Author Archives: Royal Hats

Imperial Couple Visit Yamagata

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Emperor Akihito and Empress Michiko’s visit to Yamagata Prefecture over the weekend saw the Empress wore two hats in addition to the one we looked at in this previous post. For their arrival on September 10, Empress Michiko repeated a white mini-pillbox hat trimmed with a white and slate blue folded fabric bow which coordinated with the lapel on her jacket.

Empress Michiko, September 10, 2016 in Akio Hirata | Royal Hats   Empress Michiko, September 10, 2016 in Akio Hirata | Royal Hats

Designer: Akio Hirata 
Previously Worn: July 22, 2014; July 14, 2009

The Imperial couple spent Monday, September 12 visiting the Nezugaseki Port of Tsuruoka and Tsuruoka Matsugaoka reclamation field. The Empress debut a new white saucer hat for these events. While this piece follows the predictable shape and scale of Michiko’s other hats, it dramatically departs in terms of trimming with a blue and orange plaid multi looped bow in the same fabric as the peplum and pocket square on her suit. We rarely see such unexpected hits of colour on Empress Michiko’s ensembles and while I’m not sure this one is entirely successful, I’m going to embrace it because it’s such a welcome change from her usual head-to-hem greys.

 Empress Michiko, September 12, 2016 | Royal Hats

Empress Michiko, September 12, 2016 | Royal Hats

Empress Michiko, September 12, 2016 | Royal Hats

Designer: unknown. Likely Akio Hirata
Previously Worn: this hat is new

I can’t wait to hear your thoughts on this new hat’s slight design twist!

Photos from Sankei, Yomiuri and Asahi

Queen Máxima Attends Sustainability Award

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Queen Máxima attended the tenth “Postcode Lottery Green Challenge” international competition for sustainable entrepreneurship in Amsterdam yesterday. For this occasion, she repeated one of her go-to hats with upswept ‘slice’ brim.

In coffee coloured straw, this hat will be familiar to most of you- it features a rounded crown and is simply trimmed with a matching grosgrain ribbon hatband and abstract folded ribbon bow at the side. While the design is not one of Máxima’s standouts in terms of colour or shape, it is a great piece that paired exceptionally with her white Gucci dress, warm brown accessories and citrine earrings.The resulting ensemble is one of my favourite for her so far this year.
   Queen Máxima, Sep 14, 2016 in Fabienne Delvigne | Royal Hats  Queen Máxima, Sep 14, 2016 in Fabienne Delvigne | Royal Hats
Queen Máxima, Sep 14, 2016 in Fabienne Delvigne | Royal Hats  Queen Máxima, Sep 14, 2016 in Fabienne Delvigne | Royal Hats
Designer: Fabienne Delvigne
Previously Worn: June 2, 2016; April 21, 2016; March 10, 2016
What do you think of Queen Máxima’s hat and accompanying ensemble yesterday?

Photos from Getty as indicated; Patrick van Katwijk as indicated; Albter Nieboer via AFP; Albert Nieboer/EPP via PPE

Opening of Swedish Parliament

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Members of the Swedish Royal Family gathered in Stockholm yesterday for the opening of parliament dressed in the  traditional black and white dress code associated with this event. Queen Silvia led her family in a repeated white ruched straw headpiece with wide bow at the back. The lovely movement of this piece, which swirls around Silvia’s head, almost makes up for it’s open crown. I have long disliked such open crowned hats but paired with an impeccably cut black suit and pearls, this one almost works.

Embed from Getty Images Embed from Getty Images

Queen Silvia, September 13, 2016 | Royal Hats   Queen Silvia, September 13, 2016 | Royal Hats

Embed from Getty Images
Designer: unknown
Previously Worn: September 17, 2013

The three Princesses sported chignon hairstyles, each topped with a fascinator style headpiece. There has been growing controversy here at Royal Hats over the merits of this style of millinery and, like them or love them, I think each worked particularly well with this hairstyle.

