To all my fellow Canadian readers- have a wonderful weekend celebrating our nation’s 150th birthday! Here’s a look back 34 yeas to a John Boyd designed hat in our national colours, worn twice during the late Princess of Wales’ first visit to our land.

 36 years ago to a 19-year-old British aristocrat at a society wedding (her own nuptials would take place two months later). The photographs of Lady Diana Spencer this day in the most wonderful red hat with raised brim around the back showed a foretaste of the fashion wonder that was to come.

 to this day in 1983 and a young Princess of Wales in a small hat with double bumper, dotted veil and bow. The collaboration between John Boyd’s hat and Catherine Walker’s coat is a great one (especially for the 1980s).

 to this day in 1992 when the Princess of Wales wore this wide brimmed Philip Somerville hat on a visit to Egypt. The matching width of stripes on the hat and Catherine Walker suit are so effective (and proof of obvious collaboration between fashion designer and milliner). It’s hard to believe 25 years has passed.

 to this day in 1986 when the Prince and Princess of Wales arrived in Japan for the start of a state visit. Diana’s dress and simple (but jauntily placed) hat led the news around the world that day- diplomatic dressing at its finest.