Summer Make-Up Collections

Finally, details of the long awaited designer make-up collections are beginning to be available, as products start to be released around the world.

As I mentioned in a previous post, I am beyond excited for the new L'été Papillon de Chanel Collection to hit a store near me!

Described on the Chanel website as inspired "by the dazzling colours of butterflies", which allow to create "a joyful look for face and fingertips", with "electric shades and gleaming colours", this truly promises to be one splendid make-up collection.

 

Such brilliant shades are not normally up my beauty street, but with this collection I find myself mesmerised...I cannot wait for these beauties to be released in Italy - so much so that I'm considering ordering the nail polishes on eBay as I can hardly bear the wait! :)

 

The collection comprises 3 new Lèvres Scintillantes lip glosses (L-R in the above picture: #437 Eden, #377 Zéphyr, #427 Envolée, all limited edition), 4 new Inimitable Waterproof mascaras (again, all limited edition, three in various shades of aqua and blue: #37 Lime Light, #47 Aqua Blue, #57 Moon River, and one in a bright sunny yellow, #27 Zest).



L-R: Moon River, Noir, Aqua Blue, Lime Light and Zest

 

Plus, a limited edition Les Quatres Ombres in #44 Métamorphose, 6 new Stylo Eyeshadow pens (all limited edition...oh gosh, I'll end up spending quite a lot of money on this collection!), which you can see below:

 



L-R: #57 Black Stream, #07 Moon River, #27 Pink Lagoon, #47 Blue Bay (which looks particularly covetable to me!), #37 Jade Shore and #17 Cool Gold

 

Along with 2 new limited edition Rouge Coco Shine lipsticks in #467 Pygmalion and #457 Idylle, and a limited edition Stylo Yeux Waterproof in #57 True Blue (which you can all see in the first picture up top), the collection is completed by what are, in my opinion, the real gems, the items I'm most eagerly awaiting...of course, the nail polishes!

 

Specifically, 3 new limited edition (agh!! I need them!) nail polishes: #647 Lilis, #531 Azuré and (prettiest of them all, possibly) #657 Bel Argus.



2013 Opening of Parliament

Queen Elizabeth II opened Parliament today, the 60th State Opening of her reign. Quite the milestone, really!
Besides, the Prince of Wales, was in attendance as well, for the first time in 17 years, alongside his wife the Duchess of Cornwall, who attended for the first time, so it proved to be a rather glittering affair.

The Queen was wearing the white sequinned Angela Kelly gown which she first wore for her official Diamond Jubilee Portrait, plus Queen Victoria's pearl drop earrings and Jubilee necklace.

My favourite photograph, of the Queen wearing the George IV diadem.

 

 

The Duchess of Cornwall in the Greville honeycomb tiara, which she recently wore to the coronation of the new Dutch king and queen.

 

 

 

 

All photos from the Daily Mail.

The Coronation of King Willem-Alexander of the Netherlands

Of course, I cannot let myself pass by this excellent opportunity for a spot of royals-watching.
After all, it's not everyday that we get to witness a coronation!

But let's proceed in good order. First, we must remember that the coronation which took place on 30 April came about after the abdication of Queen Beatrix (now HRH Princess Beatrice of the Netherlands,  Princess of Orange-Nassau, Princess of Lippe-Biesterfeld), which was announced on 28 January 2013, a move not unusual among the Dutch royal family.

This of course means that her firstborn son, the then Prince Willem-Alexander, became king, in a spectacular ceremony complete with river pageant, which saw a vast reunion of crowned heads, among them even the reclusive Princess Masako of Japan.

But let's not beat about the bush and have a look at the stunning dresses and jewels on display for such a rare royal occasion!

The new king and queen.

Queen Maxima is wearing a royal blue gown and cape by Dutch designer Jan Taminiau.

 

The queen wearing the Mellerio sapphire tiara, an impressive piece part of the Dutch royal collection, featuring 655 South African diamonds and 33 stunning Kashmir sapphires, the real beauties here, and perfectly matched to the gown she was wearing.

 

Then a few of my favourite looks from the coronation: the Duchess of Cornwall in Bruce Oldfield with Philip Treacy hat; the Prince of Wales with the sash of the Order of the Crown, the Duchess the one of the Royal Victorian Order.

 

Princess Mathilde of the Belgians with a Natan dress and Fabienne Delvigne hat (gorgeous!), sash of the Order of the Netherlands Lion.

 

Crown Princess Victoria of Sweden with Prince Daniel, both in the Order of the Seraphim.
The princess was wearing an Escada gown, with Philip Treacy hat and Jimmy Choo clutch.

 

Princess Masako and Crown Prince Naruhito of Japan, in an unidentified (and not particularly remarkable, either...) gown and hat.

 

Crown Princess Mette-Marit and Crown Prince Haakon of Norway. both in the Order of the Netherlands Lion. The princess is in a gown by Valentino.

 

The then-Crown Princess Maxima at the pre-coronation party, in a red Valentino gown and impressive suite of diamonds!

 

And finally, the new Dutch royal family, with the former Queen Beatrix.