines that tropical note with lime and mandarin for a citrus touch and then cedar and moss  dominate at the drydown  to balance the sweetness. It's crisp , green and lightly floral .

Crabtree and Evelyn- Probably the British brand I've used the longest. I  used to love browsing and occasionally treating myself there as a teen. They were one of the few places to carry talcum powder in tins and their rosewater scent was perfect.  Recently  they've  brought out a new floral fragrance line including an Iris and Lily.  They are also home to India Hicks Island Living, a line of home fragrance created by Ms. Hicks, Prince Charles god-daughter as well as bridemaid at his wedding to Lady Diana.

Floris-   Harder to find in stores here but has a nice US website  http://www.florislondonusa.com/Default.asp .  They used to be carried at Bergdorfs I belive, but no longer.    Floris is another  longtime  British company still at it in the same space at  89  Jermyn St. in London.   I've smelled only Seringa, but many sound wonderful.  Seringa  is a beautiful spicy  floral and they recently created Wedding Bouquet in honor of the big day. This one looks to be only on the UK site at  present.  Most intriguing sounding scent- Madonna of  the Almonds, with almond blosson,  bitter almond as well as bergamot, lemon and vanilla.

Yardley- A very old brand you can buy right at the drugstore, but you will find a far larger selection online or at specialty stores. I noticed a pomegranate rose soap on their website for $ 2.00 .  http://www.smallflower.com/ has a selection of Yardley's  UK line  as well as Taylors of London and Woods of Windsor. All great lines  at nice prices.

Molton Brown-  More bath and body than perfume,  they have a wide range of  uncommon but beautiful scents. Coming soon  and inspired by  England's  hideen walled gardens is Pettigree Dew, a herbaceous floral that is LE and will be a hand and body lotion set.

 

Clive Christian - According to the company,  in 1999, British luxury designer Clive Christian ( initially interior design) revived one of the oldest perfumeries in Britain (the Crown Perfumery) which was honored by Queen Victoria in 1872 when she granted the company the image of her crown as an enduring symbol of British excellence.

Clive Christian has since become known as the world's most expensive perfume and is sold at places like Harrods, Saks and  Bergdorf Goodman.   Roja Dove , master of perfumery at Harrods  and Clive Christian have teamed up to send William and Catherine a his and hers custom set of  No.1  just for them. 

Any favorites of yours here and do you have Royal Wedding fever?

Crown Princess Victoria of Sweden Gets Married

Last Saturday was one of the bigger Royal weddings in some time. That of Crown Princess Victoria of Sweden and her commoner fiance Daniel Westling. It's said that the bride worked hard to be allowed to marry her choice . She finally got her wish after 8 years of dating.

I am an unabashed royal follower, so I was awaiting this day since the date had been announced. It figures my computer would be down then . There were few images on the net early and via my phone but ABC World News did a feature, bless them.

When I got back online a first stop was the wedding pictures and stories .

HRH Victoria looked like one of the happiest brides I have ever seen . A huge ,radiant smile throughout. I thought her gown was a bit plain, but all the Scandinavian royal brides have gone that route it seems. The 16.5 ft.train was beautiful and her crown was a WOW. It has large cameos on top and is such a stunner that the plainer gown works.

Her mother Queen Silvia wore a huge, tall diamond crown called the Braganca Tiara. For the weddings, they open the vaults.

Most of the main royals of Europe attended . In this group are ladies who usually get the style thing down well. Somehow, perhaps in a bid to not upstage the bride, most didn't do so well on Saturday.

Crown Princesses Mary of Denmark and Mette Marit of Norway usually are two of the chicest ladies. Mary's light green was simply ok. Mette Marit's ruffles were not the best. The brides sister Princess Madeline went for ruffles as well. At least the shades of blue both wore were lovely and suited them. Now the day before at the pre- wedding gala , all the ladies hit it out of the park.

Queen Rania of Jordan was sleek and chic as always in a bright purple . Crown Princess Letizia of Spain had a gorgeous gown, but do you see her arms ? She is scary, worrisome skinny.

Sophie , Countess of Wessex went for understated but elegant and did it well. This is pretty much her normal go to look. She knows what works for her.

3 cheers for the royal bride. I wish them to be as happy always as their wedding day.

All images: Canada.com and Hello.