Category Archives: Announcements, Extras & Millinery News

This Week’s Extras

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Princess Anne looking great in a casual straw hat to present prizes at an eventing circuit competition held on her estate, Gatcomb Park, last Monday. She and Vice Admiral Laurence were spotted in casual sun hats, enjoying the event on Sunday.

The “nosai no gi” ceremony for Princess Ayako and Kei Moriya took place today at Princess Hisako’s home in Tokyo. This ceremony, the highlight of engagement rituals followed by the Imperial royal family, includes the exchange of special betrothal gifts (including sea breams, sake and silk) by both families and officially seals the engagement. The young couple and their surviving parents were later spotted arriving at the Imperial Palace for a visit with the Emperor and Empress, Princess Ayako in a white jacquard silk bumper hat with rosettes, braided trim and a tufts of tulle veil. Princess Hisako wore an interesting hat covered in melon-hued silk with rolled brim wrapped in white organza.

   

We can usually count on Princess Camilla of Bourbon Two-Sicilies to sport some interesting fashion during her family’s annual vacation in Saint-Tropez- while she didn’t disappoint this year, I really do like her sun hat.

Princess Yasmin Aga Khan speaking at a fundraiser for the American Alzheimer’s Association earlier this month in New York in an animal printed straw hat

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Queen Elizabeth was spotted en route to church in Scotland today in a new pale blue hat with black trim. She was joined by Princess Beatrice who looked very fashionable in a wide brimmed, dark Garbo hat. She also debuted a new cream and blue hat for church last Sunday that you won’t want to miss.

The following new millinery designs caught my eye this week:

Very happy yellow straw beret/calot from Danish milliner Susanne Juul with beautiful handmade irises
Lilac and lime statement oversize saucer with flowers from Irish milliner Carol Kennelly
Stunning black ringed headpiece with feathers from Australian brand Jill and Jack Millinery
Pink percher with impressive silk abaca trim from Liverpool milliner Tracy Miller
Lovely lace applique and flower embellishment on this red hat from Dutch milliner Maria Marcus
Beigey-pink straw boater with interesting cobweb brim from Irish milliner Edel Black
White wide brimmed straw saddle with black arrow trimmed feathers from British brand Bundle MacLaren
Textural magenta straw beret with twist from British-Australian milliner Louise Georgette
Gold lily-of-the-valley trim on a large button percher from Rachel Trevor Morgan
Watery blue and green ombre straw saucer from London-based Turkish milliner Merve Bayindir

And from Jane Fryers Millinery, this striking green and black beret base percher made of fish leather- leather made from fish skin, something that is usually discarded in the fishing industry.

 

 Royal Hats

Princess Ayako and Kei Moriya used the occasion of their “nosai no gi” engagement sealing ceremony today to release a series of sweet engagement photos (Imperial Family Of Japan)

Crown Prince Frederik and Crown Princess Mary shared numerous snaps of their family’s visit to the Knuthenborg Safaripark.

Lovely vacation snaps from the Luxembourg royal family that include eldest and youngest family members

 I’ve been on vacation this week and not tuned closely into royal news- I trust you will all fill in the gaps I’ve missed!

Queen Elizabeth’s Iconic Hats: 1950s

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 We continue our quest to identify Queen Elizabeth’s most iconic hats with a look at those worn during the first decade of her reign- the 1950s. When you think about her 1950s hats that are “widely known and acknowledged especially for distinctive excellence” which ones come to mind?  As always, feel welcome to link to articles, youtube videos or photo galleries featuring a particular hat but please avoid pinterest links and any hotlinked photos.

Bring on the Queen’s iconic hats from the 1950s!

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Photos from Getty as indicated

This Week’s Extras

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Queen Elizabeth wore her turquoise fabric covered hat with side floral posy and bows by Angela Kelly to church in Scotland last Sunday.

We have two events in July to catch up with Princess Hisako- on July 27, she wore a white hat with vibrant green hatband and purple twisting flowers to take in a calligraphy exhibition. The next day, she reopened the Japanese national football training center in a leaf green hat with square crown and multi layered brim with upturned kettle edge and gentle sidesweep, a hat that is fantastic on her.

 

Queen Anne-Marie of Greece in a chic straw Panama hat in Porto Heli.

Princess Anne in a casual summer look complete with straw hat yesterday at the Festival of British Eventing held on the grounds of her home, Gatcomb Park. Today, relaxed hats were spotted on several members of the Phillips family.

