Category Archives: Japan

Imperial Royals Celebrate Emperor’s Birthday

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Members of Imperial Family gathered at the Imperial Palace today to celebrate the Emperor’s birthday. For their annual appearance on the balcony, the princesses of the family all sported brimless hats.

Imperial Royal Family, December 23, 2015 | Royal Hats

Crown Princess Masako wowed in a cranberry velvet beaded cocktail hat that she has not worn since 1999! After hoping she would bring it out again, I am thrilled to see the vibrant 1940s styled piece again. It’s a beautiful colour on her and it’s great fun to see an Imperial royal hat with a bit of sparkle.

Crown Princess Masako, December 23, 2015 | Royal Hats

Princess Kiko wore a citrus green silk covered hat with bumper brim and rounded crown. Unlike the similarly hued hat she wore earlier this year this one is entirely covered in the same patterned silk jacquard as her gown.

Princess Masako, and others celebrating Emperor Akihitos 82nd birthday at the Imperial Palace

Princess Mako and Princess Kako followed their mother’s lead in a pair of pale gold and pink bumper hats. Both hats are covered in the same patterned silk as the princess’ gowns and decorated with demure bow and floral trims. While conservative in style, the colour makes for a lovely contrast with the young princess’ dark hair.

Princess Mako and Princess Kako, December 23, 2015 | Royal HatsPrincess Kako, December 23, 2015 | Royal Hats

It is always lovely to see the Imperial family together. I was thrilled to see Crown Princess Masako in a vibrant hat- which one stood out as your favourite?

Photos from Asahi and Aflo/Splash News via Corbis

Belated Birthday of Princess Masako

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Royal Hats Crown Princess Masako celebrated her 52nd birthday last Wednesday. As per tradition, she visited the Emperor and Empress at the Imperial Palace on this day, arriving in a new, pale blue silk brimless hat. While the shape is very simple (one cannot tell if it is a pillbox or a bumper), the colour is lovely.

Crown Princess Masako, December 9, 2015 | Royal Hats

As we send Princess Masako belated greetings, I thought it might be fun to pick up with our own birthday tradition here at Royal Hats and suggest what hats we would like to see her repeat in the year ahead. My pick for Masako is this a wonderful 1940s inspired, raspberry velvet and beaded beret cocktail hat that she wore back in December 1999. The shape is so interesting and the colour is just fantastic on her.

What hats would you like to see Princess Masako bring out of her millinery wardrobe for another outing?

Photo from Getty as indicated and Asahi Shimbun via Getty

Akishino Princess Supports Hyogo Red Cross

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Princess Kiko was in Hyogo yesterday to celebrate the 125th anniversary of the city’s Red Cross Society. For the occasion, the princess, who is the Honorary Vice President of Japanese Red Cross Society, wore a navy blue silk covered hat. The hat featured a bowler shaped crown, a short brim and a wide band of braided silk trim that also trimmed Princess Kiko’s jacket. I thought this hat was worthy of a post because of the trim- an element that gives much textural interest and adds life to an otherwise pretty boring hat. It’s an an interesting touch, don’t you agree?

Princess Kiko, November 24, 2015 |Royal Hats

Designer: unknown
Previously Worn: I believe this hat is new

Photo from Kobe Shimbun

Imperial Royals Host Annual Autumn Garden Party

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The Japanese Royal Family were in attendance yesterday at  Akasaka Palace for the annual autumn garden party held in the palace’s imperial garden. One of two garden parties hosted by the Emperor and Empress each year (one in spring and one in autumn), this event is a highlight on the Imperial Royal calendar. Empress Michiko wore a dove grey suit for the occasion with a matching saucer hat. One of the Empress’ larger scale hats, the flat rimmed piece was simply trimmed with a dove grey and white silk bow.

