Tag Archives: Princess Yoko

This Week’s Extras

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Last Sunday, Princess Akiko wore a pink cuffed cloche to award the Japan University Rugby Football Championship.

On Friday, members of the Imperial royal family attended the annual New Year lecture at the Imperial Palace in Tokyo.

The following new millinery designs caught my eye this week:
Art Deco inspired brimless vintage pink felt design with fluted crown by Czech milliner Jolana Kotabova
Raspberry felt pillbox with velvet side statement twist by US brand Mirabelle House Millinery
Love the origami hatband and vibrant rose on this green straw boater by British milliner Justine Bradley-Hill
Unique statement blue sinamay design with leather bougainvillea by Australia milliner Brenda Lui
Pink silk calot with flowers and unique veil of curled quills veil  by British milliner Edwina Ibbotsen
Headpiece of amber and gold silk abaca jeweled flowers by Ghanan milliner Velma Owusu-Bempah
Adore this saturated blue fedora with peacock feathers trim. By British milliner Louise Pocock.

Lovely muted pink silk abaca headpiece with leather flower and flying bow by British brand Pebelles Boutique
Striking shape on this cognac felt blocked beret by Italian milliner Monica Gamberale
Exquisite floral embroidery on this ecru felt hat with leather hatband by British milliner Julianne Holland
Neon felt cloche hats with size zipper detail by American milliner Jennifer Hoertz
Gold leather button with beautiful vine of ivy leaves by British milliner Nellie Pitts
Natural straw button with the loveliest leather anemone trim by British brand Silk & Straw Millinery
Unexpected use of plaid on this tall Kokoshnik headpiece with flower by Irish milliner Ailish McElroy

Wonderful floral embroidered hatband on this purple felt boater by Polish brand Lallu Chic
Lovely movement on this headpiece of ecru and trimmed peacock feathers by British brand Annabel Allen Millinery
Fascinating look at Dutch milliner Marianne Jongkind’s pink lace picture hat with two-level crown
Ecru silk abaca knotted headpiece studded with sinamay flowers by British milliner Awon Golding
Camel felt brimmed hat with whimsical embroidered dandelions by Australian brand This is BamBam
Blush wide brimmed saucer with statement pleated silk abaca trim by British milliner Georgina Blyth
Fantastic crocheted teapot hat by Canadian textile artist Alexandria Masse

 

 Princess Margherita of Savoy-Aosta, Archduchess of Austria-Este, passed away on January 10. This series of slides shows her incredible royal family connections.

 

And we end with the most wonderful family portrait released by the Danish court on the occasion of Queen Margrethe’s Golden Jubilee.

Images from Kyodo News via Getty Images and social media as indicated 

This Week’s Extras

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On Friday, Princess Kako wore a black silk covered bowler hat to mark the anniversary of Emperor Showa’s death while Princess Hisako and Princess Yoko were spotted arriving at the Palace Sanctuaries in streamlined cream hats.

Numerous new millinery designs caught my eye this week:
Mustard felt trilby with triple hatband and twist by Czech milliner Jolana Kotabova
Slate blue silk covered pillbox with ivory feathers and embroidered crown by Greek milliner Stavroula Spyrou
Black bandeau with charmingly whimsical fuchsia wire flowers by Australian brand Sassy Millinery
Gold silk kokoshnik headpieces with beaded lace applique by Russian brand Russkaya Korona
Pale turquoise straw fedora with cream extended brim and trim by Australian milliner Trudie Payne
Adore the pink and apricot feather tulips on this design by Australian milliner Jo Honan
Lovely cuffed brim red parasisal trilby with veil and feathers by Australian milliner Jill Humphries
Halo bandeau covered in a monochrome vine of silk flowers and leaves by Rachel Trevor Morgan
Fun feather brim on this peacock blue vintage design by British milliner Carole Curtis
Elegantly refined forest green felt fedora with beige trim by Danish brand Hornskov Hats
Striking spiky pink feather trim on this black felt pillbox by Spanish milliner Felix de Martin
Bandeau headpiece in woven tutti fruitti striped ribbon by Australian milliner Lisette Margini
Asymmetrical wide-brimmed fedora covered in pheasant feathers by British milliner Lisa Von Hallwyl

Pink vintage cellophane straw bumper with feathers by New Zealand milliner Monika Neuhauser
Navy felt teardrop percher with vintage butterfly trim by British milliner Camilla Robertson
Loden green felt hat with split crown, relaxed brim and a bit of sparkle by American milliner Laura Del Villaggio
Bandeau headpiece in woven tutti fruitti striped ribbon by Australian milliner Lisette Margini
Charcoal felt rolled brim design with striking pink and magenta ribbon trim by American milliner Leah Zani
And also from Australian milliner Jill Humphries, this wonderfully whimsical veiled pyramid of pink feathers

The Swedish royal court released lovely new portraits of Crown Princess Victoria

Sweet snaps of Princess Josephine and Prince Vincent, taken by their mother, released for their 11th birthday.

Images from social media as indicated 

Catching Up Imperial Family Milestones

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In last weekend’s “Extra’s” post, we celebrated the December 5 official presentation of Princess Aiko following her 20th birthday, dazzling in a diamond tiara and necklace borrowed from her aunt, Sayako Kuroda.
Embed from Getty Images
It turns out that members of the Imperial royal family also gathered for this celebration, the ladies in hats as well! Princess Kako was seen arriving at the Imperial Palace in her pale sage green silk jacquard covered calot hat with cuffed bumper brim, trimmed with a spray of silk flowers on the side.

