Danish Queen Sails Into Nyborg

Posted on by

The first first leg of this year’s summer cruise concluded yesterday in Nyborg. For this day of visits in the region, Queen Margrethe repeated her mint green bumper hat with cuffed brim that curls at the side with a pair of feathers. The hat is covered in the same wool silk crepe as the ensemble’s matching coat and dress.

Embed from Getty Images
Embed from Getty Images

We’ve seen this hat a few times, I wasn’t going to devote an entire post to it until I saw the following photos showing a clear side view of that curled brim cuff in detail. The cuff wraps around the hat and at its overlap, is sliced horizontally into two ribbons that curl up on to the hat’s crown. It’s an ingenious design detail that adds so much to this small hat and is so beautifully executed it looks far more simple, in terms of construction, than it is.

Embed from Getty Images

Designer: likely Peter Falk Hansen
Previously Worn: June 13, 2017;  Mar 28, 2017;  Oct 3, 2016;  Apr 30, 2016; Sep 8, 2015; Jun 5, 2015; May 23, 2015; Apr 16, 2015

This wraps up the first week of the annual Danish summer cruise- the second leg of the cruise will continue in early September.

Embed from Getty Images

Photos from Getty and social media as indicated 

Closer Look At Princess Hisako’s Hats

Posted on by

Princess Hisako recently wore two hats that I think, require a closer look because of their interesting detail. So, I’m going to do something I don’t usually do and bring them forward for discussion! The first was worn back on May 22 to an exhibition at the Finish Embassy in Tokyo celebrating 100 years of Finish-Japanese diplomatic relations. If you open the photos below, both show good views of the scalloped brim of her hat, a design feature we don’t often see but is executed beautifully on this piece.

Designer: unknown
Previously Worn: I think it’s new

The second hat first appeared last summer. It’s a wide-brimmed straw design with pork pie indented crown. At its first outing the hat was trimmed with a green twist in the same fabric as Hisako’s suit and appeared to have a wide stripe of white crin around the brim.

The hat made another appearance on May 25 this year at an African Festival in Yokohama.


Better views (and a helpful guest of wind!) showed that the white crin actually forms a second brim that overlays the black straw. The overlay is just attached at the intersection of brim and crown (where the hatband sits) which allows the crin to gently move on the overhanging edge.


Views of the back (open up the gallery below to see large-size photos) show great views not only of the crin overbrim, but of the indented crown and this hat’s new trim- a slim white hatband that ties in a bow at the back and a spray of black silk flowers. It’s sometimes difficult to tell when Imperial royal hats are renovated but this change is clear and interesting to look at in closer detail.

Designer: unknown
Previously Worn: August 6, 2018

Both hats have some unique features we don’t usually see on royal hats (much less Imperial ones)- what do you think, after seeing these improved views?

Photos from social media as indicated 

Danish Summer Cruise Day 2

Posted on by

The royal yacht Dannebrog remained anchored in Køge​ harbour yesterday for a second day of events in the area.

For the day’s program, which included visits to a school, supported employment program and transport center, Queen Margrethe repeated  ​her ecru straw with triple brim- one ecru sandwiched between two grey which curved away from it in opposite directions. It’s a creative brim, this one, and I like the way it references the strip in this ensemble’s jacket.

Designer: Peter Falk Hansen ​
Previously Worn: May 10, 2019 Sep 3, 2018​; May 4, 2018;​ ​Oct 9, 2007 and likely others

The Danish monarchy also released this sweet gallery of floral posies the queen has received on these first two days, displayed around the yacht.

 

Thoughts about this grey hat on the Danish Queen?

Photos from Getty as indicated 

Dutch Monarchs Visit Neder-Betuwe

Posted on by

King Willem-Alexander and were in the Dutch region of Neder-Betuwe yesterday where they visited Opheusden and Culemborg city halls, a tree farm, and a fruit auction/distribution center. For this day away, Queen Máxima wore a new hat, one of her signature wide brimmed ‘slice’ designs with high upsweep in deep, magenta straw.

