to this undated photo of Empress Kōjun (mother of Emperor Akihito, wife of the late Emperor Hirohito) in a wonderful hat with wide, pleated brim overlaid in feathers.
Photo from Getty as indicated
Category Archives: Japan
Imperial Royals Celebrate Emperor’s Birthday
Members of the Imperial royal family celebrated the Emperor’s 84th birthday on Saturday with an annual balcony appearance at the Imperial Palace in Tokyo where they greeted thousands of well wishers.
Crown Princess Masako wore a new bumper hat in deep maroon velvet scattered with tiny beads over the crown. The beads, which are repeated on the smocked Elizabethan style ruff collar on Masako’s dress, are not something we see on hat crowns – their use as trim here offers subtle textural contrast to the all velvet ensemble. The hat shape on its own isn’t terribly exciting but it balances well with a high collar and the colour… OH THE COLOUR. It’s not only perfect for this time of year and a fantastic backdrop for showing off jewels but just stunning Masako.
Designer: unknown
Previously Worn: I believe this hat is new
Previously Worn: I believe this hat is new
Princess Kiko repeated the pale slate blue silk covered pillbox she first wore for the 2015 Imperial New Years lectures. The hat is trimmed with a back bow (visible here at its first outing) which makes it a little too twee for my liking, although the subtle placement of it on the diagonal to mix up the pattern between the dress and the hat is a nice touch. It’s classic Kiko- simple, pale and demure.
Princess Mako chose an ensemble in a more saturated shade of blue. Her coordinating hat repeated the silk and diamond beaded applique motif on the belt of her dress, giving some graphic punch to the monochrome ensemble. It looks like the hat was further finished with a twisted ruffle in the same silk and velvet on the side. We’ve not seen Mako in a calot shape and it works well with her sideswept hairstyle; the colour is also one she wears particularly well.
Designer: unknown
Previously Worn: I believe this hat is new
Previously Worn: I believe this hat is new
There are a handful of events each year that retain traditional court dress and it’s always fun to see royal women in the hats and gowns required by this dress code. Thoughts on the new hats we saw at this event?
Photos from Asahi Shimbun,Asahi Shimbun, Asahi Shimbun, Asahi Shimbun and Asahi Shimbun via Getty as indicated
Catching Up With The Imperial Royals
The Imperial royal ladies have been on a vibrant and creative streak with their millinery the past week and a half, something I thought we needed to admire in a dedicated post. Brace yourselves, dearest readers, for some saturated colour!
On December 1st, the Imperial House Council met to set the date of Emperor Akihito’s abdication for April 30, 2019. Princess Hanako attended the meeting in the most unusual and unique of hats. The design builds on a silk covered helmet shaped base with a very short, flat brim over which lies a voluminous wrap of loosely pleated dark green organza. The design is further trimmed with a vine of green silk leaves wrapped over the crown. It’s a little out there in terms of royal hat designs we’ve seen this year and that it appeared on an Imperial royal head makes me happier than I can express. We’ve called for Imperial royal millinery experimentation and dearest readers- THIS IS IT! Yes, the shape is odd and not terribly flattering but it’s not a standard bowler hat in a pale pastel. The colour is lovely on Hanako and while don’t particularly like the avant garde design, I absolutely adore that Hanako wore it. Happy claps.
Designer: unknown
Previously Worn: I believe this hat is new
Last Tuesday, December 5, another jewel toned hat appeared at an Imperial royal function. For a Tokyo ceremony honouring individuals making significant contributions in support for persons with disabilities, Crown Princess Masako donned an deep purply-burgundy felt hat with oxblood pleated hatband in the same fabric as her suit. The brim on this design is a little larger than Masako usually wears and the larger scale is a great change on her. It’s a simple hat but the classically elegant shape is one that works really well for Masako. More happy claps!
Last Thursday, December 7, Emperor Akihito and Empress Michiko attended a ceremony marking completion of Tokyo’s new public square New Square in front of Tokyo Station. For this event, the Empress repeated an apricot hued flat saucer hat with hound’s tooth bow and silk flower. It’s not my favourite colour on her but it’s also not grey, something I’m always happy to see! The link between the hat base, the lapels and sleeve panel on the jacket and the skirt does make for a characteristically unified ensemble and the high contrast pattern adds a bit of punch. Happy claps again.
Last Saturday, on the occasion of her 54th birthday, Princess Masako paid a customary visit to the Emperor and Empress at the Imperial Royal Palace. For this visit, she repeated a simple bumper hat covered in blue silk. This style and colour is a more traditional choice but there’s something so calmly beautiful about the subtle sheen on the smooth edges of this hat that makes me really like it on Masako.
