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.

SVT screencap

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.

SVT

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

Embed from Getty Images

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.

SVT

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.

SVT

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

Embed from Getty Images

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.

SVT

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

Embed from Getty Images

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.)

SVT

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
Embed from Getty Images

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

SVT

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]

 

Readers' Favorite Outfits of 2017, Evening Division: The Results, Part 2!

Here we are: The End. It's time for your final five favorite outfits of 2017, the very best that royal evening wear had to offer us:

#5. Princess Sofia at the Nobel Prize Ceremony in Ida Lanto

Embed from Getty Images

A supremely princess-y turn for Sofia on one of Sweden's biggest nights gave her a tidy showing on both your day and evening favorite lists for the year.

#4. Princess Tatiana in Australia in Celia Kritharioti

Instagram/@tatianablatnik

Princess Tatiana doesn't appear here very often, but when she does, her continued partnership with this Greek designer wins her consistent praise. Also, CAPE!

#3. Queen Máxima at the Argentina State Banquet in Jan Taminiau

Embed from Getty Images

Can't beat a great necklace or a great repeated dress, from the Dutch designer that's landed Máxima her greatest praise - and her second spot on your evening top 10.

#2. Queen Letizia at King Willem-Alexander's Birthday in Stella McCartney

Embed from Getty Images

And finally, the two themes that ran through this year in review ring true once more: it was the year of Letizia, and...

#1. Queen Letizia at the Spanish/British State Banquet in Felipe Varela

House of HM the King

...it was the year of the red dress. I can't think of another year when one person could have taken the top two spots, and I can't think of another year in which it would have been so well-deserved.  La Reina, folks.

So, tell me: How'd your picks make out? Are you in agreement with the group vote?

Year in Review: 2017's Bonus Favorites

We're going to do something this year that we haven't done in the past...a Readers' Favorite Outfits of 2017 vote! As I noted when we started these recap posts, I'm paying attention to all your discussions of 2017 favorites in the comments, and a selection of them will make the cut for a final vote. We'll be voting after Christmas.

So...make sure you've added your favorites and supported others you love down in the comments! You still have time. And I still have this round up of my personal favorites from the rest of the royal women we haven't covered yet...

Princess Sofia: Deputy MVP

SVT screencaps

Princess Sofia earned my affections earlier in the year by trying out new tiaras. Then she solidified them later in the year by giving us some more tiara excitement, going full princess in Ida Lanto at the Nobel ceremony, and - this one most of all - her touching choice to wear her folkdräkt to Prince Gabriel's christening. Deputy Most Valuable (Sartorial) Player of 2017!

Princess Tatiana in Australia

Instagram/tatianablatnik

Tatiana has found her sartorial soulmate in Greek designer Celia Kritharioti, turning up in one extraordinary creation after another. (There was a lot of love for her Kritharioti numbers at the Norwegian birthday celebrations this year, too.) This one instantly entered my hall of fame: elegant white and caped for days, mmmm.

Princess Marie-Chantal at King Harald and Queen Sonja's 80th Birthday Banquet

Embed from Getty Images

Speaking of the Greek princesses and the Norwegian birthday bash, Marie-Chantal claimed my best dressed in Valentino back when we covered the gala banquet and now that I've made my list and checked it twice, the title is still hers for the keeping. Man, I love a floral ball gown. And man, do I love that I get to say that twice in one month.

Princess Charlene at the Laureus World Sports Awards

Embed from Getty Images

I love most ball gown appearances, while we're at it - especially those sported by one of the people I'd least expect to go the fairytale route. Charlene should be red hot in Carolina Herrera more often.

The Countess of Wessex at King Harald and Queen Sonja's 80th Birthday Banquet

NRK Screencap

Another fancy Norway flashback! Sophie went solo to the Norwegian party and she really nailed it with this green Suzannah gown. Very elegant.

Autumn Phillips at Trooping the Colour

RAF

A flip back through the 2017 events of the extended British royal family left me with an urgent need to applaud Autumn Phillips. Strong colors, simple lines, nothing fussy or overdone but always interesting and always good. Pairing a magenta hat with a jade dress is still a combo that makes me smile.

