Week in Review: Catherine Middleton, 20-26 February

The week's not over  yet, but we have things to discuss. So without further ado, here's what Kate wore from 20-26 February (and I shall add on if necessary):

1.  a) Christening an RNLI lifeboat in Anglesey, 24 February, b) the fascinator, c) the SHOOTIES, and d) the coat from its 2006 appearance at Cheltenham (crafty with the re-cutting, I must say).
2. The trip back to St. Andrews University, 25 February.
3. Signing the New Zealand earthquake condolence book, 25 February. A double outfit day already! This is Royal Prep 101: Advanced, I guess.

Best and Worst of the Week

All signs point to me hating outfit 1: I mean, it's all neutrals. And SHOOTIES. But...I kind of dig it. I can't believe I'm saying this about something including that footwear, but this is the best of the week for me. I think I've been swayed by the video from this appearance. I thought she was adorable, and I'm not a born Kate fan. Just chatty and happy to be there, none of that stiff trying-too-hard-to-be-regal thing. Also: HAIR UP! (Out of necessity, but still: victory!)

On the other hand, I should adore outfit 2, for it is RED and the belt/jacket flare is giving her pencil-thin physique some curve. Plus, she's working the timeless angle in a suit that she'll be able to recycle, Princess Anne-styles, for decades to come. But...I'm not feeling it. It's aging her too much? Turtlenecks worn like this terrify me because I can't tell if they're dickeys or not? Am I confusing you as much as I'm confusing myself?

And outfit 3, well, I don't know what she was going to wear to such an occasion (no, I do: I'd have preferred a smart navy suit) but this is alright. Except for the hair. Too much wind in one day = worst of the week.

Oh, friends, I don't know. This week is defying all my Laws of Sartorial Splendor. Do chime in and straighten me out.

Photos: Pacificcoastnews.com/Zimbio/AP/Telegraph/Getty/Daily Mail/Rex/Reuters/Daylife

Week in Review: Princess Nikolaos, 13-19 February

Here's what Tatiana wore from 13-19 February:

1.  a, b and c) in Vanity Fair (Spain). What's up with the leafy bits around the neck in 1a, huh?
2. a and b) Attending Samantha Cameron's reception for London Fashion Week at 10 Downing Street, 18 February. As per usual, I care only about the shoes, which are hot enough I'm willing to overlook the red bra peeking out from under the dress in 2a. You know I love Tatiana, but it has to be said: tone down the posing, please! You're at 10 Downing Street, not on the runway.

Best and Worst of the Week

Well, ball gowns always win, so 1b gets the week from me. (What a gorgeous pic, right?) I usually expect photoshoots to be styled to the top, which is why I am extra confused by 1c. Long sleeved shirt under a not-vest not-shirt contraption. No thank you.

Photos: Dave M. Benett/Getty Images/Vanity Fair

Week in Review: Crown Princess Mette-Marit, 13-19 February

Here's what Mette-Marit wore from 13-19 February:

1. Visiting Levanger, 17 February. Are there little poof balls on her boots? I think there are. Hmm.
2. Attending the ISFiT conference in Trondheim, 18 February. Interesting repeated dress. The shape is almost too cutesy for her, I think the fabric's bringing up the maturity level.
3. Other engagements in Trondheim, 18 February. Love, love this coat!

Best and Worst of the Week

On coats alone, I have to go with #3 as my best. But I can't figure out a worst: nothing's terrible, but nothing's really standing out either. Your thoughts?

Photos: Scanpix

Week in Review: Princess Letizia, 13-19 February

Here's what Letizia wore from 13-19 February:

1. International day for children with cancer, 15 February, a) outside and b) inside. I genuinely don't get the gray + beige thing. Máxima seems to think it matches too. Hmm.
2. Opening the ARCO modern art fair, 17 February. In some pictures, this looks red, in some it looks hot pink, and in others it's almost orange-ish. So, take your pick. I'm partial to hot pink!

Number two gets my vote; you know how much I love it when we get some color up in here. And it's a good thing she did opt for some color, otherwise she would have downright disappeared standing next to this magnificent lady:

(The purple wonder is Juana de Aizpuru, gallery owner. I know nothing about her, but I already love her for all the obvious reasons.)

Anyways, last week I got all excited over a wee bit of color on Letizia and you guys were all: "Whoa, OoS, settle down." So you tell me: thumbs up or down this week? 

Photos: PPE/Thorton/Getty Images/Daylife

Week in Review: Princess Máxima, 13-19 February

Here's what Máxima wore from 13-19 February:

1. Family ski vacation in Lech, 19 February. Kudos to Princess Pink and Purple there (also known as Princess Ariane) for busting out some personal style on the slopes. Amalia (in the middle) isn't doing so bad either, with her silver take on giraffe print. 

