Tiara Watch of the Day: More Sparkle in Sweden and the Netherlands

The Dutch and Swedish ladies are here to squeeze in the last tiara events of 2018, bless 'em.

The King and Queen of the Netherlands welcomed the President and first lady of Cape Verde to the Netherlands for a state visit on Monday, including a state banquet.

RVD

Queen Máxima continued her recent Claes Iversen streak with this burnt orange gown for the state banquet. This is the third time we've seen this dress and the second time with a tiara - to be honest, it would be neither my first pick for a triple repeat nor my first pick for one tiara appearance, let alone two. Máx clearly disagrees. Fair enough.

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Anyway, she's provided ample distraction by loading herself up with the biggest diamonds worn in the most amusingly casual fashion. The Dutch Diamond Bandeau's tossed on like an afterthought (I mean, it's a good hairdo, this is just one of those times when she really is wearing it like any old headband, which I find hilarious). And she's continuing to find new-to-her treasures in the family vault; this mega brooch with a big fat yellow diamond in the center belonged to Queen Emma. The brooch was one of Queen Emma's wedding gifts, part of a set that also included the diamond rivière that was later made into the Diamond Bandeau. It's a diamond reunion!

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We also have some Bonus Beatrix, yay. Princess Beatrix wore the Antique Pearl Tiara, a diadem I enjoy more each time we see it. 

The Swedish royal family hosted the King's Dinner for Nobel laureates last night.

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Meanwhile in Sweden: another killer red gown! This is a drop dead gorgeous moment for Crown Princess Victoria. She paired this fab dress with Princess Lilian's Laurel Wreath Tiara, one of a full diamond tiara line up for the ladies on this evening. (Including Princess Christina wearing the Six Button Tiara again, as you can see if you click through that gallery.)

Sara Friberg/Kungl. Hovstaterna

Princess Sofia's custom gown from Valerie by Valerie Aflalo was a bit fussy for my tastes (the sleeves, I blame the sleeves). Like most things, it could have been improved by an amethyst tiara - she was already wearing the earrings, bracelet, and brooch from Queen Josephine's Amethyst Parure. Swap out the all-diamond version of your Emerald and Diamond Tiara while you're at it, Sofia!

Sara Friberg/Kungl. Hovstaterna

Queen Silvia wore a pink Jacques Zehnder dress - itself a former Nobel ceremony selection - with a refreshing tiara choice: the Baden Fringe. We've seen her wear it in 2016, 2017, and now 2018. (And before that, obvs, this is just a seeming renewal of enthusiasm.) No one wears it like Crown Princess Victoria does, but I must say, I enjoy seeing other takes on it. Fringes (or amethysts) for everyone!

Royal Events of the Day: Denmark & Norway Open Parliament

Two more monarchies checked the opening of parliament off their autumn to do list yesterday:

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In Denmark, the primary members of the royal family watch the proceedings from a balcony (rather than the monarch giving a speech, as happens in other countries). Queen Margrethe's cheery blue outfit provided a welcome dash of color on a rainy day.

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Crown Princess Mary and Princess Marie seemed appropriately bundled up, Marie even adding a turtleneck under her repeated Paule Ka coat (which Hereditary Grand Duchess Stéphanie also owns). Mary is channeling Jackie O in this jacket and pillbox hat - with some skirt color to pep things up - which is pretty much a foolproof strategy.

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My winner for the day, though, is the perpetually elegant Princess Benedikte. She arrived in a brown wrap over a pumpkin dress with a feather in her hat. If autumn itself needed a parliament opening outfit, this is the outfit autumn would wear. Perfection.

Hans Kristian Thorbjørnsen/Stortinget/CC BY-NC-ND 2.0 (cropped)

For Norway's parliament opening, King Harald reads the speech; he's accompanied by Queen Sonja and Crown Prince Haakon. The gentlemen steal the show here as always in their uniforms. Queen Sonja pretty much has her own uniform, usually wearing black and/or white with some red thrown in some years. Can't really argue with that.

Royal Trip of the Day: Victoria in Estonia, Plus Portraits

The Swedish royal family squeezed in a little official trip and dumped a bunch of new photos on us recently. For this summer kindness, we shall give them a post all their own.

Kungahuset.se

Crown Princess Victoria and Prince Daniel visited Estonia to mark the country's 100th anniversary of independence. Victoria showed up looking, well, not unlike the Estonian flag in a repeated Dolce & Gabbana dress first worn during the celebrations for King Carl Gustaf's 70th birthday. I miss the big hat she wore it with that time around, honestly.

