Tag Archives: Countess of Snowdon

Ascot Hats: Countess of Snowdon

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With recent news that Royal Ascot is going ahead next week (albeit, at a reduced capacity), there’s no better prep for the races than to look back at races past! As such, here is a peek at all of the hats the Countess of Snowdon has worn to Royal Ascot:

1993:

1994 and 1995:

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Exaggerated lilac lampshade covered in feathers; veiled white lace capulet

1996 and 1998:  

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Ecru straw funnel percher with black stripes; Purple lace cloche

2002 and 2008:


Gold braided straw disc with flying feather bow; Ecru and brown feather spray with tan jinsin bow by Philip Treacy 

2012: 

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Black silk button percher with roses by Rachel Trevor Morgan June 19;
Taupe silk percher with bow, curling quill and silver arrow feathers June 23

2013:

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Burgundy pheasant feather calot June 18; buff straw bandeau with ecru cut petals June 19, both by Stephen Jones

2014 and 2016:

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White Laura Cathcart button percher with floral vine;  White textured straw picture hat by Rachel Trevor Morgan

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Pale grey straw extended brim cloche June 20; Ivory textured straw Stephen Jones saucer with black feathers June 22
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Repeated ivory textured straw Stephen Jones saucer with black feathers
There are some brave and bold designs here, especially during the earlier years. The Countess’ style has certainly evolved over time, the later years showing a confident elegance that we have come to associate with her. While royal divorces are always sad news, I’ll particularly miss her fashion and hats at large family and racing events.
What do you notice about this evolution of the Countess’ Royal Ascot hats?

British Royals Celebrate Christmas- Part II

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After a brief Christmas Day break here at Royal Hats, we continue  with hats worn by remaining members of the British Royal Family to attend Christmas Morning Service at the Church of St. Mary Magdalene near Sandringham. The Countess of Wessex topped her oatmeal coat with a burgundy velvet padded bandeau headpiece trimmed with a birdcage veil.

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It’s a quieter millinery look for Sophie than we usually see her wear, although still very much on trend. The burgundy headpiece and purse brighten her neutral ensemble, giving it a festive pop of colour. Beyond that, there’s really not much to say.

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Designer: Jane Taylor It is the Velvet Small Moon Headband With Veil from AW 2019. Coat by Suzannah. 
Previously Worn: this headpiece is new

Lady Louise also joined in the current craze for bandeau headpieces with a braided design in muted pink velvet. It wouldn’t be my first choice to pair with her checked coat (one some of you might recognize as one previously worn by her mum) but I see the appeal of this piece, particularly for a young person, and Louise wears it well.

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Designer: unknown. Coat by Stella McCartney
Previously Worn: this headpiece is new

Princess Anne repeated her deep purple felt fedora with deeply creased crown and extended brim, which raises around the back, trimmed with a twisted bow and curling feathers on the side. The scale and colour of the hat are great on her and pull her ensemble forward, counter balancing the oddly large 70s referencing lapels on her coat.

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Designer: Amy Morris-Adams
Previously Worn: Dec 30, 2018; Aug 26, 2018; March 16, 2018  

The Countess of Snowdon was also in purple, her heather-hued felt fedora trimmed with a pale Petersham ribbon hatband and a large spray of pheasant feathers on the side. Serena’s style is an effortlessly glamorous one and this hat falls in line with this aesthetic, wonderfully pairing her chic hat and pink tweed coat for an unexpected but stylish pairing.

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Designer: Jess Collett. It is The Cheltenham from AW 2019
Previously Worn: I believe this hat is new

Lady Margarita-Armstrong Jones joined the bandeau trend in a deep teal silk velvet padded bandeau embroidered with sprays of red and gold beaded leaves in a criss-cross pattern and topped with a a birdcage veil. You can see more detailed views of the design from the milliner’s portfolio here and here.

 

Designer: Jess Collett. It is the Bardot Hairband from AW 2019
Previously Worn: This headpiece is new.

Lady Sarah Chatto, who is visible behind Prince George in the photos below, repeated a navy felt hat with squared crown and wide cartwheel brim. The hat is finished with a slim hatband and small ribbon bow at the front; it follows the elegantly streamlined millinery style Sarah favours and carries off so well.

