Tag Archives: Princess Sofia

Spanish Monarchs Begin State Visit To Sweden

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King Felipe and Queen Letizia arrived in Stockholm today to kick off a two-day state visit to Sweden.

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For their arrival, Queen Letizia wore an orange draped silk abacca bandeau headpiece trimmed with feather flowers, dyed a slightly darker shade and place on one side of the design.

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The colour is fantastic on the Spanish queen as is the scale. The flower placement is also interesting, framing the face instead of on top of the design, leaving the drape of the silk abaca visible. I have some quibbles about the silk abaca drape (lovelier in the video below than in photographs today) and the seasonal clash between summery headpiece and wintry cape but as Letizia does not always wear hats or headpieces for state visits, it was fantastic to see her in something today.

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Designer: It is the Guilia design by Cherubina. Dress by Carolina Herrera.
Previously Worn: This headpiece is new

Queen Silvia repeated a bumper hat in vibrant magenta felt, worn on the back of her head in the style of a calot. The hat is trimmed with a felt cutout leaf on one side that anchors a small bunch of wispy feathers that lay across the front of the design and cascade off the other side. The saturated colour is so great on Silvia and the hat combines with the matching coat to create a polished but punchy ensemble (especially standing next to Queen Letizia in that luscious orange!).

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Designer: Kerstin Carlefalk
Previously Worn: May 23, 2019 

Crown Princess Victoria repeated a pale blue silk rose headpiece with ice blue straw twists. Princess Sofia paired her black floral dress with a black casque headpiece with chevron pointed edge.

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Designer: both are unknown
Previously Worn (Princess Victoria): Jun 14, 2019
Previously Worn (Princess Victoria): this headpiece is new

In the afternoon, the monarchs visited the Nobel Museum to see a special exhibition on Santiago Ramon y Cajal. For this, King Carl Gustaf donned a sharp dark navy Borsalino fedora.

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What do you think about this group of hats today in Sweden?

Images from Getty as indicated  

Swedish Royals Host German State Visit

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The Swedish royal family welcomed German President Frank-Walter Steinmeier and his wife Elke Bedenbender yesterday for the start of a three-day state visit.

 

Queen Silvia repeated her white silk crepe covered calot hat with double stitched seams, black velvet flower and curled black feathers. The graphic trim still works so well on this hat, giving it a contemporary vibe that paired well with her black and white ensemble.

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Designer: Kerstin Carlefalk
Previously Worn Sep 25, 2018

Elke Bedenbender’s smart red boater with tan binding and hatband deserves mention! The contrasting binding and hatband is a marvelous way to break up her all red ensemble.

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Crown Princess Victoria wore a headpiece of palest apricot hued silk roses, placed above her chignon on the crown of her head. The design pairs well with her cafe au lait dress as does it’s placement, framing Victoria’s face from front view.

Designer: unconfirmed
Previously Worn: I believe this headpiece is new

Princess Sofia topped a beautiful dotted dress with a black velvet braided bandeau headpiece. This ensemble also confronts the outdated rule that black and navy shouldn’t be worn together as the shades pair successfully here.

Designer: Eivy Flodin. It is the Alexandré de Paris – Dahlia – Black
Previously Worn: this headpiece is new

What do you think of this group of hats and headpieces yesterday in Stockholm?

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Images from Getty as indicated  

Christening of Prince Julian

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Prince Julian, the third son of Prince Carl Philip and Princess Sofia, was christened this morning at the Drottningholm Palace Chapel in Stockholm.

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For this event, Princess Sofia wore an ivory velvet bandeau headpiece with large bow at the back.

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The shape is a great christening choice- the bow frames Sofia’s face and leaves an open view to sweet Prince Julian while the scale gives the look some gravitas. Sofia wears ivory well, the colour contrasting with her dark hair and linking with her floral dress, which is the real statement here. While I’ve got some construction quibbles about the bow, the scale and balance of the piece is on point.

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Designer: Headpieces By M (Matthias Lavesson). Dress is the Etro “Santa Barbara Floral A-Line Long Puff-Sleeve Maxi Dress”
Previously Worn: this headpiece is new

Queen Silvia wore a new brimless hat in pale aqua, trimmed simply with a folded bow along one edge of the design.

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The off-the-face style pairs well with the funnel neck on Silvia’s jacket and while the ensemble is in one colour, the textured crepe used on the hat bow and jacket give enough contract to keep the ensemble from falling flat. While It’s another elegant look for Queen Silvia, I’m a bit curious about placement – the amusing photo below shows a good view of the hat’s shape, albeit mid-air. It looks to me that it is blocked as an oval percher beret and I wonder if it might have worked better worn as such with the bow on top instead of a calot, with bow on one side. Thoughts?

Designer: Hat and suit by Georg et Arend
Previously Worn: This hat is new

Crown Princess Victoria repeated her lilac ribbon flower headpiece. It’s a beautiful design that certainly deserves another outing and while I’m not a great fan of the fussy dress, the headpiece pairs well with it.

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Designer: Parant Parant (Örjan Jackobsson). By Malina ‘Adele’ dress.
Previously Worn: August 31, 2019

Princess Estelle wore a pink dress her mother wore in 1986, topped with a darling white multi-looped hair bow.

