The Monaco Grand Prix has become a haven of understated summer style.
Monaco’s oft-underappreciated royals descended in their droves to the Circuit de Monaco (this year observing Lewis Hamilton take home the winner’s title for the third time) and display a sense of effortless elegance that so few seem to possess. And the jewel in the crown in the upper echelons of the best dressed is Beatrice Casiraghi (née Borromeo), the aristocratic Italian journalist who wed husband Pierre – the grandson of Grace Kelly and Prince Rainier – in 2015.
The 33-year-old mother-of-two has long been a fashion leader, both in her work with the Fashion 4 Development (F4D), an organisation which teamed up with the United Nations to tackle poverty in the developing world, and in her personal dress. For Sunday’s festivities, she upgraded her signature waspy style with a polka dot midi dress paired with a black leather tote by Armani and a pair of Loulou heart-shaped sunglasses by Saint Laurent.
She finished off her look with a pair of double strap, open toe heels. Both Beatrice and Pierre, who have been together for 11 years, have always preferred a lower profile and both work full-time jobs, but have become more selective about public appearances now that they are parents to two children under three to Stefano (two) and Francesco (one).
Yesterday’s event attracted a host of celebrity supporters in the form of Kris Jenner and Corey Gamble, Matt Damon, Christian Bale and supermodels Josephine Skriver and Olivia Culpo. Pierre’s brother Andrea Casiraghi and his wife Tatiana Santo Domingo were also in attendance alongside their children.
Pierre is the eighth in line for the Monegasque throne and as such, isn’t confined to the same royal responsibilities as Prince Albert and his wife Princess Charlene, both of whom made their annual appearance at the event; but is required to show up at certain occasions.
Beatrice has maintained the same attitude as she did before her wedding, which is reflected in her wardrobe choices which range from high fashion gowns to practical daywear, admitting that she prefers borrowing couture dresses over buying them because it’s just not practical with her salary, saying she “couldn’t afford to buy as many dresses as I need for public functions.”
“I’m a reporter, and I have the salary of a reporter. I’m not going to put half of my salary into a pair of shoes. I did it a few times in my life, and it doesn’t feel right. You can wear Zara and nothing bad is going to happen to you,” she told Glamour.
It helps that her late uncle, the Count Matteo Marzotto worked as president of Valentino for years and European fashion houses are surely clamouring to have their work endorsed by one of the best dressed women.
“If I’m interviewing someone in the government, I’m going to be more formal: a jacket, a shirt, pants. But if I go see refugees in the field, I’m not going to care what I wear,” she added.
