Catching Up Imperial Family Milestones

In last weekend’s “Extra’s” post, we celebrated the December 5 official presentation of Princess Aiko following her 20th birthday, dazzling in a diamond tiara and necklace borrowed from her aunt, Sayako Kuroda.
Embed from Getty Images
It turns out that members of the Imperial royal family also gathered for this celebration, the ladies in hats as well! Princess Kako was seen arriving at the Imperial Palace in her pale sage green silk jacquard covered calot hat with cuffed bumper brim, trimmed with a spray of silk flowers on the side.

Previously Worn: Dec 23, 2019; Apr 10, 2019
Princess Hanako repeated her dark green velvet hat with clamshell-shaped bumper brim trimed with an ostrich plume and bow at the back.  Princess Yuriko wore a turquoise printed silk draped pillbox (or maybe a toque shape?) with rolled rose and leaves made of the same fabric, placed on the side of the design. 

 Princess Hanako’s hat Previously Worn: Feb 24, 2019; Jan 14, 2015Jan 10, 2014Jan 4, 2011
Princess Nobuko looked to be wearing a new dusty pink silk covered pillbox high on the back of her head. Princess Yoko repeated her tall salmon pink silk covered pillbox wrapped in a double fringe of feathers in the same hue. Princess Akiko looked to be wearing a new cream hat with shallow crown and brim covered in a beautifully draped hatband that tied in a side bow.

Princess Yoko’s hat Previously Worn: Mar 23, 2021;  Nov 8, 2020Oct 25, 2019Apr 10, 2019
Princess Hisako repeated a salmon pink velvet pillbox with indented pork pie crown, trimmed in pink, peach and burgundy velvet applique flowers that also embellish the neck and shoulder lines of her matching gown. An interesting note from Imperial family expert Prisma- while this ensemble dates back until at least 1992, it was worn, most recently, in January 2014 by Princess Noriko! Princess Tsuguko looked to be wearing a silvery blue silk covered pillbox that I believe is new.

Previously Worn: Jan 15, 2014 (by Princess Noriko); Jan 14, 1992
Sayako Kuroda was also in attendance in a pale green silk calot covered in a ruched dotted white veil.

On December 9th, Empress Masako celebrated her 58th birthday. She arrived at the home of her parents-in-law in a pale blue silk covered bumper hat.

Sayako Kuroda was also seen arriving at the Imperial Palace to greet the Empress on her birthday in a pleated ecru calot hat.

Which ones of these eleven hats stand out most to you?

Images from social media as indicated 

This Week’s Extras

Queen Margrethe repeated her spotted grey sealskin bumper hat in Greenland this week
Many thanks to reader Molly, who shared this documentary (register to watch for free) on “The Hats of Jerusalem” hosted by the George Washington Museum’s textiles department.
On Tuesday, Princess Akiko of Mikasa attended the 19th National Self-Defense Forces Award Ceremony in a grey hat with mushroom brim and bow.

 

On Thursday, Princess Hisako opened a home exhibition in a hat with pale pistachio textured crown and jauntily upturned short brim. On Friday, she attended a photography exhibition in a charming beret design embellished with monochrome leaves

The following new millinery designs caught my eye this week:
Amazing lace trimmed headpiece by Australian sculptural milliner Brett Morley
Striking vine headpiece of black feather flowers by Australian milliner Rachel Henry
Deep eggplant teardrop beret with purple and gold crin trim by US milliner Maria Etkind
The prettiest wrapped pillbox with flying bow in peach crin by Australian milliner Jill Humphries
Vibrant halo bandeau with burnt feather trim by Canadian milliner Jay Cheng
Striking colour blocked fedora in emerald and fuchsia by Russian milliner Lia Gureeva
Adore the embroidery and floral trim on this duck egg blue bandeau by Australian milliner Reny Kestel
Raspberry straw boater with triple layered brim and burnt feathers by Australian brand Amelda Millinery
Woven blue teardrop beret with the loveliest monochrome floral trim by British milliner Karen Geraghty
Love the texture on this woven blue straw newsboy cap by Dutch milliner Josemieke Crebolder
Beautiful quilled straw halo bandeau headpieces by Australian milliner Lisette Margini
Acid green striped mohair bucket hat by French milliner Anthony Peto
Fantastic texture & shine on this woven bandeau with metallic flowers by Australian milliner Kylie Heagney
Blown away by this Meissen porcelain-inspired headpiece by British milliner Rachel Trevor Morgan

