Tag Archives: Lady Kitty Spencer

This Week’s Extras

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Early last month, Princess Hisako and Princess Tsuguko took in events for the 74th National Sports Festival in a pair of pale hats. Princess Hisako also kicked this week off at the National Dietary Improvement Conference in Miyazaki in a very interesting hat with black brim and patterned burgundy silk crown and leaves at the side


Lady Kitty Spencer attended the Melbourne Cup Monday in a dark blue stemmed beret percher with leaf studded veil by Awon Golding and on Tuesday in a soaring brimmed black Stephen Jones creation.
Queen Sonja welcomed Slovenian president on a state visit on Wednesday in a powder blue and grey felt hat with cutouts across the front. At first glance, I thought it was a repeat but it’s new- and surprisingly close in appearance to its predecessor. 

 


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Also on Wednesday, Empress Masako arrived at the Imperial Royal Palace (to rehearse the upcoming Daijosai ceremony) on Wednesday in her almond silk covered bumper hat. On Thursday, Princess Akiko wore a grey hat with interesting upfolded brim on a visit to Fujinomiya to open the 7th World Tea Festival. 


Queen Margrethe opened an exhibition on Germany yesterday at the Danish National Museum in Copenhagen. She repeated her deep purple felt hat with sidesweeping brim and side bow.
The following new millinery designs caught my eye this week:
Fantastic fuchsia textured straw pillbox with oversize, flying pink bow by Australian milliner Irene Moore
London-based Irish milliner Philip Treacy’s lavender velvet felt trilby with silk hatband and fringed bow
Black straw hat with beautiful bias folded brim and feather trim by Dutch milliner Myra van de Korput
Graphic royal blue cutout origami halo bandeau by Australian milliner Lauren Ritchie
Black felt percher with crin ruffle and black and white feathers by British brand Hostie Hats
Whimsical lilac straw pillbox with statement silk allium flower trim by Australian milliner Victoria Henderson
Angular purple felt hat with the most fantastic folded ribbon hatband by Spanish milliner Eugenia Jimenez
From Australian brand Jack and Jill Millinery, a cheeky yellow straw brimmed cap with horse bit trim
Simple black felt cloche made special with added applique floral vines. Made by US milliner Jennifer Hoertz
Red felt button percher with impressively sculpted trim by British brand Gillys Millinery
Shell-shaped percher hat in striped tan and pink silk abaca with feather by Spain-based milliner Donna Hartley
Incredible gold bandeau headpiece with ombre stacked feather plume by Australian milliner Wendy Scully

And from Australian milliner Jo Peterson, this black disc edged in pink crin with amazing string art trim.

This Week’s Extras

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Lady Kitty Spencer attended the Berlin premiere of VIVID Grand Show in a black Philip Treacy hat with wide, swirling crin brim last weekend. The theatrical/circus spectacular (see a trailer here) features astounding headpieces, all made by Philip Treacy.

Crown Princess Victoria looking chic in a straw Panama hat on Tuesday during the second day of her and Prince Daniel’s visit to Jordan

Very fun announcement from Kensington Palace, introducing the second day of the Duke and Duchess of Sussex’s Australian tour with a nod to the hats they were gifted with during their official welcome.

The following new millinery designs caught my eye this week:

How happy is this bandeau of multi-coloured pompoms from British brand Emily London
Lovely, classic shape & scheme on this navy straw saucer with cream crin from Brisbane milliner Meg Rafter
Unusual black pillbox with fuchsia ring trim by Dutch milliner Marianne Jongkind (on exhibition in Switzerland)
Love the felt flowers on this grey felt brimless design by Japanese milliner Kaori Kaido
Beautiful feather work on these bland and blue percher hats by British milliner Vivien Sheriff
Textured black straw calot with straw leaf overlay by French milliner Anthony Peto
More leaves in this bandeau in red leather and suede by Brisbane milliner Marla Carmeta
Chic navy square-crowned fedora variation with slim orange leather hatband from Czech milliner Jolana Kotabova
Exquisite blue jin sin ringed headpiece with hand cut feathers from Australian brand Millinery Jill
And when you think you’ve seen everything possible in millinery design… a creative millinery mind such as British milliner Harvy Santos comes up with something like this.

