On the third day of their visit to Japan today, King Willem-Alexander and Queen Máxima of the Netherlands attended a Food and Agribusiness conference. Queen Máxima repeated her khaki green pleated fabric calot hat, a hat which was clearly custom made to coordinate with her striped Natan skirt. Her hairstyle and drop earrings showcased this hat very well and the colour, which might seem boring to some, provided a quietly elegant contrast against her blonde locks.
Some of you have commented over the past few days that Máxima’s characteristically vibrant style has overwhelmed the pastel-clad Japanese royals; I think this hat today was a better bridge between these polar opposite styles. What did you think of this pleated calot hat today in Japan?
Designer: Fabienne Delvigne
Previously Worn: February 13, 2014
Photos from Robin Utrecht, Albert Nieboer, Robin Utrecht, Robin Utrecht, Robin Utrecht, and Robin Utrecht via Corbbis
Royal Hats 
I like this hat so much better than the bandage hats, that I’m willing to give it a thumbs up.
i like the idea of this look, but the execution feels sloppy. The clothes don’t quite fit, the folds of fabric on the hat look a little messy in those straight-on shots of her face, and from about half the angles, it seems like her hairstyle and hat size are in really poor proportion to one another.
I had the same feeling about the previous day–the teal and purple ensemble should have looked great, but messy hairpins and the fact that I could see her bra (etc) through that solid dress made it problematic.
That hat itself really isn’t bad, but I’m afraid that this outfit just gets worse the farther down one looks. The color and placement of the hat make the hair look somewhat messy. The skirt appears too tight, and I can’t tell what that band of black/brown/burgundy? leather with little blue stripe is — is that the top of the skirt? a cummerbund? The matching skirt and calot show that some attention was paid to putting a coordinated outfit together, but then one notices the shoes — gray suede with a darker heel perhaps? Purse might match the shoes, but neither goes with anything else. I’m afraid that I find each individual element unflattering, and that doesn’t provide much possibility for a polished outfit.
I’m not sure this hat is a very attractive colour, but this khaki can be quite elegant. However, I don’t think the outfit this goes with is very flattering, so the colour of the hat rather loses its point. I’d like to see the hat in a prettier colour, as I don’t think the shape is unattractive in itself.
Hat, jewelry, shoes, hair, and makeup…very nice. The navy color also nice. I do not like the skirt though. A solid navy dress would have been perfection with this hat.
dirty bandages
Don’t know why but I’m getting Mary Tyler Moore from the head and shoulders pic! Max looks very chic from the waist up – see York girls this is how to have your hair down and wear a hat (though goodness knows max can look unkempt with the best of them). The hat is flattering – is there any colour this woman can’t wear? – and I don’t mind how she’s wearing it.
But why do designers create unflattering clothes for women? It’s kind of like a sick joke. Max has a beautiful figure and is a healthy role model so I am very critical of a designer who would put her in such a skirt. Also her stylist should have said something, knowing that the camera adds 7lbs/3.5kg to everyone. Looking in a mirror isn’t always a guide, especially one of those ‘altered’ mirrors that dress shops love for their fitting rooms! 🙂
I agree with you about Maxima’s hat and hair–this does look quite nice, doesn’t it?
No
I like this khaki green pleated fabric calot hat and I think it is flattering to Queen Máxima. I like the color on her blonde hair, but she would look more elegant with her hair tied back, not hanging down. I don’t like the off-center placement. I think this hat would also look good on Princess Beatrice of York’s auburn tresses or on Crown Princess Mette-Marit’s platinum hair. I like Queen Máxima’s coordinating earrings too. The color compliments her navy top, though the top is ill-fitting and tight. I hate the skirt, as it is ill-fitting and the navy and burgundy and khaki green stripes is just color overload to me.
The hat is okay and the shape works very well on her. On other sites there have been endless discussions over the years on her clothes. She does have a great figure, but the clothes are often a size or two small, and this is ongoing. She has a lovely vibrant personality and an extensive wardrobe, but she needs to buy a different size. The color of the outfit is not good either. It just doesn’t flatter her.
Do you think the hat flatters her?
Except for her magnificent smile, from head to toe . . .yuck!
ditto
amen! the hat: meh. huge egg cosy. no, max, you can do better.
The hat is just an OK for me — I do like the color however – I was this same hair color for years before mine went all gray and I used to wear this shade often and always got compliments. The dress however – gads — anyone even looking in a mirror should see how very unflattering it is. This golden-rod shade with navy and burgundy was a popular color combo in the 70s for a few fall seasons.
Agreed. The skirt is very unflattering on her. She has such a lovely figure, but this just doesn’t work for her.
The hat is an ugly color, but other than that it looks nice. Her outfit on the other hand! Two sizes too small is never flattering.
I like this hat, though I am on the fence about the off-center placement. Looks very nice with this hairstyle. Color-coordinating with the Imperials is tricky as IMO Max is best in vibrant tones that the Imperials are just not going to wear. This is OK in that respect, but not that flattering on Max.
I mostly agree with Gransgirl–I do like the color on her blond hair and her hairstyle, the simple pleating w/o extra decorations, and the color also goes well with her navy top/jacket.