Monday Multiples: Queen Elizabeth

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Thanks to Jimbo for providing the introduction and background research for this “Monday Multiples” series.

Jimbo’s Introduction: Today, we have two very different white hats with red trim, both paired with the same bold red coat. When traveling the globe, Queen Elizabeth “must be seen to be believed,” as she herself stated long ago. These hats were worn in Canada, Germany and Portugal and she certainly stood out well with this wonderful color combination.

Look #1: A white veiled pillbox by Ian Thomas trimmed with large red silk poppies on the back. First worn in Canada on September 24, 1984 and repeated in Berlin on May 27, 1987

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Look #2: White straw cloche with upturned, sidesweeping short brim piped in red binding, also trimmed with large red silk poppies, this time placed on the side. Worn March 27, 1985 on a state visit to Portugal

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What’s interesting here is that the first hat was repeated after the second one was introduced (not a common pattern) and both are trimmed by those distinctive red silk poppies! I can’t imagine the poppies were removed from one hat, placed on the other, then returned to the first, and it seems a bit peculiar to commission two white hats for this coat, both bedecked with the same trim. Puzzling indeed. I think, Jimbo, you have uncovered a millinery conundrum!

Which hat do you think paired best with this coat?

Photos from Getty as indicated 

This Week’s Extras

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Queen Elizabeth repeated her turquoise fabric covered hat with hourglass crown and black velvet floral trim to attend church yesterday morning at Windsor Castle.
Sweet snap shared by Marie Ducruet on Saturday
With so few royal events happening these days, let’s take a look at some of the non-royal hats at the Cheltenham Festival that caught my eye last week:

The following new millinery designs caught my eye this week:

Spectacular beaded halo bandeau with gravity-defying, cocooning silk abaca by Australian brand Velvet and Tonic
Ice blue wide brimmed hat with origami folded panels by British milliner Bee Smith
Amazing peony headpiece made only of orange and green feathers & quills by Australian milliner Jill Humphries
Winter white cloche with embroidered and appliqued black silhouette trim by German milliner Angelika Löbering
Blue straw hat with hand beaded and embroidered lace covered bow by Dutch milliner Wies Mauduit
Charming natural straw saucer with pink gingham binding, butterflies and floral embroidery by NY-based Cigmond Millinery
Gold straw boater with sparkly webbed overlay by Irish millinery Ashleigh Myles
Palest pink crin headpiece with the most delicate large fluted ruffles by British milliner Awon Golding
Pale blue leather percher with blue velvet orchids and net veil by Tasmanian brand Cessia Alice

And two stunners to highlight- the first, a monochrome pyramid with ombre chevron folds and curled black quill by Australian milliner Angie Jackman and the second, an exuberant, vibrant and downright happy headpiece of interlinked sinemay and crin rings by Northern California-based milliner Amy Fowler.


A lovely, very glamorous shot of Flora Ogilvy and her fiance, Timothy Vesterberg, taken a few months ago in Italy
We end the week with some royal helpers- Queen Mathilde with her children, delivering flowers and sweets to an elderly care facility, waving from the outside.

Photos from social media as indicated

Cheltenham Festival 2020 Day 4

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The Cheltenham Festival wrapped on Friday with a day of racing that saw numerous members of the British royal family in attendance. Princess Anne led her family in her pale green brushed felt trilby.

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We see Anne in so many dark hued hats during the winter, this paler one stands out as a lovely change. The stacked crown shape is an interesting design detail and the colour, which is lovely on Anne, works so well with her green printed coat, lightening and brightening the overall ensemble.

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Designer: unknown
Previously Worn: Dec 25, 2016; Nov 10, 2014;  March 16, 2012

Peter Phillips repeated a well worn chocolate felt fedora with slim ribbon hatband.

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Designer: unknown
Previously Worn: Mar 15, 2019; Mar 16, 2018; Mar 17, 2016; Nov 13, 2015 

Autumn Phillips topped her dark green coat with a wide-brimmed fedora in pale pink felt. The hat is simply but effectively trimmed in a dark green hatband under a slim band of black braid.