Kungahuset.se

The Dolce & Gabbana wasn't the only prior special occasion dress that made the cut for the trip; Victoria also repeated the Elie Saab dress from Prince Alexander's christening. (Queen Máxima owns this one, too.) A speedy visit, but worthy of a trip through her special occasion wardrobe. (See a few more pics here.)

Now: portraits! First up, Princess Madeleine's family wasn't the only one to get some new summer pictures taken. [These photos: Anna-Lena Ahlström, Kungahuset.se]

Additionally, the crown princess family shared some personal photos taken around Sweden this summer. The first five were taken by Crown Princess Victoria, the last taken by Prince Daniel. Bask in the outdoorsy Swedish summer fun!

Royal Outfits of the Day: Letizia Goes Orange in Mallorca

The official engagements for the Spanish royals during their summer residence in Palma de Mallorca continued with a hefty dose of orange last week.

King Felipe, Queen Letizia, and Queen Sofia hosted a reception for the Balearic Islands.

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Yeah, that's one orange shirt. Kinda taking over the whole outfit. Picking a color from the Carolina Herrera skirt to use for the top was the obvious way to go, although I think this Hugo Boss top wasn't the right choice in color or in shape.

House of HM the King

Not that I don't sympathize, you know, because as glorious as a full skirt can be, figuring out what to pair it with can be the trickiest decision.

The King and Queen hosted the Prime Minister of Spain and his wife for lunch at Marivent Palace.

House of HM the King

Letizia also dipped into the coral side of her floral theme with a new dress from Adolfo Domínguez. Lacking the Letizia sass, I think, but serviceable all the same.

Adolfo Domínguez dress

Royal Event of the Day: National Day in Belgium

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The Belgian royal family was front and center this weekend to celebrate Belgium's National Day, which also marked the fifth anniversary of King Philippe taking the throne. (We covered the new portraits they released for the occasion last week.) They marked the event with a fair bit of family coordination and a fair few prints.

Royal Palace

But we'll start with Queen Mathilde's single color entry to the weekend's sartorial lineup, a Natan dress with Fabienne Delvigne hat. It's a pretty solid addition to her file of National Day looks. Although I do think the hat seems precariously perched in many shots. A tilt too far.

Princess Eléonore, Prince Gabriel, Princess Elisabeth, and Prince Emmanuel
Royal Palace

Combined with their mother, Princesses Elisabeth and Eléonore very nearly form a royal rendition of the black, yellow, and red Belgian flag. Which makes me extra glad for the lovely floral embellishment on Elisabeth's dress, just to keep things from being too literal.

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Prince Lorenz, Princess Astrid, Prince Laurent, Princess Claire

Princess Claire's commitment to red and white matched her sister-in-law Mathilde's commitment to the color, though I think Claire's look might have benefited from a solid color hat.

Royal Palace

One quick outfit change later, King Philippe and Queen Mathilde headed to the park for more National Day fun. I said it wouldn't be shocking if this green dress turned up in another royal closet, and here it is! We first saw this L.K.Bennett print on Princess Sofia.

Royal Palace

Mathilde was also mad for print at two pre-National Day activities. Yes, that's a jumpsuit up there, and...

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...yes, that's unmistakably an Erdem up there. Ruffles and shine and flowers and a high neckline, not unlike the divisive Erdem evening dress worn by the Duchess of Cambridge in Sweden in January. I don't know if this one is better or if I've just accepted this trend as our new reality, but I'm not minding Mathilde's version. I'm sure you'll set me straight in the comments.

Tiara Watch of the Day: A State Banquet & Dress Remix in Norway

New week, new tiaras: Norway's royal family welcomed the President of Slovakia for a state visit yesterday.

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The welcome ceremony is much as we've come to expect from Crown Princess Mette-Marit, meaning something white + a headband. Queen Sonja's tangerine suit added some welcome warmth to the group.

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The evening's state banquet was pretty much as we've come to expect from Sonja, who picked up the white dress flag from her daughter-in-law. She added Queen Maud's Pearl and Diamond Tiara on top, one of her favorites, with plenty of additional pearls. Princess Astrid was there also, wearing her winged aigrette.

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Seems to me that Mette-Marit has found a new appreciation for her Amethyst Necklace Tiara and parure (she's wearing the brooch/necklace pendant on her bodice here), and I need hardly tell you (again) that I am all for that. Especially here, because this gray dress needs the extra color from the gems.

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This gray dress is really interesting, actually, because it appears to be a remix of some existing pieces. The flower appliqué skirt was previously seen...

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2010

...eight years ago in Denmark for the celebrations of Queen Margrethe's 70th birthday, where it was part of a dress with a white top with flounce sleeves.

