Queen Máxima of the Netherlands was in Almere yesterday to lend her support to the opening of ‘Almere On Stage’, an interactive program that provides knowledge of vocational and education possibilities to high school students. For this event, Maxima debuted a new calot hat. Made of an open weave fabric combining the colours of her tunic and skirt, this calot was covered in long folded ‘leaves’ that wrapped around the circular hat. These leaves provided lovely movement and dimension to the hat and unified each element of the ensemble. I also thought Queen Máxima wore it to great effect, placing it slightly off centre around her chignon and choosing small but vibrant earrings. It’s a modern hat that fits so well with the modern way Máxima wears hats to daytime engagements.
Designer: Fabienne Delvigne
Previously Worn: this is a new hat
This makes me wonder, dear readers- if 2013 was the year of the toque hat and 2014 was the year of the pillbox, is 2015 shaping up to be the year of the calot?
Photos from Albert Philip Van Der Werf and Patrick van Katwijk via Corbis; Patrick van Emst / Pictures News via Paris Match; and Patrick van Katwijk via Corbis
Royal Hats 
I’m not sure this is the right hat for the outfit, but it’s a really great hat for Maxima. The structure gives it a contemporary/postmodern vine that suits her personality and overall sense of personal style without sacrificing any prettiness or femininity. I’ve felt that those wrap hats are Delvigne working through an idea she hadn’t quite worked the kinks out of; this feels to me like the designer figuring out how to make those shapes really work.
Beautiful outfit with a silly hat. Don’t like this hat at all.
I have to commend this Queen for taking so many fashion risks. I like this hat, the top, the bag, the shoes, and the bracelets. I don’t like the skirt because it is a drab colour, there is too much volume and it’s a daggy length. I like the idea of red earrings, but I would have preferred some of the glorious ruby ones from the Dutch royal jewel collection to these ones.
I am in complete agreement with what Aussie Princess Caroline says: February 6, 2015 at 9:46 pm. I hope HatQueen is correct and 2015 is the year of the calot.
I’m surprised at the number of positive comments. While this hat might make an interesting table decoration because of its unfolding leaves, it makes Queen Máxima’s hair look messier than usual and her head too big for the hat. The whole ensemble is a weird mixture of unflattering colors. Perhaps I will take more kindly to this hat at a later date.
Pass
I like this hat a lot. I think it accomplishes what the ‘bandage’ hats never did – to be lighter and less structured. This one still has form and shape and isn’t just wrapped around her head. Very nice!
I agree with what you wrote.
Well… I am old fashioned I know. When I look at these pictures of Queen Maxima’s hat in juxtaposition with Princess Alexandra’s, there is NO CONTEST!
Don’t like at all.
LOVE LOVE LOVE. When Fabienne Delvigne gets it right for Max, they REALLY GET IT RIGHT.
Royalista called this hat a chocolate soufflé!
This is a great hat! And she wears it to perfection.
I like this one a lot — the skirt however could do with a tad less volume on her
I definitely call this a win and love this whole ensemble, although I do wish you could see the chignon from the front. I do wonder what this would look like placed more forward on the head.
LOVE!
I agree HatQueen, 2015 may well be the year of the calot, though I doubt we will see Queen Elizabeth in one, though she did wear them many years ago. I love Queen Máxima’s hat, and it is always exciting when she debuts a new hat, because I find I either love them or hate them and there’s no middle ground. I especially like the placement slightly off center to work with her chignon, and this is the perfect example of a successful hat and hair combination. The earrings also assist in making this look work. Keep up the good work Queen Máxima!
We might have to do a tour of some of Queen Elizabeth’s calots from the 1950s and 1960s!
You make a good point about hairstyle. I think the success of a calot hat is partially dependent on hairstyle. I think you’ve given me another idea for a post…!
HatQueen I would love to review some of the British Queen’s calots and I think she wore them well, and perhaps she may still have some of them and bring them back.
I agree with what HatQueen HatQueen says: February 6, 2015 at 5:39 pm, a tour of some of Queen Elizabeth’s calots from the 1950s and 1960s would be a good idea!
My family and I agree with all your comments TiarasRUs, except we did not like these ear rings, and we also thought the skirt looked to big for her.