Monthly Archives: April 2024

Spanish State Visit to Netherlands

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King Felipe and Queen Letizia in Spain kicked off a state visit to the Netherlands today.

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Queen Letizia topped her acqua caped coat with a curved headpiece in almond sinamay swathed in dotted tulle veil in the same hue.

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The quirky ‘s’ shape is unique and the scale works well for petite Letizia. Millinery statements don’t have to be magenta and wide brimmed (see below!) to pack real style punch and I really like the creative unexpectedness of this one, not to mention its lovely construction. What’s curious, however, is that based on the milliner’s photo below, the design was created to be worn on the left side, curving around the face. Letizia wore it on the right side, curved around the side of her head. I prefer her placement… but kudos to a design with flexibility.

​Milliner: Balel (Isabel Terroso). Coat by Moises Nieto
Previously Worn: This headpiece is new

Queen Máxima repeated a wide brimmed picture hat in deep pink parabuntal straw with sharply upfolded ‘slice’ brim and a raspberry ribbon hatband. We all know this go-to shape on Máxima and the vibrant colour elevates the drama. Monochrome ensembles in such a bright colour can be risky but the different textures on each element give enough contrast to keep the look from being overly one note.  Any time a royal matches their lipstick to their hat, I am there for it!

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Milliner: Fabiene Delvigne
Previously Worn: Jun 22, 2023; Jan 30, 2023; Aug 31, 2019; July 3, 2016;  April 13, 2016; April 27, 2015

Thoughts?

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Images from Getty as indicated  

Luxembourg State Visit To Belgium

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Grand Duke Henri and Grand Duchess Maria Teresa were officially welcomed by cousins in Belgium yesterday for the start of a state visit.

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Queen Mathilde wore a teardrop percher hat covered in the same moire print as her coat dress (and purse) with a pale pink birdcage tulle veil.

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The design, its placement and colour of this hat falls flat for me, a flatness emphasized against the voluminous skirt and setting the overall proportions of the ensemble off.

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Milliner: entire ensemble by Dior
Previously Worn: this hat is new

Today, Queen Mathilde wore another new millinery design, this one a red headband draped in pleated natural fibre (tit looks like a loosely woven sinamay).

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I think the design would greatly benefit with more refinement (thinner, neater finished edges on the pleated fan, crisper pleating). ‘Nuff said.

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Milliner: “Redline” by Fabienne Delvigne. Dress by Natan
Previously Worn: This headpiece is new

Thoughts about these two new hats on the Belgian queen?

Images from Getty as indicated  

Commonwealth Day Service 2024

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Back on March 11th, members with of the British royal family attended the annual Commonwealth Service at Westminster Abbey.

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Queen Camilla repeated a turquoise felt beret percher trimmed with a spray of diamond cut feathers.

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I’ve not changed my mind on this hat- the colour is terrific on Camilla and the peacock feather trim is masterful, focusing in on the beautiful pattern of the feather while simultaneously, the sweep giving a grander scale to the hat.  So, so good.

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Milliner: Philip Treacy
Previously Worn: Dec 25, 2021; Mar 29, 2023; Dec 31, 2023

Duchess of Edinburgh wore an ecru felt wide brimmed fedora trimmed with a slim black velvet hatband with double bow at the front.

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It’s a bit bland for my taste and the slim hatband seems out of proportion and overly fussy. I’m just not keen on how the bow tails extend over the front of the brim, awkward pointers toward Sophie’s eyes.

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Milliner: Jane Taylor
Previously Worn: This hat is new

Princess Anne repeated a muted teal sinamay hat with rounded crown and high, sidesweeping brim embellished with a darker teal slim silk hatband and curling, multi-looped straw bow interspersed with trimmed teal and burgundy feathers.

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I was fortunate to see this hat closeup, in person last year at Royal Ascot and it is impeccably finished, beautifully balanced and the perferct proportion for Anne, who is very petite. It’s the styling of this ensemble, however, here that’s off for me, leaving me wonder if a  streamlined felt hat (mayube Anne’s red stacked felt beret?) would have been a better pairing for this patterned coat.

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Milliner: Amy Morris Adams
Previously Worn: Jun 20, 2023; Jun 3, 2022; May 11, 2022; Apr 9, 2022; Jul 3, 2019; June 20, 2019

The Duchess of Gloucester wore an ivory felt beret with deep burgundy net veil overlay and an olive spray of feathers at the side.

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Brigitte loves a beret and wears them well; this hat’s trim enlivens the design and the overall colour scheme between the hat and coat, while not perfectly matched, are close enough hues to coordinate very well. It’s a neutral look that’s far from boring and a much preferred pairing than the burgundy cloche she wore with coat at Christmas.

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Milliner: unknown
Previously Worn: I believe this is new

Thoughts?

Images from Getty as indicated 

This Week’s Extras

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Last weekend, Princess Yoko of Mikasa posed for a snap at the Japanese Formula 1 Grand Prix with winner Max Verstappen.

On Tusday and Wednesday, members of the Imperial royal family visited Meiji Jingu Shrine to commemorate the 110th anniversary of the death of Empress Shoken. Empress Michiko wore a small embellished saucer, Crown Princess Kiko wore a bumper design while Empress Masako and Princess Aiko both wore ivory silk hats with upturned brims.

On Thursday, Infanta Elena wore a casual fedora to visit her mother, Queen Sofia, in hospital in Madrid.

 

Also On Thursday, Princess Aiko wore a brimless ecru hat with decidedly 1960s vintage vibes for a visit to her grandparents.

Princess Kako wore an ivory silk covered bumper hat with back bow yesterday for a visit to Meiji Shrine.

The Duke of Edinburgh, as Commodore in Chief of the Royal Fleet Auxiliary, welcomed RFA Stirling Castleinto the Naval Fleet yesterday in Leith, Scotland.

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Today, Hereditary Prince Alexander and Hereditary Princess Hande of Mecklenbur christened their son, Duke Leoplold. Princess Ande wore a white bumper percher hat.

Queen Camilla and the Princess of Wales were gifted handmade hats from the Ukraine made by Ruslan Bainskiy. I really hope they wear them!

 

While we usually focus on hats, this lot of the late Duchess of Windsor’s shoes is impressive! Read more here.

 

Images from Getty and social media as indicated 

Dutch Royals Attend Four Freedom Awards

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King Willem-Alexander, Queen Máxima and Princess Beatrix attended the Four Freedom Awards today in in Middelburg.

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Princess Beatrix repeated a navy sinamay bumper hat with large bow tail that loops around the upturned brim onto the hat’s crown on the right side.

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Milliner: Susanne Moulijn
Previously Worn: Jun 15, 2019; March 7, 2013;  

Queen Máxima used the occasion to debut a new beret hat. The natural straw piece is simply trimmed with a stem and rows of dark zigzag stiching.

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She wore the same ensemble to a second engagement, Girls’ Day at Container Service Groenenboom, joining in girls who use this opportunity to visit companies in the field of science and technology.

Milliner: unknown. Dress by Natan.
Previously Worn: This hat is new

Thoughts?

Images from Getty and social media as indicated