Tag Archives: Princess Charlene

Monaco Princess Dons Berets For Sainte Devote

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Princess Charlene of Monaco donned a pair of berets last night and today to celebrate Saint Devota, patron and protector of the Principality. For Tuesday night’s traditional bonfire, where a boat is offered to the patron saint, she topped a black and red woven tweed coat with a classic black beret.

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The simple hat is a great pairing for the patterned coat and for this informal evening event.

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Designer: Dior. Coat by Akris
Previously Worn: this hat is new

Prince Jacques and Princess Gabriella joined their parents for the outdoor event, the young prince dapper in a royal blue and black patterned knit hat and matching scarf. Princess Gabriella wore a bucket hat in the matching pink and ivory mini hound’s tooth check as her skirt and coat. How charming!

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Designer of Princess Gabriella’s hat: Baby Dior
Previously Worn: this hat is new

For today’s Sainte Devote Ceremony at the Monaco Cathedral, Princess Charlene topped an austere black ensemble with a bright cerise pink felt stemmed beret.

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The hat breathes some life support into this ensemble. I’m all for a hat being the star of the show (the colour is such fun!) but I’d love to see it paired with an outfit that doesn’t overwhelm its wearer.

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Designer: unconfirmed. Prada coat and dress
Previously Worn: this hat is new

Princess Charlene has been on roll of beret hats, these her third and fourth in the past three months. The classic French shape suits her streamlined aesthetic (and edgy new haircut!) well. What do you think of these berets for St. Devote?

Images from Getty as indicated

Inventory: Princess Charlene’s Blue Hats

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To celebrate Princess Charlene’s 43rd birthday yesterday, we’re diving into her millinery closet this time, for a look at her blue hats:

1. 2.
Designer: both unknown 
Introduced: April 29, 2011; November. 19, 2013

3.  4.
Designer: Stephen Jones;  Gallia e Peter
Introduced: May 10, 2015; November 19, 2017

We see Princess Charlene wear hats once or twice a year so just four blue designs over the past decade is not surprising. What’s undeniable here is Charlene’s leaning toward the streamlined when it comes to millinery. I like the restraint- hats #1 and #4 are particularly striking- although a spare feather, flower or bow could retain the streamlined aesthetic while lending a little zhuzh.

What do you notice about Princess Charlene’s blue hats?

Images from Getty as indicated; Carl De Souza/AFP; PLS Pool; Stephane Cardinale/Corbis and Pascal Le Segretain via Getty

This Week’s Extras

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Prince Philippos of Greece and Nina Flohr were married in a civil ceremony last Saturday, December 12, in St. Moritz, Switzerland. The bride wore a ivory boucle suit and large structured bow in her hair, both by Chanel

On Monday, Emperor Naruhito and Empress Masako attended the opening ceremony of the Global Environmental Action (GEA) International Conference in Tokyo. Empress Masako repeated a deep green hat with upfolded brim edged in braided trim.

Princess Charlene wore a Dior lambskin leather beret on Wednesday as Princess Gabriella christened a new police boat named in her honour

The following new millinery designs caught my eye this week:
Beautiful scarlet velvet halo bandeau with silk roses by British milliner Bee Smith
Stunning jeweled hatbands and trim on felt fedoras in jewel tones from Italan brand Borsalino
Icy blue felt hat with grey trim and wonderful folded ribbon hatband by American milliner Dorothy Morant
Burgundy button percher with beautiful vintage folded ribbon by Dutch milliner Wies Mauduit
Winter white felt octagonal cloche with fur pompom by Canadian milliner Karyn Ruiz
Chic leopard print felt trilby with emerald velvet hatband and bow by Italian brand Batog Hats
Purple felt beret with lovely velvet leaf and floral trim by American milliner Wayne Wichern
Glamorous perchers in orchid purple with crystal veil and scarlet with crin ruffle by UK milliner Tracey Miller
Two turtle doves (!!) by Spain-based American milliner Parrish Lee

 

Ice blue velvet and sequin covered halo bandeau by British brand Stephanie Elizabeth Millinery
Tweed pillbox with oversize lily trim by French brand Mei Mei France Chapeaux
Statement vertical saucer covered in fantastical fuchsia feathers by Australian milliner Cynthia Jones Bryson
Dapper beaver felt fedora in the most beautiful shade of teal by Hornskov København
Prink straw brimless design with wonderful folded ribbon trim by Spanish milliner Eugenia Jimenez
Elegant grey felt beret with net veil trim by French milliner Clotilde Toussaint
Fun floral trim on this vibrant blue beret percher by British brand NDLQ millinery
Black and maroon felt fedora with patent leather hatband by French milliner Geneviève Parois
The most darling green and black striped button percher with bows by British milliner Rachel Trevor Morgan

Lovely Christmas greetings from numerous royal houses

We close this week with a tale of Christmas magic, told by the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge

 

Photos from social media as indicated

Fête Nationale Monégasque 2020

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Members of Monaco’s royal family gathered today to celebrate their country’s national holiday.

