Category Archives: Ascot

Ascot Hats: Princess Haya

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During past Royal Ascot weeks, the royal arrivals I’ve anticipated most each day has often been Princess Haya. Her Ascot looks are often head turners and an easy choice to feature and celebrate today for Ladies’ Day. Here are the 58 designs Princess Haya has worn to the races over the years:

2004:

   
Cerulean blue Dior brim with flowers June 15; Aqua and cream straw upturned brim designs
with stacked, ruched crowns June 16 & 17; Black straw layered cloche with side twists June 18

2005:


Ruched ecru straw turban June 14; Cream and navy straw wide brimmed Philip Treacy
designs with silk bows on June 15 & 16; Purple pleated pillbox with back bow on June 18

2006:


Natural straw oblique brim with side bow June 20; Navy windowpane straw pillbox June 21
Cream silk petal headpiece June 22; Almond silk abaca hat with embellished hatband June 23

2007:



Pale grey calot with green beaded detail June 19; Red straw picture hat with navy binding & flowers June 20:
Ivory silk petal callot with taupe rose June 21; Ecru straw hat with pleated hatband June 22

2008:


 
Cream textured brim hat with feathers and veil June 17: Brown straw waved brim with feathers June 18:
Large red straw saucer with straw braided trim June 18; Black silk ruched lampshade with bow June 20

2009:



White straw and crin hat with feathers June 16; Grey straw picture hat with nude roses and feathers June 17;
White picture hat with veil June 18; Navy straw hat with veil & feathers June 19; Chocolate crin headpiece June 20

2010:


Ivory straw picture hat with blue flowers June 15; White &red straw hat with red roses June 16; Green straw hat with blue and green flowers & feathers June 17; Black straw hat with flowers June 18; White crin hat with blue flowers June 19

2011:



Pale lilac-grey straw hat with purple flowers June 14; Smooth navy straw rolled brim design June 15:
Burgundy straw percher with spiky feathers June 16; Chocolate straw picture hat with cream scarf June 17

2012:


Black pleated crin headpiece June 19; Dark blue velvet Philip Treacy hugger with twist June  20;
Fuchsia Philip Treacy slice hat with roses & ruffles June  21; Nerida Fraiman black angular straw with lace June  22

2013:

 

Black braided saucer with silk roses June 18; White straw Stephen Jones pillbox June 19;
Black crin Stephen Jones headpiece June 20; Ivory straw Philip Treacy picture hat June 21

2014:



Navy straw Nerida Fraiman percher with feathers June 17; Mint saucer with cream crin bow and brim binding June 18;
White straw Philip Treacy slice with black lace & feathers June 19; White Philip Treacy percher with twists June 20

2015:


Black flower saucer June 16; Black straw waved hat June 17, both by Philip Treacy

2016:



All from Philip Treacy- Feather covered pyramid June 14; Oversize ivory silk pillbox June 15;
Red straw picture hat with feathers & twists June 16; Black silk veiled rose headpiece June 17


White straw brimmed hat with navy lace by Juliette Botterill June 20;
Black and white Philip Treacy waved disk with feathers June 21; Red picture hat with oversize roses June 22

Ivory crin Philip Treacy saucer with twists and oversize roses June 19;
Cream straw veiled Philip Treacy hugger June 20; Black flower trimmed percher June 22
There’s so much here to admire, both in terms of individual looks and overall millinery bravado. The Philip Treacy fuchsia slice in 2012 is one of my favourite royal hats of all time, the white straw slice with black lace trim by Philip Treacy in 2014 is a masterpiece and the navy lace trimmed Juliette Botterill hat in 2017 is just plain pretty.  Princess Haya is not usually included in conversations about the bravest royal hat wearers which is a shame- there are numerous looks here that few other royals would even dare try pulling off. Granted, not all are successful but my goodness, her commitment to each look is so solid that even the less successful looks are still noteworthy.  Her absence at last year’s races was strongly felt, especially after learning the dire circumstances behind it. I hope things are resolved for her in a way that enables her to confidently attend Royal Ascot again, as it’s just not the same without her.
What do you notice about Princess Haya’s millinery style evolution? Which of her Royal Ascot hats stand out most to you?
Photos from Agencja Fotograficzna Caro/Alamy; Action Plus; Van Parys Media; PA Images; Van Parys Media; Tim Graham Photo Library via Getty; Alan Davidson/​Shutterstock; HRH Princess Haya Bint Al Hussein; Shutterstock;  Tim Graham Photo Library via Getty; David Hartley/Shutterstock, Tim Graham Photo Library and Tim Graham Photo Library via Getty; Princess Haya Bint Al Hussein; Chris Jackson and Samir Hussein/WireImage via Getty; Reuters; Mark Cuthbert/UK Press, Samir Hussein/WireImage, Chris Jackson, Mark Cuthbert/UK Press via Getty; HRH Princess Haya Bint Al Hussein; Eamonn McCormack/WireImage, Max Mumby/Indigo, and Mark Cuthbert/UK Press via Getty; Alan Davidson/Shutterstock; Chris Jackson, Mark Cuthbert/UK Press via Getty; Shutterstock; Ben Pruchnie/FilmMagic/Getty; Shutterstock; Steve Parsons/PA Images, Max Mumby/Indigo, Max Mumby/Indigo, Steve Parsons/PA Images via Getty; Rex Features/AP; Julian Parker, Max Mumby/Indigo; Stuart C. Wilson/Stringer, Chris Jackson, Julian Parker, Alan Crowhurst, Julian Parker/UK Press, Kirstin Sinclair, Julian Parker/UK Press, John Walton/PA Images, Mark Cuthbert/UK Press, Max Mumby/Indigo, and Steve Parsons/PA Images via Getty; Arabian Royal Agency; Steve Parsons/PA Images via Getty

