Empress Masako in a grey hat with tightly upturned brim today to mark the anniversary of Japanese surrender at the end of WWII. The bow tucked into the brim at the back is a charming touch on this design.
The following new millinery designs caught my eye this week:
Very chic red patterned buntal straw hat with Dior brim and multi-looped bow by Dutch milliner Wies Mauduit
White pillbox with beautifully draped silk rose overlay by American milliner Tracy Young
Pink straw saucer with black and white polka dot flying bow by Irish milliner Carol Kennelly
Brilliantly bonkers! Silk abaca helmet with beaded bowler silhouette by Australian milliner Andrea Cainero
Stunning shape on the cartwheel brim of this design in floral-woven straw by Russian milliner Lia Gureeva
Another head turning feathered bandeau, this time in midnight blue, by Australian milliner Jill Humphries
Tall turban entirely covered in different kinds of pink silk flowers by American milliner Sarah Sokol
Red straw halo headpiece with black crin ginko leaf trim by Australian milliner Christine Waring
White pillbox with beautifully draped silk rose overlay by American milliner Tracy Young
Pink straw saucer with black and white polka dot flying bow by Irish milliner Carol Kennelly
Brilliantly bonkers! Silk abaca helmet with beaded bowler silhouette by Australian milliner Andrea Cainero
Stunning shape on the cartwheel brim of this design in floral-woven straw by Russian milliner Lia Gureeva
Another head turning feathered bandeau, this time in midnight blue, by Australian milliner Jill Humphries
Tall turban entirely covered in different kinds of pink silk flowers by American milliner Sarah Sokol
Red straw halo headpiece with black crin ginko leaf trim by Australian milliner Christine Waring
Wonderful pattern on these woven buntal cloche hats by British milliner Jess Collett
Easy breezy coated linen cap by American milliner Peter Forson
Sweet headpiece of rolled sinamay lilies in different pink shades by Australian milliner Catherine Kelly
Boater with braid crown, perspex brim and a swarm of blue butterflies by British milliner Bundle MacLaren
Graphic black and white striped disc percher by London-based milliner Philip Treacy
Lovely pink felt button with embroidered leaves and 3D silk flowers by German milliner Anne Schneider
Cloche covered in lime green straw loops and feathers by Australian milliner Philip Rhodes
Whimsical beaded trim on this navy button percher by France-based milliner Sylvia Martinez
How fun is this vibrant pink scalloped brim take on a boater hat by New Zealand milliner Maria Wright?!
Easy breezy coated linen cap by American milliner Peter Forson
Sweet headpiece of rolled sinamay lilies in different pink shades by Australian milliner Catherine Kelly
Boater with braid crown, perspex brim and a swarm of blue butterflies by British milliner Bundle MacLaren
Graphic black and white striped disc percher by London-based milliner Philip Treacy
Lovely pink felt button with embroidered leaves and 3D silk flowers by German milliner Anne Schneider
Cloche covered in lime green straw loops and feathers by Australian milliner Philip Rhodes
Whimsical beaded trim on this navy button percher by France-based milliner Sylvia Martinez
How fun is this vibrant pink scalloped brim take on a boater hat by New Zealand milliner Maria Wright?!
Sweet holiday snap shared by the Danish monarchy
And we end this week with Crown Prince Frederik inspecting an adorable company of soldiers in turquoise hats!
Images from social media as indicated
Royal Hats 
Empress Masako strikes just the right tone of sombre and simplicity in her hat and outfit choice. I love the grey against the white and yellow floral design.
– Lovely hat Wies! This would be really pretty on Queen Mathilde.
– I’m drawn to the white pillbox with beautifully draped silk rose overlay by American milliner Tracy Young. It would look lovely on CP Mette-Marit or CP Victoria.
– What an interesting boater with braid crown, perspex brim and a swarm of blue butterflies by British milliner Bundle MacLaren! This would be charming on one of the Phillips’ girl (Savannah or Isla)
– I love the vibrant pink scalloped brim hat by New Zealand milliner Maria Wright. I thought that this would be lovely on Princess Claire of Belgium. Wishing her health and strength in her recovery.
What a stunning tableau with the imperial couple. It reminds me of Mount Fuji, although I don’t know how that would link to the anniversary.
Wies, such lovely work! Gorgeous use of the pattern straw under the brim along with that exquisite bow!
The clever use of the child model makes me want to see Catherine Kelly‘s sweet headpiece on one of the younger princesses, maybe Isabella or Estelle!
It might very well be the Mount Fuji. Hokusai painted 36 views of the Fuji and it is a symbol of Japan. But maybe somebody else has more knowledge of Japanese symbolism?
Thank you for liking my hat. It is made of buntal mat, a sturdy, rather coarse woven straw. The mats are completely flat, round and flat like place mats. The material was new to me until two years ago, when I did a course with Australian milliner Louise Macdonald. With a little bit of practice you can make lovely shapes out of buntal mats, all in free form, without using any blocks.