Prince Harry & Meghan's Wedding: Your Guest Fashion Predictions

First, a little housekeeping:

Yes, we will have an open post tomorrow for wedding watchers. The wedding is at noon (that's 7 am Eastern), members of the royal family arrive from 11:20, and other guests start to arrive at 9:30.

Yes, the post will include links to livestream the wedding. Many regular broadcast stations are also showing it; here's a guide for viewers in the U.S.

Second, a little troubleshooting: I've heard from a few readers who can't see the comments section, which can happen when Disqus does updates. Clearing the cache/cookies on your browser usually fixes it; if not, try a different browser.

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With that out of the way, let's move our fashion predictions on from the bride to the some of the guests!  

What will the royal guests be wearing?

A few designer predictions from me for the main ladies of the royal family...

The Queen: While QEII doesn't exclusively wear Angela Kelly's designs, she's usually up for the big occasions and I don't expect this to be any different. Maybe she'll even go ~*wild*~ like she did at William and Kate's wedding and abandon her traditional black accessories for beige! There's a post open for brooch speculation over at the Jewel Vault, by the way.

The Duchess of Cornwall: I'm hoping for Anna Valentine but Bruce Oldfield also does a lot of work for Camilla. Surely a Philip Treacy hat will top it off.

The Duchess of Cambridge: Packham or McQueen are the safest bets, do you agree? McQueen would be a little nod to her own wedding day.

Princesses Beatrice and Eugenie: I have no idea what we'll see from Beatrice, except to say that she'll cause disappointment no matter what she does with her hat - from those hoping for something wild or those hoping she learned from last time! For Eugenie, I'm wishing for a reunion with Vivienne Westwood, if only for the promise that they might be working together on Eugenie's own wedding gown. Tatler reports that it will be a blue dress from Gainsbourg, a bespoke tailoring/couture label, with a hat from Fiona Graham of Fi Graham Millinery.

The Countess of Wessex: I already put my predictions up earlier this week, either Suzannah or Emilia Wickstead. Certainly a Jane Taylor hat, and probably another Jane Taylor creation for Lady Louise.

The Princess Royal: William and Kate's wedding warranted something new, and I expect something new here too from the royal family's most dedicated repeater.

Autumn Phillips and Zara Tindall: They've both used a lot of different designers, so this is a wide open field.

Lady Sarah Chatto and the Countess of Snowdon: Sarah will wear Jasper Conran (her own wedding gown designer) and a Stephen Jones hat, which is not a surprise as this team crafts most (if not all) of her special occasion looks. For Serena, I'd guess a Rachel Trevor-Morgan hat and maybe something by Dior.

Your turn! What are you hoping and predicting for the guests?

May 18, 2018

Royal Fashion Awards: Princess Adrienne’s Christening (Updated)

Princess Madeleine and Chris O’Neill celebrated their fifth wedding anniversary today by christening their third child, Princess Adrienne. Check out our open post here, with a link to watch the service.

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Princess Adrienne wore the royal christening gown we’ve seen several times in the past century, especially in the past few years. The heirloom details, from the royal court:

The christening gown worn by Princess Adrienne during the ceremony was first worn by Prince Gustaf Adolf when he was christened in 1906. The gown was also worn by Gustaf Adolf's siblings (Sigvard, Queen Ingrid, Prince Bertil and Carl Johan) and by Prince Gustaf Adolf and Princess Sibylla's children, namely the Princesses Margaretha, Birgitta, Desirée and Christina, as well as The King.

The gown was also worn by Crown Princess Victoria, Prince Carl Philip, Princess Madeleine, Princess Estelle, Princess Leonore, Prince Nicolas, Prince Oscar, Prins Alexander and Prince Gabriel.

At the christening of Princess Margaretha in 1935, a cape and a cap made from cream-coloured silk satin were added. The names and dates of all the children christened have been embroidered in the lining of the cape.

The christening gown is made of cotton batiste and Valenciennes lace (bobbin lace) with a petticoat of satin woven silk. The gown has lace linings around the armholes. The gown is accompanied by a bodice of Valenciennes lace.

The christening gown also has a christening towel made of cotton batiste with Valenciennes lace.

Wee Adrienne grabbed right on to her baby sash of the Order of the Seraphim as soon as King Grandpa tucked it into place, because she knows what’s up.

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The rest of the family presented a united front with a gentle color scheme and a trio of floral frocks – all right on season and right on trend. Let’s hand out our awards:

Best in Floral and Best in Jewel Debuts

Princess Madeleine

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I had no expectations of any major jewel debuts from a christening, which made this even better: Princess Madeleine wore pieces of the Cameo Parure for the first time today! She used the bracelet and the earrings. As a card-carrying member of the Cameo Tiara Fan Club, I now have my fingers crossed for more, because that what’s happens when you give me a little bit. Madeleine and the royal ladies wore their portrait brooches of the King, as usual.

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The cameo pieces were perfect complements to the cream and gentle pinks of her floral dress by Giambattista Valli (h/t to Heaven). To my surprise, I even enjoyed the touch of flower power in her floral headband...or maybe that's just a little bit of carryover from my cameo delight.

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Princess Leonore joined the floral dress brigade led by her mother. She chose to de-accessorize by taking off her shoes. The Swedes let the kids be kids at these events (bless ‘em for allowing the antics), so go ahead and get comfy, girl. Leonore was without a partner in crime today; Princess Estelle was sick at the last minute and could not attend.

Runner Up in Florals

Princess Sofia

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My second favorite floral dress of the day belonged to Princess Sofia, interpreting the day’s pink color scheme in a bolder and sleeker fashion with this Ida Lanto dress. Little wrinkled after sitting through the service, but eh, that's life.

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If I quibble (and I will), I would have loved to see some more colorful accessories beyond the purse and perhaps more of an actual hat. A big ask of any Swedish royal lady at these events, I know.

Most at Home on the Prairie

Crown Princess Victoria

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Crown Princess Victoria could have used a dose of Sofia’s color contrast; on the broadcast especially, the colors in her dress blended together to muddy effect. It’s the only dress here that’s gonna make me say it: too Little House on the Prairie. (Only one prairie reference in a post full of florals, such restraint! Way to go, me.)

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I didn’t really understand her hat pairing, either; then again, I don’t understand her affection for these pile of embroidery hoop hats to start with. This is another version of the hat type she wore to Princess Leonore’s christening, at the time a nod to the headpiece Queen Silvia wore to Prince Carl Philip’s baptism (not the same hat, however).

Best in Standards

Queen Silvia
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As for Queen Silvia herself, well, she did her Silvia thing, and this faux wrap dress detail looks fantastic on her. Both grandmothers were operating at peak elegance. (Splendid brooch on Mrs. O'Neill, by the way.)

Best in Hat Sculpture

Princess Christina

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All four of King Carl Gustaf’s sisters were present at the christening; above from left to right behind the King and Queen, Princess Margaretha, Princess Birgitta, Princess Désirée, and Princess Christina. Only Princess Christina hatted up. (Lots of ladies didn’t and that’s par for the course at these events.) When Princess Christina hats up, she tends to hat up; this was sparkly and possibly capable of flight and I loved it. She had to make up for her sisters, after all. One hat to cover them all.

Who takes home your fashion awards for today’s christening?

 

UPDATE: The beautiful official photographs have been released. It's impressive, how they can always find the perfect corner of the palace to match their outfits. [All: Erika Gerdemark, Kungahuset.se]

 

June 08, 2018