Royal Style: Spring Forward! Bling Forward, too..

[Maireas]

Welcome to style mavens old and new to continue our chats.
Hopefully more bling if there's another banquet on the horizon?

@locketrocket sorry for your loss. 💐

@therealslimjeffy thanks for your words (and the flowers.) It’s almost three years ago that dad died so no longer a recent loss. But Mum is still here now with advanced dementia - I get a lot of support from the Cockroach cafe thread on the Elderly Parents board if anyone here is also dealing with the decline of parents and the issues that presents.

Anyway back to royal style. Sophie went to Belfast. I am not necessarily loving the burgundy and brown together or the skirt and jacket both being quite voluminous but she looks radiant and like she really made everyone’s day. I love the applause she is giving the young dancer.

Ah, a double breasted jacket! This one actually isn't too bad, the fit is ok. Like Choux I'm not sure about the skirt with it, but she's obviously having a break from the patterns. Nice event.

Gosh Sophie is a busy bee. Another Anne.

I hope Edward is recovering. So many nasty lurgies about. I'm hoping going into spring they fade away.

Leti at a Rare Diseases Day event meeting sufferers and their families. I really like her outfit and shoes especially the colours and the blouse is interesting at the neckline but without a pussy now. Good that she is managing a low heel given her foot issues.

https://www.queenletiziastyle.com/blog/queen-letizia-revisits-her-teal-paul-smith-pantsuit-to-mark-world-rare-disease-day
Thanks, @Choux - a few more details about Leti's outfit. She seems to favouring this shade of green. It's a Paul Smith suit, which doesn't drown her, fairly slim fitting. I agree that she's finding some good, low heeled shoes, these are Magrit. I'm just wondering about the length of the trousers with them?
Hugo Boss blouse, one of her favourites.

@locketrocket 💐

Leti looks good and I love that photo of Sophie with the Labrador. She's not always the most stylish dresser, but she radiates warmth and her hair and makeup are very pretty.

Sympathy to you @locketrocket on the loss of your beloved mother 💐

I am constantly fascinated with the Japanese Royal family. Its like they are stuck in a 1950s time warp! Princess Kako seems to be trying to be a bit more up to date, her hat/headpiece is more modern. But Princess Aiko is wearing a frilly suit that looks like its been borrowed from the depths of Princess Annes wardrobe! And not in a good way!

https://www.thecourtjeweller.com/2026/03/classic-imperial-brooches-to-celebrate-the-emperor-of-japans-birthday.html#more-67433

Oh my goodness, that's so true about Princess Aiko, in fact I think Anne does have a frilly yellow number. Princess Kako looks nice, and although I don't really like the damask fabric, the Empress looks elegant.

Great description @Chesticles😀

Yes, I think Anne wore something similar to Charles and Diana's wedding?

I don't really like the old-fashioned clothes the Japanese royals favour but we need to know about their skincare routine as Masako is over 60 but has the skin of someone 20 years younger!

https://www.hellomagazine.com/royalty/20080721209928/princess-anne-dress/
Here it is, Deftly.
Plus she's worn it a few times since

The Japanese are like identikit royals. All the ladies holding gloves and fans exactly the same way, the brooches in near identical placement and pearls a go go on everyone. I can just imagine the oyster coloured tights and court shoes we can’t see.

The men all have similar three pointed pocket squares (is that the name?) and the younger ones have matching curtain hairstyles.

It's a very traditional society, isn't it?

Yes even down to the only daughter not being able to inherit the throne so it will pass to the emperor’s brother instead. 😡

And once a princess marries she loses her title, like the Emperor's sister and the Crown Prince's other daughter.

Another thing the Japanese royals have is longevity - the former Emperor is over 90 and three of his siblings are still alive too. And his uncle, Emperor Hirohito's younger brother, lived to over 100 and only died in 2016!

Thank you all for being so lovely.

I’m going to the ballet for the first time tonight - so excited and will definitely be wearing mum (iykwim)

Now to catch up on fashion matters 😊

Sophie - not sure on the colour combination, but I like the styling.
Leti - very stylish. Although I do wonder how kitten heels are supportive. I find them harder to walk in than stilettos. Maybe a block heel or wedge could mix things up (perhaps a cheeky espadrille 😉😆)
Aiko - my mum had some curtains like that 🤣

Enjoy the ballet! 🩰

This is exactly what I think of Sophie's style. Some of her outfits when she was younger were very stylish though - especially evening stuff. Years ago I brought my dds to the museum of costume (?) in Bath and one of Sophie's wedding outfits was displayed - it was tiny!

I felt sorry for Sophie when I watched her and Edward’s wedding. Her tiara was distinctly unimpressive and the top of her dress was quite ill-fitting, especially on the shoulders. She was very pretty though - still is.

I didn't watch the wedding, but I don't feel sorry for Sophie. The dress was her choice, I'm guessing? She looks lovely in the photo and very happy. I think that the tiara was a gift from the late Queen and has subsequently been blinged up a bit!

I think Sophie’s tiara is not that much smaller than the one Kate wore. Sophie is wearing it a long way back on her head though which makes the veil barely visible.

Her dress is actually a coat with another dress underneath. The coat has a deep v at the front and a scooped back so the shoulders are floating and moving a bit. What we have never seen is the full dress underneath - to not be visible under the neckline of the coat I think it might be strapless. (There appears to be a sleeve visible inside the fluted sleeve as well which could be just a modesty feature so her whole arm isn’t visible when she holds Edward’s hand and the sleeve doesn’t fall back when she waves)