Dutch State Visit To Austria

Posted on by

King Willem Alexander and Queen Máxima undertook a state visit to Austria this week, arriving in Vienna on Monday.

Embed from Getty Images

For the first day of the visit, Queen Máxima wore a wide brimmed hat in red straw trimmed with a monochrome ribbon hatband.


Embed from Getty Images

From a distance, the hat tops a stand-out look we’ve all come to love and expect from the Dutch Queen. At closer view, I wish the finishing on the hat was more crisp and polished (note the wobbly brim finishing) but I really like how the hat’s classic, straight lines counterbalance the soft drape of the dress. The ensemble would have noticeably less presence without the hat so that makes it a firm success for me!

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

Designer: bespoke “Gladys” design by Fabienne Delvigne. Dress by Natan.
Previously Worn: This hat is new

On Tuesday, Queen Máxima repeated her blue mesh and cotton lace covered calot hat with matching dress. This time, she did not add the aquamarine and diamond brooch she affixed to this hat on its first outing.

Embed from Getty Images

I have slightly warmed to the modern placement of mesh and lace on this draped calot but so wish the hat was paired with a streamlined lace dress. This treatment of the dress’ neckline looks like it is swallowing Máxima up and the repeated unstructured trim on both the dress’ neckline and hat are just too much to keep the ensemble from looking messy.

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

On this day, the couple visited Kulturhaus Brotfabrik community kitchen for a baking workshop. The resulting images taken are great fun. Don’t you wish we saw more, “Cooking with Royal Hats”?!

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

Designer: Fabienne Delvigne. Dress by Natan.
Previously Worn: Oct 14, 2019 

Yesterday, for the final day of the visit, Queen Máxima wore a textured golden brown straw bandeau headpiece trimmed with coffee hued silk roses.

Embed from Getty Images

The hat is a remake of a layered bandeau/calot Queen Máxima wore in Indonesia two years ago:

Embed from Getty Images
Embed from Getty Images

Embed from Getty Images Embed from Getty Images

I think this new version is a vast improvement! The shape is on-trend and the floral trim gives lift and life to the piece which now beautifully frames Máxima’s face. The last version… well, someone in my household described it as two giant garden slugs draped over her head. This version is so much better. Here’s to this improvement!

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

Designer: unknown. Natan.
Previously Worn: Mar 10, 2020

All in all, I think this state visit was a millinery success. What do you think of the hats Queen Máxima wore this week in Austria?

Images from Getty as indicated  

Queen Embarks on Scottish Residency

Posted on by

Queen Elizabeth arrived in Scotland yesterday to embark on a week of engagements known as “Holyrood Week” in reference the Palace of Holyroodhouse, her official Scottish residence. For her arrival yesterday and the traditional Ceremony of the Keys, she repeated a pale blue sinamay hat with tall, domed, straight-sided crown and a short, downward facing cartwheel brim with hatband and silk blossoms in shades of purple and blue.

Embed from Getty Images Embed from Getty Images

The flowers on this hat have been substantially trimmed since its first outing at Ascot in 2019:

Embed from Getty Images Embed from Getty Images

It’s an interesting way to make an Ascot hat more suited to every-day events! I was going to lament the loss of exuberance to the hat until I saw the ensemble complete with peek of the patterned dress, which adds that lightness and fun. It’s lovely.

Embed from Getty Images

Designer: Rachel Trevor Morgan. Dress and coat by Stewart Parvin.
Previously Worn: June 19, 2019

The Earl and Countess of Wessex also attended the  Ceremony of the Keys, the Countess in a natural textured straw hat with slightly indented crown wrapped several times with a green scarf hatband and a flat boater-style brim.

Embed from Getty Images Embed from Getty Images

The classic shape suits Sophie well, her green dress pairing well with the natural straw and other cognac accessories. My issue is with the hatband, which looks like a hastily applied last minute addition. It’s a good example of how not all shades of green coordinate well together.

Embed from Getty Images

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

Today, the Queen attended an Armed Forces Act of Loyalty Parade at the Palace of Holyroodhouse on June 28, 2022 in Edinburgh, United Kingdom. She wore a new hat covered in lilac crepe with a diagonally sloped crown with point on one side and a reverse mushroom brim. The hat is trimmed with a hatband that vertically crosses at the front and two faceted burgundy buttons also used on the matching coat.

Embed from Getty Images Embed from Getty Images

The hat is impeccably made, with not a pucker or even visible stitch in sight. While the colour is lovely, I think the combination of side pointed crown and flying hatband put the design off balance. It feels like another design with just too much going on.