Ascot Hats: Autumn Phillips

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In recent years, Autumn Phillips’ hats have turned heads and news earlier this year of a divorce and departure from the royal family was met with disappointment on multiple levels, especially in terms of millinery! Here is a look at all the hats she wore to Royal Ascot:

2007:

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White straw percher top hat with veil and multi-looped bow

2009:  

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Fuchsia straw hat with large ruffled bow and feathers

2012 and 2013:  

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Navy straw saucer with pink and white silk flowers and arrow cut pheasant feathers by Lisa Burrows
Ivory straw slice disk with multi-looped silk abacca bows by Gina Foster

2015:

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Black straw Gina Foster disk with silk orchids and curled feathers June 16
Green button percher with bow, white veil and vertical feathers by Emily London June 17 

 
White button percher with silk flowers and curving feathers by Emily London
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Vibrant blue straw Philip Treacy saucer with cut white feathers June 20
Magenta straw Juliette Botterill teardrop percher with rose and curling quill June 23
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Cream satin and straw base with pink ombre bamboo silk ruffle by Bee Smith June 20
Blue windowpane straw saucer with silk flowers studded with feathers by Sally Ann Provan June 22
What pops out to me here is the diversity- what a colourful, eclectic mix of perchers, saucers and sweeping wider brims. If pressed to pick a favourite, I think it would be Bee Smith’s cream percher with beautiful pink ombre ruffle last year, although the 2012 Gina Foster ivory disc with bows is tops, too.
What do you notice about Autumn’s millinery style evolution based on what we see here?

For another retrospective of Royal Ascot hats, jump over to this previously published post featuring Princess Diana.

Photos from Getty as indicated

Royal Ascot 2020 At Home: Day 1

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A few weeks ago, it seemed that this year’s absence of spectators at the races would automatically mean an absence of millinery but thanks to Ascot Racecourse and The British Millinery Guild’s joint #StyledWithThanks campaign, Royal Ascot 2020 will include hats! Every day of this year’s races, join me here for a mid-day post to share the at home Ascot looks (royal and non-royal) that caught your eye.

To get today’s discussion started, here are a pair of hats on two familiar faces. Zara Tindall is in a navy straw beret percher with cascade of silk flowers while Mike looks dapper in a top hat. What Ascot hats at home stood out to you today?

Designer: Juliette Botterill. Dress from Beulah London. Styled by Annie Miall. 
Previously Worn: This hat is new

Photos from social media as indicated 

Ascot Hats: Duchess of Cornwall

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We kick off the first day of Royal Ascot 2020 with a look back at all the hats the Duchess of Cornwall has worn to the races over the years, all from the studio of master milliner Philip Treacy:

2005:

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Ecru straw sharp sidesweep with silk figure-8 bow

2006:

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Pale oyster straw cartwheel brimmed hat with burnt feathers

2007:  

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Ivory windowpane straw slice with flowers & navy feathers June 19; Ecru straw creased-crown sidesweep June 20

2008:

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Ivory straw sidesweep with mint feather vine June 17; Turquoise straw sidesweep with goose feather pinwheels June 18

2009:

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Pale gold woven straw upsweep with flying bow June 16; Pink straw picture hat with feathers, silk loops& roses June 17

2011 and 2012:

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Repeat of the pale gold woven upsweep with flying bow from 2009; Almond straw upsweep with silk abacca brim wrap

2013:

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Ivory straw angled crown hat with ecru jinsin hatband and knot June 18; repeated pale gold woven upsweep June 19

2014:

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Ice blue straw sidesweep with crin & jinsin twists June 17; Ecru straw sidesweep with jinsin hatband & twist June 18

2015:

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Mint straw sharply raised brim with jinsin twists June 15

2016:

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Soft pink sidesweep with oversize flower June 14; Repeated ivory hat with ecru jinsin knot June 15
White straw slice with pink rose June 17; cream and navy straw sidesweep with bow and feather June 18

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Cream straw hat with angular crown and feather spray on June 20; blue straw slice with silk flower June 21
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Pair of ecru straw hats with angled crowns and sidesweep brims with floral trim June 19 and lace trim June 20
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Blush straw slice with silk flower June 18; Pale aqua sidesweep with jinsin twists June 19

Ice blue sidesweep with side bow on June 15; repeated  white hat with tan jinsin looped hatband on June 16
It’s an impressive parade of picture hats with sweeping brims, is it not?! The Duchess has developed a specific, signature millinery style that suits her well.
Now…while there are variations in crown and brim shape that indicate an evolution of this look (albeit subtle!) and incredibly beautiful trimmings, I’d love to see more saturated colour and the introduction of some different silhouettes. Philip Treacy’s 2020 summer collection includes this deep purple windowpane edged saucer and this seafoam straw and crin waved disc with silk flowers, both which would push Camilla’s millinery style but make stunning looks for her.  And what about introducing the occasional hat from a new milliner?! I can see designs from Dillon Wallwork, Merve Bayindir, Vivien Sheriff, William Chambers and Joaquina Pereira suiting Camilla’s style.

What do you notice about this evolution of the Duchess’ Royal Ascot hats?

For another retrospective of Royal Ascot hats, jump over to this previously published post featuring Princess Beatrice. 

Photos from Getty as indicated; Max Mumby/Indigo and Samir Hussein/WireImage via Getty