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The top she's now added to the skirt is a lot like the one she wore in the portrait above with different sleeves; as Heaven points out, the same collection also offered different but similar tops with larger sleeves. The top(s) are from a 2013 collection from Biyan and feature an embellished neckline.

The result of this dress remix leaves me longing for the 2010 original, I'll admit; the white top did a lot to balance out the gray and all the embellishment of the skirt. Embellishment and gray all over ends up cluttered. But I'm totally intrigued by her process of mixing and matching with her gala gowns. Infinite possibilities!

Breaking Tiara News: Queen Máxima Wears the Stuart Tiara

It's the moment many have been waiting for since King Willem-Alexander took the throne: Queen Máxima wore the Stuart Tiara for the state banquet in Luxembourg tonight!

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It's a smaller version of that elusive Dutch big gun, to be clear; the setting has been lowered, the namesake pear-shaped Stuart Diamond has been removed from the top center with a smaller substitute in its place and other large diamonds from the top have been removed. Which was predictable, really; it is a massive tiara that comes with smaller settings, so easing into it is logical. Queen Máxima is wearing two of the removed large diamonds as earrings.  Read the tiara's full story here.

The Stuart Tiara in its full setting, as worn by Queen Juliana

There's the full version, as worn by Queen Juliana. The tiara was created for Queen Wilhelmina in 1897 and was regularly worn by Juliana, her daughter. Once Juliana's daughter, Beatrix, took over the throne, the tiara went unworn. Unworn for more than 40 years. Until now!

Royal reporter Rick Evers shared a fantastic video of the occasion, with some drool-worthy close ups and oh so much sparkle:

There is also a set of mega diamond jewels, the Stuart or House Diamond jewels, that Juliana wore with the Stuart Tiara. Máxima debuted the necklace from that set last year. Here, she wears the large bow brooch from the set, which she's used before. Her dress is a Jan Taminiau repeat.

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Also, other people were there! Let's do a quick sash check (left to right): Hereditary Grand Duke Guillaume in the Order of Orange-Nassau from the Netherlands, Grand Duchess Maria Teresa in the Order of the Netherlands Lion, King Willem-Alexander in Luxembourg's Order of the Gold Lion of the House of Nassau, Queen Máxima in the same, Grand Duke Henri in the Order of the Netherlands Lion, and Hereditary Grand Duchess Stéphanie in the Order of Orange-Nassau.

Blauw Bloed screencap. Click here for more sparkly video.

The Luxembourg ladies doubled up on their Elie Saab, Maria Teresa in a repeat and Stéphanie borrowing another dress from her mother-in-law's closet. The Hereditary Grand Duchess is giving us a double tiara appearance, technically, and a debut; she's wearing the Chaumet Diamond and Pearl Choker Tiara for the first time (without the pearls), and her sapphire and diamond necklace can also be used as a tiara.

Cour grand-ducale/Cyril Moreau

I must say, I'm a little disappointed in Maria Teresa when it comes to the tiara department. If there was ever a time for the Luxembourg Empire Tiara, right? Instead, the Grand Duchess stuck to her current favorite, the Belgian Scroll Tiara. Good thing her dress is divine, easily my favorite of the evening.

The Dutch arrived for their state visit to Luxembourg earlier today. The visit continues through Friday.

Royal Hat of the Day: The Countess of Wessex's Lattice (x3)

The Countess of Wessex joked at an event last week that she has her royal wedding outfit all ready to go, and I'll be shocked if it doesn't include a new hat from Jane Taylor, her favorite milliner. Sophie warmed up for a hat-tastic weekend by attending the first Buckingham Palace garden party of the season yesterday, selecting a Jane Taylor hat we've seen in two different versions with three different outfits. Comparison time!

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Royal Ascot 2017

Here's the hat's debut, with a black accent on top and a green Emilia Wickstead dress. I loved the lattice effect on this hat and so did many of you; the whole look garnered enough mentions to be in the running for your best day outfit of 2017.

Attending the Sultan of Brunei's Golden Jubilee celebrations
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Luckily for us, Sophie wasn't nearly done with the hat. Come October, the black twist on top was swapped for matching beige twists and coral feather accents to match a new outfit from Suzannah with a white top and coral skirt.

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Attending a Buckingham Palace garden party yesterday

Now we have our third hat appearance, still in its coral version and worn with a red dress from Alaïa. (I assume she's informing the guests that she's wearing, like, a totally important designer).

Royal Family

Props to Sophie for repeating the same hat three times and managing to make each look completely different, right? Three times in less than a year and I'm not tired of this hat yet. That's a feat.

