sixty-years ago this month to a white fez style hat with button trim worn by Grace Kelly to her wedding rehearsal at Monaco Cathedral. The combination of tailored suit, prim hat and sunglasses is rather chic, is it not?
Photo from Getty as indicated
Monthly Archives: April 2018
This Week’s Extras
Last week, Princess Alexandra donned her tall natural straw hat with Pork Pie crown and veil trim to officially open the Lynwood Village near Ascot.
King Carl Gustaf and Queen Silvia in construction hats during their visit to Japan this week, inspecting progress on facilities for the 2020 Tokyo Olympics
Several new designs caught my eye this week:
Such a happy bright pink fedora with daisy chain hatband from UK milliner Nicola de Selincourt
Awed by the delicate 3D lace work on this mint straw button hat from UK brand Merve Bayindir
Pretty white vertical upswept saucer hat with feather flowers from Dublin milliner Aoife Harrison
Lovely gradient shades of layered hatbands on this black straw boater from Texan milliner Milli Starr
Beautifully lush and romantic floral headpiece from royal favourite Jane Taylor Millinery
Sorbet hues on these super chic fedoras from Canadian brand The Saucy Milliner
Classic colours & lines on this wide brimmed white saucer with navy lace from London based Ana Bella Millinery
And from London milliner Edwina Ibbotson, the springiest of spring statement picture hats. I can only imagine this piece (and this vibrant rainbow design by the same designer) are already reserved for Ascot!
Very interesting article on royal relevance, race and the state of Britain written by Lady Gabriella Windsor’s former flame who had, for several years, a view from inside the palace (Vanity Fair). Not sure what his game is but it’s an interesting read nonetheless.
Stunning new pictures of the Dutch Royal Family released on Thursday (scroll right to see all shots)
Queen Margrethe’s future burial sarcophagus has been completed. While clearly a piece of amazing craftsmanship, I’m afraid I still find it a bit creepy.
Several new photo released from the Swedish royal court including beautiful new pictures of Princess Adrienne and her parents and a series of very dashing new portraits of Prince Daniel.
Here’s a heartwarming one- a weary mum, travelling with young twins on a flight from Riga to Stockholm yesterday, received some royal help and encouragement on the flight.
And finally, a closeup look at the sweet white knitted bonnet Prince Louis sported at less than ten hours old for his big debut. So sweet.
Dutch Royals Celebrate Koningsdag
The Dutch royal family gathered in Groningen today to celebrate King Willem-Alexander’s 51st birthday. For this festive occasion, Queen Máxima repeated a relaxed beret in red suede embellished with matching rows of top stitching and top stem.
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The hat is a surprising repeat from this same event, held in the same city, in 2004. Not only is the hat a repeat- notice that the denim jacket Queen Máxima wore in 2004 popped up on Princess Alexia today as well.
Embed from Getty Images Embed from Getty Images
Embed from Getty Images
Embed from Getty Images
These connections are really lovely and the hat is well suited to the street party events that made up today’s celebration. I’m just not sure about the pairing of this informal hat with this dress- is it me, or does an embroidered sheer illusion neckline scream for something more structured and refined? If repeating this hat was the fashion goal of the day (it is a lovely nod), I think I’d have preferred it paired with something else.
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I suspect there will be polarizing opinions on this one- I can’t wait to hear precisely what makes this ensemble work/not work for you!
Photos from Getty as indicated
Imperial Royals Attend Spring Garden Party
On Wednesday, members of the Imperial royal family joined the emperor and empress at the the Akasaka Imperial Gardens in Tokyo for the spring garden party, an annual event that brings us a parade of Imperial royal hats.
Embed from Getty Images
Embed from Getty Images
Empress Michiko topped her ice blue silk suit with a small saucer hat in the same hue, trimmed with blue camellia flowers and a flat bow around the front.
Crown Princess Masako wore a pale pink straw hat with domed crown and short kettle brim, trimmed with a wide ruched straw hatband that finished in a large bow at the side. The bow makes the hat, I think, softening the angular lines of the crown and giving the piece some much needed energy.
Princess Kiko and Princess Mako wore hats in the same domed crown and kettle upturned brim shape. Princess Kiko’s hat, in pale blue, is delicately trimmed with a wide silk ruched hatband and silk blossoms on the side. Princess Mako’s white design, which has a wider brim than her mother’s design, is trimmed with a wide turquoise hatband and origami flowers that circle the hat. The combination of wider brim and higher contrast trim (with interesting origami) makes this a winner for me.
Princess Nobuko stood out in a light purpley-grey hat with gentle side upsweep on the brim. The hat is exuberantly trimmed in a side spray of feathers and a wide swath of lavender and dark purple net tulle wrapped around the base of the crown that gives great movement to the design and links so well with the sheen of purple shades visible across the weave of her silk suit. Prinkess Akiko topped her pink suit with a matching hat with button crown, short cartwheel brim and bow on the side. Princess Yoko matched her pale yellow suit in a coordinating silk wrapped pillbox hat.
Princess Hisako wore a peach hat with square crown and widely rolled brim (the brim looks to be in the same silk jacquard print as her jacket while the crown looks to be a solid colour). Princess Tsuguko paired her burgundy silk dress in a matching bumper hat wonderfully trimmed with a wide silk bow and flowers on the side. Princess Ayako topped her yellow dress with a white button percher hat embellished with yellow and white flowers around the top half of the hat’s circumference. The floral trim on the hat references the ruffle on the hem of her dress, making a wonderfully coordinated and balanced head-to-hem look.
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How great it is to see a variety of colour, trimmings and shapes on the Imperial Royals?! These nine hats, each of which I believe is a new piece, certainly made for a colourful millinery parade. Which designs stand out most to you?
Photos from Getty as indicated; Kyodo News, The Asahi Shimbun, The Asahi Shimbun, The Asahi Shimbun; The Asahi Shimbun
Belgian Monarchs Visit US Military Academy
King Philippe and Queen Mathilde are on a working visit to the United States yesterday. Yesterday, Their program took them to the US Military Academy at West Point, New York. For this visit, Queen Mathilde wore a new hat created especially for this event and described by the designer as “a small bell hat made of red Panama and trimmed with ribbon and a matching bow.”
There is much to like about this piece- the scale is great on Mathilde and I like how the slightly squared crown gives some angular contrast to the rounded brim. I wish the hatband was pulled down a little in front to the base of the crown (it looks to be riding up a bit) but that’s an easy fix. Most of all, I admire how the patterned lace dress, blue earrings, and hat combine to form a red-white-and-blue ensemble that nods gently to her American hosts. Red, white and blue is hardly a subtle colour combination and if a sartorial patriotic nod was needed yesterday, this was a good way to do it.
What do you think of Queen Mathilde’s new hat?
Photos from social media and Frederic Andrieu
Royal Hats 