Prince Masahito and Princess Hanako of Hitachi departed for Paris today to attend the Laureate Announcement Ceremony of Praemium Imperiale. Princess Hanako continued her recent streak of chic millinery with this small white brimless hat. The graphic shape, with straight sides, domed crown and diagonal band around the side of the hat, is a rather modern departure for a Japanese princess but I thought it was so interesting. Hanako wears hats with strong shapes very well and I hope this is a trend she will continue.

Designer: unknown
Previously Worn: I believe this is a new hat
Photo from ANN News
Now that’s a smart hat.
Simply lovely !
So very, very elegant. I don’t know much about the Japanese royals, is she a sister of the emperor?
Almost, she’s his sister-in-law, married to his younger brother Prince Hitachi. She herself was born into an aristocratic family and was very very distantly already related through marriage to an uncle of her husband, I believe. Anyway, she’s very elegant and very active, especially considering she’s 73. Rarely wears a hat that I dislike.
I like the sophisticated plainness . Our queen would look lovely in similar.
It must be about the only style QEII hasn’t tried. Maybe for her 89th birthday/year!