Tag Archives: Princess Akiko

This Week’s Extras

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Royal Hats

Princess Akiko of Mikasa was in bright turquoise tafetta with a matching flower trimmed hat at the Gagaku Concert. You might have to see it to believe it. (Imperial Royals of Japan)

The Countess of Wessex visited her milliner’s new flagship store in London… without a hat! (Jane Taylor)

Royal Warrant holder Rachel Trevor Morgan is celebrating 25 years of hatmaking by sharing a hat (either a past creation or piece of inspiration) on each day of advent. It’s a wonderful look through her millinery career (Rachel Trevor Morgan)

Princess Beatrix opened the Amsterdam light festival (Svenskdam)

Princess Beatrix, November 28, 2015 | Royal Hats

Royal Hats

Prince Mikasa reached a major milestone with his 100th birthday this week (Imperial Family of Japan)

Princess Astrid of Norway was in London to light the Trafalgar Square Christmas Tree (Getty)

Photo from REMKO DE WAAL/epa/Corbis

Imperial Royals Host Annual Autumn Garden Party

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The Japanese Royal Family were in attendance yesterday at  Akasaka Palace for the annual autumn garden party held in the palace’s imperial garden. One of two garden parties hosted by the Emperor and Empress each year (one in spring and one in autumn), this event is a highlight on the Imperial Royal calendar. Empress Michiko wore a dove grey suit for the occasion with a matching saucer hat. One of the Empress’ larger scale hats, the flat rimmed piece was simply trimmed with a dove grey and white silk bow.

Empess Michiko, November 12, 2015 | Royal Hats

Designer: likely Akio Hirata
Previously Worn: I believe this hat is new

The garden party made international news thanks to the presence of Crown Princess Masako who has not attended this event in twelve years. She looked marvellous and relaxed in a Byzantium purple suit and matching hat. The simply shaped hat, with a flat brim and straight sided, domed crown, was given visual and textural interest thanks to a wide sash of draped fabric wrapped around the crown.The sash gave a sense of movement to this hat and, combined with its vibrant colour, made it a stand out piece.

Crown Princess Masako, November 12, 2015 | Royal Hats Crown Princess Masako, November 12, 2015 | Royal Hats

Designer: unknown
Previously Worn: This hat is new

Princess Kiko topped her white silk suit with a coordinating hat. The squared crown of the hat, which was wrapped at the base in a wide pleated band, smoothly extended in the characteristic ‘bell’ shape of a cloche out to a rolled brim. A nice enough piece on its own, I found the proportion and scale too large for petite Princess Kiko. Her daughter, Princess Mako, topped her peach silk suit with a brown felt hat with narrow, rolled brim. Trimmed with a peach puff on the side, the simple hat provided an interesting contrast against her feminine, ruffled suit.

Imperial Royal Family, November 12, 2015 | Royal Hats

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

Princess Nobuko of Mikasa wore a navy Breton hat. The outer side of the hat’s upturned brim was covered in the same navy appliquéd lace as her dress. Princess Akiko dressed up her black bowler hat with a wide sash of the same graphic black and white plaid fabric as her jacket while Princess Yoko took a more classic approach in a white hat with mushroom brim. Princess Yoko’s hat looked to be overlaid in a layer of crin (or organza?) which gave it a decidedly romantic feel. Princess Tsuguko topped her mint suit with a cream bumper hat trimmed in a green silk bloom at the side.

Imperial Royal Family, November 12, 2015 | Royal Hats

Designers: unknown
Previously Worn: I believe all of these hats are new

Finally, Princess Hanako repeated a sage green silk covered hat we have seen several times before. While not visible on the photo below, the brim of this piece is wrapped in green lace which is repeated on the peplum of her jacket. The unusual shape (a variation from the more common mushroom brim as seen on Princess Yoko above) and the interesting use of lace on this piece has always made it a winner for me.

Princess Hanako, November 12, 2015 | Royal Hats

Designer: unknown
Previously Worn: August 5, 2015; June 26, 2015; May 19, 2015

These Imperial garden parties often bring out the most vibrant and interesting royal hats we see on the Imperial royals all year. The stand outs today for me were Crown Princess Masako and Princess Nobuko- which hats stood out to you?

Photos from Getty as indicated; Asahi; Kyodo via the Japan Times; and ANN News

This Week’s Extras

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Royal Hats

Empress Michiko repeated two saucer hats during a visit to Oita last weekend (Imperial Family of Japan blog)

Princess Akiko was in Wakayama last Sunday to take in part of the 70th Japanese National Sports Festival (Imperial Family of Japan blog)

During their visit to Dalarna, Prince Carl Philip and Princess Sofia kept warm in knit hats adorned with a Swedish folk motif (Swedish Royal Court)

Prince Carl Philip and Princess Sofia, October 6, 2015 | Royal Hats

 

Royal Hats

The British Monarchy marked national poetry day with a recording of the Prince of Wales reading Fern Hill by Dylan Thomas. You can listen to it here. 

New formal portraits of Prince Joachim and Princess Marie were released (The Danish Monarchy)

Wonder what the British Royal Family was up to this week? Here are some quick video highlights (The British Monarchy)

Photo from Albert Nieboer/dpa/Corbis

Mikasa Princess Attends Self Defence Awards

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Princess Akiko of Mikasa attended the 13th annual People’s Self-Defense Officials Awards today in Tokyo to honor distinguished service in the Self-Defence Forces of Japan. For this event, she wore a new cloche style hat in grey felt with sharply upturned brim on one side. Cloche hats are not usually associated with dramatic shapes and the treatment of this brim sets this hat apart. While I would have preferred a more exciting colour, the shape of this piece works well on Akiko and her bobbed hairstyle.

Princess Akiko, October 6, 2015 | Royal Hats

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

Photo from Sankei

Mikassa Princess Visits Yamagata

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Princess Akiko of Mikasa visited Yamagata Prefecture late last week where one of her engagements included presenting awards at the Japanese Chess Championship in Tendo City. For this event, she wore a pale pink cloche hat that looks to be trimmed with a bow on the side. We have not seen Princess Akiko in a cloche shape before and while I don’t think it is the best shape for her, I’m thrilled to see any hint of millinery experimentation in the Imperial family.

Princess Akiko, August 5, 2015 | Royal Hats

Designer: unknown
Previously Worn: I suspect this is a new hat

Photo from Yamagata News