Mary of Denmark has quietly crowned herself the queen of sustainable style. With a remarkable knack for recycling outfits, updating them with subtle tweaks, as she did with a 2017 gala dress at last year’s New Year’s banquet, and pairing them with standout jewelry, she proves that royal dressing can be both chic and eco-conscious.
This week, the Danish monarch’s carefully curated wardrobe accompanied her on an official visit to Estonia and Lithuania alongside King Frederik.
Throughout the trip, she showed that impeccable style doesn’t always require brand-new pieces, though she did surprise with a few fresh additions. From elegant ensembles suited to a busy schedule to warm, winter-ready layers, Mary’s Baltic tour wardrobe is a masterclass in royal fashion.
On Tuesday, Mary attended a concert followed by a banquet at St. Nicholas Church in Tallinn, wearing a satin blue gown first seen over a decade ago during the 2015 New Year’s celebrations. She has revisited this piece on several occasions, swapping out jewelry to refresh the look. This time, the simple round-neck dress with a sash at the waist was paired with a two-tone statement necklace and a very special tiara: her wedding day piece.
Though not featured on the Danish flag, blue carries significant cultural weight, symbolizing freedom and, for Danes, calm and serenity. The color dominated Mary’s wardrobe choices on the first day in Estonia, with a cozy Italian wool coat by Max Mara. She also embraced the hue on Thursday, wearing a Polo Ralph Lauren turtleneck during a visit with a Lithuanian basketball team.
Among her new pieces was a navy tweed dress worn for lunch with Estonian Prime Minister Kristen Michal and his advisor Evelin Oras. Designed by Danish designer Lasse Spangenberg, the piece was entirely fresh to her wardrobe. Mary accessorized it with a braided headpiece and a historic sapphire brooch known as the Flood Sapphire, dating from around 1840.
Mary has repeatedly proven the power of a well-chosen belt. During her Baltic trip, she used one to elevate a Max Mara skirt paired with a burgundy silk blouse by The Fold and Valentino boots, as well as a gray pantsuit. The subtle touch adds structure and polish while allowing familiar pieces to feel new.
Her white two-piece ensemble. A loose, pleated trouser and double-breasted blazer by Andiata Traci, made its debut in Finland last March. In Lithuania, Mary swapped the tailored vest for a blush pink blouse with a voluminous high neck, completing the look with beige Prada heels and brand-new earrings. The delicate drop earrings, crafted by Julie Sandlau, feature rose quartz, diamonds, and recycled gold.
At the Vilnius Presidential Palace, Mary took a playful turn with a navy floral two-piece midi skirt and matching jacket by London-based Erdem. She paired the set with comfortable boots and a wide headband, proving her ability to balance practicality with couture flair.
On Wednesday, just hours after Elie Saab’s Paris Haute Couture show, Mary debuted a minimalist burgundy crepe gown by the Lebanese designer, stripped of the usual sparkle, with a Perkins collar, long sleeves, fitted waist, and flowing skirt.
Complementing the new dress, she wore a striking Edwardian tiara she personally purchased at the Danish auction house Bruun Rasmussen in May 2012. Crafted in gold and silver and set with antique-cut diamonds, rubies, and spinels, the piece dates from the early 20th century, adding historic gravitas to her contemporary look.
Mary’s Baltic tour proves once again that her sartorial choices, mixing recycled treasures, statement jewels, and carefully chosen new pieces, set a standard for royal style that is both sustainable and undeniably glamorous.