 

We begin a new week with another lovely landscape photo from James Ogilvy

Images from social media as indicated 

This Week’s Extras

Queen Margrethe in her textured straw red hat on Tuesday for a service at Holmen’s Church celebrating the 50th anniversary of the Danish Armed Forces
Princess Akiko in a darling cloche hat for the Japanese Rugby Championship last weekend

Princess Charlene in a leather hat on her recent trip to South Africa
The following new millinery designs caught my eye this week:
Pale grey straw turban studded with starburst flowers by French milliner Laurence Bossion
Super chic two tone straw trilby by British milliner Louise Pocock
Tan straw bergere with black crown and handmade flowers by UK-based milliner Guilia Mio
Amazing lion fish inspired headpiece by Israeli milliner Maor Zabar
Exquisite oversize pink silk rose headpiece by Russian designer and flower maker Marina Koneva
Red leather teardrop percher with resin flowers and wire swish by Irish milliner Gráinne Maher
Beautiful headpiece of swirling blue, green and lemon feathers by British milliner Jess Collett
Worthy winner of the HATalk International Millinery competition by New Zealand milliner Anel Heyman
Ingenious! Ivory straw bandeau trimmed with spheres recycled from a lace tablecloth by German milliner Antje Lücke
Deep teal straw teardrop saucer with rose gold orchids and veil by Russian milliner Lia Gureeva
Black pleated crin halo bandeau encased around an arc of beads by British milliner Denise Innes-Spencer
Adore the whimsical trim on this textured straw beret percher by London-based milliner Rafa Pienador
Sunny yellow straw waved disk with statement red feather flowers by Australian milliner Felicity Northeast
 Black and cream straw saucer with wonderful brim detail and feathers by British milliner Viv Jenner
A spectacular statement in gold-tipped scarlet and magenta feathers by Australian milliner Pamela O’Brien

Striking new portrait of Princess Laurentien released for her 55th birthday

Images from social media as indicated 

Imperial New Year’s Poetry Reading 2021

Last Friday, The New Year’s Poetry Reading (Ceremony of the Utakai Hajime) took place at the Imperial Palace in Tokyo. Closeup views of the hats worn to this event again show their beautiful detail, something which I thought warranted a second look!

Crown Princess Kiko Kiko repeated the pale lime silk jacquard floral gown with matching bumper hat she first wore last November for the Rikkoshi-Senmei-no-Gi. It’s an impeccably made piece with cuffed brim covered in wide bias alternating sections of  smooth and smocked silk, the same lime silk jacquard of her gown. Smocking is not something we see on many royal hats and it lends such textural dimension to the piece. Princess Mako repeated her turquoise silk covered bumper hat with, as this picture shows, a wonderful layered, striped silk bow at the back. Princess Kako repeated her lemon yellow silk jacquard bandeau trimmed with silk flowers on the sides.

Designer: unknown
Crown Princess Kiko’s hat was previously worn: Nov 8, 2020
Princess Mako’s hat was previously worn: Nov 18, 2019; Jan 11, 2019; Jan 12, 2018; Jan 11, 2017; Dec 23, 2013
Princess Kako’s hat was previously worn:  Nov 10, 2020; Nov 18, 2019; Feb 26, 2019;
Feb 24, 2019; Jan 14, 2015

Princess Nobuko topped her denim blue beaded gown with a matching pillbox covered entirely in feathers and worn back on the crown of her head. It’s a lovely scale and colour on Nobuko and the movement and texture provided by the feathers makes it a fantastic piece to accompany her gown. Princess Akiko repeated her pale yellow bumper hat trimmed in a wrap of pleated crin and generous spray of silk flowers at the back.

