Category Archives: Announcements, Extras & Millinery News

Queen Elizabeth’s Epsom Hats: Part 2 1965-1979

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Yesterday we looked at Queen Elizabeth’s hats at the Epsom Races from the late 1940s until 1964; today, we continue this sweeping retrospective with her toppers (and many turbans!) through the end of the 1970s. Special thanks to Jimbo for his assistance finding most of these photos.

Here are the hats Queen Elizabeth wore to the Epsom races from 1965 to 1979:


June 2 and 4, 1965


May 25 and 27, 1966


June 1 and 3, 1967


May 31 and June 1, 1968; 1969


June 1 and 3, 1970; 1971


1972 and 1973


June and July 1974


1977, 1978 and 1979 in Frederick Fox

The turbans of the early 1960s in yesterday’s post continue here throughout that decade. What’s fascinating for me is the introduction of brims in the early 1970s, with a return to the voluminous turbans for a few more years. The first hat in 1971 was entirely new for me with it’s teal overlapping mini-visor around the front, a unique touch on a turban. What do you notice about the Queen’s hats during this period?

Stay tuned tomorrow for what’s sure to be some memorable millinery during the 1980s and 1990s.

Photos from Ray Bellisario/Popperfoto, Popperfoto, Keystone-France\Gamma-Rapho, PA Images, Victor Blackman/Express/Hulton Archive, McCabe/Express/Hulton Archive, Fox Photos, Rolls Press/Popperfoto, Ray Bellisario/Popperfoto, Anwar Hussein, Ray Bellisario/Popperfoto, Rolls Press/Popperfoto, Bernard Allemane\INA, Anwar Hussein, Keystone, Roger Jackson/Central Press, Anwar Hussein, Rolls Press/Popperfoto and Tim Graham Photo Library all via Getty Images

This Week’s Extras

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The Duchess of York in a pompom bedecked natural straw hat for today’s daily children’s story, The Wonky Donkey.

https://www.instagram.com/p/CAzrZmuF7aI/

Milliner’s Guild USA is hosting a fun Royal Ascot challenge, inviting anyone to recreate one of their favourite Ascot royal fashion looks and share on Instagram. Details are on the example below- if any of you participate, please share with us here, too! You can follow all entries on Milliner’s Guild Instagram here.
The following new millinery designs caught my eye this week:
Continuing this week’s hat’s with sparkle, this deep purple silk velvet pillbox hat studded with  iridescent cabouchon stones from British milliner Dillon Wallwork.
Headpiece of vibrant rainbow-hued interlocking crin rings by American milliner Amy Fowler
Royal blue straw crown boater with leopard print brim by French milliner Béatrice de Beauvoir
Statement saucer in layered sapphire and coral straw by British brand Lillibets Millinery
Wearable slate blue straw braid capulet with woven hatband by German brand Hutmanufaktur
Warm brown straw Dior brim with deep pink silk abaca swoosh by Dutch millinerMyra van de Korput
Ombre pink straw & lace percher with sinamay leaves and leather flowers by Aussie brand Ebbella Millinery

Amazing heapiece of blue feathers weightlessly floating over a blue silk organza petal bandea, made by New Zealand milliner Anel Heyman
Winter white felt cloche with freestyle side pleat by Australian milliner Christine Waring
Beautiful movement on this navy straw pleated brim design by London-based brand John Boyd Milliner
Adorable floral headpiece made entirely of recycled denim by British brand Angharad Rose Millinery
Prettiest vintage Japanese quilted silk saucer with cherry blossoms by Australian milliner Victoria Henderson

And finally, this fantastic purple faded sinamay wide brimmed hat with sweeping, wonderfully smooth lines by Dutch
milliner Myra van de Korput

Greetings from Princess Theodora this week on the day that her wedding was scheduled (Princess Beatrice’s wedding, as many recall, was also scheduled this week.
We started this post with a story- why not close with one as well? Here is a lovely excerpt of the Duchess of Cornwall reading from Roald Dahl’s  James and the Giant Peach.

Photos from social media as indicated

Most Sparkle?

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During these trying times, many of us are looking for a twinkle of hope. After oggling Princess Margaret’s blingy turban yesterday,this week’s discussion just had to be, dearest readers – which royal hat has the most sparkle? 