Princess Madeleine paired her painterly blue and white dress with cascading headpiece of white silk blossoms tucked behind her right ear. While I hear some of you calling for a hat, I think the delicacy of both the headpiece and dress make them good companions.

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Designer: unknown. Dress is the ‘Luminous Frayed Edge Midi’ by Zimmerman
Previously Worn: This headpiece is new

Finally, Princess  Leonore and Princess Adrienne wore a sweet blue hair bows.

The Swedish royals do these family milestone events so well, even in a pandemic-mandated reduced capacity. What do you think of thesehats and headpieces today?

Images from Getty and social media as indicated  

Christening of Princess Estelle, Nine Years On

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On May 22, 2012, Crown Princess Victoria and Prince Daniel brought their daughter, Princess Estelle, to the Royal Chapel in Stockholm’s Royal Palace to be christened.

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Crown Princess Victoria wore cocktail hat with triangular base covered in the same nude pink fabric as her dress. Lace from her dress’ neckline was cut out into three dimensional applique trim along with rolled roses. A spray of the lace and floral trim was additionally tucked into Victoria’s chignon, just below the hat.

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It’s a beautifully trimmed hat, the scale perfect for an event where all eyes were on Estelle. The addition of that second spray of  lace applique roses is a unique one, adding greater presence to the piece and linking it in a lovely way to Victoria’s updo. We don’t often see accompaniment milliner pieces in such a way.

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Designer: Malinda Damgaard. Dress by Elie Saab. 
Previously Worn: This hat was new

Queen Silvia repeated a blush straw turban with twisted side rose. For this occasion, small pink silk flowers, feathers and a scattering of pearls were added to the design, giving it texture that beautifully complimented her blush lace peplum jacket.

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Designer: unknown. Jacket by Valentino. 
Previously Worn: April 30, 2004

Princess Madeleine wore a pale grey feather crescent shaped headpiece with lavender net birdcage veil. At the time, it seemed like such an elegant and classic choice for her.


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Designer: Malinda Damgaard. Dress and coat from Philosophy by Alberta Ferretti 
Previously Worn: This headpiece was new

Sofia Hellqvist, who was not yet a member of the Swedish royal family, wore an ecru multi-looped bow fascinator studded with trimmed feathers.

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Designer: unknown.  Dress by Tibi
Previously Worn: This headpiece was new

Prince Daniel’s mother, Ewa Westling, wore a fascinator of taupe twists and feathers. Danie’s sister Anna, who is one of Princess Estelle’s godparents, wore a simple brimmed hat in white straw trimmed with a flower and bow at the back.

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Estelle’s other godmother is Crown Princess Mary of Denmark, who repeated a golden wheat coloured straw saucer studded with tiny diamanté and trimmed with large ecru silk flowers and coque feathers on the underside of the raised brim. The neutral scheme of her ensemble kept Mary suitably in the background while the hat’s dramatic shape and bold trim gave it just the right amount of ‘statement’ in her significant role at this happy occasion.

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Designer: Jane Taylor.  Dress by Strenesse.
Previously Worn: July 2, 2011. It has since been repeated  on June 15, 2016 and June 15, 2019

There were numerous royal guests and members of the extended Swedish royal family at this christening- see their hats at this post.

Which designs from this group of immediate family and godparents stand out to you most these nine years on?

Photos from Getty and social media as indicated; Corbis

This Week’s Extras

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Infanta Elena walking her dog in a deep plum felt trilby with slim leather hatbands and side feather trim
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Princess Sofia in a black knit hat for a visit to a grocery store with set hours for elderly and immuno-compromised customers during the COVID-19 crisis.
The Duchess of York celebrated Princess Eugenie’s 30th birthday on Monrday by sharing this wonderful snap taken on her wedding day. That tiara is so fantastic on her!
The following new millinery designs caught my eye this week:
White hugger covered in exquisite guipure lace by American brand Suzanne Couture Millinery
From Australian milliner Jill Humphries, a lipstick read teardrop leather percher with removable vine of roses
Royal blue straw button percher with grey stripe bound ruffle trim by British milliner Camilla Rose
Pink and purple tartan boater with layered hatbands and rose trim by Australian brand Christie Millinery
Black swirled crown straw saucer with windowpane brim and lace applique from French brand Mei Mei Chapeaux
Fuchsia silk orchid headpiece with curling feathers and gold trim by British milliner Emma Linney
Exquisite handmade lace full-face covering cloche by Russian milliner Lia Gureeva
Charcoal and ecru straw swirled brim design by Dutch milliner Myra van de Korput
Love the orange and pink ombre brim on this straw picture hat from British milliner Sarah Cant
And from British milliner Vivien Sheriff, this navy disc headpiece with beaded lace applique trim and curling quills

How time flies! Princess Aiko graduated from high school this week and will begin her university studies next month.
Lovely photos shared by the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge last weekend for Mother’s Day. The card Prince George made for his mum is awfully adorable.
We close this week with standing ovations for frontline workers- thanks I’m sure we all heartily join in


Photos from social media as indicated