ROYAL FASHION
Looks From Around The Globe
When we think of the Royals it’s usually the British Royal family that comes to mind. The high-profile monarchy also attracts the most sensational headlines. Every event and public appearance is scrutinized. Kate Middleton and Meghan Markle, besides Queen Elizabeth, are the most famous, so it’s no wonder their style choices always garner attention. Did you know there is a list of rules and protocols the Royal Brits must follow? Dresses and skirts are knee-length, jeans are for casual events, natural-looking nails are expected, pantyhose is strongly encouraged, and coats are not removed in public. The Queen formally approves any wedding dress. Think of Diana, Kate, and Meghan waiting for a thumbs up. Hats and fascinators are a must, and it seems, the more peculiar, the better. Remember Princess Eugenie and Princess Beatrice at William and Kate’s wedding? But, royal fashion and rules are not exclusive to the House of Windsor. There are notable chic royals around the globe, and PROVOKR expands your royal horizons with an extended list.
Victoria, Crown Princess of Sweden, Duchess of Västergötland: She is the heir apparent to the Swedish throne as King Carl XVI Gustaf’s eldest child. The 43-year-old Princess (and mother of two) is active in children’s charities in Sweden, including her own, the Crown Princess Victoria Fund. It donates money to recreational activities for children with chronic illness. Most of her outfits are by Swedish designers, but she is also known to wear commercial brands such as COS and H&M. When she ascends to the throne, she will be Sweden’s fourth queen and the first since 1720.
Rania Al-Abdullah, Queen of Jordan: She was born in Kuwait, and after the 1991 Gulf War, she and her family fled to Amman, Jordan, where she met the then Prince Abdullah. Before meeting him, she worked at Citibank and Apple. In 1993, she married the now King of Jordan and is known as a progressive voice in the Arab world. Queen Rania is a powerful advocate for reform in education and public health, youth empowerment, and cross-cultural dialogue between the Western and Arab worlds. She is always stylish and adheres to strict Muslim guidelines wearing long sleeves and knee-length or longer skirts. One of her favorite designers is bespoke clothing designer-Hama Fashion.
Charlene, Princess of Monaco: She was born Charlene Wittstock and married Albert II, the reigning Prince of Monaco and head of the House of Grimaldi, in 2011. In 2014, she gave birth to twins Princess Gabriella and Prince Jacques. The 42-year-old Princess was born in Zimbabwe and later relocated to South Africa with her family and started her swimming career. She represented South Africa in the 2000 Summer Olympics in Sydney, Australia. Today her charity work revolves around sports, AIDS, and underprivileged children and has been associated with the Nelson Mandela Foundation. She chose Giorgio Armani as her wedding dress designer, and her wardrobe includes Christian Dior, Valentino, Ralph Lauren, AKRIS, Gucci, and others.
Charlotte Casiraghi: She does not use her royal title but is 11th in line to Monaco’s throne. Her mother is Caroline Princess of Hanover and her grandmother, Grace Kelly, the glamorous Hollywood film star, became Princess of Monaco by marrying Charlotte’s grandfather Prince Rainier III in 1956. Charlotte is married to Dimitri Rassam, son of the French actress Carole Bouquet, and they have a son who is 12th in line to Monaco’s throne. Charlotte also has a son from a previous relationship. She receives fanfare for her stunning good looks and fashion sense and has appeared on numerous magazine covers. Charlotte has also been the face of Gucci and Yves Saint Laurent. Designer Karl Lagerfeld was a close family friend. A skilled equestrian, she often accessorizes her white riding ensembles with Hermès.
Letizia, Queen of Spain: She came from a middle-class family and worked as a journalist for ABC, EFE, and was also a news anchor for CNN+ and Television Espanola. She married Felipe, the heir apparent to the throne, in 2002, and they have two daughters, Leonor and Sofia. When her father-in-law, King Juan Carlos, abdicated the throne in 2014, Letizia and Felipe became king and queen. She supports Spanish labels like Felipe Varela and fast-fashion from Zara and Mango. The Queen Letizia style blog (https://www.queenletiziastyle.com/blog) is a play by play of her whereabouts and personal fashion style.
Deena Al-Juhani Abdulaziz, Princess of Saudia Arabia: She’s a Saudi American business-woman and became a Saud’s House member after marrying Prince Sultan bin Fahd bin Nasser bin Abdulaziz in 1998. She said in an interview that she became interested in clothing after seeing a copy of Tatler, “I was studying every magazine from cover to cover, I was eager for everything related to fashion.” She owns two members-only stores called D’NA in the Middle East that cater to private clients. She is often seen at runway shows and is a supporter of young emerging designers. She was one of the first to buy Prabal Gurung and Jason Wu for her stores. The Princess also had a brief stint as editor in chief of Vogue Arabia.
Keisha Omilana, Princess of Nigeria: The model turned Princess was born in Inglewood, California. After moving to New York City to launch her modeling career, she found success with a series of brands including, L’Oreal, Maybelline, Revlon, CoverGirl, and Pantene. She also appeared in the film Zoolander. The Nigerian Princess didn’t know her husband’s royal background until two years into their relationship and only after meeting her future mother-in-law. Following their marriage, the pair established Wonderful Brand, a multifaceted media company, and in 2017, she founded a hair care line, A Crown of Curls.
Sirivannavari Nariratana Rajakanya, Princess of Thailand: She is the only daughter of King Maja Vajiralongkorn of Thailand and his second wife, with whom the king also had four sons. She loves fashion and is a designer under the Sirivannavari label. She is a fan of Chanel, Christian Dior, and Balmain. In 2007, Pierre Balmain invited her to present her fashion show in Paris. Her collection was a nod to her royal grandmother and a modern interpretation of traditional Thai clothing.
Royals worldwide use fashion to bring attention to a cause or an event they want to promote and sometimes to send a message. In 1994, Princess Diana, despite being separated from Prince Charles, broke royal protocol by attending a Vanity Fair party wearing an off the shoulder, form-fitting short black dress. It was dubbed the “revenge dress.” Do you ever wonder why Queen Elizabeth never dresses in neutral colors? Her attire is bright and noticeable from head to toe and according to the Queen’s boiographer she was quoted as saying, “I can never wear beige because nobody will know who I am.” In the documentary, The Queen at 90, daughter-in-law Sophie, the Countess of Wessex, said, “She needs to stand out for people to be able to say, “I saw the queen.”
