King Philippe and Queen Mathilde of Belgium are making a state visit to South Africa. On the 3rd day of their state visit to South Africa, Queen Mathilde visited the Emunesi Day Care Centre in Soweto. Afterwards, The King and Queen visited the Hector Pieterson Museum in Soweto. The King and Queen then visited Skate School in Johannesburg.
But what is this horror? What went through Mathilde's head. Come on! Irene
ReplyDeleteNothing, imo. It’s a nice dress.
DeleteIrene: What do you mean, the pictures of the exhibition? They are hardly to bear. e.
DeleteLol. I had the same reaction. Those sleeves!
DeleteMathilde has crossed that fine line. Please, royal ladies, just wear something modest/non-offensive & stop trying to impress everyone in every foreign country you visit - it's backfiring on you. |Melanie|
DeleteAnonymous 17:21. Of course I was referring to the dress. I would not criticize the photos or the subject of the visit. Irene
DeleteAbsolutely agree with you, Irene. My thought at the first pic was "Oh,no" and I just kept repeating it as I scrolled down Genuinely awful. The pattern is busy to start with but when you add in the variation of horizontal and vertical stripes; plus the sleeves. Just no!
DeletePS I like the shoes and the bag. The Queen looks tired in these photos. Quite a gruelling schedule for this visit, I imagine.
DeleteHow can you think about fashionchoices in that very special exhibition?
DeleteHmm, love the red shoe/bag accents but the dress design is too fussy and she seems way over dressed.
ReplyDeleteYes, It looks like an X- ray picture.No go Mathilde!
DeleteThis dress is most likely made from African fabric and ment as a homage. The design is not good. Puff sleeves in such a fabric is dreadful. With a waist in normal place, no tie belt and short straight sleeves this might have been quite nice
ReplyDeleteLadyofthemanor
Strange garment, makes ones eyes twirl in ones head. I like you Queen M, but really, what were you thinking? G & C
ReplyDeleteRed shoes and bag add a great pop of color. The print actually look authentic African, as opposed to the often-seen (on several royal ladies) print that is "almost" African-like. S.M.
ReplyDeleteI think Mathilde has chosen for a dress in wax fabrics, which are so typical for Africa. It's a nice gesture to the hosts. I like the print, colours and model
ReplyDeleteThats fashion diplomacy! Dress from Odile Jacobs, by the way.
ReplyDeleteanna e.
Yes, agreed.
Delete- Anon 9:13
Absolutely!! True dress diplomacy. Well done, Mathilde.
DeleteCH
And another thumbs up!
DeleteAlthough it is a lovely dress, I prefer the other dress in the same colors which has been made for Queen Mathilde by Odile Jacobs to wear when she was on state visit last year in the Democratic Republic of Congo. Just saw a video. When QM moves, it looks much better than on the pictures. I think it is also a design by Odile Jacobs. It is possible QM bought the fabric for this dress in Congo. I remember pictures where she and King Philippe where comparing pieces of fabric on a local market. The accessories go very well with the dress.
ReplyDeleteMathilde has dressed appropriately (style and fabric, I suspect a South African designer?) for the three visits of the day; but most of all I love the concern on her face as she listens to no doubt difficult history at the museum. Remember before you criticise, the clothes she wears are for the people she meets there, and she’ll have been advised on what to wear… she is not wearing these clothes for far away blog commenters who see her choices through their local fashion eyes. Let’s stay kind!
ReplyDeleteSo right. e.
Delete@Anon 17:27
DeleteI join in with your opinion and comments.
The fabric has a definite African vibe to it.
It fits in with the occasion and atmosphere and the Queen wears it well.
I’m surprised that the Queen didn’t wear more diamonds and other gems whilst in South Africa especially for the State dinner.
Diamonds are one of the top exports from South Africa to Belgium. Almost one quarter of its export trade to Belgium is with diamonds.
Eat your heart out dear Max.
Well said. I fully agree.
DeleteCH
@deadeggs. Q.Mathilde wore enough diamonds on the state banquet : diamond earrings and a diamond bracelet. She also wore a diamond brooch in the back of her hair. On these pictures you cannot see it. I saw it on a video. She has done this before, especially when she is on state visit in a country with a president and were is no queen who can wear a tiara.
Deletedefinitely not NATAN 😉
ReplyDeleteNot a fan of this dress, but blue is a great colour for Mathilde which she should wear more often. Much better than Orange, yellow or toxic green.
ReplyDeleteRomy B
Personally, I like her outfit....a little different but it suits her.
ReplyDeleteAgain and all over again: why do these western ladies feel the need to dress in the style of the African or Asian country they are visiting? “Out of respect” will be the answer again…. It looks stupid and it is stupid. Moreover, it is never the other way around! They never wear our style of clothes when visiting us. Stop it, it is not respectful but condescending.
ReplyDeleteElisabeth
Agree
DeleteB…s… , would you say the same if an African or Asian head of State (or wife of) would wear French couture on a state visit in Europe? Cut the cr.p please.
DeleteI am asking this question in all sincerity. So if an African head of state or the wife of an African head of state chose to wear Chanel in Paris or Valentino in Italy on a state visit is this the same thing you are accusing Mathilde of doing? Please don't say this does not happen because, case in point, Queen Rania of Jordan wears lots of European designers when in Europe but she is a Palestian who is the Jordanian queen. Is she required to wear only clothing that reflects her cultural heritage/ethnicity? What about the Empress of Japan? She wears western designers. Is she supposed to only wear kimonos when visiting European countries? Personally I think women like Queen Mathilde are paying homage to the beautiful fabrics and designs of her hosts. I have seen photos of CP Mary being presented with fabrics that were wrapped on her head and body by women of a host nation.
DeleteElisabeth, I totally agree. It is never the other way around. Royal ladies would never dress like this "back home". They try & impress their hosts; it's NOT working & looks ridiculous because the hosts know what she's attempting. Just be yourself & represent your country, they know she's not African. Big FAIL. |Melanie|
Delete@Anon 22.47: French couture or western dress in general is not even a very good example, as that style of dress is internationally worn, all over the world. But what if an African leader would come to the Netherlands, with his wife dressed in national farmer costume, wearing wooden shoes. It woulf feel like ridiculization. By the way, always the royal women try their hand on exotic dress, never their spouses.
DeleteElisabeth
Jolie tenue imprimée mais c'est la ceinture qui coupe trop la silhouette de Mathilde !
ReplyDeleteI love it that she dares to wear this very unusual but also very nice patterned dress. It suits her well.
ReplyDeleteThe combination with the blue earrings is quite good; shoes and bag could have been blue for me too, but that is a minor detail.
Mabel
I think that the fabric itself is a nod of respect to her SA hosts and I commend Mathilde for that. The fabric design though, (those long pointy triangles) tends to broaden the look of the wearer, and so, amongst other things, the puffy sleeves look even wider than they are. I think narrow sleeves would have looked better on her. Blue is definitely her colour, and the red highlites of clutch and shoes are perfect.
ReplyDelete- Anon 9:13
The pattern of the fabric is very busy, the fabric seems to be adding bulk. The puffed sleeves are also adding volume. The overall look is too much bulkiness.
ReplyDeleteBeautiful dress--the fabric is lovely. I think Mathilde looks good here except for those sleeves. Those sleeves almost have a life of their own! I really like the red accessories too.
ReplyDeleteJanet
Que c'est laid ces waxs... beurk
ReplyDeleteTell us how you really feel..
DeleteThis is not a style for Mathilde. Mabel or Laurentine would have chosen this css
ReplyDeletePost a Comment
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