Today’s posts will be up late in the day (to avoid our Australian guest milliner having to get up in the middle of the night to talk with us!) so to keep you entertained, here’s a fantastic flashback of Queen Elizabeth’s Royal Ascot hats, shared yesterday by the British Monarchy.
Gallery from The British Monarchy
Photos released very late in the day (long after bedtime in the UK!) show a few more members of the royal family attended the races today. Princess Michael of Kent wore a new, John Boyd wide brimmed hat with mushroom bound in a black stripe, trimmed with a flat black bow.
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Prince Michael looked characteristically stylish in his black silk antique top hat- a hat that makes Lord Frederick’s shorter, felt version look rather squat and dowdly in comparison!
This day of the races also saw a few hats atop noble and notable heads:
Lady Carolyn Warren’s wide brimmed, pink pyramid with silk floral trim beneath the brim
Viscountess Brookeborough in a wide brimmed cerulean blue hat with feather trim
Lady Alice Manners, daughter of the Duke and Duchess of Rutland, in a Philip Treacy percher
Our guest milliner Ellie Vallerini’s pick for top non-royal hat and favourite outfit of the day is: British milliner Awon Golding in a self-made magenta boater hat with black ruffled flowers. Ellie writes, “She looked amazing! Modern, chic and elegant, the outfit was fun and daring and a real statement while still letting Awon shine out. She definitely wore that hat and it didn’t wear her!”
Awon Golding’s hat topped my list as well. Here are some of the other hats that caught my eye today:
Lizzie’s Hat owner Elizabeth Hughes in an oversize black straw saucer with vibrant flowers by Guibert Millinery
British milliners Ian Bennett in a scarlet silk top hat and Viv Jenner in a pink percher, both by Ian Bennett
Milliner Vivien Sheriff in a blush sidesweep saucer with explosion of patel feathers of her own design
Emma Winter in an ink blue straw beret with incredible, sculptural silk abaca trim by Ana Bella Millinery
Racing journalist Liz Price in fabulous feathers from Rachel Trevor Morgan
Natalie Dormer’s blush straw waved disc with pleated crin trim by Jane Taylor
Jax Meehan in a turquoise funnel hat with feathers from Lizzie’s Hats
British milliner Yuan Li in a dramatic red hat with feather pinwheel of her own design
Francesca Cumani’s orange and pink feathered bandeau by Vivien Sheriff
Anika Livesley in a large-petalled Stephen Jones design (with the milliner himself on her arm!)
Heather Morris’ hat with giant pink maribou pompom trim by Yuan LI
Ana Bella Millinery owner/designer Ana Pribylova in a dandelion hat of her own design
Alexa Holman’s pouring floral teapot
My sincere thanks to British milliner Ellie Vallerini for taking the time from a very busy week of hatmaking to join us today. It has been our great honour to have you our conversation!
Photos from Getty as indicated
I’m joined today by the lovely Ellie Vallerini, creator of Sussex-based Ellie Vallerini Hats, to chat about all the royal hats we see today at Royal Ascot!
Lady Gabriella Kingston and her new husband Tom enjoyed the races today. Tom wore a grey felt top hat and Gabriella wore a cocktail hat with blush pink parasisal inflated teardrop base. The hat is trimmed with trimmed ostrich feathers and a diamond patterned veil.
Royal Hats: Lady Gabriella usually wears wide brimmed, sidesweeping picture hats so this is a departure for her!
Ellie Vallerini: Lady Gabriella looks effortless and chic in this outfit. I like that is has a fun element to it and feels a bit frivolous with the ruffles, stripes and ostrich feathers. I love the colour and style of this Philip Treacy hat however I’m not mad on the base shape, I feel it can look a bit severe and heavy on the face. Overall, she looks great in her outfit and is in the true spirit of Royal Ascot which is to have a bit of fun with what you are wearing!
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Royal Hats: I love that Gabriella has experimented with a new shape. I just can’t help nostalgically thinking that one of her dramatic, sweeping cream straw picture hats would have made a lovely pairing with this dress and balance out those romantic sleeves!
Designer: Philip Treacy. It is OC 549 from SS 2019. Dress by Luisa Beccaria.
Previously Worn: Thia hat is new
What do you think of Gabriella’s hat today?
Photos from Getty as indicated
I’m so pleased to be joined today by Ellie Vallerini, creator of Sussex-based Ellie Vallerini Hats, to comment on all of the royal hats we see today at Royal Ascot!
Zara Tindall wore a deep teal blue straw split saucer hat. The top edge of the saucer extends to a folded ruffle at the back of the hat and the design is finished with a navy quill and a two-toned green and navy silk flower placed on the front.
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Ellie Vallerini: Like Autumn, Zara looked very beautiful and stylish in her hat; she chose a hat that suits her in colour, shape and style. This hat looked really lovely from all angles especially when they were riding in the carriage and you could see it’s beautiful sculptural shapes. The hat really flatters her and she looks comfortable and relaxed in it which always helps. It’s a good match to the dress however, I definitely prefer the hat to the dress! Although I think the hat is perfect on her I do think with that dress it needed a bit more width just to balance out the shoulders and create a better overall silhouette.
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Royal Hats: We have had some great teal looks this Ascot! This is outstanding on Zara. Love the colour, love the shape, love the scale, love the trim. LOVE. The two-toned flower gives a beautiful focal point to the ensemble (LOVE the subtle contrast between the teal hat and green and navy flower) and the nude shoes and purse a neutral counterpoint. I love how the ruffle motif in the hat is repeated with smaller ruffles on the dress. High necked dresses can be tough to style but this vertical hat, upswept hair and simple hoop earrings are just right. Did I say I love it?!
Designer: Juliette Botterill. Dress by Claire Mischevani
Previously Worn: This hat is new
Mike Tindall wore his very dapper antique top hat covered in black silk.
What do you think of Zara’s hat today?
Photos from Getty as indicated
I’m delighted to welcome Ellie Vallerini, creator of Sussex-based Ellie Vallerini Hats, here share her thoughts on all of the royal hats at Royal Ascot!
Autumn Phillips topped her floral dress with a cream and pink cocktail percher hat. The formed base, made from layered cream satin and sinamay is trimmed with a pink and cream hand dyed ombre ruffle in bamboo silk.
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Royal Hats: Head to toe, this is SO pretty.
Ellie Vallerini: I also thought Autumn Phillips looks so fresh and pretty in this outfit. Although the hat was simple it is an unusual design and because it is solid white with a flash of pink, it really stood out from the busy background. I just loved the young and funky dip dyed effect with the pink and most of all it suited her and her face shape, beautiful!
Royal Hats: You’ve found the words I couldn’t, Ellie! The ruffle’s ombre dye is a modern touch but the colour palate keeps it very soft- a softness continued by Autumns flowing hairstyle- and enables the hat to beautifully connect to the dress. These are two pieces that could easily be overpowered but here, pair perfectly together.
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Designer: Bee Smith. It is a bespoke version of the Pink Ruffle Seagrass Beret. Claire Mischevani dress.
Previously Worn: This hat is new
Peter Phillips wore his black felt top hat.
What do you think of Autumn’s new hat today?
Photos from Getty as indicated
Royal Hats 