Sweden has long had a strong connection to water because to its location on the Baltic Sea and its rich Nordic heritage. The sea inspires the people of the country in countless ways, from marine monster fairytales to artwork that draws inspiration from the secrets of the water. Queen Silvia of Sweden naturally has a connection to the waters that surround her nation, and her most recent outfits pay respect to everything under the sea.
Bag marked “SEA SCALLOP” by Judy Leder
In September, it started. Silvia chose an Azure blue fishtail gown and the 19th-century “Queen Sofia Tiara” to accessorise it as she arrived at Denmark’s Christiansborg Palace to honour the 50th anniversary of Queen Margrethe II’s accession to the throne.
But the thing wasn’t brand-new. Before making a comeback in 2022, the shell-shaped purse had been absent from Queen Silvia’s collection of magnificent minaudières for ten months, first appearing in December 2011 and then again in October 2012.
The Swedish Queen owns a number of the New York designer’s most stunning items and is a fan of her eccentric ostentation. But a month later, she made the choice to take the scallop out again. This time, the queen attended the state supper at Stockholm’s Royal Palace along with members of the Dutch and Swedish royal families while wearing a George et Rand fuchsia brocade gown and the “Braganza Tiara.”
And Queen Silvia is not the only queen that draws stylistic inspiration from the seashore. Princess Charlene, a former Olympic swimmer, was given the “Ocean Tiara” by Prince Albert II of Monaco on their wedding day in 2011. Another wedding present made by Lorenz Baumer, the “Baumer Aigrette,” also drew inspiration from breaking waves to honour her job in the water.
Back in 2013, pop princess Lady Gaga joined the sea set while going full Venus. The singer performed at the VMAs wearing a seashell bikini, evoking the Botticelli classic The Birth of Venus, and was inspired by the Roman deity Aphrodite. Even if it’s now referred to as “Mermaidcore,” ethereal-inclined TikTok stars still create maritime beauty looks with pastel hair, blue colours, and pearl adornments.
