by Statement suits by day, sparkly ballgowns by night (and plenty of polka dots along the way) – that’s the tried and tested royal dressing formula, but it’s not just one reserved for the Princess of Wales.
This combination has served the woman who could well be dubbed Kate’s role model, Crown Princess Mary of Denmark, who, following the abdication of Queen Margaret II of Denmark to the throne on January 14, will become queen consort. of Denmark, replacing her husband, Crown Prince Frederick. the throne.
The promotion will mark the final step in her evolution from a flip-flop-clad Aussie girl to a polished and beloved public figure in Denmark (last week, a poll showed she was highly valued by 85 percent of Denmark’s population), figure well-regarded public. for her style trends, cleverly mixing Scandinavian brands (Gani, By Malene Birger, Ole Yde and Cecilie Bahnsen) with high street bargains and some huge investments (including at least six Chanel bags and a Hermès Birkin crocodile, reportedly valued $44,500).
Fashion designers love her; Erdem MoralÄ ± oÄŸlu has said that her “always looks modern and beautifully relaxed,” while Tommy Hilfiger has praised her “very sophisticated European style.” But it’s the Princess of Wales who could have been paying more attention. The pair share more than a bright brunette and a knack for sartorial looks, and the years have only cemented their double status. As the late Karl Lagerfeld said in 2010: “Kate is like a little sister to Mary.”
Like Kate, who is 10 years her junior, Australian-born Mary Elizabeth Donaldson had non-royal origins. When Mary met the Prince of Denmark in 2000, at the Slip Inn pub in Sydney, during the Summer Olympics, the future princess “was a girl who wore a T-shirt and shorts and was known for going barefoot,” as she put it. the Financial Times in 2022.
In 2003, she made headlines by kissing the prince in public for the first time, wearing baggy, worn jeans, a low-cut white knit top and flip-flops at the Tasmania Yacht Club. They were quickly banished to the back of the closet. In October of that year, she debuted her royal family-ready transformation with her engagement announcement outfit; a light brown knee-length dress by Danish designer Kenth Fredin. She completed the look with Valentino pumps and, most importantly, the 1.5-carat emerald-cut diamond and double ruby engagement ring (to which she has since added two diamonds). The following year, Danish designer Uffe Frank designed her six-meter-long ivory satin wedding dress.
But it was her wedding earrings, by Marianne Dulong, that offered the best insight into Mary’s style secret: the brand was co-founded by her longtime stylist, Anja Camilla Alajdi. Alajdi was said to be “upset” by speculation that she was taking the opportunity to promote her brand, and she reportedly said: “Did you think those things come together like that? Of course, the crown princess doesn’t wear jewelry she doesn’t like and she also matches it with all kinds of other brands. Georg Jensen, Ole Lynggaard Jewels CPH and many others.”
However, Alajdi can be credited, in part, for the high-low sartorial approach that Princess Mary has adopted, and has since become synonymous with the Princess of Wales. Mary’s wardrobe stats, according to the Royal Fashion UFO No More website, prove it: she owns at least 34 Hugo Boss shirts and 13 Zara shirts, which she matches with 18 Prada shirts and 47 dresses from the Italian fashion house. in his closet. Enter the former Duchess of Cambridge and expect to find suits from H&M or Zara along with many from Alexander McQueen.
Despite leaning towards high street shopping, Princess Mary maintains a great interest in sustainability; certainly when it comes to style decisions. She is a patron of Global Fashion Agenda, the Copenhagen-based NGO “with the ultimate vision of a fashion industry that is net positive for people and the planet.” She started working with him in 2009 and is a regular speaker at the Copenhagen Fashion Summit. Speaking in 2021, she doubled down on her support for reusing and buying second-hand, saying: “If you look at the way we consume fashion today, we are seeing a much larger market for second-hand, upcycled and upcycled clothing.” . …this is another value, because it tells the story of the product: who used it before, where it was, what its journey was.”
Although she has been praised for this green work, the royal came under fire in 2016 after the family Christmas stamp featured some members of her family, including some of her four children with Prince Frederik, wearing sealskins. PETA condemned them for “supporting [of] the horrible fur industry” and said “we have sent Crown Princess Mary a warm faux fur scarf.”
As the countdown to her new role continues, the question is whether Princess Mary will change her style accordingly once again. On New Year’s Eve, attending a banquet at Amalienborg Castle, Copenhagen, she certainly brought the glamor in her first public appearance since the announcement, wearing a billowing burgundy Birgit Hallstein gown. Whatever you wear, make sure the Princess of Wales takes note.
