Belgium's King and Queen Host New Year's Reception for NATO Representatives

Queen Mathilde is wearing a dress from the Belgian fashion house Natan. Armani earrings

On the occasion of the New Year, King Philippe and Queen Mathilde of Belgium hosted a New Year’s reception at the Château of Laeken on January 14, 2025. The event welcomed the NATO Secretary General, permanent representatives, members of the International Secretariat, military representatives of NATO, and general officers of SHAPE. Belgium's Queen Mathilde is wearing a dress from the Belgian fashion house Natan. The Queen also wore this dress at the New Year’s reception in 2020.

Queen Mathilde is wearing a dress from the Belgian fashion house Natan. Armani earrings

Queen Mathilde is wearing a dress from the Belgian fashion house Natan. Armani earrings

Queen Mathilde is wearing a dress from the Belgian fashion house Natan. Armani earrings

Queen Mathilde is wearing a dress from the Belgian fashion house Natan. Armani earrings

Queen Mathilde is wearing a dress from the Belgian fashion house Natan. Armani earrings

Queen Mathilde is wearing a dress from the Belgian fashion house Natan. Armani earrings
31 Comments

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  1. Anonymous14/1/25 22:48

    That dress is one of the best , the color, style . Queen Mathilde looks perfect.
    Ava

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  2. Anonymous14/1/25 22:58

    Queen Mathilde looks gorgeous !!

    I like everything : the hairdo, earrings, dress, shoes. 100/100.

    -Astrid.

    ReplyDelete
  3. Anonymous14/1/25 23:00

    I prefer this hairdo. May she keeps it.

    ReplyDelete
  4. Anonymous14/1/25 23:13

    I like Queen Mathilde’s updo and earrings. I’m struggling to find positives for the dress. I quite like the pattern but the uneven hem isn’t deep enough and looks like it’s just badly finished. The fabric looks shiny and stiff and the dress is not a flattering cut for the Queen.
    AnnieM

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    Replies
    1. Anonymous15/1/25 03:59

      With you on the dress Annie. The queen is beautiful but it’s despite the dress. I don’t particularly like the neckline for Mathilde nor whatever the designer has tried to do around the waistline. A soft draping material could have worked for this style but the typical crunchy stiff heavy Natan material does not show her beauty as it could. I fail to see the Natan attraction and hope to see Mathilde in a much broader range of designers in the future: soft materials suit her gentleness and beautiful skin so much better in my opinion.

      Delete
    2. Anonymous15/1/25 06:48

      I actually think the dress has some redeeming qualities. The pattern is quite striking, and I feel like the cut might have been intentional, even if it doesn't flatter everyone. The fabric’s sheen gives it a certain regal vibe, though I can understand why it might feel a bit stiff in this case. Still, I think it is the right styling, and works overall!

      Delete
    3. Anonymous16/1/25 20:12

      I have seen a close up of the fabric. It is embroided with crystals or rhine stones. This cannot be done on a very soft fabric. Besides once the majority are reading the name of Natan automatically they say the material is stiff and heavy. Did you touch this material ? How can you know it is heavy and stiff ? Some silk materials are bit heavier than other ones. What if Queen Mathilde likes these materials ? Oh yes another complaint on Natan is that the fabric is shiny. If you don't like shiny materials you never can wear silk.The queen wore this dress on the new years reception of 2020, but the dress itself is older than 5 years. She wore it for the first time on a state visit in 2018. I think it is still a beautiful dress in a beautiful fabric and colours. The only thing I would have change is the hemline. I like the fact that as well as Queen Maxima, Queen Mathilde has made her Natan dresses longer lately and that she still wears them regularly.

      Delete
    4. Anonymous17/1/25 09:53

      @ 03:59
      If you are following Queen Mathilde since a long time, you should know she wears clothes from a wide range of designers in all kind of materials : Bernard De Poorter, Giorgio Armani, Armani Privé, Esmeralda Amoun, Christian Dior, Jenny Packham, Claes Iversen, Meer Couture, Safiya, Costarellos, Giambattista Valli, Oscar de la Renta, Erdem and much more. She also wears Belgian brands which are not haute couture but very lovely and not cheap like Caroline Biss, Marie-Méro, Essentiel Antwerp .... and even cheap brands like Zara sometimes. Many of these brands made dresses for her in very soft materials since you find it so much better for the queen, but then many of you found other details which could not be appreciated. Maybe you belong to the category of people who only like the way Queen Mary is dressed (too much of the same old brands and styled very British); Princess Kate (almost always British brands and always too long); Queen Letizia of Spain (often in street style brands, sometimes in haute couture, the same brands are coming back regularly. Since she cannot wear high heels anymore her dresses and coats are too long)

      Delete
  5. This dress looks lovely, the colors are very attractive. Her hair, makeup, earrings and especially the shoes! gorgeous.

    ReplyDelete
  6. Anonymous15/1/25 00:01

    The uneven hem ruins the dress. And wide skirt and tight top: it should be the other way round for her body type. Like that white top the other day, that was perfectly balancing thinner shoulders and wide hip. Not this dress.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Anonymous16/1/25 20:16

      One can hardly compare a new white top and skirt with a dress made in 2018. If she should wear each time something new you would have criticism too.

      Delete
  7. Anonymous15/1/25 00:44

    I like this style of this dress, except for the uneven hem. The queen look gorgeous. Great colour on her, love the shoes.

    ReplyDelete
  8. Anonymous15/1/25 01:11

    Very fetching look for the queen…love her elegant hairstyle!

