During a recent hat related Friday discussion, regular commenter Jimbo posed the following question:

I’m confused about the term “matchy” which is oft-times bantered about on this blog. 99.99% of what Queen Elizabeth (I always hear sweet music in the background when typing her name!) wears is matchy to a fault. Same color, material, pattern – the term I’d use is that she’s always perfectly coordinated. Where is the line to be drawn where her ensemble is balanced and coordinated or it’s too “matchy?” 

I think, Jimbo, you’ve ventured into completely subjective territory! However, as we’re already into a season of major hatted events, clearing up terms such as this one can only help our discussion.

For me,  the line from ‘coordinated’ crossed over into “matchy” territory in one of three ways:

Formula #1: The ensemble is one-note in texture and colour, without something to visually break it up.

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Formula #2: A particular pattern or motif is repeated on significant item(s) of clothing AND the hat

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Formula #3: One item- often a jacket or dress- is chosen as a focal point and ALL other elements of the ensemble (including the hat and all of its trimmings) are matched to it to the point that the ensemble feels too much. Usually, the focal piece is in two or three colours, all of which are repeated throughout each of the other pieces of the ensemble. However, this formula also includes single colour ensembles where all the accessories (again, including the hat) are in the same colour family as the focal piece, like the orange one below.

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A disclaimer here- while Queen Elizabeth appears in each of these three categories, I don’t think all of her ensembles warrant the “matchy” label. Most, I would consider as beautifully coordinated!

So- what do you think of my classification of these pieces as “matchy”? What other ensembles with hats do you think are overly matched? What, in your estimation, takes them from ‘coordinated’ over the line into “matchy” territory?

Photo from Getty as indicated; Edwin Veloo/PPE;  Tanja Carstens Lund / Ritzau Photo via Kongehuset;  Mainichi; Patrick van Katwijk via Corbis; and  The Royal Family of Romania

A number of you have messaged me about the numerous other headpieces seen at the MET gala on Monday night. British milliner Stephen Jones shared a number of his creations included in the event’s exhibition along with the show stopping beaded brocade mitre hat he created for gala co-chair Rihanna.

Queen Elizabeth enjoying the Windsor Horse Show this week in a pair of lovely Hermes headscarves

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The following new millinery designs caught my eye this week:

Amazing black straw saucer with transparent center from British milliner Sophie Beale
Sunset inspired percher in the prettiest shades of pink and orange from London based Anna Bella Millinery
Warm brown straw angular crowned hat with crin trim from Czech milliner Jolana Kotábová
Pale pink pyramid saucer with tulle waterfall and silk cherry blossoms from British milliner William Chambers
An incredible feathered headpiece handmade by Australian milliner Rebecca Hanley
Pink percher with flying windowpane straw bow from British milliner Sarah Cant
Sleek boater with braided trim from  Australian brand Jill and Jack Millinery
Lovely pale blue hat with wide cartwheel brim from Dublin milliner Ashleigh Myles
Statement pink beret percher with ruffle and flying twist from Turkish born London milliner Merve Bayindir

And finally, stunning handmade flowers and leaves on a green beret percher and a headpiece modeled by none other than the great milliner herself, Rachel Trevor Morgan

Empress Michiko repeated her white saucer with grey ombre bow and flower trim to award the Midori Academic Prize on April 27.

A number of you have asked me to feature hats from the Kentucky Derby. These two stood out for me most this year:

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The following new millinery designs caught my eye this week:

Vibrant triple brim straw boaters with flying bow hatbands from London-based Australian milliner Lisa Tan
Purple straw button percher with lavish silk orchids by UK brand Butterfly Millinery
Black vertical statement saucer with oversize poppy bloom from London-based Turkish milliner Merve Bayindir
Large natural straw bergère hat with black ribbon trim from Paris based Veronica Marucci Chapeaux
Wide brimmed pink picture hat with flowers from British milliner Edwina Ibbotson
Chinoiserie patterned percher with flowers & curled quill from Brisbane milliner Marilyn Van den Berg
Large natural saucer disk with beautiful feathers & ribbon from Vivian Blooms based in Guangzhou
Navy straw beret percher with tutti-fruitti feather trim from British milliner Rosie Olivia

And this coral design with red binding and very unusual folded brim from Dutch milliner Myra van de Korput.