Tag Archives: Empress Michiko

Luxembourg State Visit to Japan

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Grand Duke Henri and Princess Alexandra of Luxembourg arrived in Japan today for a three day state visit.

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For the official welcome, Empress Michiko  ventured away from of her usual grey toward some colour! She topped her muted canteloupe (or peach? pumpkin? amber?) orange silk suit with a matching saucer hat trimmed in a folded bow. The high-sheen silk on the bow links with a panel of the same fabric on her jacket, drawing the pieces together and making a characteristically unified ensemble. While there’s nothing surprising about the saucer shape, the change of colour is a welcome one.

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Princess Alexandra stepped in for her mother (whose fear of flying prevented her from making the long trip) in a white suit with a feathered bandeau headpiece worn on the back of her head as a calot. It’s a more demure look than we’re used to on the young princess, likely chosen to fit with the Imperial Royal Family’s fairly conservative style. The most exciting thing about this headpiece is that it is same one that Princess Tessy wore in June 2013 for Luxembourg National Day, making me strongly suspect that it originated in the Grand Duchess’ closet.

    

  

Embed from Getty Images
Designer: Fabienne Delvigne
Previously Worn: June 23, 2013 by Princess Tessy 
Crown Princess Masako topped her royal blue coat with a matching hat. There are many things to like here- the hat’s wide black hatband coordinates beautifully with the black velvet collar and cuffs on Masako’s coat and the colour is SO lovely on her. I’d much prefer sharper lines on the hat (I’m not such a fan of the thick, curved brim  and a slightly different shape (nix the the slightly bulbous crown) but will settle for contentment over the saturated colour, which carries the piece.
Designer: unknown
Previously Worn:  January 26, 2016
It’s always nice to see the Imperial royal ladies venture out a bit with their millinery choices- what do you think of this trio of hats today in Tokyo?
Photos from Getty as indicated

This Week’s Extras

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Royal Hats

On Monday, Empress Michiko attended the 70th anniversary of the Japanese Nursing Association in Tokyo in a mushroom grey rimmed saucer with green and grey plaid origami bow. Also that day, she and the Emperor attended a ceremony to commemorate the 70th anniversary of the enforcement of Local Autonomy Act- her hat was a repeated white saucer with dark olive ombre bow and floral embellishment

Nov 20, 2017 | Royal Hats Nov 20, 2017 | Royal Hats

On Wednesday, members of the Imperial Royal family attended a memorial service for late Prince Norihito of Takamado (Princess Hisako’s late husband, father of Princess Tsuguko, Princess Ayako and Mrs. Noriko Senge) was held at Toshimagaoka Imperial Cemetery in Tokyo. As expected, those in attendance wore demure black brimless hats (Imperial Family Of Japan).

For the second day of her state visit to Ghana yesterday, Queen Margrethe repeated her white straw hat

Grand Duchess Maria Teresa helped Princess Stéphanie try on a cosy knitted hat (with gigantic pompom) yesterday when the two visited an international bazaar and the resulting photos are quite sweet

Respected Norwegian royal reporter Kjell Arne Totland‏ reported this week that Crown Princess Mette-Marit has returned to work after treatment for Benign Postional Vertigo. This condition, which leaves one feeling like feeling like their head is spinning from the inside, could explain Mette-Marit’s millinery choices (or lack thereof) in recent years. 

The new millinery designs that caught my eye this week included:

Natural straw saucer with striking twist ‘flames’ from Australian milliner Marilyn Van den Berg
Striking fuchsia percher with frayed navy tulle pouf by Bundle McLaren
Red straw boater with floral applique trim by Tasmania based Cessiah Alice
Emerald felt fedora with jewelled fuchsia hatband from Jess Collett
Sweet pink straw percher trimmed in a mass of pink crin calla lilies from Goldust Millinery
Large dotted saucer slice hat from British milliner Nerida Fraiman
Black felt boater with veil from Texas based Milli Starr Millinery
Rust velvet felt percher with orange and red origami trim from Sarah Cant
Sharp navy fedora with side bow custom made by The Saucy Milliner for Sophie Trudeau
Dramatic red garbo hat in Peachblossom felt from Philip Treacy

And from Jane Taylor, this purple velvet percher with dusty rose and purple ombre pleated crin ruffle. So luxe.

 Royal Hats

A thanksgiving scene from the lens of James Ogilvy. I hope all you American readers had a wonderful holiday!

