I don’t know about you but I am enjoying the Belgian inauguration tour very much. So far, it has been celebration, smiles and a new hat at each stop. What more could be better?! King Philippe and Queen Mathilde moved on to Arlon today and the fun continued. Queen Mathilde also debuted quite the hat- a tomato red convertible hat with large folded side bow. I have not expressed much affection for these open-topped millinery wonders and while this piece is attractive, I think it would be a show-stopper with a closed crown. What do you think?
Designer: Fabienne Delvigne
Photos from Olivier Polet/Corbis
Royal Hats 
Oh I love this hat! Such a great color.
This is one of the few open-topped hats that I like (Queen Silvia’s recent variation on the pillbox being another). I do think it would look better with a crown though. I am intrigued by how one gets these kinds of hats on without mussing up the hair. it could be a nightmare.
Oh my, this is so chic. l love love the hat, I want that hat….and the coatdress is perfect. Seems her hubby is giving her side glances of admiration and that says it all, what a beautiful couple! This time lovely Queen M, you look so smashing!
I was ‘no’ on this no-crown hat but on second look I think she is pulling it off, but just barely. I guess overall it is a compromise: you have a hat in one respect but are bare-headed on the crown. I really liked the one Queen Silvia wore recently the best.
I do love Mathilde in orange. This would be perfection with a closed crown.
I don’t seem to have much feeling one way or the other on the hat. I do wonder why she tends to be head to toe in the same color a lot of times. This was a little too much color for me, but sometimes she gets it just right. Yes, this couple have great chemistry.
Love the coatdress, not loving the hat. The hat would look great with a crown and in another color. Maybe black, dark brown or one of Maxima’s grey ones LOL. I’ve only seen one crown-less hat that I thought was beautiful. It was worn by the wife of a Spanish politician at the 2004 Spanish Royal wedding. IMO that was the best hat wedding I’ve ever seen, but I tend to favor big, dramatic hats
IMHO open crowns are fine as a category. I don’t get that visor vibe in general, and this one in particular is quite nice. One thing that bothers me here though is the weird wrinkle on the right side of the brim. It looks a little like someone sat on that side.
The dress is lovely.
I don’t like the open top hats. not even this one. I would just love it if it had a nice crown on it. I’ve looked at it several times and the open top just ruins it for me each time. I have to wonder, were the shoes orange as well?
No. It looks like they were black http://galeries.lalibre.be/album/familleroyale/joyeuseentreearlon/26.jpg/
This isn’t bad at all, wonderful colour and a really good shape. But having said that, what comes to my mind is, what designer would imagine that it looks better like this than it would with a crown? and I’m flummoxed!
It almost seems to be a Fabienne Delvigne trademark. Queen Silvia, Grand Duchess Maria Theresa and Queen Máxima have all worn these open-topped hats by Fabienne Delvigne.
Ah, yes… Well, I wonder if she truly thinks the open crown brings something extra to the hats, or is she allowing the desire to develop signature styles overcome her judgement…? I suppose she must really believe it adds something, but I would dispute that! (Except, I suppose, commentability, and I’m assume providing fodder for blog comments isn’t her number one priority…)
I have to agree on this… Open top is great for a visor when jogging, but otherwise, looking at it makes me long for something missing. However, that is one bold, solid color outfit that she can pull off with elegance. I would look like a hideous GMO, too many pesticides, tomato walking around.
I’m sorry but no. This looks like a visor.
I also typically don’t like open crown hats but this one is really OK – not sure if it’s the proportions or the color or fabrication – maybe all of them.
On second look, this hat really does work. I’m not sure why, either!
I absolutely love it. I think she looks great. Evidently in that last photo her husband thinks so as well.
I like this hat although I don’t like open topped hats in general. I also like the affection and chemistry this couple has together. They are so sweet.
She looks so elegant and lovely!