Since her marriage in May 2004, Crown Princess Mary of Denmark has consistently shown she has the knack for fashion and style. It’s a gift that Princess Letizia of Spain has, that the Countess of Wessex has developed. Indeed, most modern princesses, either through their own sense of style or by taking good advice, are keeping up with the supermodels and actresses they vie with for media attention. Whilst there is plenty of fun in fashion, its also a demanding part of the job for today’s royals. And when things go wrong there is a price to pay. Princess Diana had the knack but her sister-in-law, Fergie, didn’t. It made Diana a fashion icon and left poor Sarah to be criticized and ridiculed with each new outfit she donned. Sarah’s self-confidence was bruised and battered, scars which took years to heal. 
In Mary’s case the outcome is already something of a spectacular success: she has shown her star quality by coolly casting off her estate agent image to take first rank among the world’s best-dressed fashion elite and is, according to fashion gurus, just a shade behind fellow Australians Nicole Kidman and Cate Blanchett amongst her native country’s best dressed women. The svelte Kidman came top in a recent poll, conducted by fashion label Sportscraft, ahead of fellow actress Blanchett, with Princess Mary, who has had much less time to develop her public image, third. We may well see Mary overtaking even Hollywood’s finest in coming months. Mary’s one-time fashion advisor, Sydney based style consultant Teresa Page, has watched the Tasmanian born girl of Scots origin grow into the chic and stylish princess of today. When Mary first came to her some four years ago her dress sense was “smart casual” giving little hint of the potential to become the stunning princess who now appears on magazine covers worldwide. The secret of her success according to Page: “She knows now how to choose great pieces that will make the look without overdoing it – but I do think she has great advice around her. Her dress sense has developed a lot, she looks incredibly sophisticated and sleek with lots of classic lines.” The outcome has been a princess in growing demand. In November the 32-year-old posed for the Australian edition of Vogue wearing an outfit featuring togs by Prada, Louis Vuitton, Jean Paul Gaultier, and, significantly, the Danish designer Malene Birger. (Extract from Royalty Magazine Vol. 19/07)
