Queen Letizia makes espadrilles look quietly regal at Madrid Book Fair

Queen Letizia made the strongest possible argument for espadrilles by wearing them exactly where they belong: under Madrid sun, with a midi dress that looked poised rather than precious. At the 85th Madrid Book Fair, opened by the queen on May 29 at El Retiro Park, she chose a pleated silk design by Adolfo Domínguez and paired it with light lavender alpargatas, a natural raffia sole, tan ribbon ties, and gold earrings. The effect was polished, Spanish, and unfussy, the sort of dressing that signals authority without ever reaching for stiffness.

That is why espadrilles endure. They are not making a comeback so much as proving they never needed one. The shoe’s rope or jute sole and canvas upper give it a distinctly summer register, while the ribbon tie reads delicate rather than decorative. On Letizia, the style lands with the cool confidence of someone who understands that outdoor official dressing must survive both ceremony and heat. A cathedral train would be absurd in a park; a supple midi in silk is not. The silhouette skims the body, the pleats catch the light, and the shoe keeps the whole look grounded.

The formula is easy to read and easy to copy: a midi dress with movement, a soft color that feels sun-washed rather than shouty, natural fibers that breathe, and simple wedge espadrilles that add height without losing ease. For a high-street version, the logic is the same even if the price point is lower. Look for a pleated midi in cotton, viscose, or a silk-blend; choose pale lilac, sand, ecru, or shell pink; then finish with ribbon-tie espadrilles in linen, suede, or canvas and a low wedge. Keep jewelry minimal. The point is not to replicate a royal wardrobe line for line, but to preserve its restraint.

The setting only sharpened the message. The Madrid Book Fair, which dates back to 1933, runs from May 29 to June 14 this year and is built around the theme of humor, with more than 350 booths spread through one of Spain’s most important cultural gatherings. Letizia greeted young readers, authors, and booksellers as part of an official engagement that also underscored her long habit of dressing like a woman who knows precisely when fashion should defer to place, weather, and occasion. In a season crowded with noisy trend cycles, espadrilles remain the quietest sign of old-world summer polish.