Headwear Association Hall of Fame 2014

The Headwear Association, the oldest trade association in the fashion industry (established in 1908), announced six inductees into their hall of fame this year. Five of the six inductees were actors or musicians, while the sixth was someone we know all too well here on Royal Hats :

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Designer: Rachel Trevor Morgan
Previously Worn:
 May 2, 2013; April 26, 2012; November 21, 2011; May 12, 2010; June 27, 2009; November 19, 2007

For a full review of the 2014 Headwear Hall of Fame Inductees, please refer to this article.

Photo from Getty as indicated

Turkish State Visit to Denmark

The Danish Royal Family welcomed Turkish President Abdullah Gül and Mrs.Gül yesterday for a state visit to Denmark. To greet the Turkish couple at the airport, Queen Margrethe repeated her white flat disk hat trimmed with white fur. This remains one of my favourite of Margrethe’s hats although the whole look is a bit too icy white, in my opinion, for the start of spring.

Queen Margrethe, March 17, 2014 | The Royal Hats BlogQueen Margrethe, March 17, 2014 | The Royal Hats Blog Queen Margrethe, March 17, 2014 | The Royal Hats Blog

Designer: unknown
Previously Worn: April 4, 2013; February 3, 2013; January 14, 2012

Crown Princess Mary repeated a grey calot hat with leaf trim on one side. Her hairstyle complimented this hat beautifully; I also thought this hat was an understated compliment to Mary’s grey coat and black dress. I’m not usually a fan of closely fitting calot hats (they look like helmets!) but I thought this one was very fitting for today’s welcome ceremony.

Princess Mary, March 17, 2014 | The Royal Hats Blog Princess Mary, March 17, 2014 | The Royal Hats Blog

Princess Mary, March 17, 2014 | The Royal Hats Blog

Princess Mary, March 17, 2014 | The Royal Hats Blog Princess Mary, March 17, 2014 | The Royal Hats Blog

Designer: unknown. My guess is Susanne Juul
Previously Worn: January 14, 2012

Princess Marie topped off her tailored coat with a pink cocktail hat. This hat, comprised of multiple petals and a feather pouf center, was far from understated but I suppose it worked well enough on Marie. Again, I thought her low side chignon was the perfect hairstyle for this hat. It is nice to see Marie in some colour although I’m just not sure this hat was the right one for this event.

Princess Mary and Princess Marie, March 17, 2014 | The Royal Hats Blog Princess Marie, March 17, 2014 | The Royal Hats Blog

Designer: unknown 
Previously Worn: I believe this headpiece is new.

Princess Benedikte looked elegant in a brimless black hat trimmed with a spray of black feathers. I think I may have preferred a navy hat with her coat and dress but this hat is lovely on her, especially with that hit of fuchsia lipstick.

Princess Benedikte, March 17, 2014 | The Royal Hats Blog Princess Benedikte, March 17, 2014 | The Royal Hats Blog

Designer: unknown. My guess is again, Susanne Juul
Previously Worn: March 9, 2006February 2, 2005

It’s lovely to see the whole Danish royal family in attendance at these events. Which royal hat was your favourite today?

Danish Royal Family, March 17, 2014 | The Royal Hats Blog

Photos from Nikolai Linares via BT.dk and Patrick van Katwijk via Dutch Photo Press

Cambridges at St. Patrick’s Parade

The Duke and Duchess of Cambridge attended the St. Patrick’s Day parade at Mons Barracks today in Aldershot. For this visit to the 1st Battalion Irish Guards to present the traditional sprigs of Shamrocks to the Officers and Guardsmen of the Regiment, Kate was predictably dressed in green. She repeated the bow-trimmed hard shell beret hat we saw her debut at Christmas. While I like this hat and the tailored green coat she wore, I wasn’t a fan of the two pieces together. I think without the green belt and shoes, it might have worked a little better. That being said, today was indeed a day for head to toe green and Kate certainly delivered. What do you think of her St. Patrick’s themed ensemble?

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Designer: Gina Foster. This is the “Mirabel” hat
Previously Worn: December 25, 2013

Photos from Getty as indicated

Queen Elizabeth and the Duke of Edinburgh Visit University

Queen Elizabeth and Prince Philip visited Royal Holloway at University Of London in Egham yesterday. The Queen repeated a vibrant blue woven straw hat. I have long admired the colour of this hat and the pattern of the woven straw, but am not sure about the bow or the bulbous shape of the top of the hat.

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Singing the registry gave us a view of the crown of this hat. I had long suspected the crown shape of this hat was similar to Angela Kelly’s other wrapped crown hats (see here) and this photo yesterday confirmed my suspicion. I think I would like this hat better with a simpler, flat top but the colour is magic on Her Majesty, who wears blue so very, very well.

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Designer: Angela Kelly
Previously Worn: October 11, 2011; May 11, 2010; March 8, 2010; November 28, 2008

Photos from Getty as indicated

Gold Cup Day at Cheltenham

Princess Anne and Zara Phillips attended the Cheltenham Festival for the third consective day yesterday to take in the Gold Cup races. Princess Anne repeated a hat we have not seen on her for at least a decade- a black Homberg style hat with a studded band around the crown and slightly upturned brim on one side. One of our eagle eyed readers spotted this hat on Princess Anne back in 1969. That makes it at least 45 years old and cements Princess Anne as THE most enthusiastic royal fashion recycler. Hat recycling aside, I think this piece doesn’t translate well to current day and would have been best left back in the 1970s.

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Designer: John Boyd
Previously Worn: This event and this event in 1969.

Thankfully, Zara’s hat was more successful. She looked lovely in a dove grey “elegant velour felt circular dish with delicate hand dyed lace detailing”. While I prefer Zara in more saturated colours, the shape and detailing of this hat is exquisite.

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Designer: Jane Taylor. It is the “Greta” design
Previously Worn: This hat is new

Photos from Getty as indicated