Japanese Royals Visit Brazil

Posted on October 29, 2015 by Royal Hats

Prince Akishino and his wife Princess Kiko arrived in Sao Paulo yesterday to begin a short visit to Brazil. On their visit the Monument to Japanese Immigration Pioneers at the Ibirapuera Park, the couple planted a memorial tree. Princess Kiko wore a simple cream straw hat with a squared crown and gently rolled brim. The hat is trimmed in a slim band around the base of the crown in the same textured beige silk as her suit. We don’t often see the princess in straw hats (most of her hats are felt or covered in fabric) or in such large brims and it’s nice to see this bit of change.

View image | gettyimages.com

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

Photos from Getty as indicated

Princess Beatrix Attends Anniversary and Exhibition

Posted on October 28, 2015 by Royal Hats

Princess Beatrix of the Netherlands undertook two engagements today, attending the ninetieth anniversary of development organization Simavi and visiting photographer Raymond Ruttin’s exhibition. For these events, she repeated a navy straw bumper hat adorned with three rows of shiny braided trim wrapped around the back brim. While there’s not much new to say about this often-seen hat shape, the trim is unique. These large bumper hats don’t lend themselves easily to trim (imagine a huge cabbage rose stuck on the side) yet milliner Suzanne Moulijn finds ways to add embellishment.

Princess Beatrix, October 28, 2015 in Suzanne Moulijn | Royal Hats

Designer: Suzanne Moulijn
Previously Worn: November 7, 2013; October 24, 2012

I find the subtle trim on this large, imposing hat an interesting contrast that works. What do you think?

Photos from Rpe/Albert Vd Werf/dpa/Corbis, Rpe/Albert Vd Werf/dpa/Corbis and Rpe/Albert Vd Werf/dpa/Corbis

Inventory: Queen Elizabeth’s Orange Hats

Posted on October 27, 2015 by Royal Hats

When Queen Elizabeth was spotted at Ascot last week in a peach textured hat and coat, it brought up repeated questions about why she seldom wears this colour. Orange is one of the most infrequently worn colours in the world of royal hats; with autumn in full swing (and Halloween around the corner), I thought it was a good time to look closer at the few royal hats in this hue. There’s no millinery closet better to start our tour than that of Queen Elizabeth.

The Queen has just two orange hued hats in rotation these days, both in shades of soft peach.

1. Embed from Getty Images 2.Embed from Getty Images

Designers: both are Rachel Trevor Morgan
First Appeared: November 19, 2009; June 12, 2012

UPDATE- Four new orange hued hats have been added since this post was published:

3.Embed from Getty Images 4.Embed from Getty Images

Designer: Angela Kelly; Rachel Trevor Morgan
First Appeared: June 16, 2016; June 25, 2016

5. 6.Embed from Getty Images

Designer: both are Angela Kelly
First Appeared: August 20, 2017; Dec 25, 2017

For her infamous début as a Bond girl at the opening of the London 2012 Olympics, Queen Elizabeth chose a peach ostrich feather fascinator. As she seldom wears such headpieces, I doubt we’ll see this piece worn publicly again.

Embed from Getty Images

Designer: Angela Kelly made by Stella McLaren
First Appeared: July 28, 2012

Queen Elizabeth has worn several other orange hats over the past decade. While I suspect these have all been retired from service, they show some interesting diversity of style. The small number of hats here further proves that orange is certainly not Her Majesty’s favourite.

A.Embed from Getty Images B.This is a red hat! See it at #5 here. C. March 16, 2006 in Angela Kelly | Royal Hats

Designers: Philip Somerville; Angela Kelly
Last Appeared: November 13, 2008; March 16, 2006

D.Embed from Getty Images E. F.Embed from Getty Images

Designers: unknown
Last Appeared: July 17, 2003; June 17, 2007; July 20, 2009

G. H.Embed from Getty Images

Designers: unknown
Last Appeared: October 20, 2006; July 11, 2002

What do you think of orange and peach shades on Her Majesty? I suppose it’s a contrast from all the blue and pink hats she wears!

Two queens who wear orange well (and frequently!) are Queen Mathilde and Queen Máxima- stay tuned later this week as we look at the orange hats in their millinery closets.

Photos from Getty as indicated; Bauer Griffin; STR/Stringer and Mark Cuthbert via Getty

Imperial Royal Couple in Toyama

Posted on October 27, 2015 by Royal Hats

Emperor Akihito and Empress Michiko were in Toyama over the weekend to take part in the 35th National Healthy Ocean Meetings. For their arrival on Saturday, Empress Michiko repeated her large white domed saucer hat trimmed in a black and caramel bow that coordinates with her jacket. The slightly different stripe between the bow and the jacket gives a tiny bit of visual interest to the piece although I still wish the hat was a colour other than harsh white.

Empress Michiko, October 24, 2015 | Royal Hats

Designer: My guess is Akio Hirata
Previously Worn: October 29, 2014

On Sunday, the Imperial couple attended the Healthy Ocean conference in Imizu. Empress Michiko wore one of her most oft-worn hats, a small pale grey saucer with upturned rim around the back. The petite piece is trimmed by a large charcoal grey origami flower.

Empress Michiko, October 25, 2015 | Royal Hats

Designer: likely Akio Hirata
Previously Worn: April 17, 2015; April 17, 2015; January 14, 2015; April 11, 2014; December 6, 2013; December 2, 2013

Yesterday, the Emperor and Empress capped off their three day visit with a stop at an aquaculture center in Namerikawa. Empress Michiko used the occasion to début a new hat in teal blue. Another domed saucer, this small piece is trimmed in a simple flat bow in the same fabric as her coordinating suit. It is wonderful to see the Empress in a bit of colour and pattern and I think this ensemble is very smart on her. She looks great in teal, doesn’t she?

Empress Michiko, October 26, 2015 | Royal Hats

Designer: unknown
Previously Worn: This hat is new

My favourite hat in this trio, by wide margin, is the new teal saucer hat the Empress wore yesterday – do you agree?

Photos from Yomiyuri; Asahi Shimbun, Asahi Shimbun, Asahi Shimbun via Getty; Ashahi Shimbun; Asahi Shimbun and Asahi Shimbun via Getty

Dutch Royals Begin State Visit To China

Posted on October 25, 2015 by Royal Hats

King Willem-Alexander and Queen Máxima kicked off a five day visit to China today in Beijing where they visited a dairy farm and research centre as well as a soccer training facility. For these events, Queen Máxima repeated her rose beige deconstructed calot hat. Made of overlapping waves of pleated, ruched straw, the piece is simply adorned with a swirl the left side studded with tiny glass beads and seed pearls.

Queen Máxima, October 25, 2015 in Fabienne Delvigne | Royal Hats

This hat frames Máxima’s face nicely and adds a lovely bit of softness against her streamlined, collarless jacket (the two pieces were obviously designed to coordinate perfectly together). Today’s itinerary presented some challenges (what does a Queen wear to tour livestock and walk on a soccer pitch?) and while the choice of trousers for a state visit is unusual, I see why she went this route. The hat adds a small note of formality to the ensemble that makes it work. Just.

Queen Máxima, October 25, 2015 in Fabienne Delvigne | Royal Hats