Happy New Year! I love starting a fresh year, and love it even more so because we get to kick it off here with some serious sparkle. In Japan, they bring together all available family members for a state reception filled with tiaras; in Denmark, they attend the New Year’s banquet, one of the most formal events of the year and an occasion to wear the golden chains of the Order of the Elephant and some of their best jewels.
In Japan...
Most Sparkle Power
The Imperial Ladies
 |
| Left to Right: Kiko, Princess Akishino; Princess Mako of Akishino; Princess Kako of Akishino; Hanako, Princess Hitachi; Nobuko, Princess Tomohito of Mikasa; Princess Akiko of Mikasa; Princess Yōko of Mikasa; Hisako, Princess Takamado; Princess Tsuguko of Takamado; Princess Ayako of Takamado |
Like I always say, for sheer tiara quantity, you can’t beat a mass gathering of the women of the Japanese imperial family. Each woman has her own parure to wear, and though the use of strictly white jewels can start to appear monotonous (what a thing to say about diamonds, right?!), there’s a style here for every taste. We've only featured two of the tiaras on display: the
Akishino Tiara and
Princess Kako's Tiara.
 |
| Emperor Akihito and Empress Michiko |
2012 was the last time we saw Empress Michiko wear a tiara to this event. She’s stopped wearing them altogether, probably because of problems with the added weight. I do miss the
Imperial Chrysanthemum Tiara, but I also can’t argue with that wonderful large brooch pinned in stomacher fashion. The Empress doesn't lack in sparkle simply because she goes tiara-free, that's for sure.
In Denmark...
Best in Repeats, Standard Division
Queen Margrethe
Queen Margrethe is a champion dress repeater, and I'm all for that when it means my favorite of her new gowns - the one worn to
2015’s Dutch state visit and to one of her
birthday dinners - comes back. She paired the dress again with the
Pearl Poire Tiara; her necklace, brooch, and earrings come from the pearl, diamond, and ruby set belonging to the Danish crown jewels.
Prince Henrik made his first appearance since the surprising announcement that he would be retiring from most public duties in 2016. I wasn’t surprised that the Prince Consort made the decision – he’s 81, and seemed to have more trouble getting around lately – but I was surprised that Queen Margrethe decided to make a big official announcement as part of her traditional New Year’s Eve speech. (Since I know someone will ask, Queen Margrethe has said in the past that she will not consider abdication.) He'll still make the occasional public appearance, so he's not disappearing.
Best in New Déjà Vu
Princess Marie
Princess Marie’s white skirt and top are new, but the shape and the combo of a detailed top and plain skirt give me flashbacks to her blue/gray peplum outfit
from 2014. It’s a good look anyway, and I love her hair with her usual
Diamond Floral Tiara.
Best in Repeats, Creative Division, and Best in Show
Crown Princess Mary
Mary is also a champion dress repeater, and you just knew she had something up her sleeve when she wore a separate top and skirt for her amazing
BAMBI Award appearance in 2014. When she first emerged from the car this evening, I thought she had a blue version made of her beloved
reconfigured red velvet gown, but no!
There’s a creative reuse twist: the skirt from her sparkling navy blue Jesper Høvring ensemble has been recycled here with a new navy velvet top with a built-in train (the train on the original blue skirt was still there, underneath the velvet). The matching embellishment on the sleeves tied the pieces together, and the skirt was quite swoopy and spectacular in movement. ADORE.
She paired it with the
Danish Ruby Parure (tiara, earrings, and hairpins), which is what she wears every year for this event.
A most auspicious start to 2016, I'd say. So tell me:
Who are you declaring the best dressed of the night?
P.S.: Next post will be a new tidbits edition on Monday!
Photos: ANN News video screencap, Twitter as noted, Getty Images, DR1 video screencap
Posts