Embed from Getty Images

First up- the colour is divine. This is Máxima’s 26th version of this hat style (17th in straw) and she wears the jewel tone SO WELL. I’ve said all I can say about the scale and shape (still SO GOOD) which leaves me quibbling about the finishing. The fantastic Mode Maxima Koningen blog post on this hat includes some great back views which show brim binding that is a little lumpy and, appears to be pieced (see seams at both 4 and 6 o’clock positions), something that should not happen on a couture hat.

Embed from Getty Images Embed from Getty Images

Designer: Fabienne Delvigne
Previously Worn: This hat is new

What do you think about Queen Máxima’s new hat yesterday? I haven’t even mentioned the styling- I’ve warmed up to it in the past 24 hours because the neutral skirt and blouse make the hat stand out as the ensemble’s centerpiece!

Embed from Getty Images

Photos from Getty as indicated 

British Royals Host Third Palace Garden Party

Posted on by

Queen Elizabeth was joined by members of her family yesterday under grey skies for the third and final Buckingham Palace garden party of this summer season.

Embed from Getty Images

Despite the rain, the Queen looked very summery in her repeated pale pink straw hat with hourglass shaped crown, trimmed with white straw twists and brim binding and pale pink winter berries.

Embed from Getty Images

There’s lots to like here between the delicate colour, the well detailed white trim and those unique berries- how I adore those berries as a welcome change from the flowers and feathers we so often see! However- I’m afraid that the extreme shape of the crown is neither attractive nor flattering. There’s a fine line between creative and caricature when it comes to fashion and this hat doesn’t land on the right side.

Embed from Getty Images

Designer: Angela Kelly, made by Stella McLaren. Coat and dress by Stewart Parvin.
Previously Worn: June 15, 2016

While the Duke of Sussex wore his silk top hat (or more accurately, carried it for most of the event), the York Princesses joined the bandeau trend that has globally swept through millinery fashion.

Embed from Getty Images

Princess Beatrice wore a maroon felt bandeau covered in individually cut felt leaves (a design that caught my eye here back in March!). These photos don’t show the design detail off very well but it’s a great piece with texture that livens up the bandeau shape. I think Beatrice wears it well and the colour is divine on her.

Embed from Getty Images Embed from Getty Images

Designer: Laura Cathcart. It’s the “Tess” design. Dress by The Vampire’s Wife
Previously Worn: This headpiece is new

Princess Eugenie topped her champagne pleated dress with a cream velour felt bandeau wrapped in diamond widely woven veil. Cream duck and goose feathers studded in the veil complete the design. Like her sister’s bandeau, I think this one works thanks to the texture provided by the feathers and veil. It’s not my favourite colour on Eugenie (I’d prefer it with a more vibrant dress) but the scale and design is really lovely.

Embed from Getty Images

Designer: Maggie Mowbray. It’s the “Helena” design. Dress by Sandro Paris.
Previously Worn: This headpiece is new

The Duchess of Gloucester repeated the same look we saw her wear at last week’s garden party- her blue straw pillbox with recently added veil paired with a blue floral dress and cream jacket. There’s not much to add except say that for better views of the hat, hop over to last week’s post which has recently been  with better photos.

Embed from Getty Images

Designer: unknown
Previously Worn: May 23, 2019;  May 31, 2018

The Dukes of Gloucester and Kent both repeated their grey felt top hats while Princess Michael of Kent repeated her rounded  white silk covered pillbox (all are visible in the gallery below). I find the exaggerated, bulbous shape of this one over the top but those words are often ones I use to describe Marie Christine’s style so it’s on point for her.

Designer: I suspect John Boyd
Previously Worn: June 12, 2016; June 2, 2016; June 15, 2013; June 11, 2011; June 20, 2008

Interestingly, the only hats I’ve praised here are the two bandeaux- a critique I stand behind. They’re both interesting, textural designs that flatter their wears, which is not something I can say about the more extreme hat shapes also seen here. I found the hats at this last Buckingham Palace garden party of this season rather hit and miss- what do you think?

Photos from Getty as indicated