traditional style

As prêt-à-reporter recently concentrated on Middletonising the UK, now the time has come to look at other royalties, Queen Rania of Jordan to be exact.

She has always been a true inspiration to me. An absolutely gorgeous woman who can balance it all – faith, motherhood, style AND being the queen of Jordan.

What I love about Queen Rania is that she would always turn up perfectly presented, very feminine and highly adequate, nonchalantly stealing the spotlight from all other kings and queens who either over-dressed or under-dressed.

Jordan’s Her Majesty would always get it just right and make it look like she wasn’t even trying.

She at times reminds me of Audrey Hepburn, an absolutely charming persona who is somewhat secretative and mysterious.

If I was to choose under what circumstances I could meet Queen Rania, I’d go for a casual day out in Amman, drinking arabesque coffee with rosewater and gobbling up middle eastern sweets – kunafa, baklawa and bassbusa, while wearing a chiffon maxi dress, pretty much like these:

In case you’ve missed last week’s inspiration – it was the lovely Aishwarya Rai.

I still remember my flatmates’ faces when I strolled down the stairs singing a song from a Bollywood classic Devdas (2002).

I have been a big fan of the film and I think it’s quite inspirational in terms of clothing and costumes.

But before we don overly elaborate chiffon saris and storm the pawn shops for stacks of gold jewellery, lest we forget – Devdas is a period movie.

A modern take on the look – yes, copy the look entirely – no.

Which brings me to Aishwarya. A proud 1994 Miss World title owner and an Indian actress, good ol Aish can pull off both very traditional and heavily embroided outfits as well as those dictated by today’s designers.

Very chameleonic indeed.

Before I break into a song and dance, I’d like you to be inspired by these: