Yearly Archives: 2018

Pair of New Hats For Church in Scotland

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Queen Elizabeth was spotted en route to church in Scotland this morning in another new hat and it’s a beauty!

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The lime straw design follows a modified cloche shape with squared crown, narrow lime straw hatband and wide navy binding around the short brim. The hat is finished with lime and navy straw leaves and curled navy feathers. While I’m afraid there are no photos from the church showing the full ensemble, the views here show great promise. The hat’s punchy colour scheme is an eye catching one, the trim, while lavish, appears to be balanced and that navy brim edging surrounds the Queen’s face in a shade that suits her well. Lime green around the face isn’t always flattering (particularly with straw, where light filtering through the hat can cast a sickly green shadow) and this hat tackles that problem so well.

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Designer: unknown
Previously Worn: I believe this is new (I thought it might be a reworked version of this hat but the straw weaves are entirely different)
The Queen was joined by the Prince of Wales and Princes Royal again today. Princess Anne surprised in what looks like a new light blue straw hat with cream hatband, brim piping and feather chrysanthemum blooms. The bottom photo below suggests a flat crown on this hat- a feature that concerns me. We’ll have to wait for a full view on this design.


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Designer: also unknown
Previously Worn: this hat is new
We’ve had some millinery surprises in Scotland over the past month- what do you think of these two designs?
Photos from Getty as indicated

This Week’s Extras

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Last  Monday, Queen Silvia donned local Lovö dress, including a lace trimmed cap, to host the 20th annual “Pensioners Day” at Drottningholm Palace

The Danish monarchy shared several wonderful personal photos taken during the Crown Princely family’s recent trip to the Faroe Islands including this shot, taken by Crown Princess Mary, which shows the beautiful embroidery on Princess Isabella and Princess Josephine’s bonnets.

Princess Tessy looked fantastic in a faux jeweled headpiece yesterday while attending the second day of African fashion week in Toronto

Prince Akishino and Princess Kiko attended a memorial service for victims of the 1923 Great Kanto Earthquake yesterday in Tokyo. Princess Kiko repeated a black pillbox hat with small bow (Sankei)

Stephen Jones shared this amazing story yesterday about Aretha Franklin’s famous hat by Luke Song (the one she wore to President Obama’s inauguration)

The following new millinery designs caught my eye this week:

Midnight blue silk bumper hat with stunning statement feathers from British brand Bundle McLaren
Love the shape and lines of this blush straw floral trimmed hat from Australian milliner Meg Rafter
Interesting shape on this blue and purple felt and straw design from Dutch milliner Myra van de Korput
Crimson silk bandeau with poppies and tulle veil by Australian milliner Louise MacDonald
Beautiful sheen on this green straw bow trimmed percher from Czech milliner Jolanta Kotabova
Black open weave, wide brimmed hat with red abaca flying bow from Aussie brand Millinery By Mel
Fascinating texture in this purple braided straw design by Dutch milliner Eugenie van Oirschot
Fuchsia straw teardrop percher with bow and veil from Madrid-based milliner Biliana Borissova
Headpiece of iridescent pansies with Swarovski crystal centers from Aussie brand Love Lotus Millinery
Dramatic black straw halo hat with hand stitched sequin & pearl trim from Australian Hats by Zarbella

 

 Royal Hats

Countess Camilla of Rosenborg married Ivan Ottesen in Lyngby last Sunday. Countess Camilla, who has four children from her first marriage, is the daughter of the late Count Christian of Rosenborg (he was a first cousin of Queen Margrethe). The marriage took place at Lyngby Church, the burial place of Camilla’s parents.

In other wedding themed news… the Duke and Duchess of Sussex’s wedding attire will go on display at Windsor Castle and Holyrood Palace this fall and it’s great to already see, via photos, greater detail of the tiara, dress and veil.

Sweet photo of Princess Elisabeth of Belgium and her siblings as she departs for two years of study in Wales

New portraits of Prince Nicolai released by the Danish monarchy on the occasion of his 19th birthday and the most adorable snaps of Prince Gabriel shared by the Swedish monarchy for his first birthday

Also off the cuteness scale were Prince Jacques and Princess Gabriella yesterday in Monagasque traditional dress yesterday at Monaco’s annual picnic

Queen Sonja’s childhood home has been relocated, restored and opened as a museum earlier this week. She and King Harald used the opening as an opportunity to recreate one of their engagement photos, just in time for their 50th wedding anniversary

 

Dutch King Awards Willemsorde

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King Willem Alexander and Queen Máxima were in The Hague yesterday for a military ceremony awarding Willemsorde, the highest Dutch military decoration, to Major Roy de Ruiter.