Embed from Getty Images

Designer: Angela Kelly. Made by Stella McLaren
Previously Worn: This hat is new

What a treat to see Her Majesty looking so well in this pair of hats in Scotland!

Images from Getty and social media as indicated  

Future Belgian Queen Christens Vessel

Posted on by

Princess Elisabeth of Belgium conducted her first solo engagement on Saturday, officially christening the oceanographic research vessel Belgica in Ghent.

Embed from Getty Images

For this occasion, she wore a new disc percher hat in pale pink . The hat follows a gentle curve and is trimmed with a draped bow on both sides of the raised edge.

Embed from Getty Images
Embed from Getty Images

The colour and scale are lovely on Elisabeth and the pairing of curvy hat with the sharp lines of her white tuxedo dress feels young and fresh. My issues are with the hat itself- the material appears to be a synthetic/polyester braid of some sort and I think something finer would help to elevate its impact, presence and polish and liven up the clunky bow.

Embed from Getty Images

Designer: “Pretty” design by Fabienne Delvigne. Dress by Reiss. 
Previously Worn: This hat is new

I understand that Fabienne Delvigne Couture Millinery has an Appointment to The Court of Belgium (2001) but I really hope Princess Elisabeth is encouraged to engage the work of other Belgian milliners in her wardrobe.

Images from Getty as indicated  

Last Week’s Extras

Posted on by

Last Monday, Empress Masako repeated an ivory hat with domed crown and short brim for the Japan Art Academy Awards

 

On Wednesday, Princess Alexandra repeated a pale slate blue/grey hat with dotted veil trim for a memorial.

On Thursday, the Luxembourg grand ducal family celebrated their country’s national holiday. Hereditary Grand Duchess Stéphanie repeated a fuchsia sinamay rolled edge headpiece studded with white silk flowers (she wore it to this same event in 2014) while Princess Alexandra repeated an ecru embellished flapper style headpiece with acid green silk flower on the side.
Embed from Getty Images
On Friday, Queen Margrethe presented the “Queen’s Clock” military award and on Saturday, she opened a museum about flight in Oksboel. She repeated pink hats for these events.


Embed from Getty Images

Alina de Roumanie Medforth-Mills wore a grey saucer hat Saturday for her son’s christening

The following new millinery designs caught my eye this week (see the comments for more):


Lovely annual summer photocall from the the Dutch king and queen and their daughters.
Embed from Getty Images
We start this new week with this gem, which includes a great quote from the late Duke of Edinburgh.

Images from social media as indicated 

British Royals Attend Service of Thanksgiving

Posted on by

Members of the British royal family attended a Service of Thanksgiving celebrating the life of The Lady Elizabeth Shakerley CVO (also known as Lady Elizabeth Anson). Born at Windsor Castle to Thomas Anson, Viscount Anson (1913–1958), and his wife, Anne Bowes-Lyon, Lady Elizabeth was a grand-niece of the late Queen Mother and cousin to the current queen. She passed away in November 1, 2020 at the age of 79.

The Countess of Wessex repeated her black fur felt pillbox trimmed with a sweeping embroidered feather applique.

Embed from Getty Images

Designer: Jane Taylor. Dress by Emilia Wickstead
Previously Worn: Nov 8, 2020 

The Duchess of Gloucester (shown in the second photo in the gallery below) repeated her new black sinamay hat with wide, upturned pleated brim trimmed with a slim double hatband.

Designer: unknown
Previously Worn: Jun 14, 2022; May 25, 2022

Princess Alexandra wore a new hat in crisp navy and ivory straw. The domed navy crown sits atop an ivory crown sideband and brim with a wide navy hatband to create a blocks of graphic contrast. The hat is wrapped in navy net veil.

Embed from Getty Images

Designer: likely Rachel Trevor Morgan. 
Previously Worn: I believe this hat is new

Princess Michael of Kent wore a grey felt angular brimless hat – let’s call it a beret variation –  paired with a looped lilac bow in the back of her hair.

Embed from Getty Images

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

Lady Gabriella Kingston wore a wide brimmed hat in pale blue sinamay. The sloped crown shape is mirrored in the design’s sidesweeping brim and the hat is beautifully trimmed with a wide hatband, pleated fan bow and silk flowers.

Embed from Getty Images

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

The Duchess of York wore a padded black velvet headband

Embed from Getty Images

While Princess Beatrix did not wear a hat to this event, it’s worth noting her friendship with Lady Elizabeth, who was one of the bridesmaids at her wedding! Lady Sarah Chatto and Lady Helen Taylor also attended, although not in hats.

Images from Getty and social media as indicated