Author Archives: Royal Hats

In the Design: A Master At Work

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In 2020, Craft (an Australian association that supports, presents and produces craft and design-focused creative practices) began a collaboration with videographer Mark Newbound on a series of short films about different makers. Last week, he released one featuring Australian milliner Louise Macdonald upcycling a straw hat.

I had the pleasure of working with Louise last fall while producing a month-long education series for the British Millinery Association. And I truly do mean pleasure- she is a lovely person, a gifted instructor and a millinery master.

Multiples: Crown Princess Mette-Marit

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Crown Princess Mette-Marit has paired her raisin-hued felt calot hat by Mona Strand with six different coats to create several contrasting looks:

Look #1: With a deep eggplant dress and pale periwinkle wool coat worn October 25, 2005 on a state visit to the UK

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Look #2: With a pale lilac wool coat worn December 10, 2008 for the Nobel Peace Prize ceremony

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Look #3: With an ecru buttoned coat with fur collar for the Nobel Peace Prize ceremony in 2012 

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Look #4: With a mulberry dress and palest lilac-grey coat for National Day celebrations in May 2013

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Look #5: With a black floral dress and ruffled coat, both by Valentino, for a Latvian state visit on March 18, 2015

Look #6: With a purple pleated Alberta Feretti bow necked dress and a gold embroidered lilac silk coat worn for an October 2016 state visit from Singapore

Which coat do you prefer most with this hat?

Photos from Getty as indicated; Vidar Ruud/ NTB Scanpix; NTB Scanpix

This Week’s Extras

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Last Sunday, Princess Akiko wore a pink cuffed cloche to award the Japan University Rugby Football Championship.

On Friday, members of the Imperial royal family attended the annual New Year lecture at the Imperial Palace in Tokyo.

The following new millinery designs caught my eye this week:
Art Deco inspired brimless vintage pink felt design with fluted crown by Czech milliner Jolana Kotabova
Raspberry felt pillbox with velvet side statement twist by US brand Mirabelle House Millinery
Love the origami hatband and vibrant rose on this green straw boater by British milliner Justine Bradley-Hill
Unique statement blue sinamay design with leather bougainvillea by Australia milliner Brenda Lui
Pink silk calot with flowers and unique veil of curled quills veil  by British milliner Edwina Ibbotsen
Headpiece of amber and gold silk abaca jeweled flowers by Ghanan milliner Velma Owusu-Bempah
Adore this saturated blue fedora with peacock feathers trim. By British milliner Louise Pocock.

Lovely muted pink silk abaca headpiece with leather flower and flying bow by British brand Pebelles Boutique
Striking shape on this cognac felt blocked beret by Italian milliner Monica Gamberale
Exquisite floral embroidery on this ecru felt hat with leather hatband by British milliner Julianne Holland
Neon felt cloche hats with size zipper detail by American milliner Jennifer Hoertz
Gold leather button with beautiful vine of ivy leaves by British milliner Nellie Pitts
Natural straw button with the loveliest leather anemone trim by British brand Silk & Straw Millinery
Unexpected use of plaid on this tall Kokoshnik headpiece with flower by Irish milliner Ailish McElroy

Wonderful floral embroidered hatband on this purple felt boater by Polish brand Lallu Chic
Lovely movement on this headpiece of ecru and trimmed peacock feathers by British brand Annabel Allen Millinery
Fascinating look at Dutch milliner Marianne Jongkind’s pink lace picture hat with two-level crown
Ecru silk abaca knotted headpiece studded with sinamay flowers by British milliner Awon Golding
Camel felt brimmed hat with whimsical embroidered dandelions by Australian brand This is BamBam
Blush wide brimmed saucer with statement pleated silk abaca trim by British milliner Georgina Blyth
Fantastic crocheted teapot hat by Canadian textile artist Alexandria Masse

 

 Princess Margherita of Savoy-Aosta, Archduchess of Austria-Este, passed away on January 10. This series of slides shows her incredible royal family connections.

 

And we end with the most wonderful family portrait released by the Danish court on the occasion of Queen Margrethe’s Golden Jubilee.

Images from Kyodo News via Getty Images and social media as indicated 

Danish Golden Jubilee

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50 years ago today, Queen Margrethe II ascended the Danish throne following the death of her father, King Frederik IX.  While the current state of the pandemic forced the postponement of larger scale events celebrating this Golden Jubilee, Queen Margrethe was joined by her family today first for a visit the tomb of her father at Roskilde Cathedral followed by scaled-down celebration at Danish Parliament.

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To visit Roskilde Cathedral, Queen Margrethe repeated her grey fur bumper hat and matching coat.

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Controversy about fur aside, this design is a practical choice for an outdoor winter event. I just wish she had closed her coat to show off the striking diagonal stripes and give a sleeker overall look.

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Designer: unknown
Previously Worn: Feb 8, 2019

For the visit to Danish Parliament which followed, the Danish queen switched hats, donning the brimmed blue hat with striped feather trim which we first saw her wear last November. It was an unsurprising change for the indoor event, pairing Margrethe’s lovely blue suit with its matching hat. It’s a beautifully designed and finished piece, the feathers giving some welcome colour and textural contrast to the all-blue ensemble.

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Designer: Mathilde Førster (who deservingly received a Golden Jubilee “Medal of Remembrance” today!)
Previously Worn: Nov 10, 2021

Crown Princess Mary Mary repeated her ecru felt pillbox hat exquisitely trimmed in lace applique on one side.

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The pillbox adds subtle contrast to an overall look that is elegantly restrained- some might frown at the neutral ensemble but it feels so well suited for an event where another family member is clearly the star.

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Designer: Jane Taylor
Previously Worn: Mar 28, 2017

Princess Marie wore a new black straw beret percher trimmed with round disc flowers. Here’s an occasion where the whole is greater than the sum of its parts, the hat pairing beautifully with Marie’s black and white floral dress, black accessories and mint coat.

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Designer: Mademoiselle Chapeaux Paris. It is the “Fleur” design. 
Previously Worn: this hat is new

Princess Benedikte topped her magenta suit and purple cape in a new hat combining these two hues. The design features a magenta domed crown, purple bumper brim and a trio of twists in different saturated shades of pink on the side. Benedikte wears these berry shades so well and this piece is a fun addition to her wardrobe.

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Designer: unknown
Previously Worn: this hat is new

It’s lovely to see this milestone publicly marked today, especially with the debut of several new hats! What do you think about the hats in Copenhagen for Queen Margrethe’s Golden Jubilee today?

Images from Getty as indicated