Empess Michiko, November 12, 2015 | Royal Hats

Designer: likely Akio Hirata
Previously Worn: I believe this hat is new

The garden party made international news thanks to the presence of Crown Princess Masako who has not attended this event in twelve years. She looked marvellous and relaxed in a Byzantium purple suit and matching hat. The simply shaped hat, with a flat brim and straight sided, domed crown, was given visual and textural interest thanks to a wide sash of draped fabric wrapped around the crown.The sash gave a sense of movement to this hat and, combined with its vibrant colour, made it a stand out piece.

Crown Princess Masako, November 12, 2015 | Royal Hats Crown Princess Masako, November 12, 2015 | Royal Hats

Designer: unknown
Previously Worn: This hat is new

Princess Kiko topped her white silk suit with a coordinating hat. The squared crown of the hat, which was wrapped at the base in a wide pleated band, smoothly extended in the characteristic ‘bell’ shape of a cloche out to a rolled brim. A nice enough piece on its own, I found the proportion and scale too large for petite Princess Kiko. Her daughter, Princess Mako, topped her peach silk suit with a brown felt hat with narrow, rolled brim. Trimmed with a peach puff on the side, the simple hat provided an interesting contrast against her feminine, ruffled suit.

Imperial Royal Family, November 12, 2015 | Royal Hats

Designer: unknown
Previously Worn: I believe this hat is new

Princess Nobuko of Mikasa wore a navy Breton hat. The outer side of the hat’s upturned brim was covered in the same navy appliquéd lace as her dress. Princess Akiko dressed up her black bowler hat with a wide sash of the same graphic black and white plaid fabric as her jacket while Princess Yoko took a more classic approach in a white hat with mushroom brim. Princess Yoko’s hat looked to be overlaid in a layer of crin (or organza?) which gave it a decidedly romantic feel. Princess Tsuguko topped her mint suit with a cream bumper hat trimmed in a green silk bloom at the side.

Imperial Royal Family, November 12, 2015 | Royal Hats

Designers: unknown
Previously Worn: I believe all of these hats are new

Finally, Princess Hanako repeated a sage green silk covered hat we have seen several times before. While not visible on the photo below, the brim of this piece is wrapped in green lace which is repeated on the peplum of her jacket. The unusual shape (a variation from the more common mushroom brim as seen on Princess Yoko above) and the interesting use of lace on this piece has always made it a winner for me.

Princess Hanako, November 12, 2015 | Royal Hats

Designer: unknown
Previously Worn: August 5, 2015; June 26, 2015; May 19, 2015

These Imperial garden parties often bring out the most vibrant and interesting royal hats we see on the Imperial royals all year. The stand outs today for me were Crown Princess Masako and Princess Nobuko- which hats stood out to you?

Photos from Getty as indicated; Asahi; Kyodo via the Japan Times; and ANN News

Catching Up On Two Imperial Hats

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Late last week, Princess Nobuko of Mikasa was in Wakayama  to celebrate the 120th anniversary of the city’s Red Cross Society branch. The princess, who is Honorary Vice President of the Japanese Red Cross, wore a in a smart navy boater hat trimmed with a fan bow at the side for the event. It is a simple hat that was greatly elevated by the stylishly jaunty angle that Nobuko placed it on her head.

Princess Nobuko, November 5, 2015 | Royal Hats

Designer: unknown
Previously Worn: March 28, 2015

On Sunday, Princess Mako of Akishino fulfilled her duty as Honorary President of Japan Tennis Association by attending  the National Tennis Championships in Tokyo. For this, she wore a chocolate brown bowler hat which looked to be trimmed with a slim bow at the back. This simple hat is less successful in my mind, perhaps because it’s a shape regularly favoured by Mako’s mother Princess Kiko. I’d love to see her in more youthfully styled millinery.

Princess Mako, November 8, 2015 | Royal Hats

Princess Mako, November 8, 2015 | Royal HatsDesigner: unknown
Previously Worn: November 29, 2013

Photos from WBC and Yomiuri