Designer: unknown
Previously Worn: Dec 9, 2015
Previously Worn: Dec 9, 2015
And finally, yesterday Princess Hisako attended the 130th anniversary of the Japan Red Cross Society Aichi Prefecture Branch. For her visit to a blood collection center and keynote address at the celebration ceremony, HIsako topped her ice blue jaquard patterned suit with a matching bowler hat variation covering in the same fabric. The hat is trimmed with a slim blue silk hatband that links to the collar on her suit, and a blue net veil wrap studded in blue silk leaves. The leaves on the veil is make an interesting textural addition that I’ve not seen closeup before and their effect keep me going in for a closer look- not something that Imperial royal hats often inspire me to do. I’m not such a fan of the repeated pattern on both the suit and hat but the leaf studded net wrap somehow makes it work.
Dearest readers, there is much here to discuss. We’ve got interesting shape, different proportions and unexpected colour. I can’t wait to hear your thoughts on these hats!
Photos from Kyodo News, Asahi Shimbun, Asahi Shimbun, Asahi Shimbun, Asahi Shimbun and Asahi Shimbun via Getty as indicated; ANN News; CBC News
Luxembourg State Visit to Japan
Grand Duke Henri and Princess Alexandra of Luxembourg arrived in Japan today for a three day state visit.
Embed from Getty Images
Embed from Getty Images
For the official welcome, Empress Michiko ventured away from of her usual grey toward some colour! She topped her muted canteloupe (or peach? pumpkin? amber?) orange silk suit with a matching saucer hat trimmed in a folded bow. The high-sheen silk on the bow links with a panel of the same fabric on her jacket, drawing the pieces together and making a characteristically unified ensemble. While there’s nothing surprising about the saucer shape, the change of colour is a welcome one.
Embed from Getty Images
Embed from Getty Images
Embed from Getty Images
Embed from Getty Images
Princess Alexandra stepped in for her mother (whose fear of flying prevented her from making the long trip) in a white suit with a feathered bandeau headpiece worn on the back of her head as a calot. It’s a more demure look than we’re used to on the young princess, likely chosen to fit with the Imperial Royal Family’s fairly conservative style. The most exciting thing about this headpiece is that it is same one that Princess Tessy wore in June 2013 for Luxembourg National Day, making me strongly suspect that it originated in the Grand Duchess’ closet.
Crown Princess Masako topped her royal blue coat with a matching hat. There are many things to like here- the hat’s wide black hatband coordinates beautifully with the black velvet collar and cuffs on Masako’s coat and the colour is SO lovely on her. I’d much prefer sharper lines on the hat (I’m not such a fan of the thick, curved brim and a slightly different shape (nix the the slightly bulbous crown) but will settle for contentment over the saturated colour, which carries the piece.
It’s always nice to see the Imperial royal ladies venture out a bit with their millinery choices- what do you think of this trio of hats today in Tokyo?
Photos from Getty as indicated
Princess Laurentien Visits Japan
Princess Laurentien wrapped up a two day visit to Japan today. Yesterday, she and Princess Kiko were in Nagasaki where they visited Hypocenter Park, Atomic Bomb Museum, and remembered Dutch prisoners of WWII at Kashiwa Camp and Inaza Sosuji International Cemetery, For these events, Princess Laurentien wore a grey felt cloche with a slim charcoal hatband and feather dahlia bloom at the side. Princess Kiko repeated a navy hat with short upturned kettle brim and pleated navy hatband.
Designers: Princess Laurentien’s hat is by Fabiana Filippi Ready To Wear; Princess Kiko’s hat is unknown
Previously Worn: Princess Laurentien’s hat is new. Princess Kiko’s hat was worn January 26, 2016
Today’s, the princesses were joined by Prince Akishino for a programme that included opening a new bridge, a ceremony to celebrate the restoration of Dejima Kaimonbashi (Dejima Former Dutch Trading Post) and visits to the Ceramic Bureau and ceramic technology center in Arita. Princess Laurentien repeated her tan straw pillbox hat with feather trim. a hat that made an unexpectedly wonderful match to her Etro embroidered coat. Princess Kiko surprised in a vibrant royal blue ensemble with hat in her signature shape- boxy, rounded crown and short, upturned kettle brim. While I’d love to see Kiko branch out and try a few different hat shapes, her venture out in saturated colour today leaves me smiling.
Designer of Princess Laurentien’s hat: Eudia
Previously Worn: September 16, 2014
Designer of Princess Kiko’s hat: unknown
Previously Worn: I believe this hat is new
Previously Worn: September 16, 2014
Designer of Princess Kiko’s hat: unknown
Previously Worn: I believe this hat is new
Thoughts about this quartet of hats in Japan yesterday and today?
Photos from Kyodo News via Getty; Asahi; Kyodo News and Kyodo News via Getty; Asahi; social media as indicated
Royal Hats 