Day 3 of Belgian State Visit to Poland

The Belgian monarchs wrapped up their state visit to Poland today with a stop at the Warsaw Urprising Museum. Queen Mathilded used the occasion to début another new hat. In oyster coloured felt, this Garbo style piece featured a rounded crown and large, relaxed brim. The only trim on the piece was a rope of silk placed in a free-form winding maze on the crown and brim of the hat’s right side. While I adore the idea of this design, I’m torn between wondering if the neutral colour of the entire ensemble is chic or bland. I also wonder if the execution of the hat might be a little clumsy and need to see more detailed photos before declaring a final verdict.

Queen Mathilde, October 15, 2015 in Fabienne Delvigne | Royal Hats Queen Mathilde, October 15, 2015 in Fabienne Delvigne | Royal Hats

While Queen Mathilde’s hats have been a little hit and miss on this state visit, Polish First Lady Agata Kornhauser-Duda has shown off some wonderfully chic millinery. She wore another navy petite hat today, this one with a rolled bumper brim and a flying bow on the side.

Queen Mathilde, October 15, 2015 in Fabienne Delvigne | Royal HatsQueen Mathilde, October 15, 2015 in Fabienne Delvigne | Royal Hats Designer of Queen Mathilde’s hat: Fabienne Delvigne
Previously Worn: This hat is new

Photos from Christophe Licoppe/Photo News S.A./CorbisChristophe Licoppe/Photo News S.A./CorbisChristophe Licoppe/Photo News S.A./Corbis and Christophe Licoppe/Photo News S.A./Corbis

Day 2 of Belgian State Visit to Poland

King Philippe and Queen Mathilde continued their visit to Poland today with stops at the Museum of the History of Polish Jews, a nature education centre, a conference on child development and Wolfgang Goethe college. For this busy day of events, Queen Mathilde topped her dove grey coat and dress with a chic new hat.

Embed from Getty Images

The hat is a hybrid of shapes, borrowing the distinctive double humps of a Homberg for the top of the crown, the straight sided crown of a fedora, and the smoothly extended but short brim of a cloche. The result is a uniquely shaped hat that gives the slight air of informality to this ensemble that works well for less formal daytime engagements. I particularly love the way the folded double ribbon trim on the hat echoes the pleated detail at the waist of Mathilde’s dress.

Embed from Getty Images Embed from Getty Images

Designer: unknown
Previously Worn: This hat is new
Polish First Lady Agata Kornhauser-Duda wowed many readers yesterday in her supremely elegant grey dress, coat and bumper hat. I thought the rakish angle she placed her navy pillbox today was spot on as well.
  Embed from Getty Images Embed from Getty Images
Embed from Getty Images
Photos from Getty as indicated

Queen Máxima Opens International Museum Conference

Queen Máxima was at the Rijksmuseum in Amsterdam this morning to officially open the tenth Hands On! Conference hosted by the International Association of Children in Museums. For this event, she repeated her popular purple felt slice hat with upturned brim and ribbon trim around the crown. Máxima paired this reader’s favourite hat today with a matching purple coat (a new addition, I believe) and a bright pink leopard print sheath dress. While the hat and coat combination is sublime, there’s a disconnect between the spicy, summery dress and the more subdued, wintry hat that makes the pairing not work for me.

Belgian Monarchs Begin State Visit To Poland

King Philippe and Queen Mathilde of Belgium arrived in Poland today for the start of a state visit. Their first engagement was an official welcome at the Presidential Palace in Warsaw by Polish President Andrzej Duda and First Lady Agata Kornhauser-Duda. As she often does on such high profile events, Queen Mathilde wore a new hat. In claret felt, the open crowned piece featured a wide brim that folded up on one side and was balanced by a pleat on the lower side. Looking closely at this piece, the shape very closely matches Queen Maxima’s purple hat (voted reader’s favourite in 2014), minus the crown. While I have become more accepting of open crowned hats in straw for summertime wear, this style in winter felt makes less sense. With a crown, I think this piece would be much improved.

 Belgian state visit to Poland, October 13, 2015 | Royal Hats

Designer: Fabienne Delvigne. 
Previously Worn: While Queen Mathilde has a similar hat in red, this hat is new
Photos from Getty as indicated and Krystian Dobuszynski/NurPhoto/Corbis