Friday, 4 May 2012

Younger Scandinavian Royal Gents should dress elegantly

I was looking at pictures of the younger generation of males from the Scandinavian Royal houses, and I have to admit that these Gentlemen are dressed inelegantly, unstylish, and that is not flattering at all. 
Most if not all, tend to show signs of lack of adequate lessons on men classical dress code and style. Very surprising, as these honourable gents are of "Blue Blood" origin. 

I was rather surprised, the pictures show that all these gents wear their trousers at the wrong length, meaning, all piled up like discarded potato sacks on top of their shoes, hanging down from their hips, instead of the natural human waist, thereby visually shortening their legs. 
Not to mention the shirt exposure, due to the lack of cummerbund or waistcoat usage, when wearing dinner jackets or single breasted suits. 
In some pictures below, I noted an oversized jacket, skinny jacket, not worthy for a true royal. Furthermore the jackets have the incorrect length (very long suit jackets sleeves and jacket length).

Below, HRH Prince Daniel of Sweden seem not to have paid much attention to the details when attending lessons on the black tie etiquette.
The Prince has at least violated the waist covering part of the black tie dress code, as he is wearing a single breasted dinner jacket, tradition dictates and requires that a cummerbund or black low cut waistcoat is used. We can see the shirt peeping out. Ouch!
The Prince opted for a fly front shirt instead of a shirt with stud eyelets. Hmmm......
The length of trousers is rather to long, thereby sacking and piling up, an alteration by any tailor (need not be one with a Royal Warrant) would have done wonders.


Below an illustration of correct black tie dressing etiquette/code by the well known and reputable illustrator of men's classical & stylish clothing, Laurence Fellows.
The standing gent below in black tie formal dressing, white shirt with studs, trousers at the normal human waist, the dinner jacket is fully complemented with a waistcoat. The waistcoat serves a purpose of not showing the shirt. The trouser length falls just above the heels of the pumps he is wearing. 
HRH Prince Daniel of Sweden, should have reviewed and studied these illustrations and may have a learned a thing or two before venturing out looking like above.
When comparing the illustration by Mr. Felllows and the photo of HRH Prince Daniel, the discrepancy can be noted with the naked eye.

Below, HRH Prince Daniel of Sweden's trousers are a bit long and not breaking where they should. The trousers look like they were taken off the rack, very unfortunate. Maybe HRH Prince Daniel follows the unfortunate trend and fashion so many young men often do today, wearing their trousers at the hips instead of the natural waist. A messy trend with undesirable results for a "Blue Blooded" Gent.
Do not follow fashion Sir.

Overall look, not very complimentary, stylish or elegant.
Below photo depicts HRH Prince Daniel on an official visit to the USA. The Prince seems he is wearing a bespoke suit, as the cuffs of the jacket are working cuffs, however the Prince violates a sartorial rule, which is: "do not leave any cuff button on the jacket sleeve un-cuffed", that is bad taste.  No need to show off. 
HRH Prince Daniel seems to have done some adjustments to the trousers, but not very successful.
Below, an illustration by Mr. L. Fellow, showing a man, well dressed, well draped trousers, a well fitted jacket and a waistcoat. Accessories, gloves, walking cane and a hat. 
Below the Royal Crown Prince of Norway in the company of Princess Mary of Denmark.
The Norwegian Crown Prince is wearing a casual outfit for an evening party. But those trousers, the length and the width. Not very graceful unless following the late sixties and seventies fashion. Not very classy nor elegant.
Below, the Danish Royals, (HRH Crown Prince Frederik & HRH Prince Joakim) accompanied by their spouses.
HRH Prince Joakim (right) trousers are way too long and  and hanging and piling up like a thrown out sack of sweet potatoes on the shoes. HRH Crown Prince Frederik, shows a rather tight/skinny jacket, exposing the shirt and his trousers is also hanging from the hip, thereby exposure of the shirt. A missing a pocket square. 

In short, it does not cost any more to dress correctly and elegantly than it does to do it badly and without class and style.
HRH Prince Joakim of Denmark (third from right), the look is .....No comments
A Burberry advert drawing from the 1930's. So masculine, tasteful and elegant.
I wish all the above mentioned Royal Highnesses of Scandinavia had taken a look at the three illustrations of mens style and elegant dressing, then it would have helped them to achieve a better and elegant dress look, worth admiration from loyal subjects like myself.

Today there is so much sartorial splendour readily accessible, and yet all these honourable Gentlemen, chose to look their worst. There are a few contemporary examples of men's elegant dressing on the Internet, for example "A Suitable Wardrobe" or "The Gentleman's Gazette"who would have given appropriate guide and consultation to get the correct elements of tasteful masculine dress, to achieve that timeless, elegant, and stylish look.


Pictures sourced from the various Nordic Press and the Internet.

3 comments:

  1. I can only agree. Its one thong that no-one at my wirk know the first thing about style and class, but our royal families really should.

    My grand father always wore a suit correctly at all social occassions and a hat. He had impeccable style even if he was only a farmer. I can only imagine what he would have said, seeing the sad pictures above..

    Thanks again for a good blog.

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  2. Hi Wooster,

    Thanks for your comment. I totally agree with you. I experience the same at my work but I have learned to live with that. In regards to the royals, yes they should know better, or rather one expects them to know better as they live and breath in a world of rules, etiquettes, tradition, protocols etc.

    I was fortunate to have both a grand father and father whom like your grand father were true classically, stylish and impeccably dressed gents. I suppose your grandfather was old school and he respected the traditions "even if his was only farmer" as you put it. If I were to follow that logic, then I am not supposed to make critics on the Royals, as I am not "blue blood". See my point.

    You are welcome Sire and I am happy that you enjoyed the piece on Royals from the North.

    Regards
    The Shoe Aristo Cat

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  3. Daniel "of" Sweden is a commoner who married into the royal family. how should he know?

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