 

 Royal Hats

Interesting interview with British royal photographer extraordinaire, Chris Jackson (Tatler)

Lovely photo of the Iranian royal family taken on the occasion of Empress Farah’s 80th birthday

Lovely new portrait of Crown Princess Victoria, Prince Daniel and their sweet children

The Duke of York shared these snaps of the STUNNING floral arrangements in Windsor Castle for Princess Eugenie and Jack Brooksbank’s wedding reception last weekend

Many of you have likely already seen this candid shot, shared by Princess Eugenie, but it’s too sweet not to share. Have a great weekend, everyone!

This Week’s Extras

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Princess Michael of Kent in a chic, floppy brimmed white canvas hat at Wimbledon on Wednesday. Photographers also taught her daughter, Lady Gabriella, taking a snap of her brother Frederick, in a casual panama hat.

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The Earl of Wessex in a summery Panama hat on Thursday to meet with recipients of the Duke of Edinburgh award at Holyrood Palace in Edinburgh

Lady Kitty Spencer in a spectacular gold sunburst headpiece to open Dolce and Gabbana’s Alta Moda Fashion Show in Lake Como today

Pauline Ducruet shared a picture of herself wearing an Dior denim coogan style cap with interesting net veil.

The Order of the Thistle yesterday in Edinburgh saw Queen Elizabeth, The Earl of Strathearn and the Princess Royal in full regalia with velvet, Tudor style plumed hats.

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I updated this post on the square crown, kettle brimmed hats Angela Kelly has made for Queen Elizabeth– there have been four new iterations over the past year!

A handful of new millinery designs caught my eye this week:

Stunning picture hat with a classic shape and colour scheme from Australian milliner Marilyn Van den Berg
From Dublin-based Martha Lynn Millinery, a red straw button percher with large perspex bow printed with triangles
Easy breezy straw fedora with raspberry crown, cream brim and striped hatband from Bundle McLaren
Phenomenal red floral, lace and veil trimmed percher from Ghanan milliner Velma Owusu-Bempah
Unexpected, graphic wide brimmed hat in orange, cream & black from Melbourne based Murley & Co Millinery
Chic boater with pork pie crown, layered straw & velvet hatband and dotted veil from Dutch milliner Wies Maduit

And from Australian milliner Catherine Ellen, this cheeky and very sweet design that I’d just LOVE to be able to wear to high tea. Such fun!

 

 Royal Hats

Lighthearted interview with Mike Tindall about current charity work, adjusting to baby Lena’s arrival and his new, very handsome nose (Hello)

Lovely new photos released by the Belgian monarchy of the King, Queen and their family. I adore the bottom snap of them cheering on the Belgian soccer team.

Duke & Duchess of Sussex Attend Spencer Family Wedding

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Celia McCorquodale, daughter of Sarah (Spencer) and Neil McCorquodale, was married over the weekend to George Woodhouse. Celia topper her lace gown with the beautifully scrolled Spencer family tiara, one undoubtedly familiar to royal watchers. After all the rumour that it was make its first noteable outing on the Duchess of Sussex’s head at her own wedding last month, I was secretly pleased to see it here, at this lower key, family affair.


Sarah McCorquodale topped her blush pink dress and coat with a cream straw upswept saucer hat by Atelier Millinery trimmed with silk blossoms and tulle out the outside, raised brim side of the hat.

Celia’s older sister Emily topped her green and pink coat with a pink straw button base percher hat trimmed with silk roses, straw bow loops and curling quills. The design, also from Atelier Millinery, is the “Gin Fizz”. 


