Princess Benedikte Opens International Travel Fair

Posted on by

On Wednesday, Princess Benedikte was in Hamburg, Germany to officially open the “Reisen Hamburg” international travel and leisure exhibition. For this event, she wore a new bumper hat with navy felt brim and plaid crown in the same dark blue, taupe and grey pattern as her jacket.

Feb 7, 2018 | Royal Hats   Feb 7, 2018 | Royal Hats

Feb 7, 2018 | Royal Hats

Designer: Mathilde Thoe Førster
Previously Worn: this hat is new
The hat is a great scale on Benedikte (the scale of the hat goes particularly well with the high collar on the jacket) and the colour palate makes for a very polished and professional looking ensemble. I wonder about the versatility of such matched hats- it’s clearly not the kind of thing that can be worn with another outfit. Is that good? Not good? As I’ve never managed a royal wardrobe, I don’t know! This matching approach to royal dressing is a more traditional one and I’m sure, has its benefits. I’m curious to hear what you all think about this new hat!

Dutch Monarchs on Working Trip To China

Posted on by

King Willem-Alexander and Queen Máxima are on a working trip to China. For a meeting wtih Chinese and Dutch entrepreneurs today at the Temple restaurant in Beijing, Queen Máxima repeated her navy smocked silk crepe and georgette organza calot hat trimmed with rows very slim metallic cord.

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

The hat, matching dress and ombre cape debuted last year for King’s Day and their repeat today seems fitting- the ensemble is striking and special enough for a foreign visit while the small scale of the hat leaves full visibility for Máxima at a restaurant event where turning her head over and over will be inevitable. The orange and navy pattern of the dress and coat makes a strong style statement on its own and the orange gloves, hat and shoes with navy hat and those stunning earrings leaves the emsemble looking polished and complete without being overdone.



Embed from Getty Images

Designer: I believe it  is Jan Taminau
Previously Worn: April 27, 2017
Queen Máxima and her stylist don’t always get the balance of accessories right but today, I think they were spot on. Thoughts about this hat’s second appearance today?
Photos from Getty as indicated

Hat From The Past

Posted on by

Royal Hats 50 years to February 8, 1968 when Queen Elizabeth returned to London with her corgis following her annual Christmas and New Year stay at Sandringham. She wore an interesting onion shaped hat for the trip- quite a different choice from the silk headscarf she sported to make the very same journey today.

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

Photos from Getty as indicated

Queen Máxima Opens Cancer Research Institute

Posted on by

Queen Máxima opened the virtual Oncode Institute for cancer research during a ceremony at the Royal Tropical Institute in Amsterdam yesterday. For this event, she repeated her purple felt picture hat with upswept brim.

Feb 5, 2018 in Fabienne Delvigne | Royal Hats   Feb 5, 2018 in Fabienne Delvigne | Royal Hats

There is much to admire about this hat- the scale and colour are great on Máxima and the upswept brim is beautifully balanced by a gentle wave pleat on the opposite side – that it was named your top pick of the year in 2014. It’s pairing yesterday with this cherry red dress is a little unexpected but the purple stitching around the dress collar (repeated at the waist and hem) brings the two pieces together. Máxima and her stylist are no strangers to colour blocked ensembles and while this one is certainly bold, it shows how well they can pull and outfit together.

https://www.instagram.com/p/Be0OinQj3nR/
Designer: Fabienne Delvigne
Previously Worn: October 13, 2015; October 30, 2014; October 15, 2014; March 19, 2014; November 12, 2013
Photos of this event are scarce- pop over to this gallery by photographer Bernard Rübsamen for more views. This outing also shows the fifth ensemble paired with this hat (see the others at this post) – was it a success in your mind?
Photos from Patrick van Katwijk/ANP via Belga and social media as indicated

Closer Look at Three New Designs

Posted on by

Three hats came up in discussion in Saturday’s ‘extras’ post that I think warrant greater coverage and discussion here on Royal Hats. So here we go!

Last Thursday, February 1, Princess Margriet attended a ceremony at the Flood Museum in Ouwerkerk to commemorate the 65th anniversary of the 1953 flood caused by a storm tide across the northwest European shelf that caused massive flooding in the Netherlands and claimed 1836 Dutch lives. For this national commemoration, Margriet wore a navy blue felt trilby style hat with extended brim. Lengthening a trilby brim doesn’t always work but this one hits the mark and looks wonderfully stylish on Princess Margriet.

Embed from Getty Images

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

Last Friday, February 2, Princess Ayako of Takamado and Princess Nobuko of Mikasa attended the 67th Kanto Tokai Flower Exhibition in Tokyo, both in black hats. Princess Ayako’s rounded crown design features a mushroom brim and unique flat fan bow bow on the side of the crown. Princess Nobuko’s brimess hat follows an asymetrical shape emphasized by wide velvet binding on the top and bottom, and is simply trimmed with a bow at the back. It’s a much bolder shape than we’re used to seeing on Imperial royal hats but one that Nobuko carries so well.

Feb 2, 2018 | Royal Hats

Feb 2, 2018 | Royal Hats

Designer: both are
Previously Worn: I believe both hats are new

I think all three hats are a great example of style by shape- no exuberant trims are needed to make them stand out (perhaps, except Princess Ayako’s hat, which would look amazing with a large Lady Amherst feather wrapped around the brim!). I’m curious to hear what you think. 
Photos from Getty as indicated; Sankei;