State Visit from Chile - Gala Dinner: HRH The Princess of Asturias
Okay, I'll be the first to admit that I usually get really disappointed when I see Letizia out and about in the same old tiara yet again -- if you can call the Prussian Diamond Tiara "same old," that is -- but wowza, does she look great at this gala dinner, or what?!?
Now this is how you do tiara hair! How amazing is this? Way to go, Leti! (But be on notice -- I've already had followers over at my Twitter account bemoaning your use of the fancy safety pin yet again. Maybe Felipe could spring for a new brooch for this year's anniversary present?)
Also -- for all you tiara lovers -- take a gander over at the Mad Hattery Shop for new tiara-themed merchandise! Just in time for the royal wedding, I've had some original hattery-inspired art commissioned specially for the blog shop, and the first piece, based on "Granny's Tiara," is up now! Enjoy -- I'd love to hear what you think! 
PHOTO CREDITS: Carlos Alvarez/Getty Images
Tags: state visit, tiara
Ella and Leti are back! Yay!
I just can't decide if I like this hairdo or not... It seems a bit too Hollywood glam, rather than Royal glam, to me. I think that if the stray strands hanging from the back and sides were swept up, I would like it. Also, I think that the side bangs are bit too.. big?
The dress is fab, though.
Oops, just about forgot- I love the new design! I might have to treat myself to one of those shirts...
Sorry. She looks a mess. And the tiara is boring and looks crooked. Also, the dress looks like sack. She has done so much better. What's the prob?
Glad to see you're back in business Ella!
This is one of my favourite tiaras, but I'm not loving the hair at all - it looks as if her coiffeur ran out of time halfway through and didn't get round to the top and front. And not a fan of t-shirts with ball skirts.
Maybe her little girls directed the hairstyle because it looks like it would appeal to them...kinda "Toddlers and Tiaras" ( a show in the US)with the over the top tendrils.
I like the black and the t-shirt aspect doesn't bother me since it's all bedazzled and sparkly. I think she looks nice, the tiara is fine, the makeup is good....almost a hit except for the hair.
I love her hair! and the tiara with it! I am not crazy about her outfit though. I don’t mind the black, however the design of the outfit doesn’t do anything for her. I think it makes her look too matronly.
I actually really love this updo with the tiara. The hair channels 1960s beehives without being too retro (although I would love to see Audrey Hepburn-esque beehives make a comeback). And her eye makeup is gorgeous. The rest of the outfit is another story for me though . . .
She looks undignified and a little narcisistic. However the inappropriate, overblown hair does at least show what that late 19th century tiara was made for: a birds nest. It is much more suited even to a Bardot-in-decline electrocuted mop than to the skinny hair designs on which The Princess has previously stuck it, somewhat precariously.
Oh, and that safety pin. Assuming the Spanish people get the joke, don't they realize that it is just silly? It's neither one thing (Vivienne Westwood) nor the other (Grey Gardens). It's surprising she hasn't been asked to dress more consistently, if only for diplomatic reasons.
I love love love this. It is fab to see her hair up, and it makes the tiara sit so much better than perched on top of her flowing locks. I love the fact that the do is deconstructed (the modern word for messy I'm reliably informed) and I think she just looks great. I even love the outfit - it's very fashion forward. Ignoring the safety pin...
And William - thank you for bringing Grey Gardens into tehe blog! Another passion of mine!
Welcome back, Ella. Hope you're doing OK...we certainly missed you!
This is such a change for Letizia's hairstyle that I have to say I like it, unruly mop and all. She almost looks like Queen Rania of Jordan in the profile. I'm glad to see that she was growing her hair long for some purpose! The "Xena, Warrior Princess" tiara certainly sits better on an upswept do rather than straight, flowing locks (hint, hint, Kate!). But this tousled look clashes with that matronly dress she's wearing; I've certainly seen her in better gowns so I don't know what she was thinking when she pulled this dowdy number from the closet. As far as the safety pin, she looks like she was changing nappies and forgot that she stuck it on the dress. Hmm, a bejeweled pin on a royal baby's tush? Why not???
I am not a fan of the hair-by-cuisinart look. Add to that she's wearing a sweater and skirt and holding her sash in place with a safety pin, it looks like she just didn't care enough to make an effort.
I don't care that the safety pin is "bedazzled" it just looks like crap. A brooch would have killed her?
I'm a bit sick of this tiara (it's all a bit Wonder Woman), but her hair does make it look a damn sight better. I've always said that tiara's should have up-do's, and this looks fabulous.
The dress, however, is ridiculous. She's far too skinny to be able to pull off the t-shirt bodice (a pet hate of mine). And please somebody get the girl are bloody brooch. That safety pin is such an insult to the guests more than anything else.
Actually, my reference to the "bejeweled" safety pin was meant to be more fitting for a baby's tush than on an evening gown for a state visit. Just to clarify....
The negatives: as mentioned ad infinitum above: the messy hair, the "couldn't care less" clothes, the safety pin
The postitives: the radiant makeup, and the body and face that doesn't look so terribly hungry.
I've seen pictures of this tiara on Queen Frederica of Greece and Princess Viktoria of Prussia and I've always liked it. Letizia looks good with her arms covered, she's too thin to look good in bare arms. I've seen a good close-up of the safety pin brooch. Maybe it's an ironic statement? But it is fugly.
Here's a full length picture of the frock. It's nice, just not on poor Letizia. The one she wore to Victoria's wedding was much better. I can't help but think a bigger tiara would have helped, but that's my answer to most of life's problems.
I do not like Leti's hair at all. It is not appropriate for the state dinner. Also, I have never liked that Prussian tiara. Indeed, it did not even look good on Princess Victoria Louise of Prussia!
I know Letizia has worn better dresses. I'll never forget her dress to Mary and Fred's wedding, stunning. I do love this tiara though. I don't even mind the hair.
Love the merchandise. I might have to point hubby in the direction of some products for my birthday...
I love, love, love the tiara and the hair didn't dissapoint. She really looked gorgeous at the dinner, wonderfull tiara, great hair and make-up. I like the full skirt too, although a different top wpuld have been better. The other thing she could improve for the next dinner are the jewels, at least I could do with some extra jewels!
that taira of Liza is fab, I never seen this taira before
Welcome back, Ella!
I like the hair with the tiara. Sometimes when she wears her hair down it's too casual for the tiara. That said, I think the problem with this look is that the formality of the hair/tiara contrasts a rather casual look to the outfit - the tshirt and skirt combo just looks kind of thrown together.
I think this has been brought up before, but -- why does Letizia wear those earrings all the time?
Based on how slow the economy is recovering it could be years before we see Letizia wear the rumored "New Tiara". Lord knows we are all sick of seeing the same tiaras over and over again. Can you imagine the bad press she would get if she were to wear it at this time?
I just fell in love this tiara when I saw these images. I have seen it before nut it seems to need big hairstyle to really make it shine. I'd be even happier if the hairstyle had been more tidy.
I also like the shape of the dress. It works on Leti but top fabric isn't the best option. Less unruly would work with this also.