A day at the British Oscars

Leave it to the Brits to have these crazy hats!!!

...(from left) Princess Ameerah; 
Sophie, Countess of Wessex wearing a Bruce Oldfield outfit and a hat by Jane Taylor. 
Princess Maxima also opted for blush tones, ranging for peachy pinks to oyster hues.

Fabulous hats, clockwise from top left: 
Princess Beatrice in a playful creation by Philip Treacy; 
Miriam Gonzalez Durantez in a floral-embellished turban; 
Tara Palmer-Tomkinson in electric blue courtesy of milliner Philip Treacy; 
and Victoria Beckham's bespoke Philip Treacy hat matched her dress.

(From left) Queen Sofia of Spain looked resplendent in purple by Mararita Nuez; 
Princess Mathilde of Belgium went for head-to-toe turquoise in Giorgio Armani; 
and another guest fell for lacy purple.

As for the royalty, here are the loud hats:

Princess Anne and Camilla, Duchess of Cornwall, 
both sported elegant dress coats, 
which were perfect for the April climate. 
Camilla chose to wear Anna Valentine, 
who designed the gown she wore to marry Prince Charles. 
Princess Anne chose a pretty combination of purple and green, 
and just about managed to maintain her voluminous bouffant under a matching hat.


and nasty colors:

Queen Elizabeth II chose an ensemble in a shade of lemon-sorbet, 

which was perfect for the happy, spring occasion.

Angela Kelly designed single crepe wool primrose dress 
with hand sown beading at the neck in the shape of sunrays. 
Matching double crepe wool tailored primrose coat.

An Angela Kelly designed matching crepe hat 
with hand made silk roses and matching apricot coloured leaves. 
Jewellery: Queen Mary's True Lovers Knot broach

The age-old question:
What in the world does the Mother of the Bride wear?!
Even she had problems deciding!

The mother of the bride, Carole Middleton, reportedly had a last-minute change of heart about her outfit, choosing a sky-blue wool crepe coatdress by Catherine Walker and a hat by Berkshire-based Jane Corbett. It is thought that she ditched a specially-designed outfit by Lindka Cierach, as well as a £400 hat by milliner Jess Collett, just weeks before the wedding.

I find myself itching to invest in a pair of blush tone pumps,
thanks to today's picture of royal feet:

Clockwise from top left: 
Princess Maxima; Princess Ameerah; Letizia, Princess of Asturias; 
Princess Beatrice; Justine Thornton; 
Samantha Cameron (who braved an open-toe sandal version); 
the Duchess of Kent; Carole Middleton; 
Sophie, Countess of Wessex and Princess Anne 


Speaking of feet, the award for the most uncomfortable:
not comfortable for any normal person, much less someone highly preggers!

photo via {miss moss}
Fashion designer Victoria Beckham, 
who is heavily pregnant with her fourth child, 
chose gravity-defying Christian Louboutin heels


Better picks of the day:
She gets my vote for elegance after Kate and Pippa!

"Charlene Wittstock, the fiancée of Prince Albert of Monaco, 
arrived looking elegantly understated 
in a figure-hugging grey coat by Akris 
and a wide-rimmed, white hat."


with this ensemble coming in a close 2nd:

...the supremely stylish Letizia, Princess of Asturias,
who chose to wear Felipe Varela


she gets my vote for best color combo:

The Prime Minister's wife, Samantha Cameron, 

chose a silk pleated dress by British label Burberry, 

which she accessorised with a dazzling orange scarf, 

a statement necklace and hair-clip both by Erickson Beamon, 

and shoes by high street retailer Aldo.

all photos and descriptions via {the telegraph}