Hereditary Grand Duchess Stéphanie at the Cannes Film Festival

Embed from Getty Images

Crisp white Ralph Lauren (also worn, with great success, by Crown Princess Victoria) and a fascinating pair of earrings elevate this Luxembourg lady to my 2017 best list.

Queen Margrethe at the Belgian State Banquet and the Norwegian Birthday Banquet

NRK screencap

You can always tell when Queen Margrethe loves a new outfit, because she'll wear it again right away. (Queens: they're just like us!) She was really feeling her look in this new evening gown - and with good reason - wearing it first for the Belgian state banquet and then at the Norwegian birthday bash. I think I'd give this a solid round of jumpy claps on any number of royal ladies!

What else is on your list of 2017 sartorial highlights?

Our next post will be a rundown of Christmas happenings, probably up on Tuesday the 26th (with the usual QEII coverage over at the Jewel Vault on Christmas Day). See you then!

Royal Fashion Awards: The Nobel Prizes, 2017

For the first time in quite some time, I really like all the ensembles our Scandinavian royal friends wore for the Nobel Prize ceremonies – in both Norway, where the Peace Prize is awarded, and in Sweden, where the rest are awarded. This is particularly great in the case of the Swedish royal ladies, because we can focus on the tiaras. And they gave us a lot of tiara fun to talk about… (Revisit our open post for links to watch the ceremonies.)

Biggest Tiara Surprise

Crown Princess Victoria

SVT

I always seem to predict a nice jewel tone for Victoria, so this light blue was a big surprise. An even bigger surprise: Victoria wore the Swedish Aquamarine Kokoshnik Tiara for the first time! She made it her own by adding a diamond rivière to the base. (She’s done this sort of temporary addition in the past to the Button Tiaras.)

Embed from Getty Images

Queen Silvia’s diamond floral earrings were a good balance for the large collar on this Jennifer Blom dress. You could take that down a notch and be none the worse, my single quibble with this otherwise delightful mass of light blue pleats.

Most Improved Tiara

Princess Sofia
Embed from Getty Images

Sofia just showed us that her Emerald and Diamond Tiara could lose its emeralds and open up its shape. She wasn’t done showing us her tiara’s many tricks, apparently, because now she’s replaced those emeralds with pearls. This tiara has never looked better.

Embed from Getty Images

The dress is from designer Ida Lanto, and that’s a princess dress if I ever saw one. Between that and the intense sparkle from her tiara, Sofia was operating at her highest princess level tonight.

Best Tiara Showcase

Princess Madeleine

SVT

Queen Josephine’s Amethyst Tiara isn’t an easy one to wear. Amethysts good enough to eat, but a wide circumference that’s tripped up many an experienced tiara model. Unless you’re Princess Madeleine. This is the second time she’s aced an amethyst outing.

SVT

She added other pieces from the Amethyst Parure to her look, which was just the first in a purple group tonight (much to my delight). Her bespoke dress from maternity label Séraphine is “pure mauve silk, featuring sumptuous hand-beaded overlay in precious gold silk.” Sumptuous indeed.

Achievements in Tiara Tackling

Princess Christina

SVT

She’s the best wearer of both the Dreaded Button Tiaras, she makes the tall Cut Steel Tiara look right at home, and now she’s tackled the Cut Steel Bandeau like a champ and came out on top. Princess Christina, folks. Give her a round of applause.

Most Predictable Tiara

Queen Silvia

SVT

As demonstrated by our recent flashback, Silvia’s been alternating the Leuchtenberg Sapphires and the Nine Prong Tiara for several years now. Last year we had the sapphires, so…Pronger, you’re up. She’s predictable but on trend with that purple dress, at least according to Pantone’s Color of the Year. It’s a repeat from the state visit to Germany by designer Georg et Arend (per The Royals and I).

Most Predictable in Daywear

Queen Sonja and Crown Princess Mette-Marit

Nobel Prize

Nobel Prize

Holding down the daywear fort, the Norwegian royals attended the Peace Prize ceremony earlier in the day and this is both exactly as you would expect (oh look, Mette-Marit’s worn a floral!) and even better than you’d expect (but get that floral in my closet right now, that looks rich). Well done, ladies.

Nobel fun continues with a dinner in Norway and, on Monday, another tiara dinner in Sweden. Stay tuned!