Designer: unknown
Princess Nobuko’s hat:  I believe it is new
Princess Akiko’s hat was previously worn:  Nov 8, 2020;  Oct 25, 2019; Apr 10, 2019

 

Princess Hisako repeated her vibrant green low-crowned bowler hat with curved brim and slim hatband, trimmed wiht a mass of green feathers at the back. The different shades of green on the feather trim makes this hat come alive, linking with the green embroidery on Hisako’s gown and giving the monochrome ensemble lightness and lift.

Designer: unknown
Previously worn: Oct 29, 2019; Jan 16, 2019

The only new hat at this event was an ice blue, short-brimmed design on Princess Tsuguko. The small scale design gets visual impact from the trilby-esque curved brim and hatband of silk leaves that encircle it, linking with the vine pattern in the silk jacquard of her jacket and skirt. It looks to me like the hat is covered in plain silk and the leaves cut from the printed jacquard silk (same as the gown), a subtle touch that makes the all blue ensemble less one note.

Designer: unknown
Previously worn: I believe this is new

Again, these closer views of these hats show great detail and utterly impeccable finishing. They are so very, very,  beautifully made.

Which hats here stood out most to you?

Images from social media as indicated

Imperial New Year’s Lectures 2021

The Imperial New Year’s Lectures (Ceremony of the Kousho Hajime) were finally held Tuesday at the Imperial Palace in Tokyo.

Crown Princess Kiko repeated a grey-blue silk brocade gown with shimmering beaded bodice. Her half hat, in the same silk, features crisp pointed corners on each side and stripes of slim silver beads across the crown. Princess Mako repeated an ice blue silk jacquard and matching half hat with short, upfolded brim. The closeup photo seen below shows beautiful detail on the hat- tiny sparkling beads around the brim edge like those around the collar of Mako’s gown, and the loveliest white and blue silk flowers. Princess Kako rounded out the Akishino’s trio of blue in her deep royal silk gown and matching bumper hat with intricately beaded brim edge.

Designer: unknown
Crown Princess Kiko’s hat was previously worn: Jan 12, 2016; Jan 15, 2014
Princess Mako’s hat was previously worn: Jan 16, 2020; Apr 30, 2019; Jan 15, 2016
Princess Kako’s hat was previously worn: Jan 16, 2020; Oct 29, 2019; Apr 30, 2019; Jan 9, 2015

Princess Nobuko paired her terra cotta pink gown with an oversize silk floral headpiece. It’s a departure from much of the Imperial millinery we see, making it a favourite for me!

Designer: unknown
Previously Worn: Oct 29, 2019

Princess Akiko Princess Yoko repeated pillbox hats, Akiko’s in lime-yellow silk with beaded detail on the side and Yoko’s in salmon pink with layered stripes of feather trim.

Designer: unknown
Princess Akiko’s hat was previously worn: April 30, 2019; Jan 14, 2015; Jan 10, 2014
Princess Yoko’s hat was previously worn: Nov 8, 2020; Oct 25, 2019Apr 10, 2019

Princess Hisako wore a deep purple stylized bowler hat with ostrich plume at the back. The lattice printed silk of her gown is repeated on the hat’s wide hatband. Princess Tsuguko repeated her green silk jacquard covered pillbox hat with layered sash across the top of the hat embroidered with the same vine pattern as on the collar of her gown. The lily-of-the-valley blooms that originally embellished this hat have been removed, a detail I’m a little sorry to see.

Designer: unknown
Princess Hisako’s hat was previously worn: I believe this hat is new
Princess Tsuguko’s hat was previously worn: Feb 23, 2020; Oct 25, 2019; May 4, 2019

The views of these hats show more detail than we usually see and my, are these details impeccable. The beading is particularly fine and makes me wish we could see all Imperial hats at close view simply to admire how beautifully they are made.

It’s been a long while since we had such a group of hats to admire- which designs here stood out most to you?

Images from social media as indicated