Tag Archives: Princess Yoko

Imperial Catch-Up

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Numerous hats have appeared on Imperial royal heads over the past month. Let’s catch up!

May 15: Princess Akiko of Mikasa attended the Aoi Festival at Kamigamo Shrine in Kyoto.

June 7: Princess Takamado (Hisako) attended the 2024 Marine Rescue Japan Commendation Ceremony at Kaiun Club in Chiyoda, Tokyo.

Which hats here stood out most for you?

Spring Imperial Garden Party

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On Tuesday, the Imperial royal family attended the spring garden party at the Akasaka Palace imperial garden in Tokyo.

Embed from Getty Images

The Empress repeated a white hat with slightly wider brim that we often see her wear, simply trimmed with a wide hatband in the same pale blue silk as her suit.

Embed from Getty Images

Milliner: unknown
Previously Worn: Jun 19, 2023

Princess Aiko wore a pale pink hat with upturned Breton style brim, trimmed with a wide ruched silk hatband in a slightly lighter shade knotted at the back.

Milliner: unknown
Previously Worn: I believe this hat is new

Crown Princess Kiko topped a pale yellow jacquard silk suit with a brimmed hat covered in the same fabric. The design features a flat crown and upturned, kettle brim with a wide hatband and spray of soft feathers on one side.

Milliner: unknown
Previously Worn: I believe this hat isnew

Princess Kako wore a white silk covered bumper hat trimmed with peach silk ranunculus blooms on one side.

Milliner: unknown
Previously Worn: I believe this hat isnew

Princess Hanako of Hitachi topped a pale acqua suit (with beautiful ruched diamond cutouts!) with a white brimmed hat with aqua brim binding and hatband, trimmed with a spray of spring flowers on the side.

Milliner: unknown
Previously Worn: I believe this hat is new

Princess Nobuko topped a floral pink dress with a beige hat with wide, domed crown and waved brim wrapped in pink silk flowers.

Milliner: unknown
Previously Worn: I believe this hat is new

Princess Akiko wore a chic white hat with trilby-style upturned brim at the back, trimmed with a pale aqua hatband and side bow to match her suit.

 

Milliner: unknown
Previously Worn: Sep 29, 2022

Princess Yoko topped her lilac-grey suit with a matching hat with short, upturned brim with ruffled edge.

  

Milliner: unknown
Previously Worn: I believe this hat is new

Princess Hisako wore a royal blue silk saucer hat with elevated back, trimmed in slim bow tails and a white feather. Princess Tsuguko topped her silver shantung silk coat with a matching grey hat. I love how the pink lining on the collar of her coat is repeated in the hat’s trim, layered pink and grey hatbands, a grey bow and side spray of pink feathers. The brim’s upturn around the back also adds a lovely lift to the design.

Thoughts about this parade of Imperial royal hats?

Images from The Asahi Shimbun; Getty and social media as indicated. Special thanks to Prisma!

This Week’s Extras

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Last weekend, Princess Yoko of Mikasa posed for a snap at the Japanese Formula 1 Grand Prix with winner Max Verstappen.

On Tusday and Wednesday, members of the Imperial royal family visited Meiji Jingu Shrine to commemorate the 110th anniversary of the death of Empress Shoken. Empress Michiko wore a small embellished saucer, Crown Princess Kiko wore a bumper design while Empress Masako and Princess Aiko both wore ivory silk hats with upturned brims.

On Thursday, Infanta Elena wore a casual fedora to visit her mother, Queen Sofia, in hospital in Madrid.

 

Also On Thursday, Princess Aiko wore a brimless ecru hat with decidedly 1960s vintage vibes for a visit to her grandparents.

Princess Kako wore an ivory silk covered bumper hat with back bow yesterday for a visit to Meiji Shrine.

The Duke of Edinburgh, as Commodore in Chief of the Royal Fleet Auxiliary, welcomed RFA Stirling Castleinto the Naval Fleet yesterday in Leith, Scotland.

Embed from Getty Images

Today, Hereditary Prince Alexander and Hereditary Princess Hande of Mecklenbur christened their son, Duke Leoplold. Princess Ande wore a white bumper percher hat.

