On Thursday this week, the Exhibition of Ikebana (traditional Japanese flower arrangement) in Tokyo was attended by Princess Hanako. For this event, the Princess, who is Honorary President of Japan Ikebana Art Association, wore a pale periwinkle blue variation of a bowler hat with raised brim on one side. I am not usually a fan of this hat shape but the asymmetrical raised brim transforms this hat style into something fashionably modern and the colour looks wonderful on Princess Hanako. It’s a rather chic hat, don’t you agree?
Yesterday, Princess Hisako of Hitatchi travelled to Osaka to attend the 9th Japan Bio Venture Awards. Princess Hisako topped her cream suit with a tan felt curved-brim Sailor hat trimmed with a grosgrain ribbon around the crown and feathery ‘claw’ cascading from the back. While the feathery ‘claw’ is not very attractive on its own, I like this hat better with it than I would if it were removed. The Countess of Wessex has a hat with similar trim and both hats benefit from the lift, focus and slight edginess this trim brings. This hat style works very well for Princess Hisako and the combination of her hat, suit and jewellery make for a very stylish ensemble.
I used the words “chic” and “stylish” to describe these two Imperial royal hats- these two Japanese Princesses have certainly stepped up their hat game so far in 2015. Well done!
Photos from Sankei
Royal Hats 
I like both hats. They are very becoming to the ladies wearing them.
Princess Hanako’s hat is the winner to my family and I. The periwinkle is in harmony with her skin, hair and eye tones. Princess Hisako of Hitatchi’s tan hat is not quite so right for her, but her cream suit is. The feathery ‘claw’ is not very attractive at all and I wonder why a milliner would put this on a hat? Of course the final approval for the wardrobe of the Imperial family always rests with the Imperial Household Agency, so this restricts their fashion options.
I agree with what Tatsuya Kuniyoshi says: March 1, 2015 at 12:08 am. In answer to the question of why a milliner would put this on a hat? I can only think one of the following reasons.
A. They have run out of ideas for what trim to put on a hat, and are clutching at straws, or rather, ‘claws!’
B. The milliner, or perhaps even Princess Hisako of Hitatchi herself, saw a photo of the ‘claw’ hat of the Countess of Wessex, and liked it.
C. A desire to do something edgy and different from the conservative hats the Japanese Imperial Family usually wear.
D. It looks to me like the brooch she is wearing has a bird on it, so maybe they were trying to carry an avian theme onto the hat.
Perhaps the milliner reads this Website’s articles, and they would be kind enough to tell us? Putting a ‘claw’ on a hat wouldn’t exactly come readily to my mind!
I too believe that in this case Princess Hanako’s hat is the better of the two, both for its style and its color.
I think Princess Hanako’s hat is the better hat of the two, but her suit and accessories are very dated.. The periwinkle blue colour is very flattering to her colouring, and the bowler hat shape suits her well. HatQueen is correct that the raised brim on one side has improved the hat. I liked Princess Hisako’s cream suit better than the suit worn by Princess Hanako. It looks like a top and skirt, rather than a traditional jacket and the high neckline adds an interesting touch. The tan hat suited her, but I just cannot get on board with this idea of putting a claw on a hat, and I also did not like the claw trim on Sophie, Countess of Wessex’s hat. This is not a trim that I want to see copied again.
I like both hats but if I was buying one I would prefer the hat worn by Princess Hanako. The pale periwinkle blue color is very feminine and elegant, and it is an unexpected color for a bowler-style hat, which tends to have a more androgynous look usually, so it is usually in dark, bold colors like browns and tan, and I do think it benefits from the raised brim on one side. I like the matching color top or blouse, peeking out from under her suit. I liked Princess Hisako’s cream suit and I thought her tan felt Sailor hat trimmed with a grosgrain ribbon around the crown was cute, until I saw the feathery ‘claw’ at the back. I didn’t like this claw addition to the Countess of Wessex’s hat either.
Stunning hats for two stylish ladies
Nice