Imperial Royal Memorial and Tour

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Last Friday, Princess Yuriko of Mikasa attended a service at Toshimagaoka Imperial Cemetery in Tokyo to commemorate the 1st anniversary of the death of her late husband, Prince Takahito. For this memorial, she wore a veiled black bumper hat.

Princess Yuriko, Oct 27, 2017 | Royal Hats

Princess Mako, Princesses Akiko and Yoko of Mikasa and Princesses Hisako, Tsuguko and Ayako of Takamado all wore veiled black bumper hats.

Oct 27, 2017 | Royal Hats Oct 27, 2017 | Royal Hats

Oct 27, 2017 | Royal Hats Oct 27, 2017 | Royal Hats

On October 29, Princess Akiko braved the rain in a repeated a white pillbox hat for the enshrinement of Prince Mikasa’s spirit at the Imperial Palace.

Oct 29, 2017 | Royal Hats

Over the weekend, Emperor Akihito and Empress Michiko visited Fukuoka and Oita Prefectures. For a visit to a robotics innovation center on Saturday in Kitakyushu City, the Empress wore a large white (or cream? oyster?) domed saucer trimmed with a large bow that looked to be embroidered in a lattice pattern with metallic thread.

Oct 28, 2017 | Royal Hats

Designer: unknown. Likely Akio Hirata
Previously Worn: the bow seems new… who knows about the saucer. 

The focus of the visit, the 37th National Meeting for the Healthy Ocean, took place Sunday in Munakata City. Empress Michiko wore a smaller scale saucer in pale bluey-grey trimmed with a multi-looped silk bow that circled around the left side of the design. The sheen of the silk bow gave a bit of contrast to the hat, which was, I suspect, covered in the same fabric as Michiko’s suit and caped jacket. The shade of blue is more becoming on her than the dull grey we often see her wear.

Oct 29, 2017 | Royal Hats Oct 29, 2017 | Royal Hats

Oct 29, 2017 | Royal Hats Oct 29, 2017 | Royal Hats

Designer: unknown. Likely Akio Hirata
Previously Worn: I believe the hat is new

The visit concluded yesterday with a stop in Kitakyushu Eco-Town Center. Empress Michiko repeated a familiar hat for this leg of the visit, a denim blue saucer trimmed with an angular, flat folded blue and gold bow.

Oct 30, 2017 | Royal Hats Oct 30, 2017 | Royal Hats

Oct 30, 2017 | Royal Hats 

Designer: unknown. Likely Akio Hirata
Previously Worn: Oct 26; 2016; Sep 28, 2016; Jan 29, 2016; Oct 30, 2015; May 21, 2015; Apr 9, 2015
The last hat has made seven appearances during the past two years, leading me to wonder if the Empress’ larger saucer hats (like the first one) are repeated with interchangeable trims to coordinate with her attire. I seldom see them repeated as much as the blue hat… but perhaps, it is simply a favourite. What do you think of this group of hats?
Photos from Sankei; Asahi, Asahi and Asahi via Getty; Jiji; Asahi; Asahi; Kyodo News, Kyodo News and Kyodo News via Getty; Sankei, Mainichi and Asahi

October Review: Week 1

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Hello again, dearest readers! It’s wonderful to be back with you- thank you all so very, very much for keeping the conversation going while I was away. I want to quickly review the hats we’ve seen this month and give you all the opportunity nominate any designs you wish to see in our October favourite new and repeated hat polls. Here are the hats we saw October 1 to October 7:

Sunday, October 1: Empress Michiko in a repeated pale grey rimmed saucer with origami circular trim worn on a visit to Ehime Prefecture

Oct 1, 2017 | Royal Hats

Tuesday, October 3: Crown Princess Victoria attended the opening of the Swedish Church meetings at Uppsala Cathedral in a new headpiece of dark green silk folded into dahlia blooms, each with a knotted silk center scattered with beads. It’s from Swedish label “Parant Parant” by Örjan Jakobsson.

Embed from Getty Images Oct 3, 2017 | Royal Hats

Tuesday, October 3: Prince Naruhito and Princess Masako attended the closing meeting of the 14th Science and Technology in Society forum in Kyoto in a repeated caramel brown bowler style hat with upturned Kettle brim, edged in a wide stripe of ribbon.

