It really is the most wonderful time of the year, friends. Holidays, sure, whatever: I'm talking about the Nobel Prizes. Held in Sweden, the royal ladies treat it as the important event that it is and come out tiaras blazing. (The Nobel Peace Prize will get a set of events in Norway involving that royal family, but they never involve their tiaras, so...) The grand ceremony is on December 10th, and it's well past time to start getting excited. Today, as I grasp onto the hope that Victoria will pull out of her maternity style slump and wow me, we look back at her past efforts.
Victoria's been attending the Nobel festivities since she came of age, but it is her second appearance, rather than her first, that claims one of the most memorable slots. In 1997, Victoria was suffering from anorexia, and it had just been confirmed by the palace that she was seeking treatment. Those bad memories aside, that dress has always been a favorite of mine and she would have looked amazing in it at any size.
If it looks familiar to you, then I'm sorry to inform you that you have just been outed as a fan of The Princess Diaries, starring Anne Hathaway. No judgements.
By 2004, Victoria started to pull out of her prom gown phase and started to get some real princess flair going, trains and all. I'm not a huge fan of 2007 - can't we just leave the fading whatnot to tie-dye shirts and call it a day? - but 2005 and the famous 2006 gown are divine.
Like most, Victoria gets better with age. The only thing missing from her outfit of grape perfection in 2009 is a proper outing of the amethyst tiara, and everything about last year's Elie Saab still takes my breath away. You know my fingers and toes are crossed that she's convinced Mr. Saab to take a turn in maternity wear for this year.
Tiara tally! One appearance of the pitiful 18th Birthday Tiara, 2 of the Cut Steel Tiara (including probably the best showing of that tiara ever, last year), 2 of the Six Button Tiara, 3 of the Jeep headlights Four Button Tiara, and 4 for her trademark Baden Fringe Tiara. What do you think we'll see this year? I keep hoping that Queen Silvia will let her dig a little deeper into the family foundation and bring out something she's never worn before, or at least the Cameo Tiara again. There's a second tiara-filled Nobel event too that isn't covered above, so really you can pick two tiaras you'd like to see on dear Victoria.
What's your favorite year? Anybody want to start a tiara bet for this year?