    ReplyDelete
  9. Anonymous15/1/25 02:34

    Queen Mathilde looks lovely here--I especially love this up-do. I have 2 problems with her dress: 1) the uneven hemline--sorry, not fan of the style-- and 2) while the colors of the dress are wonderful for Mathilde I also don't like this super stiff fabric--a softer fabric would have added some elegant softness to her overall look.

    Janet

    ReplyDelete
  10. Anonymous15/1/25 07:13

    Queen Mathilde's green embroidered dress of 5 years ago is still very beautiful. I had made the hemline even. But that is my personal taste. Her new earrings by G. Armani, the wine red clutch by D. Von Furstenberg and the wine red shoes by C. Dior are perfect. Now that Queen Mathilde's hair is a bit longer she doesn't need to wear hairpieces in her neck. The updo can be made with her own hair.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Anonymous16/1/25 14:33

      Queen Mathilde’s green embroidered dress remains stunning, even after all these years! The timeless elegance of that design is hard to beat. As for her accessories, I love the wine red accents you mentioned; they complement the outfit perfectly and add a lovely pop of color. I also think her longer hair looks gorgeous now, and it’s great that she can style it in a way that feels more natural without relying on hairpieces. It’s wonderful to see her embracing a more effortless, yet still refined, look!

      Delete
  11. Anonymous15/1/25 08:50

    This must be one of her worst choices ever.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Anonymous15/1/25 10:57

      ????? ah, you are probably the "always unsatisfied" of the blog.

      Delete
    2. Anonymous15/1/25 11:50

      Huh??

      Delete
    3. Anonymous15/1/25 11:58

      Sans nom 10 : 57
      Vous aimez cette robe, très bien, tant mieux pour vous. Acceptez que d'autres soient d'un avis contraire et puissent l'exprimer. Est-ce dramatique de dire qu'on n'aime pas une robe ? Est-ce la fin du monde ?
      Chacun ses goûts. Moi non plus je n'aime pas cette tenue. Je pense que d'autres vêtements et d'autres couleurs lui vont mieux.
      Il me semble qu'il y a quand même des choses plus graves actuellement.
      Faut-il se taper dessus pour des avis différents ?
      Chacun donne son avis, rien de plus.
      Belle journée. Paloma.

      Delete
    4. Anonymous15/1/25 15:51

      10.57 Yes, and this individual consistently comments negatively on each post. What is the reason for their repeated return to this platform?

      Delete
    5. Anonymous15/1/25 21:00

      10:57 agree. This appears to be the same person who writes a short negative one liner and never explains why or offers anything interesting for other comments.

      Delete
  12. Ladyofthemanor15/1/25 09:19

    Queen Mathilde looks beautiful and I like the colour and pattern of the dress.
    There comes a day also in the life of a designer dress when it it ok to have it redone. Just look at Queen Mary´s many altered design dresses. I really think this dress should have its hemline redone. It would be a lovely dress if the hem was even.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Anonymous15/1/25 17:07

      You always make these nicest statements, which I agree with. I will add it has the ‘50’s vibe which the fabric gives the shape without a crinoline.

      Delete
  13. Beaucoup d'allure dans cette robe ; j'aime bien le choix de son clutch qui reprend la couleur Bordeaux d'un des motifs comme ses chaussures !

    ReplyDelete
  14. Anonymous15/1/25 14:26

    I'm not a fan of this dress. Such colorful floral fabrics are suitable for other occasions - for example: garden parties, cocktail parties and the like. Among all the people and NATO representatives (many in uniform), the Queen looks like a colorful parrot among swallows. Did she want to attract all attention like this? Was that her intention?
    I don't mean that she should wear dark, no. The colors in generally are fine. But my feeling about this dress is: it's too much.
    The fabric is shiny, it seems heavy to me (Is it brocade?) A straight hem would be nicer.

    Her hair and makeup are excellent.

    The pumps look beautiful, but why those killer high heels? 10 centimeters are too, 6 centimeters would be just right for woman of her height. This way - perhaps instinctively she hunches a little - which is especially visible in the photo with her husband - it's not good for the spine.
    Stephanie

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Anonymous16/1/25 06:17

      You are always so "positive" about Queen Mathilde.

      Delete
    2. Anonymous16/1/25 07:02

      The Queen's choice of a bold, colorful dress could certainly be seen as a statement, but it’s also possible she chose it to stand out in a crowd of formal uniforms and dignitaries. She has often used fashion as a tool for communication, and sometimes vibrant colors and patterns serve to express confidence and individuality.

      As for the fabric, brocade can indeed be heavy, but it also has a rich texture and sheen that makes it suitable for formal occasions. A straight hem might have given it a more streamlined look, but perhaps the designer aimed to create something with a little more movement and flair. As for the heels, while they do seem high, they might be a stylistic choice to elongate the figure, though I agree, comfort and posture should always be a priority. Ultimately, it's about her personal style, and she’s always been known for making bold choices.

      It’s refreshing to hear that you appreciate her hair and makeup, though! She really does have an impeccable sense of polish.

      Delete
  15. Anonymous15/1/25 19:45

    Great look for Q Mathilde. Also, like her updo.
    css

    ReplyDelete
  16. Anonymous16/1/25 15:58

    This is an “artsy” queen, she isn’t your run-of-the-mill person. She loves music, and, as we all know, she sponsors more art and music organizations than the average royal. Not saying this as a criticism of the others - diversity is excellent. The reason for this diatribe is to make an argument for her artsy dress for an event hosted for the military. She is who she is and this outfit shows exactly her personality whilst being appreciative of the importance of NATO’s role and the festive occasion.

    L-M

    ReplyDelete

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