Tag Archives: Princess Mako

This Week’s Extras

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Also on Wednesday, Empress Masako and Princess Mako were in hats to mark the anniversary of Empress Kojun’s death

The following new millinery designs caught my eye this week:

Patterned pink straw hat with darling lace butterfly trim by Ghanan milliner Velma Owusu Bempah
Lime waved disc with crin brim and silk flowers by London-based Irish milliner Philip Treacy
Striking white and gold leather folded pinwheel design by British Milliner Jennifer Rowley
Charming blue straw capulet with straw flowers and leaves by French brand Mei Mei France Chapeaux
Forrest green velvet bandeau headpiece with leafy vine by Scottish milliner Sarah Macgregor-Norrie
Adore the soft but strong statement made by this peach brimmed hat by Australian milliner Chris Mullane

Wonderful spring green brimmed hat with straw loops and feather by German milliner Ulrike Strelow
Exquisite 3D lace applique trimmed bandeaux headpieces by Tasmanian milliner Cessiah Alice
White teardrop percher with whimsical purple daisies by Australian brand Monroe Millinery
Sky blue bandeau with beautiful silk and velvet flowers by British milliner Inna Walker
Navy straw vertical saucer with gravity-defying fuchsia ribbon by London-based Filipa Cardoso
“Lemon Drop” design with fantastic graphic brim by Australian milliner Angie Jackman

Imperial New Year’s Poetry Reading 2021

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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

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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, 2019; Apr 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

This Week’s Extras

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Princess Hisako in a lovely green felt trilby with shaped crown and feather trim on Tuesday for a press conference for an upcoming exhibition at the Hungarian Cultural Institute
The following new millinery designs caught my eye this week:
Amazing grey button percher with aqua straw and crin vertical trim by Dutch milliner Wies Mauduit
Striking ivory felt button percher with black trim by American milliner Sally Casewell
Cognac felt cap with leather brim and slim hatband by Dutch brand Bronte
Tangerine straw hugger with ruffled brim, leaves and lace flowers by Australian brand Rachi Rach Hattery
Navy blue silk shantung pillbox with rose trim by British milliner Dillon Wallwork
Gold straw bandeau headpiece with dimensional flowers by American brand Lifted Millinery
Charming black straw cloche with stripe side bow by Mei Mei France Chapeaux
Raspberry felt teardrop percher with flower, feathers and folded bow by American milliner Jill Courtemanche
Midnight blue felt trilby with stiched side knot and textured hatband by Czech milliner Jolanta Kotabova
“Yin Yang Boater” in black felt and white straw by German milliner Felix Weber

 

Leopard print felt percher with large bow by British milliner Stephanie Gallen
Royal blue vertical looped bow headpiece in organza and crin by British milliner Stephen Jones
Grey felt crushable travel hat with orange stitching and brim binding by Italian brand Borsalino
Forest green velvet halo bandeau with handmade rose by London-based milliner Guilia Mio
Black button percher with magenta trim by British brand Queen Bee Millinery
For our dear gents, a smart camel felt fedora with chocolate and navy hatbands by Danish brand Hornskov København
Red felt hugger with ruffle and sparkling brooch by British milliner Karen Geraghty
Coral and boysenberry plaid straw bumper hat with flyaway brim & statement feathers by Australian brand Millinery By Mel
Dark blue felt beret with lovely side sequin trim by Italian brand Modista Stybel
Statement picture hat in natural straw with rosette covered brim by Australian milliner Cynthia Jones Bryson

And finally, Advent greetings from Crown Princess Victoria, Prince Daniel, Princess Estelle and Prince Oscar

Photos from social media as indicated

Last Week’s Extras

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On Monday, Princess Nobuko visited Meiji Jingu for the shrine’s 100th anniversary. She wore a pale bumper hat.

 

On Tuesday, the Akishino princesses arrived at the Imperial Palace for a Rikkoshi-no-Rei luncheon in silk covered bandeau headpieces.

The Duchess of Cornwall repeated her black tweed hat wit ruched crown and faux fur brim from Lock & Co. yesterday in Berlin where she and the Prince of Wales are participating in Germany’s Day of Mourning commemorations.
Embed from Getty Images
The following new millinery designs caught my eye this week:
Brown button percher with crin, veil, swarovski crystals and an ammonite fossil by London-based Agnes Millinery
Burgundy ruffled velvet bandeau headpiece by British brand Camilla Rose Millinery
Lovely blush straw hat with crisply formed crown and side knot by Australian milliner Keegan Mae
Headpiece of oversize black feather dahlias and curling silver quills by British brand Stephanie Elizabeth Millinery
White button percher with beautiful floral trim by London-based milliner Inna Walker

 

Burnt orange wool beret with whimsical pompoms by British milliner Rachel Trevor Morgan
Pink and blue ombre stylized fedora with statement feather trim by Australian brand Melissa Gaye Designs
Ethereal headpiece of silver crin petals off a sparkling button base by Australian milliner Catherine Ellen
Cranberry wool felt wide brimmed pork pie hat with luscious velvet hatband by Rose Cherie Paris
Navy straw saucer with white brim binding and curling quills by Australian brand Monroe Millinery
Rose velvet beret percher with ombre silk abaca fans by British milliner Tracey Miller

 

Luxe chocolate felt fedora with twists, stitched leather hatband and feather by Dutch milliner Mirjam van der Welle
Mini button percher with fantastic twists, all in graphic stripes, from Australian milliner Carrie Jenkinson
Smart grey plaid visored cap by German brand Hutmanufaktur
Coral felt fedora with dove grey hatband (love this unexpected scheme) by Maria Monica London
White parasisal straw bandeau headpiece with blue feather birds by Australian milliner Chris Mullane

 

Nicholas and Alina Medforth-Mills welcomed a daughter, Marina Alexandra, on November 7

The Countess of Wessex took part in the Girl Guide’s “Act Your Age” challenge

Now…. how many of you started the new season of “The Crown” yesterday? Thoughts?

Photos from social media as indicated