Category Archives: All About Design

Buckingham Palace Garden Party

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A fourth garden party took place at Buckingham Palace on Wednesday, the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge, Princess Beatrice, the Earl and Countess of Wessex and the Duke and Duchess of Gloucester braving rain to be in attendance.

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The Duchess of Cambridge used the occasion to debut a new hat. The mint sinamay double disc design features a high sidesweep pinch in which is nestled oversize mint silk handmade flowers. There’s a delicacy and lightness to the piece that feels so fresh, despite us knowing that Kate has twins of this style in different colours!

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Designer: Philip Treacy  OC 896 from SS 2022
Previously Worn: This hat is new

The Duke of Cambridge repeated his antique silk top hat.

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Princess Beatrice  wore a halo bandeau headpiece in a natural and black geometric woven print. The graphic pattern gives a great sharpness to the piece.

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Designer:  Dandelion design by Camilla Rose. Dress by Self Portrait. 
Previously Worn:  This headpiece is new

The Countess of Wessex repeated the electric blue straw ringed saucer percher trimmed with stiffened lace and curled quills we last saw her wear at Easter.  The Earl repeated his antique silk top hat.

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Designer: bespoke Jane Taylor. Dress by Emilia Wickstead.
Previously Worn: April 17, 2022; July 1, 2016; July 2, 2013; June 18, 2013

The Duchess of Gloucester is wearing a wide brimmed black hat. It looks like a darker twin to the blue lightweight sinamay hat she wore in March.

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 Don’t you wish these garden parties would continue all summer?!

Images from Getty as indicated  

Buckingham Palace Garden Party

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A third garden party took place at Buckingham Palace on Wednesday, attended by the Duchess of Cambridge, Earl and Countess of Wessex and Princess Alexandra.

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The Duchess of Cambridge repeated her coral straw beret percher with layered crin ruffle in three shades of pink. Many of us have been waiting for a second wearing of this design and it’s pairing with a new coral coat dress was spot-on.

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Designer: Jane Taylor bespoke version of the ‘Seriatoporah’ from SS 2017. Coat dress by Emilia Wickstead.
Previously Worn: June 17, 2017

The countess of Wessex repeated her cream striped crin hat. Built on a straw button base, this variation on a saucer shape features a wide fold that flutes the left side of the design. The hat is trimmed with grey and cream twists and a pair of black feathers.  With her pale floral dress, the hat topped a wonderfully airy summer look. Prince Edward repeated his gleaming black antique silk top hat.

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Designer: bespoke Jane Taylor. Dress by Erdem
Previously Worn: Jul 10, 2018; Feb 4, 2018; May 10, 2016;  June 17, 2015

Princess Alexandra repeated her pale pink sinamay hat with wide brim trimmed with slim silk bow and feathers. It’s all kinds of lovely.

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Designer: Rachel Trevor Morgan
Previously Worn: Sep 9, 2021;  June 18, 2019; May 20, 2018

I give a solid two thumbs up to each of these four hats. What do you think?

Images from Getty as indicated  

Belgian State Visit To Greece

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King Philippe and Queen Mathilde embarked on a three-day state visit to Greece this week. For their arrival in Athens on Monday, Queen Mathilde wore a freeform hat in coral pleated parabuntal straw.

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The colour is glorious – I love how it’s slightly lighter than the main hue of the dress – and the organic, face-framing shape suits Mathilde well. The pleated parabuntal fibres of the hat reference the pleated dress…. maybe a tinge too much? Or maybe it’s just right. I’m not sure. It’s certainly a coordinated and cohesive look that made Mathilde stand out in a crowd.

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Designer: Bespoke “Santorini” design by Fabienne Delvigne. Dress by Natan
Previously Worn: This hat is new

For Tuesday’s program of events at a refugee support center, Poseidon’s temple and the archeological site of Thorikos, Queen Mathilde repeated a wide brimmed picture hat in biscuit balibuntal (a finely woven straw) with raw edge around the brim. The hat is simply trimmed with straw fibres wrapped around the base of the crown that splay open over the back of the brim

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The hat pairs beautifully with the blue Ikat patterned coat dress. I’m not always a fan of raw-edge brims but this one works, especially in combination with the organic-feel of the Ikat print. My only quibble is that straw wrap around the crown. I’d prefer a cleaner, crisper trim- maybe a simple Petersham ribbon hatband?

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Designer: Bespoke “Dune” design by Fabienne Delvigne. Dress by Natan
Previously Worn: Sep 17, 2013

For the final day of the visit, Queen Mathilde wore a draped calot design in vibrant fuchsia silk abaca.

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The hat is such a great pairing with the gorgeous embroidered coat, the colours linking together and the hat’s small scale providing just the right of punchy contrast to the ensemble without creating visual competition. We’ve seen Mathilde in numerous similar draped silk abaca designs (one of Fabienne Delvigne’s signatures) and this one is a good addition.

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Designer: Bespoke “Agapanthe” design by Fabienne Delvigne. Coat by Costarellos and blouse by Natan
Previously Worn: This hat is new

I give the hats on this state visit a sound thumbs up- what are your thoughts about these designs?

 

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Cambridges Mark Anzac Day 

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The Duke and Duchess of Cambridge attended a Service of Commemoration and Thanksgiving commemorating Anzac Day today at Westminster Abbey.

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For this event, the Duchess wore a new halo bandeau headpiece covered in textured white tweed. A large black silk bow trims the piece across the back, joining the sides together in a circle.

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The headpiece pairs beautifully with Kate’s coat dress, its texture and black bow contrasting with the sleek lines of the coat. The pieces combine to create an elegantly restrained ensemble that well suited this event.

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Designer: ‘Calypso Halo’ by Jane Taylor. Coat dress by Alexander McQueen
Previously Worn: This headpiece is new

What do you think of Kate’s new hat in London today?

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Princess Beatrix Opens Museum Wing

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Princess Beatrix visited the Singer Laren museum today to open the new Nardinc Rooms housing the private art collection donated by Els Blokker-Verwer (and her late husband Jaap Blokker) in 2018.

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For this event, she repeated a burgundy sinamay stacked bumper hat with large twist on the side.

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Designer: Suzanne Moulijn
Previously Worn: Sept 23, 2015

Images from Getty as indicated