King Carl Gustaf and Queen Silvia of Sweden opened the World Equestrian Festival in Aachen, Germany yesterday.
Queen Silvia used this occasion to debut a new red (or is it a dark coral pink?) straw calot hat trimmed with three intertwined straw twists. Silvia wears calots and vibrant colours so well and those two elements make this a lovely hat for her. While not my favourite embellishment, the twists give some movement and visual interest the small design. Calots can easily be boring but this one certainly is not.
Where this look fell flat, however, was in its placement on Silvia’s head. You’ll notice below that the metal loops (a sort of frame used both to help affix the hat to the wearer’s head and attach any necessary hairpins) are completely visible over her hair. I can only imagine that in the rainstorm that thundered at the beginning of this event, Queen Silvia had to readjust her hat on her head without a mirror and the result, as you can see here, was quite messy.
Designer: Philip Treacy
Previously Worn: This hat is new
Placement and rainstorms aside, it’s nice to see the Swedish queen add a new design to her millinery lineup. The last time she wore this suit, Silvia topped it with a calot hat in the same fabric. I think this straw design is a better pairing but then I’m averse to overly matched ensembles. What do you think of this new hat?
Photos from IBL
Royal Hats 
Well, by looking at “millinery wire band” holding hat – hat positioned at very wrong place… Lovely colour and headpiece itself .
I might be the only commenter to like the new hat better. Nothing wrong with the old one, I just like this one. It’s too bad about the placement and the weather, but a Queen can only do so much about that! I like the shape, color and typical Treacy embellishment. It’s not a big WOW kind of hat, but it suits Silvia. (I also agree with Hattingdon about the ‘Treacy twists’.)
I prefer the other hat with this suit. The color of this hat is gorgeous but I agree with others on the placement, the visible pins, and the shawl is definitely a distraction. It must be the inclement weather.
I like the hat on its own, I just don’t love it on Silvia. I don’t know if it is the placement or that it doesn’t seem like the style suits her.
Beautiful colors for Silvia, but the placement of this hat is quite off. I suspect this is actually supposed to be a percher cocktail hat, but because Silvia favors calots and pillboxes, she decided to wear this as one, and it just doesn’t work (at least this time). Sad because this hat has so much potential; also disappointed Benedikte didn’t show up also wearing a hat.
Great point- this certainly does look like it’s supposed to be a percher hat and worn as these similar designs on Princess Haya and Lady Frederick Windsor
Embed from Getty Images Embed from Getty Images
The above placement of Sylvia’ s hat would be a treat to see!
As much as I admire the wonderful Philip Treacy I don’t think I can look at another hat with these twists. I am looking forward to his next great embellishment idea.
I love the color of this hat, the shape and texture. Like most, it looks like something happened for it to be sitting on her head in that awkward way. Must be disconcerting but she takes it in her stride smiling all the way.
I like the new hat, and the color really suits the queen, but I do prefer the suit’s previous partner. Part of the ensemble’s problem this time may however be the beautiful but distracting shawl under which the crisp and flattering lines of the suit are lost. However, given the inclement weather, it was perhaps a necessity, as was the possible rearrangement of the new hat.
Sivia is usually so soignée that I was almost shocked by her unkempt hair, rainstorm or not. You can’t help contrasting her hair with Benedikte’s shorter hairstyle. I have often wondered why Silvia doesn’t occasionally wear her hair in a chignon at day events. But to get back to the hat, it’s okay. I preferred the other hat with this ensemble.
Silvia looks really lovely in this colour and I think this calot works well on her
I much prefer the look of the red suit when worn with the previous calot hat.
For this straw calot hat, I would like to see it worn as a colour accent to a navy, grey or rose-brown outfit. And with a sharper placement, of course.
Ohh! Good idea!
Maybe it is the placement problems, bit I kinda like the first hat better. I need to see the second hat placed correctly to decide.