Tag Archives: Princess Elisabeth

Catching Up… The Belgian Royals

Posted on by

On September 3, 2022, the Belgian Royal family attended the wedding of Queen Mathilde’s brother Charles-Henri d’Udekem d’Acoz and Caroline Philippe in Pont-L’Evêque, France. Queen Mathilde wore a sinamay figure-eight  headpiece trimmed with silk flowers in the same vibrant jade as her silk crepe dress. I’m not usually a fan of monochrome looks but the openness of this headpiece works well, particularly with such an airy dress. It’s really pretty.

 

Designer: “Vertigo” design by Fabienne Delvigne. Dress by Natan
Previously Worn: This headpiece is new

Princess Elisabeth repeated a bandeau headpiece in draped blush pink abaca.

Designer: “Lisly” design by Fabienne Delvigne.
Previously Worn: July 21, 2020

On October 2, King Philippe, Queen Mathilde and Princess Elisabeth attended the Blue Berets parade of first-year students of the Royal Military Academy, one of whom was Prince Gabriel.

Queen Mathilde repeated a casque headpiece of overlapping rusty-red felt leaves.

Embed from Getty Images
Embed from Getty Images Embed from Getty Images

The hat is daring on its own but suffers here against the bow on the blouse, the cartoonish trouser buckle and a colour scheme that shouts ketchup and mustard. This look isn’t a successful one for me.

Embed from Getty Images

Designer: “”feuilles de chêne” design by Fabienne Delvigne. Coat and trousers by Natan.
Previously Worn: Mar 13, 2018; Oct 11, 2016

On October 5, the king and queen embarked on a working visit to Germany. For the first day of this visit, Queen Mathilde wore a padded halo bandeau headpiece covered in the same red blocked print as her dress.

Embed from Getty Images
Embed from Getty Images
Embed from Getty Images

The placement of the print on both the headpiece and dress is very well done and, along with the smaller scale of the headpiece, avoids an overkill of print in the overall ensemble. It’s such a great look for Mathilde.

Embed from Getty Images

Designer: “Tizia” design by Fabienne Delvigne. Dress and jacket by Natan. 
Previously Worn: This headpiece is new.

For the second day of the visit, Queen Mathilde repeated her biscuit velvet felt fedora with extended brim and multi-looped bow.

Embed from Getty Images
Embed from Getty Images Embed from Getty Images

Designer: “Borsamalia” design by Fabienne Delvigne. Dress and cape by Natan. 
Previously Worn: Oct 14, 2016;  October 11, 2013

On Thursday, October 13, King Philippe, Queen Mathilde, King Albert and Prince Emmanuel attended the Opening ceremony of the 2022-2023 academic year of the Royal Military School in Brussels (Prince Gabriel is one student entering the school). Queen Mathilde repeated a ruched bandeau in boiled emerald wool.

Embed from Getty Images
Embed from Getty Images Embed from Getty Images

Designer: Fabienne Delvigne
Previously Worn: Oct 15, 2019

Which millinery looks stand out for you here?

Images from Getty as indicated  

Belgian Royal Wedding: Family Members

Posted on by

Princess Maria Laura’s wedding to William Isvy on September 10 was attended by her Belgian, Austrian, Luxembourg and Liechtenstein relations, many of whom wore hats or headpieces.

Princess Astrid employed a “more is more” approach to her mother-of-the-bride ensemble, in a brimless hat covered in the same the green ostrich feathers as on the cuffs of her teal lace jacket… with a few more teal ones studded in. 

Embed from Getty Images
Embed from Getty Images

Lace, feathers, ribbon embroidery, crystal collar, purple, teal, green… it’s a lot of elements that together, put this look well over the top for me. ‘Nuff said.

Embed from Getty Images

Designer: The entire ensemble is Gucci
Previously Worn: This hat is new

The bride’s sisters Princess Luisa and Princess Laetitia and sister-in-law Princess Elisabetta wore vibrant yellow, emerald and ruby ​​bandeau headpieces.

Embed from Getty Images
Embed from Getty Images

Queen Paola wore a headpiece in biscuit pleated abacca that encircled her head. It’s lovely from front view, the arc of the piece creating a halo framing Paola’s face with a ruffle on one side .

Embed from Getty Images
Embed from Getty Images Embed from Getty Images

Designer: “Chamira” design by Fabienne Delvigne
Previously Worn: This design is new

The groom’s mother Lisa wore an ecru sinamay disc percher trimmed with ivory sinamay twists and ivory and ecru feather flowers.

Embed from Getty Images

Embed from Getty Images

His sister wore a wide blush sinamay saucer trimmed with multiple twists, feathers and curled quills in a slightly darker shade of pink.

Embed from Getty Images
Embed from Getty Images

Queen Mathilde surprised with the repeat of a hat not seen for nearly 20 years. In pink sinamay woven with metallic fibers, the wide-brimmed design follows a sweeping pyramid shape with sharp, dropped vertical edge.