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Designer: Stephen Jones custom version of ‘Facetime’ from Miss Jones AW 2019
Previously Worn: Dec 25, 2017

That wraps up this year’s British royal Christmas Day hats- which ones stood out most to you?

Photos from Getty as indicated 

This Week’s Extras

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Last Sunday, Queen Elizabeth repeated her cornflower blue hat with black trim and spiky grey feather flower to attend Sunday morning service at Crathie Kirk. The Duchess of Cornwall repeated her tan beret with pheasant feather trim.

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Princess Hisako attended the Japan Sports Masters Tournament (for athletes over age 35) on Monday and Tuesday. Monday, she repeated a white hat with pork pie crown and wide brim edged in a black stripe with floral trim on the side. Tuesday, she wore a black straw hat with trilby-style raised back brim and wide, ecru-striped hatband. On Thursday, she repeated her ivory small brimmed, lace-covered hat with side bow for the 130th anniversary of the Japanese Red Cross Society in Gifu.. Yesterday, she wore this brimmed design to attend the Regional Traditional Performing Arts National Convention in Nara.

The Imperial emperor and empress attended the 74th National Sports Festival’s opening ceremony in Hitachinaka yesterday. Empress Masako repeated a white brimmed hat with wide royal blue silk hatband.

Queen Elizabeth was joined for church this morning in Scotland by the Snowdon family. The Queen repeated an angular lime straw cloche with navy stripe around the brim and a mass of straw leaves in the two colours on the side. The Countess of Snowdon wore a sculpted beret in a fantastic shade of saffron felt, trimmed with a gold brooch while Lady Margarita Armstrong-Jones donned a chic dark denim blue felt fedora with navy hatband.
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A new book by Angela Kelly was released today that will undoubtedly, be filled with many great looks at her designs (and hats made by Stella McLaren, the in-house milliner on Kelly’s design team). I now know what’s on the top of my Christmas wish list!

The following new millinery designs caught my eye this week:
Alpaca gives a cruelty-free and sustainable option for fur hats and this teal one from Peruvian Connection is wonderful
Red felt calot with wide ruffle and bling-y brooch trim from British brand Rebecca Couture Millinery
Very fun blue patterned pillbox hat with retro proportions by Australian milliner Karen Bailey
Loden green silk ribbon bandeau with veil from British milliner Rachel Trevor Morgan
Love unexpected coral and burgundy scheme of this straw brimmed design by Dutch milliner Myra van de Korput
Ivory felt sculpted hat with crown of folded swirls trimmed with crystals by Israeli milliner Orit Aviezer
From Stephen Jones’ new spring 2020 collection, this gravity-defying black hat with crisp white stripes

And these two green beauties from British milliners- first, from  Dorothy Morant, a hand blocked cloche in printed felt with extended brim and stunning pleated velvet ribbon trim (clearly, the Downton Abbey movie is on my mind) and second, from Carrie Jenkinson, this emerald felt saucer percher with amazing half pinwheel of statement twists.


It was so lovely to become better acquainted with this new, very sweet royal face this week
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Prince Harry took a poignant walk in Angola down the same path his mother walked, 22 years ago.

We end the week with the Dutch king, clearly enjoying his visit today to the Motocross of Nations at the TT Assen
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Photos from social media as indicated

Ascot Hat From the Past

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Royal Hats25 years to June 18, 1994 and the Countess of Snowdon in an oversize lilac straw hat covered in feathers. Privately, I’ve always thought of this design as “the Muppet”….for obvious reasons.

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This whopper of a hat concludes our look back into the Ascot archives- I’ll be back tomorrow. My sincere thanks, everyone, for the fun discussion and for sharing all the hats I’ve missed while I was away. It’s wonderful to be able to leave Royal Hats in your hands!

Photo from Getty as indicated

Ascot Hat From the Past

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Royal Hats twenty-three years to June 21, 1996. While the Queen Mother’s blue veiled capulet hat is a classic and very recognizable millinery look for her, the Countess of Snowdon’s ecru straw design with black stripes is a unique shape I can’t remember seeing on another royal hat- can you?

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If there are any royal hats worn today, please share and discuss in the comments as well.

Photo from Getty as indicated