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The scale is lovely on Autumn and the shape, while a classic, feels as far away from stuffy or mumsy as one can get. The colour here is what stands out for me- not only is a great hue on Autumn, it’s not a shade we often see on a fedora which, soft and lovely as it is, makes it feel so modern and fresh. The darker hatbands are a wonderful contrast that link beautifully with Autumn’s outfit, the hat standing out amidst the dark green. And who doesn’t love a royal hat that becomes the shining focus of an ensemble?!

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Designer: Camilla Rose Dawn Fedora in pink and green. Coat and blouse by Really Wild. Styled by Annie Miall. 
Previously Worn: This hat is new.

Zara Tindall topped her plum coat with a matching felt percher hat trimmed with a large gold metallic textured flower.

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Again, there’s much to love here. The colour is lovely on Zara and the shape of the beret base, with a slightly elevated back to support that amazing gold flower, works so well against the funnel neck of the coat, drawing the eye upward and giving subtle lift to the look. Zara has not put a foot wrong in the style stakes this week and both she and her stylist get some applause from me.

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Designer: Sarah Cant. It is a bespoke version of from . Claire Mischevani coat. Styled by Annie Miall. 
Previously Worn: This hat is new.

What do you think of these final four hats at this year’s Cheltenham Festival?

Photos from Getty as indicated 

Cheltenham Festival 2020 Day 3

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Thursday saw just one royal hat at the Cheltenham races, a navy blue felt trilby with jaunty brim worn by Zara Tindall. The design is trimmed with a spray of handmade leather flowers that wrap around a curled navy quill on the right side of the hat.

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Zara’s first two hats at this year’s Cheltenham Festival were stunners (see here and here) and this one keeps her millinery streak a winning one! The colour is lovely on her, the dark hue standing out so well against her fair features and the paler blue coat (brilliant styling, again, to pair this hat with a coat in a different shade) and the angled brim giving such a saucy turn. The floral trim is fantastic in its detail and I adore how the shine of the leather stands out so well against the luxe nape of the felt. For me, this is effortlessly chic.

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Designer: Justine Bradley Hill. It is a bespoke version of the Edna Trilby from AW 2020. Coat by Pip Howeson, dress by The Outnet. Styling by Annie Miall. 
Previously Worn: This hat is new. 

While I’m a great fan of this hat for Zara, I’m curious- what do you think of this design on her? Stay tuned tomorrow for our look at the final day of this year’s races, and a great trio of royal hats.

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Photos from Getty as indicated 

Dutch State Visit To Indonesia Day 3

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King Willem-Alexander and Queen Máxima concluded their state visit to Indonesia in Sumatra on Thursday with several more informal engagements that saw the Dutch queen in a pair of neutral headpieces. The first paired with a coral floral dress, was a repeated open circle headpiece in ruched caramel brown straw.

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We’ve talked about these open-crowned designs here many times before and while they are still not my favourite, I can see how it was a logical choice for a less formal event held on tour in a tropical climate. This particular design pairs well with the dress, adding a neutral grounding that slightly softens the impact of the coral print.

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Designer: Fabienne Delvigne. Dress by Zimmerman. 
Previously Worn: July 7, 2015; April 26, 2014

Queen Máxima’s final piece of millinery for this tour was a new halo bandeau headpiece covered in the same tan linen as her outfit (one some of you will recognize from Konigsdag last year).

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Hats and pants always seem an odd combination to me but this bandeau works well, I think, thanks to its interesting raised shape (which gives it more presence and style than a simple headband) and it’s quiet colour. The design frames Máxima’s face in a very attractive way, adding that extra bit of interest to her overall ensemble without overwhelming.

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Designer: unknown. Outfit by Natan.
Previously Worn: This headpiece is new

For the final engagement, a boat trip to see Silima Lombu Eco Village on the island of Samosir in Lake Toba, King Willem-Alexander wore a casual trilby in finely woven Panama straw, simply trimmed with a charcoal hatband tied with a side bow. It’s great to see a men’s hat on a royal tour and Willem-Alexander wears it well.

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That wraps up the Dutch state visit to Indonesia. Which hat was your favourite on this tour?

Photos from Getty as indicated