Tag Archives: Queen Elizabeth

Monday Multiples: Queen Elizabeth

Posted on by

Thanks to Jimbo for providing the introduction and background research for this “Monday Multiples” series.

Jimbo’s Introduction: Queen Elizabeth saves the color black for the most solemn, somber, sad occasions – funerals and remembrances. At memorials, Her Majesty wears black and white, grey, navy, or even purple. Clearly, the heavy wool coat featured today is more suited for practicality than fashion (November in London can be blustery, windy, and downright bone chilling) As always, the queen’s hats take center stage, and this sextet of millineria will leave no one disappointed.
My favorite ( Look #3 from 2005) first premiered on September 14, 2001, at a St. Paul’s Cathedral memorial service for the September 11, 2001 New York terrorist attack.

Look #1: With a an angular cloche variation with slanted crown and upturned brim with multi-wrapped silk hatband, shown here on February 14, 2002 at Great Ormond St Hospital’s 150th anniversary celebrations, five days after the death of Princess Margaret

Embed from Getty Images Embed from Getty Images

Look #2: With a tall, fluted-crown cloche hat trimmed with a wide silk hatband and spray of feathers worn November 14, 2004 on Remembrance Sunday.

Embed from Getty Images Embed from Getty Images

Look #3: With a velvet crown and straw brimmed hat with large, sweeping black and cream quills, worn on May 11, 2005 for a St. Paul’s Cathedral memorial for victims of the December 2004 tsunami in South Asia.

Embed from Getty Images Embed from Getty Images

Look #4: With a fluted silk pillbox trimmed with a ring of braid on the crown, a silk bow and spray of feathers worn November 10, 2005 to the Westminster Abbey Field of Remembrance.

Embed from Getty Images Embed from Getty Images

Look #5: With cloche variation with silk covered crown, felt brim and tall, sloping felt wrap around the crown, trimmed with a knotted bow and curling quills and worn November 9, 2014 for the the annual Remembrance Sunday Service at the Cenotaph. The hat was designed by Angela Kelly and made by Stella McLaren.

Embed from Getty Images Embed from Getty Images

Look #6: A black felt hat with indented crown and raised kettle brim simply trimmed with layered, raised hatband knotted at the front, worn November 12, 2018 on Remembrance Sunday. This hat was also designed by Angela Kelly and made by Stella McLaren.

Embed from Getty Images

Thanks, Jimbo. I’ve also always liked the hat in Look #3 for its interesting mix of materials (the straw brim really lightens the look). Dear readers, which pairing of coat and hat do you prefer most?

Photos from Getty as indicated 

This Week’s Extras

Posted on by

Cozy knit winter hats on Princess Isabella, Prince Vincent and Princess Josephine, Marie Ducruet and Prince Achileas of Greece
Informal summer hats on Mike and Mia Tindall in Australia last week
Lovely to see Queen Elizabeth’s caramel felt hat with brightly coloured feathers step out for church yesterday.
Embed from Getty Images
The Duchess of Cambridge celebrated her birthday last week and among the wishes was this fun animation that gives us a moment to enjoy some of her hats.
The following new millinery designs caught my eye this week:
For our dear gents, this classic black rabbit felt fur trilby by Danish brand Hornskov København
Love the draped front on this violet felt bumper hat with felt floral trim by Czech milliner Jolanta Kotabova
Black felt formed beret with iridescent bow by British milliner Julian Garner
Wide brimmed peach straw pyramid saucer with trailing bow by Australian milliner Marilyn Van den Berg
Deep plum felt trilby with dramatic veil by British milliner Rachel Trevor Morgan
Emerald green straw brimmed picture hat with black crown and flying bow by Australian brand Millinery By Mel

And the most beautiful bandeau headpiece in ombre sinamay and silk roses by British milliner Dillon Wallwork

Much has been written and said about the Duke and Duchess of Sussex’s surprise announcement last week that they are stepping down as senior members of the British royal family to carve out an independent path. I appreciated this article by mental health advocate (and, it seems, friend of the couple) Bryony Gordon, published in the Telegraph (not one of the newspapers involved in the Sussex’s lawsuit). What articles have you found insightful and useful?
Lovely new family portrait released by the Luxembourg royal family to celebrate the new year.

Photos from social media as indicated

Trio of British Royals Attend Sunday Church

Posted on by

Queen Elizabeth attended Sunday service yesterday morning at St Mary Magdalene Church in Sandringham, Norfolk. For this outing, she repeated her deep purple felt hat with split crown and upturned kettle brim trimmed with a felt bow and trio of pompoms.