Oct 3, 2017 | Royal Hats

Tuesday, October 3: For the opening of Danish Parliament, Queen Margrethe repeated her blue beanie hat with black patent leather cuff by Per Falk Hansen. Princess Benedikte repeated her red felt brimless hat with stacked crown by Susanne Juul, Crown Princess Mary repeated her Jane Taylor designed purple pillbox with beaded side feather trim and Princess Marie repeated her navy straw fedora with wide net tulle hatband wrap and silk flower trim

2017-10-03 Opening of Parliament 6 450 2017-10-03 Opening of Parliament 7 450

Danish Royal Family, Oct 3, 2017 | Royal Hats

Tuesday, October 3: Princess Hisako of Takamado attended a conference on public nutrition in Shimane Prefecture. She repeated an oyster grey straw variation on a boater hat with textured straw hatband, side bow and feather spray.

Oct 3, 2017 | Royal Hats

Wednesday, October 4: Queen Máxima  opened an exhibition at the Mauritshuis museum in a new cranberry felt Garbo hat with hatband and side bow from Fabienne Delvigne

Embed from Getty Images Embed from Getty Images

Wednesday, October 4: Princess Ayako in a black straw Breton hat to attend the National Sports Festival

Wednesday, October 4: Princess Anne was joined by the Duke of Kent and Princess Michael of Kent at the memorial Mass for Cardinal Cormac Murphy-O’Connor at Westminster Cathedral. Princess Anne repeated a black cocktail hat with net veil wrapped beret base circled in feathers by Amy Morris-Adams. Princess Michael repeated a  black felt Breton hat with side bow.

Oct 4, 2017 | Royal Hats Oct 4, 2017 | Royal Hats Oct 4, 2017 | Royal Hats

Wednesday, October 4: Emperor Akihito and Empress Michiko visited the Brunei Embassy in Tokyo to sign a guest book of good wishes for the Sultan of Brunei. The Empress repeated a small grey rimmed sauce hat with origami bow.

Thursday, October 5: The Earl and The Countess of Wessex attended The Sultan of Brunei’s Golden Jubilee celebrations. Sophie repeated the natural straw saucer hat she first debuted at Ascot, with a slight change of trimming. The hat’s first outing featured black silk twists which were replaced here with taupe crin ones and a large coral pink feather.

Thursday, October 5:  Queen Máxima attended a Teachers’ Congress in Amersfoort, repeating her midnight blue felt fedora.

Embed from Getty Images Embed from Getty Images

Friday, October 7: Princess Beatrix in a navy straw bumper hat (with giant belt loops) to celebrate the 50th anniversary of the Team Motor Assistance in Driebergen.

That wraps up the hats we saw during the first week of October- do any of them receive your nomination for top new or repeated hat this month?

Photos from Asahi; Stella Pictures; Sankei; Press Association; Keld Navntoft/Scanpix; Søren Bidstrup/Scanpix; Mazur/catholicnews.org.uk; Chugoku Shimbun; Asahi Shimbun via Getty

Events for Imperial Royals

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On Tuesday, Crown Prince Naruhito and Crown Princess Masako attended the opening ceremony of LAWASIA (The Law Association for Asia and Pacific) in Tokyo. Masako wore an ecru hat with trilby-esque upturned back brim, trimmed with a wide blue hatband. I suspect the design is new.

Princess Masako, Sep 19, 2017 | Royal Hats Princess Masako, Sep 19, 2017 | Royal Hats

Also on Tuesday, Emperor Akihito and Empress Michiko commemorated the 70th anniversary of the establishment of Japan War-Bereaved Families Association. For this event, the Empress wore a larger scale white rimmed saucer hat trimmed with a silk bow in the the same buff and black printed silk as her blouse. I can’t say that I think the pairing of this particular silk with white was a great idea. As we’ve said many times here, it’s all a bit too much biscuit.

Empress Michiko, Sep 19, 2017 | Royal Hats

Empress Michiko, Sep 19, 2017 | Royal Hats

Designer: unknown. Eagle eyed reader Jessica pointed out a different hat was worn with this suit in 2014. 
Previously Worn: This hat is new

Yesterday, the Imperial couple were in Hidaka where they paid a visit to the Koma Jinja Shrine. For the event, Empress Michiko repeated her white saucer hat with transparent lattice underbrim and a curling ribbon ribbon in the slate blue accent as on her suit.

Empress Michiko, Sep 20, 2017 | Royal Hats

Empress Michiko, Sep 20, 2017 | Royal Hats

Designer: unknown
Previously Worn: Mar 4, 2017

Thoughts about this trio of Imperial hats?