Monday Multiples: Countess of Wessex

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One of many statement hats in the Countess of Wessex’s wardrobe is a black straw sidesweeping waved disk hat with pointed ends, anchored on a calot style cap and trimmed with a branch of black flowers. Sophie has paired this custom version on Jane Taylor’s “Lady A” design with three ensembles so far:

Look #1:  With a sleek black striped jacket and tailored skirt worn June 21, 2013 to Royal Ascot

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Look #2: With a red and black jaquard patterned Azzedine Alaïa dress worn March 9, 2017 to a memorial for members of the armed services who served and died in the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan

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Look #3: With a vibrant green silk Suzannah tea dress worn for Trooping the Colour on June 8, 2019

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Which ensemble do you prefer most with this hat?

Photos from Getty as indicated 

This Week’s Extras

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Princess Kiko in a simple black short-brimmed hat Monday for a service at Chidorigafuchi National Cemetery
King Carl Gustaf in a very smart navy felt fedora by Italian brand Borsalino today for the official opening of the Slussbron bridge, along with his eldest daughter and granddaughter
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Crown Prince Haakon and Crown Princess Mette-Marit in cozy hats to celebrate Princess Ingrid’s gold medal at the Norwegian junior surfing championship; Crown Princess Mary in a knit hat to commemorate the 50th anniversary of the New Little Belt Bridge


The following new millinery designs caught my eye this week:
Blush straw saucer trimmed with pastel sinamay spheres by Australian milliner Enza Geddes
Supremely elegant wheat straw boater hat with black hatband by Dutch milliner Wies Mauduit
White bandeau with shocking barbed wire trim by American milliner Tiffany Arey
Luxe claret felt looped percher with twists and silk rose by British milliner Dillon Wallwork
Spectacular wired headpiece of pink crin and metallic ribbon by Australian milliner Rebecca Share
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M I L L I N E R Y A W A R D ~ I was so thrilled to hear that @flemingtonvrc was going ahead with the @myer Millinery Award this year. I’m very excited to share my entry in the MYER Fashions on Your Front Lawn ‘Millinery Award’ and to announce I have been selected as a TOP 10 Finalist! The creative inspiration for my entry was to design a piece that represented the year that has been. Even though we are at opposite ends of the Earth, we are connected and focused on looking to a bright shiny future. Working with only materials in my studio, I wanted to highlight the complexity that can be achieved with only a few dollars. The structured wire work has been intricately woven with a $2 bundle of metallic ribbon purchased in Bali. In a world that has been up and down the Millinery Award has afforded Australian Milliners the opportunity to continue to push the boundaries of creativity and lift our spirits. There are some incredible entries and I wish my fellow Milliners the best of luck xx We now await final judging and the winner to be announced on Melbourne Cup Day 🏆 . . #millinery #myer #vrc #millineryaward #fashionsonyourfrontlawn #fashion #hat #headpiece #rebeccashare #milliner #millinerycouture #hatmaking #melbournecup #MYERFOYFL #wirework #hatstyle #model #myermillineryaward #millineryaward2020 #myerfotf #myermillineryaward

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Vintage inspired rolled edge black felt percher with crin bows by American milliner Laura Del Villaggio
Blush and peach straw and ostrich feather bandeau headpiece by Australian milliner Reny Kestel
Whimsical loden green felt fedora with orange stitched leaves by UK milliner Siana Yewdall
Orange and pink flying crin flower headpiece by Australian milliner Wendy Sculley
Fantastic fascinator of parasisal ballet slippers with silk binding and leather soles by Australian milliner Stephanie Spencer

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When Down Is Up 🩰 I’m pleased to announce that I have been selected as one of the top 10 finalists in this years #myer @flemingtonvrc millinery award. The entries from other milliners are outstanding and I’m so honoured to have been selected. Filming and photographing this piece has not come without its challenges, while living and working alone in Melbourne. But the process, just like the piece, is about freedom, resourcefulness and creative expression, so I’ve done what I could with what I’ve had on hand. For those who have asked, the shoes are a size 36 euro I wish the best of luck to my fellow milliners x #millineryaward #millinery #myermillineryaward #millineryaward2020 #melbourne #hat #hatmaker #melbournemillinery #springcarnival #fotf #foyfl #myerfoyfl #flemingtonvrc #surrealism #ballet #balletshoes #balletpink #pointeshoes #pointe #dancer #danceshoes #dance #shoes #milliner #contempoarymillinery #stephaniespencermillinery #stephaniespencer

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Bold boater hat covered with reverse navy & cream zebra prints by Australian brand Jettah & Till Design Millinery
Orange felt hat with wide cuffed brim by Tronto-based milliner Jay Cheng
Layered pink and grey sinamay oversize saucer with grey feather dahlias by UK brand Stephanie Elizabeth Millinery
Charming grey and magenta plaid button percher with felt leaves by French milliner Jeannie Clark
Blush felt extended brim fedora with the most beautiful folded ribbon hatband by Czech milliner Jolana Kotabova

Lovely photos released by the Imperial Household Agency to commemorate the Empress Emeritus’ 86th birthday and Princess Mako’s 29th.


Photos from social media as indicated

Hat Renovation Teaser

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During the summer, British milliner Amy Morris-Adams shared a photo of several vintage hats she was working on updating, mending and retrimming. I really appreciated her approach to this, sewing each hat’s original labels back inside after the work was done.

Interestingly, Amy offered Royal Hats a teaser not only that these hats belonged to Princess Anne, but that we should keep our eyes open for them, soon. Any guesses which hats from Princess Anne’s wardrobe these might be?!

Photos from social media as indicated 

Hat From the Past

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Royal Hats to this day in 1937, 83 years ago, when Queen Mary opened the Rachel MacMillan Training College in one of her characteristic toque hats. This one has an architectural ruffle trimming the top of the crown.

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PhotosLo from Getty as indicated

Favourite New Royal Hat: June, July & August 2020

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Over the summer, we saw a handful of wonderful new royal hats make their debut for Ascot, a royal investiture (and family wedding!) and a national day celebration. During times when any sight of a royal hat has been scarce, new designs to admire has been particularly welcome.

We’re now taking a look back at these beauties and choose winner to move forward in our end of year contest for Favourite New Royal Hat of 2020.

Please click on each caption link to jump to original feature posts with additional views, information and discussion on each hat. Here are the new hats we saw in June, July and August, shown in the order they were worn:

1.    2.
Zara Tindall’s navy straw beret percher with cascade of flowers by Juliette Botterill for the first day of Ascot, June 16
Queen Elizabeth’s pale aqua hat with feathers and straw rolled pink roses by Angela Kelly worn on July 17
3.     4.
Queen Mathilde in a classic natural straw hat with wide, drop-edge brim by Fabienne Delvigne worn July 21
Queen Mathilde’s fuchsia headpiece trimmed in a ruffle of pleated silk abaca by Fabienne Delvigne worn July 21
5.
Princess Astrid’s textured black straw Garbo hat with bow worn for National Day on July 21
This poll will remain open until next Thursday, October 29  at midnight GMT.  As usual for these polls, each computer or mobile device can vote twice per day for as many hats as you wish. Happy voting!