Previously Worn: Dec 23, 2019; Apr 10, 2019; 
Princess Hanako repeated her dark green velvet hat with clamshell-shaped bumper brim trimed with an ostrich plume and bow at the back.  Princess Yuriko wore a turquoise printed silk draped pillbox (or maybe a toque shape?) with rolled rose and leaves made of the same fabric, placed on the side of the design. 

 Princess Hanako’s hat Previously Worn: Feb 24, 2019; Jan 14, 2015;  Jan 10, 2014; Jan 4, 2011
Princess Nobuko looked to be wearing a new dusty pink silk covered pillbox high on the back of her head. Princess Yoko repeated her tall salmon pink silk covered pillbox wrapped in a double fringe of feathers in the same hue. Princess Akiko looked to be wearing a new cream hat with shallow crown and brim covered in a beautifully draped hatband that tied in a side bow.

Princess Yoko’s hat Previously Worn: Mar 23, 2021;  Nov 8, 2020; Oct 25, 2019; Apr 10, 2019
Princess Hisako repeated a salmon pink velvet pillbox with indented pork pie crown, trimmed in pink, peach and burgundy velvet applique flowers that also embellish the neck and shoulder lines of her matching gown. An interesting note from Imperial family expert Prisma- while this ensemble dates back until at least 1992, it was worn, most recently, in January 2014 by Princess Noriko! Princess Tsuguko looked to be wearing a silvery blue silk covered pillbox that I believe is new.

Previously Worn: Jan 15, 2014 (by Princess Noriko); Jan 14, 1992
Sayako Kuroda was also in attendance in a pale green silk calot covered in a ruched dotted white veil.

On December 9th, Empress Masako celebrated her 58th birthday. She arrived at the home of her parents-in-law in a pale blue silk covered bumper hat.

Sayako Kuroda was also seen arriving at the Imperial Palace to greet the Empress on her birthday in a pleated ecru calot hat.

Which ones of these eleven hats stand 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

Imperial Crown Prince Proclaimed

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Last Sunday, the Imperial royal family celebrated Rikkoshi-Senmei-no-Gi, the final ceremony in the Emperor’s enthronement that officially proclaims the new crown prince which had been postponed seven months due to the global pandemic.

Empress Masako arrived early in the morning to prepare for the day of ceremonies in her oyster silk covered bumper hat.

Crown Prince Akihito and Crown Princess Kiko followed an hour later, Kiko in a pale lime silk jacquard floral gown with matching bumper hat. The cuffed bumper brim on this design is covered in wide bias stripes of smooth silk and silk smocked in the same fine pattern as the waist on Kiko’s dress. This smocking gives some textural dimension to the hat, especially when punctuated with the small shiny silk stripe between each section. While a subtle detail, it is impeccably executed and once again, shows incredible quality and millinery skill.

At eleven o’clock that morning, the Imperial royal family gathered for the Rikkoshi-Senmei-no-gi ceremony where the new Crown Prince was officially proclaimed. Emperor Naruhito and Crown Prince Akishino wore traditional sokutai robesand the distinctive black kanmuri hat. Empress Masako and Crown Princess Kiko wore junihitoe multi-layered kimonos with the triple pronged golden headpiece and elaborate sculpted sweeping ponytail that is worn with this costume.


Members of the extended Imperial Royal family were in attendance, the ladies in court dress (gowns and hats).

Princess Mako repeated a blush dotted silk jacquard gown and matching bumper brimmed calot hat. Princess Kako repeated a scarlet bandeau headpiece trimmed with silk flowers.
Princess Mako’s hat previously worn: Nov 16, 2019; Jan 13, 2017; December 23, 2015;
Princess Kako’s hat previously worn: Feb 23, 2020; Oct 25, 2019
Princess Hanako topped her apple silk gown with a matching saucer percher hat with pleated rim, embellished with ivory feathers and silk leaves. Princess Nobuko wore a bandeau headpiece covered in periwinkle blue silk, trimmed with feather flowers on the side.
Princess Nobuko’s hat previously worn: Feb 23, 2020
Princess Akiko of Mikasa wore a lemon yellow bumper hat wrapped in a swath of pleated crin and trimmed with a spray of silk flowers across the back. Princess Yoko repeated a pale coral textured pillbox.
Princess Akiko’s hat previously worn: Oct 25, 2019; Apr 10, 2019
Princess Yoko’s hat previously worn: Oct 25, 2019; Apr 10, 2019
Princess Hisako wore a standout hat with crown in the same vibrant green silk as the cuffs on her gown. The hat’s cartwheel brim appears to be  covered in overlapping ombre leaves and an overlay of veil. Princess Tsuguko repeated her burgundy bumper hat with veil and side silk floral trim.
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Princess Hisako’s hat: I believe this hat is new
Princess Tsuguko’s hat previously worn: Apr 30, 2019; Feb 26, 2019; Jan 10, 2018 
Following the ceremony, the Crown Prince and Princess worshipped at Kashiko-dokoro shrine which is located on the grounds of the Imperial Palace. They were joined by several of the Imperial princesses who wore pale gowns and repeated ivory hats.

That evening, the emperor, empress, crown prince and princess took part in the Choken-no-Gi (First Audience ceremony), the women in glittering diamond parures complete with impressive tiaras.

The vibrant hats worn by the Imperial princesses at the Rikkoshi-Senmei-no-gi stood out to me- weren’t they wonderful?!
Photos from social media as indicated; The Asahi Shimbun, The Asahi Shimbun, The Asahi Shimbun via Getty;