Countess Spencer wore a cream straw vertical disc hat backed with multiple cream crin bows. The design is a similar one to the striking purple hat she wore to the Sussex’s wedding last month– no wonder as both are bespoke pieces from Rachel Trevor Morgan.

Lady Kitty Spencer wore a burgundy velvet Philip Treacy bumper base percher hat with handmade flowers and a Gatsby length tulle veil. While the hat has an autumnal feel to me, it paired beautifully with her floral Dolce & Gabanna dress.

Lady Jane Fellowes repeated a simple brown straw hat with wide kettle edged brim, trimmed with a warm caramel brown ruched hatband and cream silk flowers.  A neutral hat was a good call for her wonderful dot printed coat, although I’m not sure this one was the best choice.  I think the navy hat Jane wore to last month might have made a better pairing.
Finally, the Duchess of Sussex topped her blue and white floral maxi dress with a simple cream straw headpiece. With a flat, round button base, the design features a large bow with curling tails.


We have only seen Meghan in couture millinery pieces so far- pieces with a level of finishing and sophistication that this design simply does not have. While the colour palate of the ensemble is pretty, the scale of the voluminous dress and small hat don’t pair well. I suspect the choice of this rather run-of-the-mill headpiece may be tied to a desire to remain in the background at this event – whatever the reason, it is great to see Meghan experimenting with different millinery shapes and styles. Wasn’t it just a week ago when several commenters here suspected we’d see her only in sleek, unembellished hats for the foreseeable future? I love she’s already proved this prediction wrong!

Designer: Marks & Spencer Collection. It is the Pillbox Bow Fascinator.
Previously Worn: This hat is new

Word on the royal beat is that we’ll see the Duke and Duchess of Sussex make an Ascot appearance this week- if they do, I have a hunch we’ll see a new hat on the Duchess.
Photos from social media as indicated; Geoff Robinson Photography/REX/Shutterstock

British Royal Wedding: Other Royal & Noble Guests

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The only foreign royals invited to the Duke and Duchess of Sussex’s wedding were Prince Seeiso of Lesotho, who co-founded the Sentebale charity, and his wife, Princess Mabereng. Princess Mabereng’s printed dress embellished with pink flowers and a matching pink head wrap are made from traditional Basotho fabrics, a lovely Lesotho connection to Prince Harry, who has great affection for this small country.

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Guests at the wedding also included numerous members of the Spencer family. Countess Spencer wore a Rachel Trevor Morgan designed vertical saucer hat in regal purple straw, decorated with multiple organza bows in the same hue. With her purple Pamela Roland jacket and dress, the hat tops a striking ensemble.

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One of my favourite ensembles of the day was worn by Charles Spencer’s daughter, Lady Kitty, who paired an emerald crepe floral Dolce and Gabanna dress with a matching custom straw calot hat with side knot, feathers and veil. Kitty placed the Philip Treacy design further forward on her head than a calot is traditionally worn but the effect, with her simple hairstyle, open neckline on the dress and restrained jewelry, is so very beautiful.

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Kitty’s sister, Lady Eliza Spencer, wore a half circlet headpiece in black lace around the lower back of her head. Another unusual placement, the piece contrasted beautifully against her blonde waves. Their mother, Prince Harry’s aunt Victoria Aitken, wore a veiled black fedora hat. Both black designs were from Philip Treacy.

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Prince Harry’s aunt, Lady Jane Fellowes, topped her grey and blue floral coat with a large navy straw hat with mushroom brim, trimmed with a ruched navy hatband and large flower on the side. While the two pieces coordinate,the pairing feels rather bland. Maybe I can’t get beyond the grey coat, which I don’t think is the best colour for Jane.

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Lady Sarah McCorquodale also wore a navy straw hat. A more angular shape, the crown on her hat featured squared angles and the upswept brim, a short upturned kettle edge. The hat’s lines are softened with a spray of multicoloured flowers that tie with Sarah’s floral coat. Sarah’s daughter-in-law, Bianca, visible directly behind her in the photo below, topped her pink jacket and floral dress with a matching large teardrop shaped percher hat trimmed with a multi looped bow.

