Queen Letizia of Spain Switches Up Royal Style With Plunging Boho Dress

Queen Letizia of Spain has firmly established herself as one of Europe’s most stylish royals. And her looks stray from what one might expect from a royal. In the U.K., royals tend to follow some unofficial style rules, avoiding sleeveless or strappy dresses and keeping their necklines high. However, the same rules don’t seem to apply in Spain. Just last week, Letizia rocked a strapless gown along with a 2-Lb necklace made of 37 pearls. A few weeks earlier, she donned a pair of very modern metallic heels. Last December, she wore a Kate Middleton-coded gray suit rather than, as one might expect, a skirt suit. Her latest look is another departure from traditional royal attire.

Stepping out in Marin, Spain, for a presentation of Royal dispatches of employment at Escuela Naval on July 16, Letizia gave her take on the boho chic trend. Her sleeveless royal blue dress featured a deep v-neck along with a funky tiered style, emphasized by geometric white embroidery and playful fringe trim. She completed the summery look with gold hoop earrings, some gold rings, and strappy white heeled sandals. Overall, the look screamed “weekend at Glasto” more than “royal engagement”—in the best possible way.

Letizia’s latest look is yet another example of how she is revolutionizing royal fashion by appearing as relatable and modern as possible. In addition to experimenting with trends like boho chic and pushing the boundaries on which styles are deemed appropriate for a royal, she frequently opts for high-low dressing wearing brands like Zara and Mango.

She has a lot in common with Kate Middleton in that respect. After all, the Princess of Wales has been slowly embracing a more modern look for years—particularly in the aftermath of her recent cancer treatment.

Christine Ross, author of The Princess Project newsletter, told Marie Claire that Middleton had been opting for “casual, accessible outfits” during a time “when she needed to appeal to public sympathies and relate to others going through treatment.”

Added Ross, “I think the past year taught her how important her sartorial choices are for her relationship with the public, and I suspect she will reevaluate her royal wardrobe for next year.”