Hereditary Grand Duchess Stéphanie's Fashion & Style, Part 1: Oct. 2012 - April 2013

[SLV]

Originally Posted by dazzling

She is wearing the Nassau Sapphire Tiara.

That is a wonderful nod towards the Dutch Royal Family. They are Orange-Nassau afterall. :-)

[Terri Terri]

Originally Posted by NGalitzine

I agree, but I expect pretty soon to read posts saying "she is an aristocrat, a Conservative Catholic, still getting over her mothers death, not interested in being a royal clothes horse blah lah blah" to explain how this was a really good choice by Stephanie.

I agree. So many excuses are made for Stephanie when her outfits are clearly not the best fitting or make her look older than her years. For comparison, just look at the comments attributed to the Crown Princess of Norway who has dressed almost as badly as Stephanie recently. But of course, the crown princess wasn't born an aristocrat!!

[GracieGiraffe]

From the commentary, I thought that the gown would be far, far worse. It's not my favorite, but not horrible.

I feel quite sorry for her with all of these shawls - she is like me, thin blooded and cannot stand the cold. I'd thrown on a blanket if I was cold, never mind the fashion..

[Moonmaiden23]

You know, I wish certain of you people would cut out the snide "aristocrat" crap. It's not only annoying as hell it is untrue and unfair. For example nobody runs to the Duchess of Cambridge threads and insinuates that Kate flashes her thong because she's a commoner, or that Mette-Marit dresses badly because she's common. So why do you keep coming here with that garbage??

Stephanie dresses the way she does because she does not have an instinct for fashion. PERIOD. She is finding her way. PERIOD. Not because of who her parents are or because she is Catholic or because she is mourning her mother still... which by the way she is.

She has been on the Royal scene for six months. When she has been married for 13 years like Mette-Marit and still looks like a depressed hillbilly I'll declare open season on her.

Got it?

For the record I don't think she was best dressed at the dinner gala nor worst. I liked the dress much better than the tiara she wore.

[suztav]

Originally Posted by kathia_sophia

I really dislike this dress, it looks Plastic and Tacky. Its a disappointment for a Elie Saab dress...

Agree! I can't believe that Saab would have recommended this dress for this occasion.

[cepe]

Prince Albert II Of Monaco Her Royal Highness Crown

A better photo which shows that the shawl was chiffon so I take back what I said about not wearing an evening wrap. The dress looks "sea green" now to me. But am I alone in thinking that her hair is a lot darker?

[Moonmaiden23]

No cepe you are NOT alone. It is very unflattering, isn't it? It looks dirty.

[princess carmen]

I think she may have chose the dress to match with the tiara.

[dbarn67]

Must be me but I think she looks lovely. Not the best dress but certainly not terrible.

[Moonmaiden23]

I think she looks beautiful too dbarn67. I don't like her hair and I think she could have done a better job with her makeup, but overall I think she looks great.

[roseroyal]

Is it just me, or is that dress made out of tinfoil?

[Avicenna]

Originally Posted by HereditaryPrincess

I quite like Stephanie's dress, the colour is nice and I think that the shawl is practical for when she's outdoors, as it might be cold (I don't live in Amsterdam and I don't know what the evening weather's like, so I'm just guessing here). I also think that this shade of blue suits her. The only thing I don't like about her outfit is the tiara.

The shawl was used outside AND inside. On the bottom of the Daily Mail article you can see the back of Stephanie during dinner ... WITH shawl. If she is freezing this much, I'd recommend a long sleeved dress.

Charles attends Queen's abdication party... but unfortunately for him it's not his mother! European Royals at ball to celebrate Beatrix of Holland before her resignation tomorrow | Mail Online

[Moonmaiden23]

Originally Posted by roseroyal

Is it just me, or is that dress made out of tinfoil?

It's just you. Eli Saab doesn't make tinfoil dresses.

[Daria_S]

Originally Posted by roseroyal

Is it just me, or is that dress made out of tinfoil?

Heaven forgive me, but no, you're not alone. I think Stephanie has a lot of potential as a person and royal, but in this case, a little less sparkle would have done wonders. She may not ever be a fashion icon, and that's fine. Maybe that'll help get better promotions for her charities, and if she's comfortable around children, she may very well be choosing what she's choosing so that she could bend down, and not feel restricted. I give her props anyway, because in many ways, I dress to be comfy also.

[Mariel]

I am amazed to have so few agree with me that Stephanie looked regal in that dress and tiara, and Guillaume looked proud as a peacock. It seems odd that Stephanie is criticized for being too casual or sloppy in her "pants and tops" outfits, or her wrinkled pink skirt, and then when she really goes regal she is also said to have bad taste in clothes. The only slight criticism I have is that, yes, the dress does actually reflect the red carpet she's walking on, it's that shiny. But I think shiny is fine for this kind of occasion.
She has been criticized for wearing this sea green color before, at the Habsburg wedding, but I think it her best pastel color (I love her in dark colors most of the time). It brings out the joy in the Nassau sapphire tiara--perfect, not too "tall" not too ostentatious, just perfect.
Keep grinning, Guillaume, you got the prize!
Anyway, I grew up in a ballet school so maybe I am just fascinated with glitter when it is done right. Especially the neckline is elegant.

[Frelinghighness]

Looks like what Catherine Zeta Jones wore in Chicago. More like a costume than a dress.
Her hair is not styled well for the tiara which looks interesting to me.

[casualfan]

I love her dress! It's lively and plays very well with her eyes. The lightness of the color is probably what makes her hair look darker.

[Baroness of Books]

I was all prepared to avert my eyes in horror when I read the comments and clicked on the photos, but I liked what Stephanie wore! Maybe it was a bit glittery, but the aqua was beautiful, so was the style of the dress and that tiara was smashing with a good tiara updo. So appropriate for the grandness of the occasion. I didn't see anything wrong with the color of her hair; perhaps because it was styled up or due to the lighting it looked darker. In this case, I can see her wearing a light shawl over her bare shoulders since the venue may have been chilly.

And Guillame looked very happy to have his lovely wife on his arm.

[Moonmaiden23]

Join the club BoB. From reading the comments I was prepared to see an outfit that Cher would have worn circa 1975...but I think Stephanie's gown was beautiful and glamorous, perfectly appropriate.

As usual I did not like her accessories and I wish to heaven she would cut it with the silly shawls. Her makeup also needed to be more intense. But overall I thought she looked great. Sea green is her color, and it went perfectly with the Nassau tiara.

She did not embarrass herself, far from it.

[denice]

Originally Posted by Baroness of Books

I was all prepared to avert my eyes in horror when I read the comments and clicked on the photos, but I liked what Stephanie wore! Maybe it was a bit glittery, but the aqua was beautiful, so was the style of the dress and that tiara was smashing with a good tiara updo. So appropriate for the grandness of the occasion. I didn't see anything wrong with the color of her hair; perhaps because it was styled up or due to the lighting it looked darker. In this case, I can see her wearing a light shawl over her bare shoulders since the venue may have been chilly.

And Guillame looked very happy to have his lovely wife on his arm.

I like her outfit. She looks good in sparkly!