September usually marks the return of earthy tones, deep burgundies, and shades of gray. That’s true for most people, but not for the most colorful royal in all of Europe, Queen Máxima of the Netherlands. The Queen attended a work event this Monday wearing a rainbow-colored skirt, which she made even more cheerful with bold orange accessories.
Amid all the vibrant hues, one detail stood out more than the rest. It was her backless high-heeled shoes, a design she previously wore in 2017.
The meaning behind her outfit:
On September 8, Queen Máxima inaugurated the Waste-Free Week event, organized in the city of Veghel to raise awareness about food waste and educate people on how to reduce it.
Using fashion as her voice, she highlighted the event’s sustainability message by re-wearing an outfit she had already showcased on a previous occasion. The outfit consists of a nude blouse and a white skirt with multicolored stripes, which she first wore at the opening of the Day of Youth Professionals congress in Utrecht on September 15, 2017, complete with the same beige fascinator she wore this time.
Back in 2017, she opted for more discreet accessories, choosing a natural-colored clutch and stilettos. But this time, she went all-in on color to project optimism, choosing mandarin-orange accessories.
Her colorful accessories:
She could have chosen a deep autumnal mauve or a subtle taupe brown, both of which are present in her skirt. But as a lover of bold colors, Queen Máxima focused on the brightest stripe of the skirt to match her accessories.
From her earrings to her shoes, including gloves and a baguette-style clutch, everything was in the same vivid orange, a color that, according to psychology, conveys energy, joy, and enthusiasm.
Her 2017 shoes:
Among all the orange accessories worn by the Dutch Queen today, her high heels stood out. These eye-catching transparent shoes have been part of her wardrobe since at least June 2017, when she wore them to another work event. She also wore the same large gemstone earrings and orange clutch back then, along with a patterned outfit.
These shoes, which link her 2017 and 2025 looks (as does the skirt), could easily be mistaken for the Paulina model by Christian Louboutin, given their patent finish and transparent PVC trim. However, the white sole gives them away, confirming that Máxima’s orange heels are not from the French label (which always has red soles) but from Belgian brand Natan, one of Máxima’s favorite fashion houses.