Yearly Archives: 2015

This Week’s Extras

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Royal Hats

If you haven’t already seen Visual Meta‘s graphic tour of Queen Elizabeth’s hat history over the past 60+ years, it  is well worth a peek (Huffington Post)

British milliner John Boyd shared some charming photos from Paris Fashion week (John Boyd Hats)

London-area fans of milliner Jane Taylor may want to take part in her upcoming one day courses on how to make organdie flowers (October 31) and how to make a trilby (November 14). No previous millinery skill is required.

Royal Hats

New official photos of Prince Christian of Denmark were released for his tenth birthday (Danish Royal Court)

A trailer for the upcoming unauthorized movie Mary: The Making of A Princess surfaced this week.You can see it here.

And finally, you can watch last Sunday’s Swedish royal christening below. Scroll down for the official photos.

Princess Madeleine, October 12, 2015 in Philip Treacy | Royal HatsPrincess Madeleine, October 12, 2015 in Philip Treacy | Royal HatsPrincess Madeleine, October 12, 2015 in Philip Treacy | Royal HatsQueen Silvia, October 11, 2015 in Kerstin Carlefalk | Royal Hats

Photos from M. Edwll via the Swedish Royal Court

 

Japanese Royals Open Environmental Conference

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Crown Prince Naruhito and Crown Princess Masako attended the Global Environmental Action International Conference opening ceremony yesterday (read the Japanese Prime Minister opening remarks here). For this conference, which is taking place in Tokyo, Princess Masako repeated a pale beige hat with rolled crown and darker ribbon around the base of the crown. While it’s not the most exciting hat or ensemble, the mere presence of Crown Princess at such public events (and looking so comfortable) trumps even her millinery.

Crown Princess Masako, October 15, 2015 | Royal Hats Crown Princess Masako, October 15, 2015 | Royal Hats

Designer: unknown
Previously Worn: November 29, 2013

Photo from Asahi

Queen Opens Veterinary School

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Queen Elizabeth and the Duke of Edinburgh visited the the University of Surrey today to open the institution’s new School of Veterinary Medicine. The Queen was radiant in vibrant blue from head to toe, repeating her silk crepe hat with upturned brim and velvet flower trim.

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The last photo in the set below shows an angle of this hat we have not seen before and confirms that while the outside of the brim is wrapped in fabric, the inside is straw. I adore this aerial view because it shows the beautiful balance within this hat’s design as well as the immense workmanship used to create it.

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Designer: Rachel Trevor Morgan
Previously Worn: October 30, 2014;  November 8, 2013; December 25, 2012
Photos from Getty as indicated 

Day 3 of Belgian State Visit to Poland

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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./Corbis, Christophe Licoppe/Photo News S.A./Corbis, Christophe Licoppe/Photo News S.A./Corbis and Christophe Licoppe/Photo News S.A./Corbis

Day 2 of Belgian State Visit to Poland

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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.

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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.

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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.
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Photos from Getty as indicated