Monthly Archives: June 2013

Tying up Royal Ascot

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Royal Ascot 2013 brought another week of magical and marvelous hats! Here is an overview:

Royal Ascot: Day 1
Queen Elizabeth, Princess Haya Bint Al Hussein, Princess of Jordan, Sheikha of Dubai
Queen Mesenate Mohato Seeiso of Lesotho, The Duchess of Cornwall,
Princess Anne, The Countess of Wessex, Princess Beatrice, Princess Eugenie
Lady Serena Armstrong-Jones, Lady Helen Taylor, Princess Michael of Kent

Royal Ascot: Day 2
Queen Elizabeth, Princess Haya Bint Al Hussein, Princess of Jordan, Sheikha of Dubai
The Duchess of Cornwall, The Countess of Wessex, Lady Helen Taylor,
Lady Serena Armstrong-Jones, The Duchess of Gloucester

Royal Ascot: Day 3
Queen Elizabeth, Princess Haya Bint Al Hussein, Princess of Jordan, Sheikha of Dubai
Princess Anne, Autumn Phillips, The Countess of Wessex, Princess Beatrice, Princess Eugenie

Royal Ascot: Day 4
Queen Elizabeth, Princess Haya Bint Al Hussein, Princess Sarvath El Hassan of Jordan
The Countess of Wessex, Princess Michael of Kent

Royal Ascot: Day 5
Queen Elizabeth, Princess Sarvath El Hassan of Jordan

Special thanks again to Katie Vale of Katie Vale Designs for joining us all week to share her thoughts on this year’s millinery. I officially sign off Ascot coverage with this photo  Zenouska Mowatt (grand-daughter of Princess Alexandra of Kent) graciously shares with us. Zenouska is seen here, in the middle, in a glorious Jane Taylor designed hat (The Betsy shown here) enjoying a glass of bubbly at the races with two friends. I think this captures the glamour, the excitement and the pure fun that is Royal Ascot. Thanks for sharing this lovely moment with us, Zenouska!

Photo from social media

Luxembourg Royal Family Celebrates National Day

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The Luxembourg Royal Family celebrated their country’s National Day this weekend with a traditional visit to the city of Esch and a Torchlight Parade on Saturday, followed by a Te Deum and military parade yesterday. For the more formal events yesterday, the women of this family attended in a rainbow array of marvelous hats.

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Grand Duchess Maria Teresa wore a dramatic lavender straw vertical saucer hat trimmed with a dramatic flourish of purple roses feathers and curled ribbon tails (I suspect it is a custom Philip Treacy design. There are several similar hats in his Spring Summer 2013 collection). My first thought was that this hat looked like a flower shop exploded on her head. My next thought was that it was totally over the top and, dare I say, too young for this Grand Duchess. I must admit, however, that the color is great and the tall shape really lengthens Maria Teresa, who is…um… vertically challenged. I just think matching eye makeup to the colour of one’s hat should be outlawed. No. No. NO.

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The Hereditary Grand Duchess looked beautiful in a pale aqua straw hat with a short cartwheel brim and a cluster of bow loops on the side. I leaped for joy when I saw this hat because it is the first hat we have seen Princess Stéphanie wear since entering royal life that was not matronly and awkward beyond her years (and not BEIGE!!). I am still on the fence about her hair braid- is it chic and stylish or is it too informal? I can’t decide either way but one thing is clear- her hat is brilliantly beautiful.

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While Stéphanie’s hat was beautiful, Princess Alexandra’s fascinator was truly bizarre. Made out of celadon green straw ribbon, this fascinator was a messy mass of twisted bow loops stuck to the side of Alexandra’s head. It looked tired, crumpled and not flattering, especially with her washed out Natan lace dress.

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The surprise of the day was Princess Tessy, who was not expected to attend this event. Her hat was also a surprise- it appeared she was wearing a classic white feathered pillbox but her hat was actually a very wide bandeau headband. I think it is a great shape on her but I found the contrast between the stark white headpiece and her teal blue dress a little jarring.

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There was a little bit of everything today in the Luxembourg royal hats- something bold, something beautiful, something bizarre, and something unexpected. Which one was your favourite?

Photos from Dutch Photo Press and Patrick van Katwijk/dpa/Corbis

York Princesses Attend Almost-Royal Wedding

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Yesterday, Princess Beatrice and Princess Eugenie of York attended the high society wedding of Lady Melissa Percy, daughter of the Duke of Northumberland and Thomas van Straubenzee (one of Prince Harry and Prince William’s best friends). Princess Beatrice repeated a small black straw button beret trimmed with large loops, an arrow feather and a huge white silk rose (she previously wore this hat on Christmas Day 2010).

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Princess Eugenie repeated a greige straw beret with flat top trimmed with a folded flying straw knot (she wore it to Peter Phillips’ wedding in 2008).

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Both of these Philip Treacy designed hats were all right on their own but  I found them completely disconnected with outfits they were paired with. After the beautiful hats these two have worn over the past two weeks, I found this throwback to their previous more zany hat style a little disappointing. What do you think of these two signature hats?

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Photos from Getty as indicated

Ascot Day 5

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Royal Hats All good things must come to and end and I’m afraid, today marks the final day of Royal Ascot 2013. True to the motto of this blog, we have seen bold, beautiful and truly bizarre hats worn by royals this week. I think that’s why I love Ascot so much- I’m not sure there is another single event that captures the highs and lows of royal millinery as well as Ascot does. While I’m sad to see Ascot end, I’m so happy to again welcome Katie Vale of Katie Vale Designs to share her opinions on this final day Royal Ascot hats. There was really only one royal hat today:

Queen Elizabeth in an Angela Kelly design

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Katie Vale: Love the queens hat today. The soft pale blue with delicate detail matches her dress perfectly. The shape of the crown is different to the rest this week and I like it. Great to see this as the last one; possibly my favourite of hers this week.