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Princess Charlene wore a black beret described by the designer as “a modern take on classic Parisian style. It is crafted from soft rabbit felt using traditional millinery techniques and embellished with a nylon veil for a feminine touch.”

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The veil elevates the hat, and it’s small scale beret pairs very well with the high necked coat (I adore the pops of magenta which give great energy!). It’s another sleek and streamlined look for Charlene.

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Designer: Dior “Parisian Beret”. Coat by South African designer Terrence Bray.
Previously Worn: This hat is new.

Princess Gabriella wore a pair of red bow hair clips while Prince Jacques looked very handsome repeating his miniature winter dress uniform of the Compagnie des Carabiniers du Prince (Prince’s Company of Riflemen, the infantry branch that protects the Royal Palace) complete with blue cloth helmet with red and white dress plumes.

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Designer of Princess Gabriella’s hair clips: Jacadi
Prince Jacques’ hat previously worn: Nov 19, 2019

Princess Caroline topped her exquisite feather-trimmed Chanel suit with a plaited bandeau headpiece made of textured black silk. As far as bandeaux go, this one is a good one with wonderful texture and enough elevation not to look like a headband. While I would have loved to see this suit paired with a wide brimmed black and white boater or bergère, the bandeau is a slightly tamer yet still very elegant choice that Caroline wears really well.

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Designer: unknown. Suit by Chanel.
Previously Worn: This headpiece is new

Tatiana Santo Domingo Casiraghi wore a bandeau headpiece of triple layered black velvet bows. It is the third black bandeau she has worn to this event in as many years (see 2018 and 2017) and while the scale and shape are good, it doesn’t seem that distinctive from the others already in her closet.

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Designer: Jennifer Behr “Katya Headband” 
Previously Worn: this headpiece is new

Beatrice Borromeo Casiraghi repeated a burgundy velvet knotted bandeau headpiece.

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Designer: unknown
Previously Worn: Nov 17, 2019

Marie Chevallier Ducruet wore a black felt beret percher trimmed in a large flat bow.

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Designer: unknown
Previously Worn: This hat is new

Melanie de Massy, Prince Albert and Princess Caroline’s cousin, topped her pink coat with an ecru felt beret percher.

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The millinery at this year’s event is slightly more subdued than usual, understandable amidst a pandemic. What designs here stood out to you?

Photos from Getty as indicated 

Princess Charlene’s National Day Hats

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Next Thursday we’ll turn our attention to Monaco for the principality’s annual Fête Nationale celebration. This year marks a decade since Princess Charlene began officially attending the event, making this a great opportunity to look back at all the hats she has worn:

    
Chocolate felt sharp slice brimmed hat by Philip Treacy in 2010; black felt bumper with navy veil in 2012;
Navy felt wide brimmed hat with shallow crown in 2013

   
Black stemmed beret in 2014; Burgundy Akris cloche with veil in 2015; Cream straw pyramid with black binding & bow and red and magenta handmade flowers by Rachel Trevor Morgan in 2016

   
All by Gallia e Peter for Akris: Navy felt stylized boater in 2017; Black felt Dior brimmed hat in 2018; White fedora in 2019

UPDATE: Since this post was published, Princess Charlene has worn the following hats to this event:


Dior black felt beret with veil in 2020

It’s an eclectic mix that covers a surprising number of different shapes. There are some standouts for me- the 2016 Rachel Trevor Morgan pyramid was our favourite hat of the year for good reason and the jaunty navy hat in 2017 and white fedora last year are both so very chic. While not my favourite, I have to admire the the burgundy cloche in 2015 simply because it’s such a bold shape and few could have carried it off so well. We see so few hats on Charlene it’s easy to forget how good many of her millinery looks have been.

What do you think of Princess Charlene’s National Day looks?

Photos by Pascal Le Segretain, Mark Cuthbert/UK Press, PLS Pool, Pascal Le Segretain, Thierry Orban, Thierry Orban, Pascal Le Segretain, Stephane Cardinale/Corbis, Arnold Jerocki and Valery Hache/AFP via Getty