Azzedine Alaïa Scalloped Wavy Stripe Knit Dress, per the Countess of Wessex Blog

I'm still gonna ask the question, though: When did she wear it best? Give me Ascot any day, really. Can we get the black accent back? Coral might be my very least favorite color, so I'm biased.

(While we're at it, the first two outfits here contain some safe guesses for the designer behind Sophie's wedding outfit: either Suzannah or Emilia Wickstead, her current go-to designers for all her bespoke needs.)

Tiara Watch of the Day: The Belgian State Visit to Canada

This Thursday brings us a tiara in the wild! Oh, it's been too long. King Philippe and Queen Mathilde are in Canada for a state visit, bringing along one tiara and one pair of...Ugg boots?

Official welcome with the Governor General
Belgian Monarchy/Rideau Hall

Carmen Sandiego up here arrived in a tidy pair of pumps, then when the fun moved outside, she swapped them for something more comfy: formal state visit Uggs. So that is a thing that happened.

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Underneath her cape, Queen Mathilde revealed a golden maple leaf brooch. Combined with the red color, this is a level of "O Canada" dressing that I'm not accustomed to seeing outside of, well, the actual Queen of Canada and her family.

State dinner time!

Belgian Monarchy

Worn this time with the Laurel Wreath Tiara and earrings from Queen Fabiola, the original appearance of Mathilde's Jan Taminiau gown was my choice for her best appearance of 2016. Here's what it looked like back then...

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Worn in 2016, during the Dutch state visit

So I'm pretty sure that the addition of an intense faux-necklace on illusion mesh ensures that it shall not repeat in 2018. Still very pleasingly sparkly, though.

Belgian Monarchy/Lieutenant Governor of Ontario

And most of the rest, so far! Some high water funny business at a sugar shack, more maple leaf loving in the hat on her orange number, more repeated sparkle for the return concert, and some elegant blue as the trip moved on to Toronto. This is a lengthy state visit; it goes until the weekend, so who knows what sartorial adventures await...

Royal Trip of the Day: The Cambridges in Norway, Day 1

The splendor that many of us had hoped this trip would bring finally arrived. It just took a trip to Norway and a dinner hosted by a king and queen to make it happen.

On the first day of their trip to Norway, the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge attended a dinner at the Royal Palace hosted in their honor by King Harald and Queen Sonja. Crown Prince Haakon, Crown Princess Mette-Marit, Princess Märtha Louise, and Princess Astrid were also present.

Kensington Palace

Ah, gowns! Good ones! A print for Märtha Louise, a favored shiny purple repeat for Sonja, and a bright coral for Astrid flanked the evening's two standout pale dresses for Kate and Mette-Marit (and, of course, the gentlemen in their tuxes).

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The only thing wrong with this Alexander McQueen dress is that Kate doesn't have any state banquets coming up where she could pair it with a tiara. It's an elegant way to do a maternity gown and it has wonderful movement, because CAPE.

Kensington Palace

She didn't forget to bring along her diamonds, either: both the Diamond Pendant Earrings and the Wedding Gift Bracelet are on loan from the Queen.

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After a 2017 wardrobe that left many of us with a general feeling of sartorial ennui, Mette-Marit's coming out swinging for 2018. This metallic gem is fabulously detailed and a great spin on her usual fare. (Also: excellent deployment of a red lip.)

On arrival earlier in the day, the Duke and Duchess were greeted by the Crown Prince and Crown Princess and met with the royal family at the palace. They were then joined by Princess Ingrid Alexandra for a visit to the Princess Ingrid Alexandra Sculpture Park.

Kensington Palace

The family that blue coats together stays together, I guess. (With twin red scarves thrown in for good measure.) Kate's really loading up on her Catherine Walker for this trip - and she wouldn't miss an opportunity for another blue coat.

Kensington Palace

Nor an opportunity for another blue dress! This one's from Séraphine. Queen Sonja's looking sharp in white, as she always does.

Sven Gj. Gjeruldsen, Det kongelige hoff

 (The Norwegian royal court gives us photos of the gifts exchanged between the royals, because they know we're nosy like that, which is nice of them.)

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Outside, I have no applause for the added furry hat; I have several claps and an approving nod for Queen Sonja's splendidly bright coat and scarf combo; I have a standing ovation for the person that picked this rainbow sculpture for the park, because that's how you make a great photo op.

The trip ends Friday, phew!