Who wins your prizes at this year’s festivities?

A Royal Birthday for the Weekend: Crown Princess Victoria Turns 40

Crown Princess Victoria’s birthday is a proper celebration each and every year. It’s Victoriadagen! So a big birthday calls for even more: a Te Deum and carriage ride around Stockholm on Friday, plus the annual events held on the island of Öland, where the family has their summer residence, Solliden Palace.

Embed from Getty Images

L to R: Princess Madeleine, Chris O’Neill, Queen Silvia, Prince Daniel, Princess Estelle, Prince Oscar, Crown Princess Victoria, King Carl Gustaf, Princess Sofia, Prince Alexander, Prince Carl Philip.

Victoria celebrated her 40th surrounded by the entire Swedish royal family, and I have never been more convinced that a family coordination memo went out in advance. Dress code: Please resemble a summer garden of pastels. DONE.

In an embellished dress with a small matching hair ornament from Pär Engsheden, Victoria was the garden-iest of them all. Butterflies everywhere, with enough left over for Princess Estelle to get a few butterflies for her hair. Awwww.

If you can't get a frilly couture dress from your wedding gown designer for your birthday, when can you? (A question we all debate on a daily basis, I'm sure.) This is doing your birthday up right.

Embed from Getty Images

Erdem has fast become Princess Madeleine’s go-to label for daytime royal events, and Philip Treacy’s a hat favorite. (This is also a royal twin moment: Princess Marie has also worn this dress.) Props to Madeleine for picking a layered choice that still managed not to look disheveled while corralling energetic toddlers.

Embed from Getty Images

Princess Sofia amped up the floral print with her custom Ida Lanto dress. Did I mention how DELIGHTFUL it is to see some actual hats on the Swedish royal ladies? Dress code #2: Leave the not-a-hat hat stuff to me, ladies. XO, Vic. I feel like I’ve waited sooooo long to see Princess Sofia bust out a proper hat and bless her heart, she went entirely Eliza Doolittle with it.

After the Stockholm celebrations, the family hopped over to Öland to commence the annual celebrations for Victoria’s birthday, starting with a Friday evening concert. Queen Silvia and Crown Princess Victoria always wear the traditional dress of Öland for this event.

It’s only Silvia and Victoria that go traditional, so that frees up Madeleine and Sofia continue interpreting the morning’s summer garden memo in a more casual mode. And, wisely, to go the wedge route on the grass. There's a certain sort of genius to what Madeleine's doing here. This is admittedly not that great standing up. But seated? It's way better. And seated is the entire game here.

Saturday finished up the annual events as Victoria and her family, with the King and Queen, greeted well-wishers at Solliden Palace.

Embed from Getty Images

Dress code #3: On Saturdays, we wear light blue. Going out on the most coordinated note of all. Even the gents this time! Between these two blazers and Carl Philip's suit from the concert, this is as close as we get to summer dressing from the Blue Suit Club. I'll take what I can get.

Photos: SVT screencaps and Getty Images as indicated

Royal Event of the Day: March 4

A Te Deum thanksgiving service was held yesterday to celebrate Prince Oscar's birth in the Royal Chapel at the Royal Palace of Stockholm. Most of the royal family was on hand - minus Crown Princess Victoria and her new son, obviously.

Embed from Getty Images

Everything's in order here, pretty much. Queen Silvia's doing her Silvia thing in a shade of blue that really works for her. Princess Madeleine's also doing her thing, with some added accessory interest in the form of a hefty necklace.

A photo posted by Svensk Damtidning (@svenskdamtidning) on Mar 3, 2016 at 5:11am PST

(As longtime readers know, SHOOTIES are never in order in my little world, but I'm liking the combo of Madeleine's jacket and necklace so much, I'll get over the footwear.)

Embed from Getty Images

Princess Sofia probably made the most Te Deum effort in a new dress by Ida Lanto, but I can't help but wish it was in a different fabric, something with a little more drape and a lot less creasing. On the bright side, her hair is excellent here, and it's a very pretty look overall.

etterEmbed from Getty Images

And finally, with her purse in hand and her mini throne deployed once again, the new big sister was the star of the show. So like I said, everything's in order here.

For photo galleries, see here and here.

Photos: via Getty Images, Instagram