Category Archives: Sweden

Hat Renovation in Sweden

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Royal HatsReader Sarah contacted me earlier this week with an interesting hat observation.  Do you notice anything between this hat, worn by Queen Silvia for King Carl Gustaf’s official birthday celebration in April 2004:

Swedish Royal Family

and this hat, worn by Queen Silvia for Princess Estelle’s christening on May 22, 2012

Embed from Getty Images

Great observation, Sarah! It is clearly the same hat, with the addition of seed pearls, pleated silk ribbon, feathers and silk blossoms. While I am mildly surprised that Queen Silvia recycled a hat for this important event, the transformation of this hat really does make it into a completely different piece. It is an interesting idea to take a previously worn hat and “jazz it up” for a single, important event (instead of ordering a bespoke hat for that same event which would likely be worn just once). This approach to hat recycling greatly intrigues me.

Which way do you, dear readers, prefer this straw hat? Thanks again, Sarah, for sharing this great observation.

Swedish Royals Attend Opening of Parliament

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Members of the Swedish Royal Family accompanied King Carl Gustaf this morning to officially open Swedish Parliament. As is tradition, the family was dressed in black and white, a dress code they adopted in the 1970s when the court dress requirement for this event was abolished.

Swedish Royal Family, September 30, 2014 | Royal Hats

Queen Silvia repeated a white ruched calot hat with a large beaded, looped bow. I thought her beautiful pearl jewellery helped tie the hat with her black suit and kept the ensemble from looking too starkly contrasted.

Queen Silvia, September 30, 2014 in Fabienne Delvigne | Royal Hats

Queen Silvia, September 30, 2014 in Fabienne Delvigne | Royal Hats

Designer: Fabienne Delvigne
Previously Worn: April 5, 2014; June 4, 2013; May 29, 2012; April 26, 2010; May 24, 2009; April 22, 2009; April 15, 2008

Crown Princess Victoria topped her black and white dress with a striped hair bow nestled in her chignon. While I like the integration of the bow with her hairstyle, I really do think royal hair bows are best left to her daughter. It might be too much to dream but can you imagine how fantastic she would have looked in something like this non-royal but very famous black and white picture hat, worn earlier this week?

Crown Princess Victoria, September 30, 2014 in Evelina Persson | Royal Hats

Crown Princess Victoria, September 30, 2014 in Evelina Persson | Royal Hats

Designer: Evelina Persson
Previously Worn: I believe this headpiece is new

Sofia Hellqvist, fiance of Prince Carl Philip, attended this year’s Opening of Parliament for her first time. She wore her hair back in a neat chignon as well, and topped it with a sweeping headpiece of black and white feathers. From the front view, you can see how nicely this fascinator framed Sofia’s face. I particularly liked how the  mix of black and white on both her headpiece and clutch provided just the right compliment to her beautiful black suit. For her first official royal engagement, I think Sofia did very well.

Sofia Hellqvist, September 30, 2014 in Mode Rosa | Royal HatsSofia Hellqvist, September 30, 2014 in Mode Rosa | Royal Hats

Designer: Evelina Persson
Previously Worn: I believe this headpiece is new

Click here to see a lovely seven minute clip of the Royal Family’s arrival. The hats today were not that exciting, I’m afraid, although we did see the official debut of a new royal hat wearer who did very well. What did you think of this lineup of Swedish royal hats and headpieces?

Photos by IBL via Svenskdam; and IBL via Svenskdam

Swedish Monarchs Attend Synod Opening

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King Carl Gustaf and Queen Silvia  of Sweden were in Uppsala yesterday to attend the annual opening of Synod at Uppsala Cathedral. For this event, the Queen wore a black straw hat with a gently upturned front brim and a twisted band of straw wrapped around the crown. This hat is feels rather somber to me- I can’t help thinking that the low brim seems better suited for mourning than a regular royal engagement. A black hat was the right choice to top Silvia’s black and white jacket but I think lighter shape- like that of her black straw beret, feathered pillbox or even this picture hat– would have been a prettier choice. What do you think?

Queen Silvia, September 23, 2014 | Royal Hats Queen Silvia, September 23, 2014 | Royal Hats

 

Queen Silvia, September 23, 2014 | Royal Hats

Designer: unknown
Previously Worn: March 16, 2013

 

Photos from Stella Pictures via Svenskdam

Swedish Royals Sparkle at Benefit

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Members of the Swedish Royal Family attended a benefit dinner last night for the World Childhood Foundation, which was founded by Queen Silvia. Crown Princess Victoria accessorized her black lace gown with a faux jewelled headpiece. The Swedish royal women often integrate jewels into their evening hairstyles and this oversize piece, worn almost as a fascinator, added much sparkle to Princess Victoria’s ensemble. While I’m not feeling amorous toward fascinators in general these days, I will never turn away a fascinator with diamonds! What do you think of this creative royal headpiece?

Crown Princess Victoria, September 8, 2014 | Royal Hats Crown Princess Victoria, September 8, 2014 | Royal Hats

Crown Princess Victoria, September 8, 2014 | Royal Hats

Crown Princess Victoria, September 8, 2014 | Royal Hats  Crown Princess Victoria, September 8, 2014 | Royal Hats

Designer: Jenny Packham (dress designed by H & M)
Previously Worn: I believe this headpiece is new

Photos from Charles Hammarsten / IBL and All Over Press via Svenskdam and Tornblom Karin / IBL / ABACA via Paris Match

Swedish Royals Celebrate 1000 years of Skara Diocese

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Crown Princess Victoria and Prince Daniel of Sweden took part in festitivites marking the 1,000th Anniversary of Skara Diocese today. For this celebration, Victoria wore a navy straw fascinator headband of abstract leaves and ruffled flowers, trimmed with a few navy feathers.

Embed from Getty Images Embed from Getty Images
Embed from Getty Images Embed from Getty Images

There are a few things that don’t feel right to me about this ensemble. The coat is adorable but the royal blue printed gingham dress just isn’t the right match for it. While the navy fascinator matches the coat very well, I think it would have been shown to greater effect with a more free and flowing hairstyle (something like this).  Victoria’s sleek hairstyle is great but I think it would have worked much better with a simple cream straw picture hat.

I am finding it more and more difficult to love royal fascinators. Does this one deserve my dislike or am I being too fickle about the fascinator?

Photos from Getty as indicated