Royal Trip of the Day: The Cambridges in Sweden, Day 2

Here's how I've decided this whole thing played out: "How dare people call my mustard floral gown upholstery," the Duchess of Cambridge fumed. "That was not upholstery. I'll show you upholstery," she exclaimed.

On the evening of the second full day of their official visit to Sweden, the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge joined Crown Princess Victoria and Prince Daniel for a reception in Stockholm.

Kensington Palace

Show us she sure did, in floral blue velvet from Erdem again. Definitely more upholstery-esque to this pair of eyes, but my definite favorite of the back-to-back Erdems.

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On arrival, the Duchess used her "diplomatic dressing" concept as a cover to add another black coat to her growing pile, opting for one from Swedish designer Ida Sjöstedt. Sjöstedt has been really popular with the Swedish princesses in the past few years, making all sorts of outfits from Princess Sofia's wedding gown to the dress Crown Princess Victoria wore the day before.

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For the evening event, Victoria also stuck to Swedish design and her designer from the evening before. A most unfortunate decision in this case, I'm afraid. It's just...oof.

The two couples also teamed up for engagements during the day.

Kensington Palace

Kensington Palace

Day two also repeated day one in that safer choices prevailed during the daytime and the coats were the best part of the deal for both ladies. In case you missed it the first 700 or so times I've said it, give me alllllll the houndstooth, including this snappy red version from Catherine Walker.

Raphael Stecksén/Kungahuset.se

Underneath those coats, Victoria's pantsuit begs you to debate the merits of pastel safari jackets, while Kate ordered up just about the most basic model you can get from Alexander McQueen. William was doing his part for diplomatic fashion too, by the way: his sweater is from Swedish brand Acne.

Also on day two, the Crown Princess couple hosted the Cambridges at their home, Haga Palace, and William and Kate had the biggest honor of the their trip (I'm sure): a private audience with Princess Estelle and Prince Oscar.

Raphael Stecksén/Kungahuset.se

Raphael Stecksén/Kungahuset.se

Next up for the traveling Cambridge circus: Norway!

Royal Outfit Grab Bag of the Day: Catching Up with Mary, Victoria, Máxima, and Mathilde

Lotta royals in business mode right now; lotta royals in repeat mode right now. Time to check in:

Crown Princess Mary visited the Council of Europe in Strasbourg on Tuesday.

Council of Europe

Love this Prada dress. Very smart, very sharp. A good choice for a big speech moment, which is just what she had.

Crown Princess Victoria received the British ambassador on Tuesday, in preparation for the visit of the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge next week.

Kungahuset.se

That is an excessively floppy bow, but the important point here is that Victoria is back! She's recovered from her illness and is ready to hang out with William and Kate next week. (Obviously we'll be covering that, as if you could possibly doubt it.)

Okay, hang on, let me get you some color up in here...

Queen Máxima opened a Bio Fair last week.

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*blinks* *blinks* Yup, that should do it. This is a one-stop shop for all your texture and color needs, which is...efficient.

Queen Mathilde and King Philippe are at the World Economic Forum this week.

Belgian Monarchy

Hey, maybe Natan should just start leaving the sleeves off these coats for his two best clients. You could call it something like a "cape", maybe, I don't know. I'm just spitballing here. Anyway, Mathilde wore this last month and guess what? It's still groovy.

Royal Outfits of the Day: Catching Up with Mathilde and Máxima

Psst: Tiaras were out in London last night, plus a major new necklace loan for Kate! That's all been covered at the Jewel Vault, so hop right over here for that discussion.

It's been a minute since we hit up these two M&Ms. HIGHLIGHTS:

King Philippe and Queen Mathilde visited the province of Flemish Brabant.

Belgian Royal Palace

This is a COAT right here. Mathilde loves some pattern and Mathilde loves some orange and this is maybe Mathilde's best combo of the two. 10/10 for coziness.

Queen Mathilde visited the Academy of Arts in Mons.

Belgian Royal Palace

Speaking of Mathilde loving some pattern, this is lovely, no? Like a holdover from her India trip she couldn't wait to put to use.

Queen Máxima presented the Prince Bernhard Culture Foundation Award.

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It's her strangely fluffy-trimmed outfit from a few weeks ago, take two! Luckily, the second time's a charm. Make it a winter dress instead of sleeveless and make it a rich tapestry-looking fabric, and you tip the scale from silly to swanky. This is also the rare occasion on which I am super into her shoes.

King Willem-Alexander and Queen Máxima visited Saba, St. Eustatius and St. Maarten.

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From winter to summer, and who can blame her? A sunshine ensemble for a sunshine stroll - and the one thing buoying up a mixed bag of ensembles from the rest of the trip. So we'll end it here.