If I could get Ariane's coat in my size, that'd by my ski style. But if I couldn't find that, I might go with Mabel's style instead (and it's not very often that I say that!). Glam ski bunny all the way:

Photos: AP Photo/Daylife

Week in Review: Crown Princess Victoria, 13-19 February

Here's what Victoria wore from 13-19 February:

1.  Opening the Paralympic Winter World Cup and visiting a heath care home, 15 February, a) with coat and b) without. That's a pretty casual coat for an official engagement, but if it's really as cold out as it looks like it must have been, I'll give it a pass. It is a sporting event, after all. On the other hand, I do not give the double scarf a pass. Nor will I give the fact that outfit 1b could be worn by her mother a pass. Be young while you can!

Photos: Svenskdam/Solleftea.se

Week in Review: Charlene Wittstock, 13-19 February

Here's what Charlene wore from 13-19 February:

1.  In Bunte magazine while in South Africa. Oh, I like this.
2. At the Beverly Hills Hotel in South Africa, 16 February. Maybe if it had a knee-length skirt instead? It's a little bit matronly, long like that.

Photos: Newspix/Bunte

Week in Review: Princess Mathilde, 13-19 February

Here's what Mathilde wore from 13-19 February:

1. Attending the Eucharist Mass, 17 February. Still like it! Not the shoes, though. Never the shoes.

Week in Review: Princess Eugenie, 13-19 February

Here's what Eugenie wore from 13-19 February:

1. Out with Sarah and Beatrice, 15 February.
2. Out with Beatrice, Chelsy Davy and Pippa Middleton, 17 February. Short skirts, all black, lather, rinse, repeat. Snooze.

Photos: Eroteme.co.uk/Splash News/Daily Mail

Week in Review: Princess Beatrice, 13-19 February

Here's what Beatrice wore from 13-19 February:

1. Out with Sarah and Eugenie, 15 February.
2. Out with Eugenie, Chelsy Davy and Pippa Middleton, 17 February. I think I might like this little vest thing she's working here. Hmm...

Photos: O'Rourke/Splashphotos.com/Daily Mail

Week in Review: Crown Princess Victoria, 6-12 February

Here's what Victoria wore from 6-12 February:

1. Visiting the Stockholm City Mission, 10 February. This is quite classy, but I can't help but feel we're seeing a whole lot of this kind of thing lately. Boring!

Photos: ANP

Week in Review: Princess Mathilde, 6-12 February

Here's what Mathilde wore from 6-12 February:

1. Visiting the 'Ecole des 4 vents' school, 11 February. We saw this in September, though she's opted for different stockings and shoes this time. This is one NATAN dress that I really like (for a change!).

Photos: Isopix

Week in Review: Crown Princess Mary, 6-12 February

Here's what Mary wore from 6-12 February:

1. Out and about with the family, 12 February. Somebody's looking back to pre-twins form already!

Photo: Billed-Bladet

Week in Review: Princess Máxima, 6-12 February

Here's what Princess Máxima wore the week of 6-12 February:

1. Attending a Women in Financial Services meeting, 7 February. In the photos where this looks more red than brown, I like it (with the exception that the stockings, which are overkill on the monochrome theme).
2. Opening the Produs praktical education school, 8 February. This sleeveless dress is a repeat. Cute and flattering!
3. At the Goed Geld Gala (Good Money Gala) of the Nationale Postcode Loterij, 9 February. Oh, this might be the chicest daywear I've seen Máxima in since I started this blog.
4. Visiting the closure of the BizWorld project at the Christoffel school, 10 February, a) with her wrap and b) inside without. This is a NATAN top, Mathilde has the same one in different colors, and we just saw Máx's red version last month. With the wrap, it's a whole lot of beige, but I like it without.
5. Attending the signing of one of the agreements between Qredits and the European investment foundation EIF, 11 February. Oh, dear. More thoughts below.

Best and Worst of the Week

Let's start with the worst, shall we?

It's like she took every sartorial complaint I've ever had about her and mashed it into one train wreck outfit! We've got tights that are color-matched to the outfit (such a pet peeve of mine, especially when we're not talking about black-on-black). We've got shoes that don't go with the outfit and are totally wrong for the tights. We've got messy hair, and last but not least, we have curiously overgrown jewelry. And it's a shame, too: on its own, that dress is quite flattering. Thankfully, she also showed us the other end of the spectrum in the same week:

No overly opaque stockings, no messy hair, no excessive accessorizing. All together, an outfit worthy of jumpy claps. What say you, my sartorial-minded friends?

Photos: PPE/Dutch Photo Press

Week in Review: Catherine Middleton, 6-12 February

Here's what Catherine Middleton wore the week of 6-12 February:

1. Lunching with Camilla, 9 February, a) on Kate and b) from Diane von Furstenberg.

I've heard a lot of different opinions on this, ranging from "stylish" to "OMGGTGASASAP!" (Translation: OMG get this girl a stylist ASAP! I speak fluent acronym.) Me? I'm just...bored. Criminally boring, that's my verdict: same old makeup, hair worn down again, yet another dress, yet another jacket thrown on top, same old boots. At this point, I just want to see something different. Anything different will do, even if it's total fug. Et toi, my lovelies?