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For this event, Queen Máxima wore a new pale pink straw, wide-brimmed picture hat with high sidesweep. The hat’s dramatic shape is balanced with a simple wide hatband tied into a flat bow that rests on one side of the brim. It’s a formulaic look for Máxima (large upswept hat + side chignon + dress with a statement feature + fab jewels) that we’ve seen on her numerous times. I think most of us agree that it is a great look for her… but has it become too familiar? Not even a new dress for this event prevents me from thinking I’ve seen this whole look before. It’s polished, regal and attractive (all good things) but fairly predictable.

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Designer: Fabienne Delvigne.
Previously Worn: While it looks exactly like the “Belissima” hat worn May 16, 2018 and June 20, 2017, it is actually a new design called the “Saintanna”
Many of us employ formulas to our daytime wardrobes- it’s an effective and efficient way to create and manage “our” look.   I just wonder if this particular formula is loosing impact because we’ve seen it on Máxima so many times before.  What do you think? Is it time for Queen Máxima and her stylist to experiment with some different looks?
Photos from Getty as indicated

British Royals Attend Braemar Gathering

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Queen Elizabeth followed the tradition started by her great, great grandmother Queen Victoria in 1848, attending the annual Braemar Gathering at The Princess Royal and Duke of Fife Memorial Park in Braemar, Aberdeenshire. Today she opened the brand new Braemar Highland Games Center and attended this festival of Scottish history, culture, tradition and sport accompanied by her two eldest children.

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This event often marks the Queen’s transition from summer straw hats to autumnal felts and such was the case today. She repeated her dark turquoise felt hat with Pork Pie indented crown and upturned kettle brim edged in dark teal velvet. The hat’s streamlined trimming includes a cluster of overlapping velvet quilted leaves on the side.

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I really like the contrast provided by the teal velvet trim and its coordination between the hat trim and the coat’s collar. The crown shape is a bit clunky (particularly the slightly higher side) but not enough to set the ensemble off balance. The colour is magnificent on Her Majesty and the mix of textures between the silk crepe, velvet and felt give interest and dimension to the overall look.

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Designer: Angela Kelly
Previously Worn: April 13, 2017

Princess Anne repeated her grey felt square crowned cloche hat with triple layered black ribbon hatband. The hat’s feather trim – both on the side of the hat and overlay covering the short brim – remains a strong look somehow fits this setting and event better than some of its previous outings. The scale is great on Anne and she wears the hat well.

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Designer: unknown
Previously Worn: March 13, 2017; Dec 25, 2017

The Braemar Gathering always appears to be an enjoyable day out for the British royals and today was no exception. What do you think about this pair of hats at the Gathering today?
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Photos from Getty as indicated

Queen Elizabeth’s Braemar Hats

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My sincere thanks to Jimbo for collaborating on the text and photo sourcing of this post, and for coming up with the idea for it in the first place!

Every year on the first Saturday of September, the Braemar Gathering takes place in the Scottish Highlands at The Princess Royal and Duke of Fife Memorial Park in Braemar, Aberdeenshire. While there have been Gatherings of one sort or another at Braemar since the days of King Malcolm Canmore, nine hundred years ago, the Gathering has been run in its present form since 1832. It is a wonderful event which showcases the history, traditions, sports, language, food, culture and heritage of Scotland and since 1848, has been attended regularly by the reigning monarch and members of the royal family.

Sporting events of these Highland Games test extreme athletics, strength, endurance and pure grit through the caber toss, tug-of-war, stone put, weight throw, sheaf toss, and Scottish hammer throw and are extremely popular with spectators. Queen Elizabeth has enjoyed this gathering for many years, often dressed in tartan or tweed (and always, in a coordinating hat!).  Judging by her happy enthusiasm, it is safe assume that this event is a high point in her late summer holiday at Balmoral. Here are some of her “Braemar Hats”.

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1949, 1953, 1954, 1955 and 1957

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1958, 1960, 1964, 1965 and 1967

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1968, 1969, 1975 1980 and 1981

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1982, 1983, 1985, 1986 and 1989

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Gallery A: 1994, 1996, 2001, 2001 and 2002     Gallery B: 2003 through 2007

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Gallery C: 2008 through 2012    Gallery D: 2013, 2014, 2015, 2016 and 2017

Update: Since this post was originally published, the Queen has worn the following hats to the Braemar Gathering:

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Turquoise felt with teal velvet leaves in 2018; Purple felt with flowers in 2019, both by Angela Kelly

I suspect we’ll see Queen Elizabeth at the Braemar Gathering tomorrow- what colour do you think her hat will be this year?
Thanks again, Jimbo, for sharing your inspiration for this post!
Photos from Getty as indicated