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A LOT of new millinery designs caught my eye this week:

Wonderfully spicy color scheme on this brimless design from Australian milliner Felicity North
Marvelous use of lace applique on this exquisite wide brimmed hat by Dutch milliner Wies Mauduit
Sophisticated and oh-so stylish black and white straw fedora from Italian brand Borsalino
Adore the swirling shape of this grey & cream straw percher from UK brand Camilla Rose Millinery
Interesting mix of texture, pleats and shadow on this black bandeau from Australian milliner Sylvy Earl
Creative use of magenta Vietnamese silk on this layered saucer by Irish milliner Jennifer Wrynne
Beautiful handmade flowers on this purple beret percher from Australian brand Murley and Co.
Such fantastic texture in this summer hat made of vintage straw by US milliner Jill Courtemanch
Love the gentle cuves on this black straw sidesweep by Munich based Nicki Marquardt
Irish milliner Laura Hanlon in a statement red and gold percher of her own design
Amazing movement on this blue button base cocktail hat with flying twists from Irish brand Marc Millinery
Elegant, classic white straw wide brimmed hats with wide ribbon hatbands from Lock & Co.

And from Montreal milliner Samantha-Tara Mainville who works under the Heirloom hats brand, this autumnal hued felt design with unusual but amazing draping and impeccable scallop edged brim.

 Royal Hats

Princess Madeleine shared this sweet family snap along with news that they are moving to Florida later this year.

Adorable picture of Prince Alexander and Prince Gabriel taken at Solliden Palace, shared by their parents

Princess Eugenie shared one of the photos that will appear in British Vogue, accompanying an interview with her and Princess Beatrice.

Queen Elizabeth’s Iconic Hats: 1990s

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 After last week’s most entertaining discussion and look through the 1970s, we continue our quest to identify Queen Elizabeth’s most iconic hats with a look at those worn during the 1990s. Again- we’re looking for hats “widely known and acknowledged especially for distinctive excellence” and each suggestion you make must be qualified as such. If you agree with a suggestion made by another, add your voice of support! As always, feel welcome to link to articles, youtube videos or photo galleries featuring a particular hat but please avoid pinterest links and any hotlinked photos.

The 1990s brought colour, pattern and a bit of drama to the Queen’s millinery. Are there hats from this decade that you consider to be iconic looks for her?

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Photos from Getty as indicated

This Week’s Extras

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Princess Hisako visited Fukui Prefecture Monday and Tuesday this week to participate in the 130th anniversary ceremony of the Japan Red Cross Fukui Prefecture branch; She also visited the Red Cross Hospital, Sakai children’s science museum and a life-size dinosaur exhibit at JR Fukui Station. Princess Hisako wore two hats during the visit,a simple white straw design with pleated hatband for the anniversary ceremony and for the other engagements during the visit, a more interesting black and white straw design with pork pie crown and wide brim. I believe both hats have been previously worn.

  

Duchess of Castro shared this snap, with her husband on holiday in Portugal, in a straw summer hat

Great interview with Ghanan milliner Velma Owusu-Bempahhere at the Hat Academy website

The following new millinery designs caught my eye this week:

Lemon yellow straw trilby designs with feather trim from British brand Vivien Sheriff Ltd.
Large pink straw saucer with stunning black feathers from Irish milliner Suzanne Ryan
Lovely purple beret percher with straw and feather leaves from Australian milliner Karen Bailey
Natural straw hat with amazing, floating straw flower trim from French milliner Laurence Bossion
Punchy orange sideswept straw disc with floral circle from Dublin-based Ashleigh Myles Millinery
Huge white sidesweep saucer with flowers and silk organza ruffles from Rachel Trevor Morgan
Such a pretty and textural cream halo bandeau with flowers from Australian milliner Danica Erard
 Blue and mint picture hat with a layers of texture from London based Turkish milliner Merve Bayindir
Lilac snakeskin saucer with swirl of black feathers from London based Awon Golding Millinery

 

 Royal Hats

Surprised that the unveiling of a new statue of Queen Elizabeth in Gravesend, Kent on Thursday hasn’t been picked up more in royal news circles- what do you think of the likeness? (On The Thames)

Princess Mako’s fiancee, Kei Komuro, has quietly gone to study law in New York. Well, almost quietly, until the Imperial Household Agency staged a press conference to correct a minor detail and completely blew the ‘quietly’ part. Do you also smell interference from the IHA? (New York Times)

Fantastic photograph of Prince Harry’s visit to Lesotho last month, taken by Chris Jackson

Great snap taken by Crown Princess Mary of her family at the beach

We end this week with this delightful clip of The Band of The Royal Logistic Corp. playing an apt tune after the changing of the guard ceremony at Buckingham Palace. So fun!

Photos from Sankei