Embed from Getty Images
Embed from Getty Images

It’s a dramatic statement hat softened by its color and pairing with Mathilde’s lovely floral frock. When she first wore this hat for Prince Laurent and Princess Claire’s wedding in 2003 , I think it overwhelmed her a little but this time, thanks to a more jaunty angle, a patterned dress and the confidence that simply comes with maturity, she carried it off fantastically.

Embed from Getty Images

Designer: Maison van den Borne. Dress by Nathan.
Previously Worn: Apr 12, 2003

Princess Elisabeth was head to toe in red, topping a fringed dress with a brimmed straw hat. The design, with a gently waved brim, is simply trimmed with a slim hatband.

Embed from Getty Images
Embed from Getty Images Embed from Getty Images
Embed from Getty Images

Designer: “Laurany” design by Fabienne Delvigne. Dress by Caroline Herrera. 
Previously Worn: This hat is new

Princess Claire paired her leaf printed dress with a loden green straw picture hat with extended brim In this era where smaller bandeaux and perchers have reigned in popularity, it’s fun to see a design of such scale!

 Embed from Getty Images

Designer: unknown
Previously Worn: This hat is new

Princess Louise wore a vibrant headpiece headpiece of silk flowers. It’s such a youthful design that paired beautifully with her fuchsia dress.

Embed from Getty Images

 

Designer: “Eden” design by Fabienne Delvigne. Dress by Rotate.
Previously Worn: This headpiece is new

Princess Delphine wore a fedora hat covered in “The Bubble” silk print from her newly released wearable art collection. It’s a bold design that was well balanced against her solid red dress. 

Embed from Getty Images
Embed from Getty Images Embed from Getty Images

Designer: unknown. Dress by Cilem Tunc Van Trier. 
Previously Worn: at this photoshoot

Princess Marie-Esméralda wore a dark blue straw cloche with extended brim. The hat is trimmed with a wide royal blue Petersham hatband and white silk rose on the side. Princess Léa wore a blue silk bow headpiece with veil. 

Embed from Getty Images
Embed from Getty Images

Princess Margaretha of Liechenstein wore a tall blush pillbox wrapped in a wide band of caramel abaca with a knotted bow at the back. Princess Maria Anunciata, shown beside her mother below, wore a bandeau headpiece of pink silk petals. Princess Margaretha’s other daughter, Princess Marie-Astrid, attended the bride and was shown in the prior post in a plaited pink bandeau headpiece. 

Embed from Getty Images

Princess Sibilla of Luxembourg wore a fuchsia straw saucer percher trimmed with orange silk abaca twists.

Embed from Getty Images

Princess Dianne of Nassau wore a pink silk abaca draped calot with large bows. Prince Jean’s daughter, Princess Marie Gabrielle of Nassau, wore a pale green silk halo headband headpiece . 

Archduke Lorenz’s sister Countess Beatrice of Arco-Zinneberg attended along with all of six of her daughters Countess Anna Teresa, Countess Margherita, Countess Olympia, Countess Maximiliana, Countess Marie Gabrielle and Countess Giorgiana. Countess Margherita is pictured below in a black straw pyramid shaped hat with bow (see the back here). Countess Marie Gabrielle repeated the wore a in a deep navy straw vertical Philip Treacy saucer rimmed in midnight blue velvet trimmed with purple butterflies and silk orchids that her mother wore to her sister Olympia’s wedding in 2019.

ss Dianne of Nassau wore a pink silk abaca draped calot with large bows. 

Embed from Getty Images

 

Also spotted in hats were Archduchess Anna-Gabriele of Austria with her daughter Catherina, Princess Therese of Liechtenstein, Princess Xenia of Croÿ and Princess Eleonora de Ligne.

That wraps up Princess Maria Laura’s wedding! What hats or headpieces stood out most to you?

Embed from Getty Images

 

 

Images from Getty as indicated  

Belgium National Day 2022

Posted on by

My sincere apologies, dearest readers, for the unforseen hiatus this month. All is well again and we are going to begin catching up in Belgium! Last Thursday, the Belgian royal family attended the annual Te Deum mass and military parade celebrating their national holiday.

Embed from Getty Images

Queen Mathilde wore a new wide brimmed woven straw hat trimmed with a rope of burnt feathers.

Embed from Getty Images Embed from Getty Images
Embed from Getty Images

The burnt feather trim is a miss for me- it’s thickness and placement snakes around the hat in a way I just don’t find attractive. I also wish the hat’s undertone was truly gold or brown (without that slight coral/pinky tinge) to better coordinate with Mathilde’s dress. It’s all right… but not great.

Embed from Getty Images Embed from Getty Images
Embed from Getty Images

Designer: Fabienne Delvigne “Paris” hat. Natan dress. 
Previously Worn: This hat is new

Princess Elisabeth wore a red halo bandeau headpiece wrapped in crisp twisted ribbon.

Embed from Getty Images Embed from Getty Images
Embed from Getty Images

These halos are the height of fashion these days and thus, an obvious choice for a young princess. The shape suits Elisabeth very well and the twisted detail gives lovely texture to the design that gives just enough contrast to stand on its own against her dress. Lovely!

