Princess Beatrice has undergone a very glamorous makeover thanks to society stylist Olivia Buckingham…. and some friendly competition from her husband’s glamorous ex doesn’t hurt!
She was once cruelly mocked for her mismatched looks and flashy fascinators.
But Princess Beatrice has undergone a complete transformation in recent years, ditching her awkward looks for sleek dresses and designer gear.
Since marrying Edoardo Mapelli Mozzi, the daughter of Prince Andrew and Sarah Ferguson has become much more sophisticated in her sartorial choices, with Vampire’s Wife, Self Portrait, Monique Lhuillier and Emilia Wickstead now among her favorite designers.
Edo himself is a very well-dressed man and is often seen in three-piece suits as he conducts business and frequents Mayfair clubs.
And to maintain his impeccably tailored look, Beatrice may look to Edo’s ex-fiancee Dara Huang for inspiration.
The very glamorous architect – and influencer – often shares her looks on Instagram.
Hot for pink: The pair both love fuchsia looks, Beatrice is seen on the left at the coronation, while Dara opted for the color at a party at Battersea Power Station (right)
Back to black: The pair both stunned in patterned black numbers
Recent photos show her lounging in a gold sequined ball gown on a gondola in Venice, in another photo she sits in a white floor-length piece in Miami Beach, while in a third she wears a silver mini cocktail dress in Istanbul .
And on some occasions, both Beatrice and Dara have dressed very similarly, despite their general differences in style.
While Dara loves high hemlines and crop tops, the pair combines printed black dresses, a bold pink look and fall trench coats.
Beatrice also wore a denim romper to the Glastonbury festival last year, while Dara wore a similar number while filming in Scotland.
The couple has a penchant for pink and purple shades, albeit in different cuts and styles.
Beatrice’s more sophisticated look comes when she hired Olivia Buckingham, who also advises Poppy Delevingne and Nicky Hilton.
Since turning 30 five years ago, Princess Beatrice has gradually found her own fashion formula and is now widely praised for her elegant yet flattering outfits.
“I like to push my clients’ boundaries, but also hold on to their authentic codes,” says Olivia.
Fall: Beatrice and Dara have both worn brown coats in the past
The pair also both wore denim numbers – Beatrice wore it to Glastonbury (left). While Dara chose the dress in Scotland (right)
‘I don’t want it to be one-sided. What I like is that I give them creative freedom, then we meet in the middle and come up with a magical look.’
Buckingham explains that she and Beatrice formed a styling relationship out of friendship.
“The whole process is a collaboration when it comes to choosing the final look,” she says.
“We discuss the event and what style would work, even down to the smallest details like jewelry and shoes.”
“I know we both believe that if a woman can feel empowered and confident through clothing, then she should be used to do so.”
One of her most memorable – and admired – “fashion moments” came on her wedding day, July 17, 2020, when she wore a vintage Norman Hartnell dress loaned by her grandmother, Queen Elizabeth.
On her wedding day, Beatrice stunned in a vintage Norman Hartnell dress, borrowed from her late grandmother, Queen Elizabeth II
For the Vogue World event in September, the princess looked elegant in a black and yellow floral cape dress by Richard Quinn
For the state banquet following the wedding of Crown Prince Hussein and Rajwa Al Saif in Jordan, the mother of one wore a satin dress with an embellished bodice by Reem Acra.
Buckingham also helped the princess broaden her horizons. A touch of couture has been added to the mix, as seen at the recent Jordanian royal wedding when she was a vision in floor-length Reem Acra.
Meanwhile, Beatrice has put aside the unusual colors and quirky headpieces – which too often had a hint of the pantomime lady – for a more streamlined approach.
Gone are the overly fussy – and strangely quirky – outfits and of course those hats.
Beatrice’s sister, Princess Eugenie, recently said the couple look back at “terrible photos” of themselves and laugh about them.
“There have been terribly ugly images of us coming out of bars,” she told the White Wine Question Time podcast.
‘People come up to me and say, ‘You look much better in real life.’
‘Beatrice and I, like many of our cousins, have had very difficult phases. I’m proud of my incredibly strange appearance.’
Beatrice dazzled in an elegant floral cape dress by Richard Quinn at the glitzy Vogue World event. The sensational black and yellow look came straight from the catwalk and was completed with long gloves.
Keeping her fashionable dress for the star of the show, the princess pulled her hair back and added diamond earrings and simple black pumps.
The Philip Treacy hat worn by Princess Beatrice to the royal wedding in 2011 became one of the most talked about moments of the day, recalling sartorial moments from William and Kate’s wedding
Beatrice showed her love for eccentric headwear from an early age and was just 16 when she wore this extravagant hat to the Christmas Day church service at Sandringham in 2005 (left). She wore another striking Philip Treacy piece to her cousin Peter Phillips’ wedding to Autumn Kelly in 2008 (right)
At Royal Ascot she was elegantly dressed in flowers for a day during the races. Beatrice’s long-sleeved lace midi dress by Monique Lhuillier featured a white lace overlay with intricate violet and yellow flowers.
A JBH millinery hat adorned her pulled back hair and she carried an Anya Hindmarch clutch. The combination of the romantic dress with structural accessories created a chic and modern look.
Dara is the daughter of a businesswoman and a retired NASA scientist who immigrated to the US from Taiwan. She was granted British citizenship in January 2022.
Although Edo is descended from Italian nobility, he was born in London and is a British national. Their son Christopher Woolf, called Wolfie, was also born in Britain.
Dara split with Edoardo in 2018. They share custody of the seven-year-old and Beatrice is said to have become close to him, with Sarah Ferguson saying she considers him a grandson.
Dara and Edoardo married in July 2020 and welcomed their daughter Sienna Elizabeth in September 2021.