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Sarah’s daughters Celia, below center, and Emily, below right, both wore lively pink percher hats.

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While I have not yet spotted a photo of Countess Mountbatten of Burma, British milliner Dillon Wallwark posted this photo of her daughter Lady Alexandra Hooper (née Knatchbull) in a stunning hat from his studio. The pale pink straw design is lavishly trimmed beneath the upswept brim with silk roses and bows.

The Grosvenor family was also in attendance. The Duchess of Westminster wore a wide brimmed black straw hat trimmed with striped black and white feathers that linked with her zebra printed dress.

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The Duchess of Westminster’s three daughters each wore a saucer hat from Rachel Trevor Morgan. Lady Tamara topped her bright, peacock feather printed dress with an upswept navy saucer embellished with navy silk bows and  turquoise and lime ombre dyed, arrow trimmed feathers. Balancing two vibrant pieces is a challenge but this ensemble got it just right and remains one of my favourites of the day. Lady Viola contrasted her orange dress with a smaller navy percher saucer trimmed with a swath of dotted tulle. Lady Edwina paired her pink and black dotted dress with a pink saucer rimmed in black piping.

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The Van Cutsem family was also in attendance. Emilie van Cutsem topped her orange coat with a matching bumper hat trimmed with an orange net tulle veil and spray of orange and fuchsia feathers at the back.

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Her son William’s wife, Rosie van Cutsem, topped her printed coat with a large button base percher hat trimmed with what looks like a lavender bow at the back. Her son Hugh’s wife, Rose Astor van Cutsem, topped her bright floral printed frock with a textured white button percher trimmed with a burgundy tipped silk rose and white curling quills by London based milliner, Cara Meehan.

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Lady Carolyn Warren, wife of Queen Elizabeth’s racing manager John Warren (daughter of the late Lord Porchester, who was a close friend and former racing manager of the queen) wore a prepossessing cream straw hat with domed crown and wide, lattice patterned straw, trimmed with multiple straw twists on the back half of the hat. It’s not the first thing I’d think of to pair with a lace dress but it’s a wonderful combination. Lady Carolyn’s daughter Susanna, wore a natural straw bumper base percher hat trimmed with an explosion of white feathers. The combined look of her high necked floral dress, hairstyle and hat is a fresh and elegant one.
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Zoe Warren, Lady Carolyn’s daughter-in-law and and mother of the littlest bridesmaid Zalie Warren topper her bright pink Dea Kudibal dress with a matching percher hat from Bundle MacLaren. The design features a wired net tulle brim and arrow trimmed feathers. If you’re going to go bright pink from head to toe, this is how you do it.

While not officially nobility, the Middleton family’s royal connections feel secure enough to include in this post. Carole wore an elegant green silk Catherine Walker coat and dress with a matching seafoam green straw fluted saucer hat. The Jane Taylor design is embellished with green silk flowers and leaves and grey tulle. The trim on the hat gives enough dimension to the piece to keep the ensemble from looking too one note- truly a beautiful pairing.

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Another one of my favourite looks yesterday was on Pippa Middleton Matthews, who topped her pleated floral dress from The Fold London with a Jess Collett hat. The hat’s natural straw button base, ivory silk flowers and densely woven beige cut net trim pairs so perfectly with the ivory, green and beige dress.

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Update- The Duchess of Cornwall’s daughter Laura Lopes and daughter-in-law Sarah Buys were also both in attendance. Laura is in a green patterned dress and black straw teardrop percher hat with yellow trim. I love that she chose an African print for this wedding and the small hat in a strong colour stands up well against the dress. As for Sarah Buys ‘ crushed velvet dress and patterned, waved headpiece- I think the whole look has an unfortunate Miss Havisham vibe. 

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There are such strong hats in this group- which ones stand out most to you?
Photos from Getty as indicated