State Visit from the Philippines: December 3-5, 2007 - Page 4

**Paty** · #61 12-04-2007, 05:22 AM

Nice photo

http://img526.imageshack.us/img526/2...40c39a4as4.jpg

Gallery ABC
Cena de gala en el Palacio Real en honor de la presidenta de Filipinas

Duke of Marmalade · #62 12-04-2007, 06:01 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by highpriestess

The skirt is a recycle but the top is new. This top matches this skirt better than the white satin blouse she wore in New York several years ago. But, I wouldn't design something so boxy and shapeless for Letizia. Letizia has curves on top but she doesn't have much curves at the waist/hip area. This top makes her look shapeless. I would have designed something showing her bust line such as a criss-cross design or a cinched waistline.

I agree with highpriestess regarding the top. It has no shape. I wonder if Letizia started wearing shapeless and badly cut clothes or emperor style to avoid a discussion about her weight. She is terribly skinny therefore it's good that the top has sleeves but it does show in her face, she looks older than her age and gauntly. Hairstyle, make up & tiara are lovely though. I am glad she chose this tiara. Sofia has two huge tiaras, loop & fleur de lys, they would look too big on Letizia. She probably won't wear them before becoming Queen Letizia anyway.

Regarding the skirt, I don't know what to say. Yes it's a pretty skirt (by Caprile) but yesterday it was being recycled for the fourth time. On the last occasions it has always been this mix and match with old skirts and new or altered or recylcled tops and not for the better but for the worse. I don't get the unability to provide a proper gala dress for Letizia. One phone call to Caprile would be enough and ask him to design a couple of nice gala dresses which can be recycled during the next 30 years as Princess or as Queen.

Talking of the Queen, she's flawless as most times. Not sure about Mrs Arroyo's gown, the sleeves are ugly.

**Paty** · #63 12-04-2007, 06:12 AM

lula · #64 12-04-2007, 06:26 AM

On the skirt, for my was evident that the Princess would use this skirt in this dinner.

This skirt follows the design and the embroideries of a " Mantón de Manila ", a type of very popular shawl in Spain, specially in Andalusia. These embroideries came to Spain from Asia across the trade with the Philippines when they were a Spanish colony, of there its denomination " of Manila ". It is one of the cultural elements that still today shows the link between both countries. So the choice of the skirt was not a chance.

http://e-encuentros.iespana.es/mant%...e%20manila.jpg
http://imagenes.solostocks.com/media...ia_1205889.jpg
http://image.blog.livedoor.jp/harana...1/2145a269.jpg

**Her_Majesty** · #65 12-04-2007, 06:28 AM

Queen Sofía looked stunning during this gala evening! She looked really elegant! Well, and the Tiara she wore is one of my favorites!

Oh and Letizia finally got a third Tiara. Good choice, IMO.
It looked great on her!
The skirt of her two-parts dress was beautiful! I'm not too fond of the top part of the dress.
But hey... a new Tiara!

Mahoogie · #66 12-04-2007, 06:42 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by BeautyLeonor

Yes, Isabel Preysler is curtseying to Prince Felipe
__________________
" *Love Is Like A Rose In Winter, Only The Strong Survives* My Favorite Rose: Felipe & Letizia"

oh I love Isabel Preysler!!!...She is the real epitome of class and beauty..She has five kids--( one of her babies is the hottie Enrique Iglesias )..despite of having five kids and her older age she manages to stay glamorous and sexy as always!!!!...Its soooo lovely to see her attending the Spanish Royal family's gala for our President..Its good to see that she never forgets her Filipino roots..

moby · #67 12-04-2007, 06:47 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Duke of Marmalade

Not sure about Mrs Arroyo's gown, the sleeves are ugly.

It's a traditional Filipiniana dress. There are variations of the Filipino national attire but the sleeves remain a distinct feature.

**Paty** · #68 12-04-2007, 07:04 AM

Belga Picture

BelgaPicture - Category details

Duke of Marmalade · #69 12-04-2007, 07:41 AM

Thanks for the background info lula & moby

Corbis has only one pic from the whole event
Corbis: photography, rights, motion.

biboquinhas · #70 12-04-2007, 07:43 AM

I think Letizia's skirt looked lovely with that silk blose she wear in New York but I don't like to see it with this white top!It doesn't macht at all with the skirt!!

carlota · #71 12-04-2007, 08:15 AM

it's not my favourite gala gown of hers but it definitely looks elegant and appropriate. the hairdo and make up are superb!

isabel preysler was there as well! i quite expected her. i have mixed feelings about her, but she also looked elegant, as ever, and most ladies need to take on her example to curtsy! that was a real, perfect curtsy to the prince and princess. esperanza aguirre also does it wonderfully. what a grace both ladies have! others, such as gallardon's wife, should really learn from them!

Mascha · #72 12-04-2007, 08:50 AM

**dazzling** · #73 12-04-2007, 09:32 AM

Lovely pictures everyone, thank you for sharing them. Queen & Letizia looked nice from day one though not too sure about Queens suit yesterday at the palace. How long from the welcoming ceremony to the palace meeting is it? Seems quite a a fair amount of time, since the queen was able to change.

The dinner, well, Queen sparkled in her lovely layerd black gown and the tiara really looked nice with it. Letizia looked lovely & finally a brand new tiara for her, she does know how to wear them well.

princess gertrude · #74 12-04-2007, 11:04 AM

I have to agree with many of you by saying that the top did not fit the skirt. The skirt is lovely and is a wonderful piece to recycle but I would love to see it with a different top. Just a thought here but, I would actually love to see an entire dress made from this fabric with the same simple design for Letizia.

Philippe Egalite' · #75 12-04-2007, 11:09 AM

My humble opinion about Letizia's gala appearance:
1. The make-up is soft-toned utterly refined
2. The shell-shape-with-pearls, low-height tiara is a masterpiece (who by??) and so are the matching earrings.
3. The white top is a "large fit" but, in disagreement with some esteemed discussants herein, I feel, it is right and compliments her due to her slim structure and the fabric's heaviness [does it have paillettes and rhinestones - couldn't tell exactly] and texture.
4. The skirt adds contemporary chic and mellows the severity of the black-white sharp contrast.

On the negative side:
Due to its size and the green-and-yellow/gold color-code, the decoration(?)/brooch(?) diminishes the drama and overall elegance. It should have been on the same scheme as the tiara and earrings.

A big "boo-boo":
The width of the red sash was extremely big and overwhelming [it should have been 30% narrower]. It made her look as if she never wore a sash before, much thinner than she really is, and diminished the overall effect.

Overall:
Outstanding appearance. It is sad though that, although it could easily have been perfect, it wasn't.
For the first time, in my eyes, she looked middle-aged. There is nothing wrong, of course, with being middle-aged but looking middle-aged before one's time is problematic.

Duke of Marmalade · #76 12-04-2007, 11:25 AM

[quote=Philippe Egalite';701030]

Quote:

The shell-shape-with-pearls, low-height tiara is a masterpiece (who by??) and so are the matching earrings.

It's Queen Sofia's Mellerio shell tiara. She gave it to Letizia for the first time last night. Some more info on this one and other spanish tiaras:
The Royal Scribe

Philippe Egalite' · #77 12-04-2007, 11:53 AM

Deeply appreciated Duke of Marmalade.
Actually, this is the only elegant exception among Spanish tiaras. All the others are and look byzantine/heavy/gaudy. Their huge size, height, angulated-pointed shape as well as daedal-baroque design somehow puts me off. The same is true, in my opinion, about the Bernadotte tiaras.
In contrast, it is hard to find an ugly tiara in the British Collection.