This is the third outing for Crown Princess Victoria’s layered headpiece of black and white butterflies and while still not my favourite for her, I think it worked better with her Paule Ka dress than it has with any previous ensemble.

Embed from Getty Images Embed from Getty Images

Designer: Malinda Damgaard
Previously Worn: October 19, 2015; September 15, 2015

Princess Madeleine’s black free form shaped headpiece was worn as a calot the last time we saw it. I think the scale of this piece suits the placement we saw here and the combination of hard edged headpiece with the very delicate lace collar of her blouse made for an interesting contrast.

Princess Madeleine, September 13, 2016 | Royal Hats   Princess Madeleine, September 13, 2016 | Royal Hats   Princess Madeleine, September 13, 2016 | Royal Hats

Designer: unknown
Previously Worn: September 15, 2013

For my favourite ensemble of the day, Princess Sofia topped a streamlined Max Mara black dress with an over-size white camellia bloom headpiece. Black and white ensembles can be tough to balance but the scale of this headpiece works so beautifully with the dress, understated jewellery and a large chignon. The resulting combination is timeless, classic and so very chic.

Princess Madeleine and Princess Sofia, September 13, 2016 | Royal HatsPrincess Madeleine and Princess Sofia, September 13, 2016 | Royal Hats Princess Sofia, September 13, 2016 | Royal Hats

Designer: unknown
Previously Worn: this headpiece is new
Any thoughts to share on the quartet of Swedish royal headpieces for this year’s opening of parliament?
Photos from Getty as indicated;  Anna Karin Nilsson and Olle Sporrong via Stella Pictures; and Dana Press

Catching Up With The Imperial Royals

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Emperor Akihito and Empress Michiko visited Yamagata Prefecture over the weekend to take in the 36th National Meeting for the Healthy Ocean. For this event, Empress Michiko repeated her large white saucer hat with curling ribbon detail in the same blue silk as her suit. We don’t often see such a clear side view of Michiko’s hats and this one shows not only how the hat is secured to her head, but how flat (and light weight) the saucer shape is.

Empress Michiko, September 11, 2016 | Royal Hats

Empress Michiko, September 11, 2016 | Royal Hats   Empress Michiko, September 11, 2016 | Royal Hats

Designer: my guess is Akio Hirata
Previously Worn: August 7, 2015; July 26, 2015

Last week, Princess Hanako of Hitachi also made her first appearance following a hip replacement earlier this summer. The Princess was in Hokkaido Prefecture to attend the opening of the sixth annual Ikebana Art Exhibition. For this occasion, she wore a new hat. With a squared crown in the same pale peachy-pink silk as her suit, this hat’s focal point is an unusual but beautiful brim made of transparent straw covered in lace.

 Princess Hanako, September 8, 2016 | Royal Hats  Princess Hanako, September 8, 2016 | Royal Hats

We don’t often see such use of lace on royal hats and the use of lace here creates such a lovely contrast of texture on this piece, significantly lightening its overall feel. I appreciate the gentle curve of the brim and while the repeated use of the lace as applique on Hanako’s suit might be a step too far into matchy-matchy territory, the ensemble is wonderful on her.

Princess Hanako, September 8, 2016 | Royal Hats  Princess Hanako, September 8, 2016 | Royal Hats

Designer: unknown
Previously Worn: I believe this hat is new

While Empress Michiko’s hat is unchanged from her usual style, I’m curious about your responses to Princess Hanko’s more unusual design. What do you think of this lace brimmed hat?

Photos from Mainichi; Asahi and FNN News

Swedish Royals Support Children’s Sports Day

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For several years, Prince Daniel of Sweden has organised a children’s sports day run and Sunday saw the fourth edition of this event. The prince was joined by his wife and daughter who both sported natural straw hats. You may recognise both hats- Princess Estelle’s design with fluted brim and flower trim at the side and Princess Victoria’s simply shaped hat with slim, buckled hat band-  from a photo released in June for Swedish national day.

Designer of Crown Princess Victoria’s Hat: Philip Treacy 
Previously Worn: June 2016