Queen Mathilde attended the awards ceremony for the 2021 Queen Elisabeth Piano Competition today in Argenteuil.
For this event, she repeated her stacked petal headpiece made of pale rose-buff banana fibre.
Embed from Getty Images Embed from Getty Images
Embed from Getty Images
I liked today’s placement of this design, curved further forward as a bandeau than in the further back, almost calot position she has worn it on previous outings. It also pairs well with this border print dress (although I could loose the cartoonish belt!), the print keeping the look from falling into boredom. However, while the headpiece looks fine at a distance, closeup view shows pinches and puckers around the edges of the padded leaves, something that could have been avoided and yielded a more polished look..
Designer: Fabienne Delvigne “Colette” design. Dress by NATAN.
Previously Worn: Sep 8, 2019; Sep 8, 2017; July 21, 2016
What do you think of this headpiece on this outing?
Images from Getty as indicated
Royal Hats 
While I agree with the general consensus about the puckering, I do otherwise like this hat, including the more forward placement than previously worn, and think this dress suits it better than the paler pink solid color dresses previously worn with it. Though I do agree that the matching dresses of the two queens could both do with some “normal” size belt buckles! (Jake, thanks for finding that photo of Máxima.)
For those who are interested in the music as well as the fashion, this competition can apparently be found online for viewing. I mentioned this post to my spouse, who is a big fan of piano competitions, and he found it and is watching it right now.
It is one of the major piano competitions globally for young pianist and winning it is often the start of a long term career!
This is quite an interesting hat, but I don’t feel the proportions are right – the overall impression is rather a clunky one. I think it would have been improved either by having less volume to the “leaves”, or else by the leaves extending further across the head to balance the volume they have. Either would have produced a more pleasing and balanced end result.
I like the hat worn more forward and it looks well with the dress, but I really dislike the dress, so the ensemble gets a No from me. Maxima definitely wins the “Who wore it best?” contest on the dress, as the ugly buckle disappeared into it more.
I quite like the hat with this dress, it’s a lovely summery ensemble now that the warm weather has finally arrived.
But the puckering, once you see it, is really annoying. And I too spotted Máx on the same frock but different colour on the same day. (I find the buckle more distracting without the pattern). I do wish they’d shop elsewhere other than Natan!
These belts look ridiculous to me!
not a very refined hat and the added volume to the right (centre piece) makes this a rather unbalanced impression and distracts rather then adds.
I really like this dress (even if the belt buckle feels a bit odd) and think it pairs excellently with this hat (this is my favorite outfit for this hat). I also like the hat’s placement this time, more on the side like a fascinator. But I agree the construction of the hat itself is not what it could be unfortunately when viewed closer up. Nevertheless, I call this a win!
P.S. Interestingly enough Máxima was also photographed today in this same style of dress, but in solid cerulean:
A great look for both queens, and I hope we get to see Máxima pair this tan slice hat (https://royalhats.net/2013/05/30/dutch-royals-continue-inauguration-tour/) with this dress in the future!
I’m not keen on Mathilde’s hat worn so far forward especially when wearing a mask – everything seems to merge. HatQueen mentions puckering etc is it caused by how it was made it or by being worn/placed each time? Maxima’s version of the dress is better – maybe the solid colour makes it work better. The exaggerated cuffs aren’t my favourite feature and there were oversized cuffs on yesterday’s pink outfit with the orange hat. I also wonder just how comfortable the belt can be when sitting down or bending.
I like the delicate colour of this headpiece and it’s original shape. But, and I feel I’m beginning to sound like a broken-down recording, the pinches and puckers could have been avoided if the straw fibers had been applied on the bias. (Even taking into account that banana fiber is rather stiff.)
Bias cutting, blocking and draping are the essence of couture millinery: heads are round, not square for Heaven’s sake! And hats and headpieces are convex, concave or curved shapes. It makes sense, doesn’t it? Anyone with a background in textiles or sewing will understand.
One day I’m going to start an Association in Defense of the use of Bias Blocking of Woven Materials for Couture Millinery!
Bias blocking, cutting and draping really sets the overall finish of a piece apart and yet it’s a fundamental technique. I’ve started learning the art of silk flowermaking and every tutor says the same thing- silk petals and leaves need to be cut on the bias.
I’ll be the first to join your Association, Wies!
Thanks so much for explaining. I don’t understand why a milliner turns in poor quality work and Queen Mathilde is happy to pay the bill.
The puckering is a matter of construction, not placement. As Wies explained, the petals should have been covered with the banana fiber on the bias. Textiles, when on the bias, have a different stretch and can cover or be wrapped around curves completely smoothly.
Terrific with this dress. Very summery.