Royal Hat Blog: It’s the Wedegewood hat!! After all my complaining about Angela Kelly hats this week, I must admit that I have always loved this hat (Queen Elizabeth first wore it in Ireland in last June). The rolled brim is lovely, the colour is beautiful on the Queen and the delicate lace trim gives just the right amount of embellishment. It is restrained, which makes it work. I usually prefer straw hats but this one, covered in the same silk as her coat, is beautiful.

Princess Sarvath El Hassan of Jordan

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Katie Vale: I can’t really comment I don’t think. She’s got 2 marigolds in her hair. I’m sure they signify something from her national dress, but it means nothing to me!

Royal Hat Blog: As I mentioned yesterday, It is my understanding that persons who attend Ascot in national dress are exempt from the hat rules. From that perspective, it’s understandable she did not choose a big hat to go with her full-length national dress- it simply would not have worked. The yellow roses add a little festive note that works with her dress.

Other notable hats today included: Joanne Foggatt and Martha Ward. It was a rather quiet day all around.

That concludes our Ascot coverage for 2013! I want to extend a gigantic thank-you to Katie Vale for joining us this week. It has been BRILLIANT to have you here with us!

Photos from Paul Gilham via Zimbio and Alan Crowhurst via Zimbio 

Ascot Day 4

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Royal Hats After yesterday’s amazing day of wild hats for Ladies’ Day and the Queen’s unexpected win of the Gold cup, the hats and atmosphere at Ascot today was decidedly more sedate. I’m so happy to again welcome Katie Vale of Katie Vale Designs to share her opinions on today’s Royal Ascot hats.

Queen Elizabeth in an Angela Kelly design

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Katie Vale: I really like the textured sinamay, and think it goes well with the texture of her outfit.  I like the shape of the brim.  However I think both the flowers & the feathers are too much.  I think the flowers actually look a bit tatty and as though they are from the bargain bucket of a haberdashery!  It’s a shame as the blue ostrich feathers are gorgeous.

Royal Hats Blog: I nearly cried when I saw this… thing. I can’t bring myself to call it a hat. It’s a starched crocheted doily molded into a cartoon caricature of a hat, trimmed with dollar store flowers and plonked on the head of one of the loveliest women in the world. Of all the designers out there making beautiful hats, I cannot understand why she would choose this. I agree Katie- the blue feather is the only redeemable thing about this hat. The rest should be driven over by a large truck.

Countess of Wessex in a Jane Taylor design

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Katie Vale: I actually just gasped when I saw this picture!  Stunning!  Gorgeous shape!  Such a lovely flow to it.  And the delicate black cherry blossom on it is just lovely!  Hoorah for this hat!!!

 Royal Hats Blog: I am awed speechless by this hat. It is just beautiful! It is similar to the “Lady A” design, also by Jane Taylor, Sophie wore for the Luxembourg royal wedding last October and the hat she wore earlier this week for the Order of the Garter. It is a great shape on Sophie and works particularly well with her new hairstyle. I agree Katie- this is one of the best hats we’ve seen this week!

Princess Michael of Kent in a Philip Treacy design

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Katie Vale: Very nice.  Very unoffensive and nice subtle tones.  It doesn’t excite me, but I think that’s due to the colour than the design (I’m not a blue girl!).  the disc shape is lovely and very “in” at the moment.  And the grey flowers are lovely, but I’m not sure about the pale blue piece of chiffon in there, I don’t think it’s necessary if I’m honest!  But overall it works

Royal Hats Blog: Marie-Christine wore this hat to Ascot last year (and to Epsom in 2012) but I’m not complaining because it is a stunning hat. Since blue is one of my favourite colours, I’m going to shower love on this hat! It’s fun, dramatic and whimsical- exactly the kind of things you want an Ascot hat to be.

Princess Sarvath El Hassan of Jordan

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Katie Vale: Very pretty and delicate colour.  But I think the feathers appear messy and unstructured.  Feathers can be used in many ways, but this looks as though there is no real shape to it at all and it’s just plonked on!  I’m not feeling the love for this one!  (Also note that if in the Royal Enclosure you must have a hat or fascinator with a base at least 10cm in diameter, or you won’t be allowed in.  So in theory this shouldn’t be allowed in the Royal Enclosure.  Therefore, I don’t think it’s grand enough to sit next to the Queen at Royal Ascot!)

Royal Hats Blog: I really like the look of an unstructured feather fascinator tucked into a neat chignon like this one. The teal feathers are a beautiful contrast against Princess Sarvath’s hair colour and skin tone and the overall effect is rather playful and fun. For arrival at Ascot with the Queen however, I agree with you Katie. This is not nearly enough hat. I wonder what they do when the Royals themselves don’t meet the dress standards of the Royal Enclosure….

Other notable hats today included those worn by: Pippa Middleton (I loved her whole outfit); Julia Bradbury; Lisa Scott-Lee; Brix Smith-Start and Dawn O’Porter.. Please join us here tomorrow for our final day of Ascot coverage. Thanks again to Katie Vale who has made our posts this week so very enjoyable!

UPDATE-  Photos of Princess Haya were finally released showing her at Day 4 of Royal Ascot in this absolutely divine white picture hat. Had we seen this earlier, I’m quite certain Katie Vale and I would have deemed this one of the most spectacular hats of the week. Magnificent!

Photos from Getty as indicated; Rex Features via AP; and Rex Features via AP.