Embed from Getty Images

Photo from Getty as indicated

This Week’s Extras

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Top hats for King Harald and Crown Prince Haakon last Sunday for Norway’s national holiday
A LOT of millinery designs caught my eye this week:
Waved screen print fabric covered hat with flexible, changeable brim by Italian milliner Sabrina Baldacchini
Show-stopping red layered crin pyramid shaped hat by Australian milliner Lauren J Ritchie
Fuchsia straw button percher with lush vine of silk morning glories by Brtish milliner William Chambers
Navy felt trilby with blue-hued feather covered brim by Dutch milliner Berry Rutjes
Dusky pink leather button percher with beautiful layered lace trim by Australian milliner Kylie Heagney
Ecru straw wide brimmed slice hat with black embroidery by London-based milliner Filipa Cardoso
Pink, yellow and blue handpainted percher hat with straw twists and feathers by US brand Lifted Millinery

For our dear gents, this beautifully textured Panama hat with crisp and classic navy and cream
double hatband by British brand John Boyd Millinery
Cream straw picture hat with green statement bow and fantastic hand pieced straw brim, inspired
by jockey silks, by American brand Amy Jo Original Hats
The most charming pink and green sinamay handmade tulip bandeau headpiece from UK milliner Bridget Bailey
Grey felt fedora with ribbon work lily-of-the valley trim and beaded hatband by British milliner Jane Corbett
Padded oversize pillbox covered in a fantastically bold, retro floral print by Australian milliner Chris Mullane
Warm gold angular straw short-brimmed hat with neon pink silk organza rose by Czech milliner Jolana Kotabova
Large waved percher covered entirely in magenta feathers by Irish milliner Aoife Harrison

And from Scottish milliner Stephanie, this elegantly restrained grey wide brimmed boater with guipure lace hatband

For World Bee Day on Wednesday, Crown Princess Victoria, Princess Estelle and Prince Oscar visited the beehives gifted to Victoria and Daniel for their wedding
Princess Alexandra shared a heartfelt message with Alzheimer Society, as did the Earl and Countess of Wessex for Local Resilience Forums in Wessex


We end this week with the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge trying out new roles.

Photos from social media as indicated

This Week’s Extras

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Disappointing news that after 28 years, Danish milliner Susanne Juul closed up shop at the end of March. She is responsible for many of Crown Princess Mary’s beautiful hats and I’m so disappointed we won’t see more of her work
The following new millinery designs caught my eye this week:
Striking, sleek and beautifully executed white pinok pok straw saucer hat by Scottish milliner Maggie Mowbray
Sunny yellow straw bandeau trimmed with fantastically realistic silk dandelions by British milliner Angharad Rose
Charming summer hat of ecru and grey vintage woven straw with grey hatband by Australian brand Belle Folie
Ink blue silk dyed Ikat button hat with white crin brim by German brand MATAdesign.
Vibrant green felt top hat with cut feather leaves studded in a black veil by Australian milliner Jill Humphries

From British milliner Sarah Cant, this white wide-straw bandeau with exquisite flying bow in colours fading from apricot to watermelon pink to deep merlot. So pretty.
Unconventional flower headpiece in purple and lime cross hatch crin petals by Australian milliner Sandy Aslett
Classic straw fedora in the loveliest blue with turquoise wrapped hatband by Norwegian milliner Gerd Holth
Black straw percher covered in wonderful leather flowers with beaded centers by Australian milliner Kylie Heagney
Classic shaped hat made spectacular with ombre dyed straw by Australian milliner Lisa Hughes
White straw boater with darling blue pearl centered flowers and hatband by Australian brand Hats by Helen

Charming blue straw design by Czech milliner Jolana Kotabova with crin extended brim, ruched hatband and lovely brim scallop around the back
Cheeky watermelon pink handpainted parasisal straw bandeau with crystal seeds by British milliner Julian Ganer
Orchid purple felt pillbox with sculptural black trim by Australian milliner Bec Bayss
Quirky pink disk with dotted binding, crin loop and floral trim by French milliner Sylvia Martinez
Black lace boater with transparent brim and rounded crown by Australian brand Sonlia Fashion
Ecru felt pillbox with very royal white scalloped trim by Russian milliner Natalia Edis

Such a delicate hand by Turkish-born London based milliner Merve Bayindir on this feather covered saucer. Love the pale ombre rainbow!
Red textured straw cloche with divided crown by Russian milliner Lia Gureeva
Purple, fuchsia and turquoise folded straw bow headpiece by American milliner Laura Hubka-Timmel
Navy berger with straw brim, silk bias stripe crown and purple flowers by Australian milliner Wendy White
Black straw percher with tall monochrome spray of leaves, silk blooms and veil by UK-based milliner Giulia Mio
Showstopper large ecru straw disc with silk flowers and circling vine by British milliner Edwina Ibbotson

From Australian brand Peacock Millinery, this multicoloured saucer with black feather trim makes me smile

The Dutch royal family sending out love during the Eurovision song contest and Crown Princess Mette-Marit using one of her hobbies to share a message of hope

Photos from social media as indicated