On Wednesday, Dutch Princess Beatrix attended the European Congress on Polio Post-Polio Syndrome in Amsterdam. She topped her black and coral tunic and skirt with a black brimless hat. This hat featured a wide diagonal band of black straw with a metallic sheen as contrast. It feels a little heavy for a summer hat for me although there is no arguing, this is one of Princess Beatrix’s signature hat shapes.

Designer: I believe it is Suaznne Moulijn
Previously Worn: January 29, 2014; May 27, 2009
Rpe/Albert Ph. Van Der Werf and Rpe/Albert Ph. Van Der Werf via Corbis
I like the print of her outfit but the black hat is too heavy for summer and too overwhelming for a small, delicate print. I’m getting bored with her tending to over-use this hat shape.
Maybe in a coral shade it might have been less heavy looking – it is ‘her’ hat – no doubt about it – and ya gotta hand it to her for sticking with a look she clearly likes and feels comfortable in. It suits her – but I still all it a ‘stack of plates’ hat!
I wish for something lighter with a different shape.