Yearly Archives: 2018

This Week’s Extras

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On Monday, Princess Nobuko wore a white hat to attend the 130th anniversary of the Japanese Red Cross Society’s  Branch in Gunma.
Princess Hisako started out this week in Aichi attending an annual conference on nutrition and dietary improvement. For this event, she wore a cream hat with square crown and curved brim, trimmed with lichen green hatbands and side embellishment.
On Tuesday, Princess Hanako wore a yellow pillbox with embellished sides for the 30th anniversary of the Praemium Imperiale Arts Prize.
On Wednesday, the Duke of Sussex was in military uniform and cap again to lay a wreath at the National War Memorial in Fiji.
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Also on Wednesday, Princess Mako celebrated her 27th birthday and was spotted arriving at the Imperial Royal Palace in Tokyo to visit her grandparents in a bumper hat covered in beige-pink patterned silk
Yesterday, Princess Ayako worshipped at the Three Palace Sanctuaries in advance of her wedding next week. While She was in traditional dress (and hairstyle), her mother, Princess Hisako, sisters Noriko Senge and Princess Tsuguko and cousin Sayako Kurada all wore white hats.


Today, members of the Takamado and Mikasa families donned brimless black hats to commemorate the second anniversary since Prince Mikasa’s death (Sankei)
Princess Margriet in a red pouf fascinator today to christen a reconstructed expedition ship
The following new millinery designs caught my eye this week:
Amazing gravity-defying ombre turban from London-based Awon Golding
Winter white felt angular cloche with exuberant pheasant feathers from British milliner Annabel Allen
Turquoise and tan feather headpiece with net veil from Australian milliner Neil Grigg
Red silk ruched bandeau with pearl trim from British milliner Laura Cathcart
Pale percher with statement sunburst spiky trim from Irish milliner Laura Hanlon
Navy wide brimmed design with red jin sin twists from Australian brand Millinery Jill
Two designs from British milliner Bundle McLaren- a wonderfully modern take on a pillbox in oxblood
with a flying bow and a chic black beret percher with silver dipped curling quills
Pale grey sculpted French lace bandeau tiara with dotted net veil from British label Catherine Walker & Co.
Navy straw percher with copper-tipped navy goose feathers from Irish milliner Theresa Nugent
Dramatic, 1950s-inspired blocked straw saucer covered in velvet on top and silk and graphic,
Art-Deco patterned lace on the bottom from from Texan milliner Milli Starr
And from Melbourne-based milliner Louise MacDonald, these wonderfully vibrant and textural bandeau headpieces of woven ribbon.

Crown Princess Mette-Marit shared this week that she has been diagnosed with chronic pulmonary fibrosis. While she is optimistic about treatment and the future, the illness will undoubtedly continue to impact her and her royal role. Living with chronic disease is not easy and as such, I request that all future comments about the Crown Princess’ millinery choices be framed with compassion.
This week had an abundance of state banquets (in Portugal, Fiji and the UK) with some stunning royal looks – including Queen Mathilde here and here, the Norwegian royals, the Danish Royals and Princess Ayako at the formal Choken-no-Gi ceremony- likely the last time we’ll see her in a tiara.
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Top Royal Hats: July & August 2018

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With a LOT of royal events happening this month, I need to catch you up on winners of our most recent polls. Here are your pics for favourite repeated and new royal hats worn during the months of July and August:

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Countess of Wessex’s cream striped hat by Jane Taylor with grey twists and black feathers worn July 10 

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Queen  Máxima’s pale turquoise picture hat with unfinished edges by Fabienne Delvigne worn in Curacao July 2

Jump over the poll for new hats here and the repeated hats here to see the results in greater detail and to the Fan Favourites page for a running tally of your top picks so far this year-  not surprisingly, it’s an impressive millinery lineup.
Photos from Getty as indicated

Day 3: Belgian State Visit To Portugal

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King Philippe and Queen Mathilde spent the third day of their state visit to Portugal yesterday in Porto where they took in the Serralves Museum and Park as well as sights along the Douro River. For these events, Queen Mathilde repeated her black calot hat wrapped in overlaid wide stripes of textured black woven fabric and trimmed with a large looped rosette on the side.

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The hat pairs well with Mathilde’s black and white dress with the textural elements on both pieces relating well. With pearl drops and an elegant up-do, the hat completes a great working royal look. Is it a major statement? No… but it’s lovely and on many days, that’s what a royal ensemble needs to be.

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Designer: Fabienne Delvigne
Previously Worn: July 14, 2018; February 20, 2018
The Belgian state visit to Portugal has been slightly overshadowed this week by the Dutch state visit to the UK but I think Queen Mathilde’s hats this week have been great. What do you think of this black calot?
Photos from Getty as indicated

Dutch Monarchs Conclude UK State Visit

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King Willem-Alexander and Queen Máxima continued the second day of their state visit to Great Britiain today with visits to Downing Street,Pop Brixton in South London and the Thames River where they watched a joint British and Dutch naval demonstration. For this day of events, Queen Máxima gave a nod to her UK hosts, wearing a new hat by London-based Irish milliner Philip Treacy.

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In luxurious black felt, the blocked design follows a teardrop shape with deep crease down the middle and is simply trimmed with a single black quill and anchored by two black jeweled beads. The design is all about line and shape – both of which make a major statement even amidst the design’s restrained simplicity and are beautifully highlighted with the wonderful sheen of that velvet fur felt.

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On its own, the hat is interesting but combined with this black beaded magenta dress, black accessories (including those sharp drop earrings) and another exquisitely styled chignon, the overall look is magnificent.  Choosing a hat made by the host nation during a state visit is always a lovely touch styling it into a look like this is diplomatic dressing on a whole other level.

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Designer: Philip Treacy. It is OC 497 from AW 2018. Dress by Oscar de la Renta. 
Previously Worn: This hat is new

The Duke of Kent and Earl and Countess of Wessex accompanied their Dutch visitors for most of today’s events. The Countess of Wessex topped her beautiful embroidered navy dress and jacket with a navy straw pillbox with indented, Pork-pie style crown. The texture of the knotted sisal used on this piece gives lovely dimension to the piece and the retro shape suits Sophie well. We see the Countess in so many brave, bold, modern millinery shapes and styles, it’s nice to see her in something more classic from time to time.
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Designer: Jane Taylor. Dress and jacket by Bruce Oldfield. 
Previously Worn: I believe this hat is new
I think these two hats are both superb- what do you think?
Photos from Getty as indicated

Day 2: Belgian State Visit To Portugal

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Yesterday, King Philippe and Queen Mathilde continued their state visit to Portugal with visits to Lisbon’s Oceanarium, a hospital and a youth cultural center, as well as participation in an economic development seminar and meeting with social entrepreneurs. For this programme, Queen Mathilde repeated a hat described by the designer as “a small bell hat made of red Panama and trimmed with ribbon and a matching bow.”

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It remains a good hat for Mathilde- the scale suits her well and the colour is great on her. The combination of red hat with patterned lace dress is an interesting and well-balanced one that doesn’t overwhelm. Striking the balance with such strong colour and pattern combinations isn’t easy but this one works.

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Designer: Fabienne Delvigne. It is the ‘Audrey’ design.
Previously Worn: April 25, 2018
What do you think about Queen Mathilde’s red hat yesterday in Lisbon?
Photos from Getty as indicated