Photos: Daily Mail/Ikon Pictures

Week in Review: Grand Duchess Maria Teresa, 6-12 February

Here's what Grand Duchess Maria Teresa wore the week of 6-12 February:

1. New pictures released for the Grand Duke and Grand Duchess's 30th wedding anniversary. Aw.
2. At a Social Business workshop at the University of Luxembourg, 9 February. I'm glad to see Maria Teresa out and about after the Grand Duke's health scare. I think this is classy and flattering.

Photos: Michel Burmat/University of Luxembourg/Cr gr ducale

Week in Review: Charlene Wittstock, 6-12 February

Here's what Charlene Wittstock wore the week of 6-12 February:

1. Giving a newspaper interview at the start of her visit to South Africa, 10 February. (All pics this week from the South Africa visit!)
2. Race awards and fundraiser, 10 February. It's not black! Look, she's so excited, she's doing a little dance there.
3. Special Olympics charity fundraising breakfast, 11 February. I thought this was important to view from different perspectives, so you can see the bag (which makes a cute overall look) and the lace panels on the back, too.
4. At the opening of the Nelson Mandela Intimate Moments Exhibition, 11 February. In some pics, this looks like a jumpsuit, but here it's looking like a dress. Please, please, let it be a dress.
5. Swimming the Midmar Mile charity event, 12 February. For once, an outfit no one can say doesn't fit her swimmer's body! Ha!

Best and Worst of the Week

So much to talk about this week, right? Topic #1: the jeans. Full disclosure, I don't like skinny jeans ever (pretty much), and I didn't like them this week. Also, how are we feeling about jeans at these "official" events? Nice compromise, considering she's not the Princess of Monaco yet and so this was a more casual visit, or too informal?

Topic #2: color! Finally! That's why the red number gets the title of Best of the Week for me, skinny jeans and all.

Topic #3: as always, dressing a swimmer's body. We always seem to come back to this, no matter what she wears. I have to say, this is where the skinny jeans fall apart for me: the lower half needs to balance the top half. This is also where the evening outfit of the week falls apart for me, and why it gets my Worst of the Week title. Well, that plus the fact that I want to hike the dress up. And for the reasons you can see clearly in the close up shot: hair (okay, Victoria's ponytails get a pass compared to this) and the bodice. Yes, that's her skin peeking through there. No thank you.

Photos: Life/Zimbio/Getty/Looklocal

Week in Review: Princess Madeleine, 6-12 February

Here's what Princess Madeleine wore the week of 6-12 February:

1. Strolling with boyfriend Chris O'Neill in New York City. I think this was actually taken before this week. Not that it matters, she probably wears this uniform about every day in chilly NYC.

Photo: Svenskdam

Week in Review: Princess Letizia, 6-12 February

Here's what Princess Letizia wore the week of 6-12 February:

1.  Celebrating the 25th anniversary of Prince Felipe taking his oath as Prince of Asturias, 8 February, a) outside with coat and b) inside without. I really think outfits #2 and #1 should have been swapped for formality's sake.
2. Visiting the Cadena Cope radio station in Madrid, 9 February, a) outside and b) inside. Again? I seriously had to triple check and make sure this was a different event. If she wears this one again next week, I'm naming it worst no matter what else she sports, even though I like it.
3. Greeting the German president and first lady, 10 February.

Best and Worst of the Week

I'm a sucker for purple. I like to think she knew she'd be featured in endless "style face-off" articles next to Bettina Wulff there, and she stepped up her regular gray just for the occasion. She didn't abandon it, no, that would have been too much to ask, but a dash of color does go a long way. The first outfit of the week, on the other hand just needed a dash of...something. A belt on the cardigan? A blazer instead? Just something to make her look less like a school teacher and more like a princess. Right?

Photos: Zimbio/Getty/Purepeople/Abaca

Week in Review: Princess Letizia, 30 January - 5 February

Here's what Princess Letizia wore the week of 30 January - 5 February:

1.  Audiences at Zarzuela Palace, 31 January. Bling on the cardigan? I like it. But not the oxford shoes, I'm afraid.
2. Opening the European year for volunteering, 1 February, a) with coat and b) without.
3. Visiting an education center in Madrid, 2 February, a) with coat and b) without. Update: eagle-eyed reader Alex points out this jacket is from Belstaff!
4. Attending the Luz Casal concert, 4 February. SHOOTIES. Also, leather. Or pleather. Or both.

Best and Worst of the Week

Really, I'm naming Felipe worst of the week here. This is one awkward outfit. These two take on many different roles, but rock star should not be one of them. Trying too hard. I much prefer the gray.


Photos: Purepeople/Abaca/Getty/Zimbio