Grand Duchess Maria Teresa of Luxembourg celebrates her 58th birthday today. Maria Teresa is not someone who shies away from fantastical and bold hats (remember this one and this one she wore last year?) but I find that more often than not, it is the dramatic hat that ends up wearing her and takes center stage. I would love to see Maria Teresa do away with large brimmed hats in favour of smaller but saucier cocktail hats in more flattering colours (no magenta please!) worn jauntily on the side of her face. British bespoke milliner Dillon Wallwork, designer of the pink cocktail hat below, would be such a dream designer for her. I think this hat would be lovely on Maria Teresa if it was in a warmer hued colour (brown, ochre, sienna or brick red).
What hat designer or style of hat would you like to see on the Grand Duchess?
Photo from Dillon Wallwork Bespoke Hats
Royal Hats 
Dillon is my teacher and my friend. He has designed for all the royals including the late Lady Diana. He is simply the best.
I think Grand Duchess Maria Theresa would look nice in a headpiece flowered flowered like the one The Countess of Wessex wore to William and Kate’s wedding or like this one. It would frame her face but also give her some height.
I think both of these hats were designed by Jane Taylor (Sophie’s hat certainly was). I think this would be a beautiful hat style for Grand Duchess Maria Teresa, particularly to compliment some of her Armani and Elie Saab clothes.
Dillon Wallwork is another brilliant designer suggestion for Grand Duchess Maria Theresa although I think this design would be better than the pink hat you suggest
Aaaargh. Grand Duchess MT loves bling, pizzazz and hats that make a statement. Why is everyone giving her bland brown? Here’s some sparkly red Jane Taylor to get this discussion back on track.
http://www.janetaylormillinery.com/onlinestore/venita
Maybe there’s a compromise that remains true to the Grand Duchess’ dramatic hat style but looks a little more flattering on her. I love the idea of her in Jane Taylor. Something like the ‘Elsie’ hat maybe?
http://www.janetaylormillinery.com/onlinestore/elsie
I totally agree. Does MT ever wear blue?
http://www.janetaylormillinery.com/collection/bluebell-percher-cocktail-feather
I think that cream and brown Elsie hat would be very cute on her.
I really like that beige hat with the rust coloured puff on the side. I haven’t seen anything like it before.
I went on the Jane Taylor Milliner website and there are some beautiful hats. I came across this one that took my breathe away. So now I’m wondering if This Grand Duchess really doesn’t look good in hats with brims or if all the hats with brims she’s worn have just been duds. I can’t imagine anyone looking bad in this hat.
http://www.janetaylormillinery.com/collection/zinnia-coolie-brim-rose-feather
I agree! This Nigel Rayment hat does not have too large a brim but has a lot of personality and fun. It may be wonderful for The Grand Duchess.
http://www.samuelshats.com/ecommerce/designer/nigel-rayment-england/nigel-rayment-f21.html
THANK YOU. A lot of these hats are pretty boring but her style is obviously much bigger and more adventurous. Don’t reign her in! Bigger is better and here is a royal that is FINALLY willing to experiment and go BIG. Here is some more red sparkle for MT. I think it’s Izziana Millinery. Happy Birthday Grand Duchess!
Always wanted to see MT in this Jane Taylor. Fabulous!
I like the “Theda Bara” beret style hat by “Lock and co Hatters”
Another reader suggested the teal Bellinda Haase design (beautiful BTW!). I love the idea of MT in caramel and this Bellinda Haase would be just fabulous on her
http://hatacademy.com/photo/velour-felt-cocktail?context=user
Another marvelous hat. I think some royals looking for new hat designers need to cast their view ‘down under’. There is some fabulous millinery being made in Australia.
There IS fabulous millinery in Australia! I think Grand Duchess Maria Theresa would look smashing in Louise MacDonald
http://www.millinery.com.au/melbourne-fashion-hat126.html
http://www.millinery.com.au/melbourne-fashion-hat170.html
http://www.millinery.com.au/melbourne-fashion-hat205.html
I saw this and thought it might be nice with a navy suit.
I like that hat! Looking at the other suggestions, I can’t understand why no one has suggested a traditional hat with a brim. I think she would look very elegant in a simple, traditional hat like this one designed by Rachel Trevor Morgan
Yes! Or this pinky taupe one. It would go with anything. I think it’s made by the same designer.
Yes, this is a Rachel Trevor Morgan design.
I don’t like these cocktail hats teetering on the side of the forehead. They do not look royal or even very professional. Thank you for suggesting these beautiful hats.
Here is a small but very saucy cocktail hat by Tricia Rousch
http://www.etsy.com/ca/listing/165531375/the-power-of-pluff-mini-pillbox-hat?ref=shop_home_active_21
OMG! I LOVE this hat! It is awesome for any princess or queen.
I looked back at some of GDMT’s hat’s and a lot of them really do overwhelm her. I think you’re on to something with the cocktail hats and I think this Reny Kestel would be a great color on her. With the right outfit it would be amazing.
http://www.renykestel.com/item/ribbon-button
Ashelen- what a beautiful hat. This would be perfect for Grand Duchess Maria Teresa! I think this is the colour Nelly and I were trying to describe.
Quite quite!!!
This pink hat would be fine with just one of the bow loops but with the double set, it is too much. I would also like to see Grand Duchess Maria Teresa in a red hat. I think she would be beautiful in red.
Love your blog but for just for the once cannot agree with you in the hat suggestion. I think she needs warm colours like Maxima, what about a hat in soft but warm yellow with a form that gives here some height.
I agree- that’s why I said in the post I’d like this hat on her but in a warmer colour!
Sorry, then we totally agree and thank you very much for all the hat fun you give us!
No worries! I tried to find the exact hat we both envision but couldn’t quite find it. I suppose orange is not a colour most royals (or people in general) can or choose to wear!
The great British milliner Simone Mirman is quoted, “If your features are even, you can wear a small hat even though your face is large. A small woman can wear a big hat in spite of all the warnings against it; but it must be in proportion to her size. She should never try to wear a hat to make her look taller. She’ll fool no one about her size that way.”
Grand Duchess Maria Theresa tried a tall hat last year on National Day and it was, ahem, not a success. I am afraid her lack of height is just accentuated with a tall hat.
My dark turquoise cocktail hat!
http://www.etsy.com/ca/listing/74862335/dark-turquoise-fascinator-hat-for?ref=shop_home_active_8
Sorry but that pink hat would look really silly on MT. I’m all for more polished hats for her but give her something more age appropriate like this Bellinda Haase
http://hatacademy.com/photo/aqua-cocktail-hat?context=user
Thank you. I agree on all accounts. When I saw that cotton candy spun sugar nightmare suggested for Grand Duchess Maria Teresa I thought that the good taste displayed in this blog had evaporated. HatQueen, you author and host a sublime medium for all things related to royal hats but I am afraid your hat choice in this instance is unforgiveable. Dela has rectified this horreur with this beautiful alternative suggestion. Thanks be.
Gorgeous hat!
What about a fabulous emerald green and black derby hat.
nice hat for the races and maybe her new coming grandbaby black and white always looks so good
LOVE LOVE LOVE this hat. I’m not sure it’s best for MT- maybe Maxima?