Sitting just two people down from the great Anna Wintour, there was genuine royalty at the fashions in Paris yesterday. And it was our very own Princess Charlene, Her Serene Highness of Monaco. Described in one report as having a South African accent as broad as her swimmers' shoulders. That made me chuckle a bit. She was at the show of Akris, which if you read this blog regualrly, will know is her current go-to designer. The Swiss design house did onse Charlene's dress for Kate and Wills' wedding, as well as the Red Cross Annual Ball and all her weekend outfits for the Monaco Grand Prix. Which was incidentally the theme of the new Akris spring/summer 12 collection.
Obviously comfortable with having Akris designs amended to the suit her figure, role and the taste of the people of Monaco, Charlene chatted quietly and pointed out a few of the designs that she liked. She also offered her very lightly-protected self up for a few careful interviews (she prefers to be quite independent). And continued to play the media very carefully and nervously in light of the hatchet job done just before her wedding. It was a pleasing change to trade in the minor celebrities for genuine couture-wearing royalty, and good that Charlene is actually carrying out her stated intention of linking Monaco and fashion. Good girl.