Embed from Getty Images Embed from Getty Images
Embed from Getty Images

Designer: Emily London “Galilea” Headband in Red. Victoria Beckham dress. 
Previously Worn: This headpiece is new

Princess Astrid attended the event in uniform, as she does each year, with upfolded brim cap.

Embed from Getty Images

Princess Claire paired her floral dress with a burgundy silk abaca pleated bandeau headpiece.

Embed from Getty Images Embed from Getty Images

The colour is lovely on Claire, as is the scale.

Embed from Getty Images

Designer: unknown
Previously Worn: This headpiece is new

Princess Delphine topped her red and white dress with a crisp white straw hat with slightly flared crown and curved brim trimmed with a red hatband and bow.

Embed from Getty Images Embed from Getty Images

The hat is a great counterpoint for Delphine’s dress, the classic shape a great contrast with the dress’ modern graphic embroidery. We don’t talk here enough about brim lengths- this one suits her so well.

Embed from Getty Images

Designer: Josje Huisman. Dress by ​Pol Volgels with embroidery by Antwerp Borduur Service. Styled by Jody Van Geert
Previously Worn: This hat is new

What do you think of this parade of hats last week in Brussels?

Images from Getty as indicated  

Future Belgian Queen Christens Vessel

Posted on by

Princess Elisabeth of Belgium conducted her first solo engagement on Saturday, officially christening the oceanographic research vessel Belgica in Ghent.

Embed from Getty Images

For this occasion, she wore a new disc percher hat in pale pink . The hat follows a gentle curve and is trimmed with a draped bow on both sides of the raised edge.

Embed from Getty Images
Embed from Getty Images

The colour and scale are lovely on Elisabeth and the pairing of curvy hat with the sharp lines of her white tuxedo dress feels young and fresh. My issues are with the hat itself- the material appears to be a synthetic/polyester braid of some sort and I think something finer would help to elevate its impact, presence and polish and liven up the clunky bow.

Embed from Getty Images

Designer: “Pretty” design by Fabienne Delvigne. Dress by Reiss. 
Previously Worn: This hat is new

I understand that Fabienne Delvigne Couture Millinery has an Appointment to The Court of Belgium (2001) but I really hope Princess Elisabeth is encouraged to engage the work of other Belgian milliners in her wardrobe.

Images from Getty as indicated  

Belgian National Day

Posted on by

The Belgian royal family celebrated their country’s national holiday today with a Te Deum mass at The Cathedral of St. Michael and St. Gudula followed by a military parade outside the Royal Palace.

Embed from Getty Images

Queen Mathilde wore a new bandeau headpiece covered in a textured striped fabric in the palest beigey-pink.

Embed from Getty Images
Embed from Getty Images

The caped floral dress requires a light millinery touch and the scale and subtle texture of this design works well. It’s nicely finished, with bias placement of the stripe and not a pucker or underside structure to be seen. While it lets the dress be the focus, which I suppose was its aim, I’m afraid I find it a bit underwhelming

Embed from Getty Images

Designer: Fabienne Delvigne
Previously Worn: This headpiece is new

Princess Elisabeth also wore a new hat, in textured deep orange (or tomato red?!) straw. The pillbox design is simply trimmed with a knotted sash on the side.

Embed from Getty Images

It’s a great scale on Elisabeth, the weave of the hat providing textural contrast to the floral pattern on her dress. We’ve not seen her in many hats and this one is a good ‘beginner.’

Embed from Getty Images

Designer:  Fabienne Delvigne’s “Kennedy” design. Dress by Natan
Previously Worn: This hat is new

Enrolled in this year’s course at the Belgian Military Academy, Princess Elisabeth marched in the military parade in full uniform.

Embed from Getty Images

Princess Astrid and Prince Laurent also attended in military uniform, Princess Astrid in a green hat with smart curved brim and Prince Laurent in a traditional cap (Princess Claire did not attend).

Embed from Getty Images

Today’s celebration officially included Princess Delphine and her partner, Jim O’Hare, for the first time. She wore a vibrant patterned dress and matching beret from Belgian ethical fashion brand Erratum, whose work is inspired by Africa.

Embed from Getty Images

It’s a bold look but one that seems authentic for the artist, whose work is described as vibrant, playful and quirky. The same words describe this ensemble and that’s exactly what makes me love it. Yes, it’s lot of pattern and the hat could really use some structure (there’s a reason fabric hats are blocked over sinamay bases!) but its a confident statement that I wish we saw more in royal fashion.

Embed from Getty Images

Designer: Erratum
Previously Worn: This hat is new

Princess Marie-Esméralda attended the Te Deum in a very pretty pink pleated bandeau headpiece.

Designer: unknown
Previously Worn: I believe this is new

It’s wonderful to see larger events opening up, especially with they include the debut of a new princess! What do you think of this group of hats today in Brussels?

Images from Getty as indicated