Queen Camilla and the Princess of Wales were gifted handmade hats from the Ukraine made by Ruslan Bainskiy. I really hope they wear them!

 

While we usually focus on hats, this lot of the late Duchess of Windsor’s shoes is impressive! Read more here.

 

Images from Getty and social media as indicated 

This Week’s Extras

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Last weekend, Princess Yoko wore an ivory silk covered bowler for a visit to Yasukuni Shrine. On April 29, Princess Hanako wore a wonderful yellow hat for an award ceremony at Ueno Royal Museum.

On Tuesday, The Duke of Gloucester took part in Anzac Day commemoration in a black bowler hat.

Also on Tuesday, Princess Amalia attended the Seville Fair in a red floral headpiece.

There have been rave reviews for the “Hats Made Me” millinery exhibition that opened this week at the Stockwood Discovery Center in Luton, the millinery manufacturing center of the UK. If you’ll be in the UK between now and December, don’t miss it.

The following new millinery designs caught my eye this week (see the comments for more):


A very pretty new portrait of Princess Yoko of Mikasa was released this week

 

Princess Alexandra’s veil is absolutely beautiful! We’ll look at today’s religious ceremony in depth on Monday.

Images from social media as indicated 

Imperial New Years Lectures and Poetry Reading

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The 2023 New Year’s Lectures and Poetry Readings took place last week at the Imperial Palace in Tokyo.

January 13: Ceremony of the Kousho Hajime (New Year’s Lectures)

Crown Princess Kiko repeated an ink blue velvet covered wide bandeau trimmed with embroidered lace applique flowers on one side.  Princess Kako repeated a bandeau of the same shape draped in turquoise silk.

Princess Kiko’s bandeau was previously worn: Feb 23, 2022; Feb 23, 2020
Princes Kako’s bandeau was previously worn: Jan 18, 2022

Princess Akiko repeated a palest yellow silk covered saucer with raised brim around the back, trimmed with a draped hatband and bow. Princess Yoko wore a sleek new pillbox covered in vibrant cerise silk.

Princess Akiko’s hat was previously worn: Dec 5, 2021

Princess Hisako and Princess Tsuguko repeated silk covered hats. Princess Hisako’s bumper, in muted pink printed jacquard, features an indented crown and twist on one side. Princess Tsuguko’s pistachio green pillbox with triple 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 but were removed for its last outing have magically appeared again!

Princess Hisako’s hat was previously worn: Feb 23, 2020; Feb 24, 2019;
Princess Tsuguko’s hat was previously worn: Mar 23, 2021; Feb 23, 2020; Oct 25, 2019; May 4, 2019

January 18: Utakai Hajime (Imperial New Year’s Poetry Reading)

Crown Princess Kiko repeated a blush silk jacquard printed bandeau with folded cuff across the front. The design is trimmed with organza flowers on one side.

Previously Worn: Nov 16, 2019

Princess Kako wore a new royal blue silk covered percher trimmed with a swirl of crin studded with silk roses. The updated neckline on her gown and new hat transform this ensemble into one much more sophisticated than its original form, a great evolution for a maturing princess. Kako suits the scale and placement of a percher so well.

Previously Worn: this hat is new

Princess Nobuko topped a plum velvet gown with a matching boater hat with brim raised on one side, anchored by a large silk flower.

Previously Worn: I believe this hat is new

Princess Akiko repeated a cream silk covered hat with short brim and triple layered hatband.

Princess Hisako repeated a striking teal silk pillbox hat trimmed with intricate embroidery around the side of the design along with feathers and a silk ribbon cockade. It’s worth noting that the matching gown bodice and sleeves have been remade. Princess Tsuguko’s blue silk covered hat with trilby-style raised brim around the back has also been changed since it’s last outing. Gone is the previous hatband of silk leaves, replaced with a more streamlined and angular hatband and a swath of net veil.

Princess Hisako’s hat was previously worn: Jan 14, 2016;
Princess Tsuguko’s hat was previously worn: Mar 26, 2021; 

There are some striking looks here- which ones stand out to you most?

Images from social media as indicated