Chinese President Arrives in Belgium

Posted on March 30, 2014 by Royal Hats

King Philippe and Queen Mathilde greeted Chinese President Xi Jinping and first lady Peng Liyuan, who arrived in Belgium this morning to begin a state visit. At first glance, I thought Queen Mathilde, who looked striking in royal blue, was wearing the same calot hat she wore for her recent visit to Luxembourg. Alas, the hat she wore today is different. Looking closely at this ensemble, I fell in love with Mathilde’s dress but thought her hat fell flat. The calot shape was a perfect pair for the structured dress but the seam down the middle of the hat and the single feather made the hat lack both polish and punch in my estimation. And when a royal hat lacks both of these things, what’s the point of it being there? Royal blue is a marvelous colour for Mathilde while she looked great overall (those shoes are killer!), I think she would have looked just as great without this hat. Maybe even better. But enough about my ranting- what do you think about Mathilde’s outfit and hat today?

Queen Mathilde, March 30, 2014 | The Royal Hats Blog

Designer: unknown
Previously Worn: I believe this hat is new

Photos from Belga, Belga, Belga and Belga via LaVenir

Imperial Couple Travel Home

Posted on March 30, 2014 by Royal Hats

On Friday, Emperor Akihito and Empress Michiko returned to Tokyo from Ujiyamada Station in Ise City after several days spent in Mie Prefecture. For this train journey, the Empress wore a hat we have not seen before, and in pink, no less! This hat, a medium sized saucer, featured a pink hound’s tooth bow in the same fabric as Michiko’s jacket and a spray of pink flowers. It is one of the more vibrant hats we have seen on The Empress and I thought it was marvelous to see her in some colour. I also thought the interesting diagonal pink collar on her jacket coordinated well with her hat and made the whole outfit come alive. Empress Michiko looked great, don’t you think?

Empress Michiko, March 28, 2014 | The Royal Hats Blog

Photo from The Imperial Family of Japan

Cambridge Couple at Country Wedding

Posted on March 29, 2014 by Royal Hats

The Duke and Duchess of Cambridge and Price Harry attended the wedding of their close friends, Lucy Mead and Charlie Budgett, today in Gloucestershire. For these nuptials, Kate repeated her embellished black beret, trimmed with wool felt blooms. It is a fine hat but I think her Missoni coat would have been better accessorized by one of her navy hats (this one or this one). There’s something about the light coat and sombre wool hat that doesn’t jive for me. What do you think?

Duchess of Cambridge, March 29, 2014 in Lock & Co. | The Royal Hats Blog

Kate’s hat Designer: Sylvia Fletcher of Lock & Co. It is the “Fairy Tale” style.
Previously Worn: November 11, 2013; Sept. 23, 2013; March 17, 2013; March 8, 2012

Photo from Splash News via Rumourfix

Queen Máxima Celebrates Education Center Anniversary

Posted on March 28, 2014 by Royal Hats

Yesterday afternoon, Queen Máxima of the Netherlands attended the 10th anniversary of the ROC education center in Utrecht. To open a new department of the RVD, take part in a guest lecture on entrepreneurship and speak with former student, Queen Máxima repeated a brown camel vagabond style hat trimmed with a grosgrain ribbon band and multi-looped bow. When Máxima wore this hat for Prinsjesday in September 2011, I did not like it- I thought it was too informal for such an important event. Yesterday, however, I liked it a lot. This hat seems so much better suited to yesterday’s engagement; while I thought Máxima’s brown boots, coat and dress were a sea of too much bland brown, I thought she looked very chic. What do you think of this hat?

Queen Máxima, March 27, 2014 in Fabienne Delvigne | The Royal Hats Blog

Designer: Fabienne Delvigne
Previously Worn: October 6, 2011; September 20, 2011

Photos from and via Patrick van Katwijk and Patrick van Katwijk via Corbis and Semana

Imperial Couple Visit Historical Museum

Posted on March 27, 2014 by Royal Hats

Emperor Akihito and Empress Michiko of Japan visited the Saikū Historical Museum this morning in Meiwa-cho in the Mie Prefecture. The Empress repeated the lovely white and lime green ensemble and hat we first saw her wear during their Imperial Majesties’ recent trip to India. The video taken today gives us a better view of this hat than we have seen before- the striking bow on this white saucer hat features a gold metallic sheen and an ombre colour gradient from white to green. I think it is wonderful to see the Empress in some colour and like the larger size of this hat on her. What do you think of this hat?

Empress Michiko, March 27, 2014 | The Royal Hats Blog