Embed from Getty Images

Designer: Angela Kelly made by Stella McLaren
Previously Worn: Nov 6, 2019; April 12, 2018;  February 2, 2018

The Queen was joined by the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge, several of the Cambridge’s friends (Lucy Lanigan-O’Keeffe’s teal felt hat by Jane Taylor is a beauty) and the Duchess’ parents. Kate wore a new fedora in deep  blue felt trimmed with a hatband of pheasant feathers. Many of you will recognize it as the blue version of a hat worn frequently by the Countess of Wessex– a hat of excellent proportion, shape and trim that packs a great punch in this more saturated colour. Kate looks fantastic in blue and this hat pairs particularly well with her dark blue and orange wool coat.

Embed from Getty Images Embed from Getty Images

Designer: Hicks and Brown’s Suffolk Fedora in Navy. Coat by Roksanda
Previously Worn: this hat is new

Carole Middleton topped her tweed coat with what looks like Lecorine’s “Sumac” bumper hat in chocolate alpaca fur– a hat also owned by both of her daughters (see Kate’s version here and Pippa’s version here)

View this post on Instagram

Carole And Michael were here too #carolemiddleton

A post shared by Middleton.and.Matthews (@middleton.and.matthews) on

The Prince of Wales and Duchess of Cornwall were in Scotland and attended Crathie Kirk, near Balmoral, the Duchess in one of her faux fur brimmed tweed hats  (I think it was this one) from Lock and Co.

The standout hat for me in this trio is Kate’s new blue fedora- what are your thoughts?

Photos from Getty and social media as indicated 

British Royals Attend Church

Posted on by

Queen Elizabeth attended Sunday service this morning at the Church of St. Mary Magdalene close to her Sandringham estate, accompanied by several members of her family. For this outing, she repeated a pale yellow hat with straw brim, bound in a contrasting grey stripe, and feather pouf trim.

Embed from Getty Images

Many of us have previously praised this hat’s colour scheme – that grey stripe of brim binding sets it off so beautifully – and I’ve come around to its mix of textures (fabric on the crown, straw on the brim), which give some soft contrast to the design.

Embed from Getty Images

Designer: Angela Kelly. Made by Stella McLaren.
Previously Worn: Feb 10, 2019; Mar 14, 2017; December 2, 2016; June 26, 2015

The Countess of Wessex wore the same camel felt fedora with overlapping pheasant feather hatband she wore to church last Sunday, pairing it with a slightly different beige coat and animal pint silk scarf.

Embed from Getty Images

The ensemble is saved by the patterned scarf and hat’s feather hatband, which give some interest to an ensemble that is, to quote one of my favourite comments of all time here on the blog, “It’s a whole lot of biscuit.”.

Embed from Getty Images

Designer: Suffolk Fedora in Camel from Hicks & Brown. Max Mara coat.
Previously Worn: Dec 22, 2019; Aug 25, 2019; Dec 23, 2018; May 14, 2018

Princess Anne’s tan felt trilby with side spray of pheasant feathers and darker brown ribbon hatband is the most mysterious hat worn today. The shape is something we’ve seen on Anne before and one she wears very well.

Embed from Getty Images

Anne first wore during her August stay at Balmoral, a week after debuting a very similar (slightly darker) brown trilby trimmed with a side bow. It’s always interesting to see two similar hats added to one’s millinery wardrobe (I’ve searched Anne’s archive back to the 1960s to see if this one was previously worn) and this pair of brown trilbies is so close, it has me scratching my own head.

Embed from Getty Images

Designer: unknown
Previously Worn: Sep 1, 2019

I’m afraid today’s church hats weren’t very exciting- what do you think of this brown and yellow trio?

Photos from Getty as indicated 

British Royals Celebrate Christmas- Part I

Posted on by

Members of the British Royal Family joined the Queen today, as they do each year, for Christmas Day Service at the Church of St. Mary Magdalene near Sandringham.

The Queen wore a new ensemble today in brilliant red, topped with a felt hat . The teardrop shape of this hat’s crown is one we’ve seen on previous hats; the design is completed with a side spray of black feathers and hatband of the same fine braid as is trimming her coat. .

Embed from Getty Images

Several readers guessed the queen would be in red this year and you were spot on! The look is festive and the coat’s open collar, edged with that lovely braid, frames the hat and Her Majesty’s face really well. What’s less successful for me is the crown shape- its height and flared silhouette creates an awkward proportion that feels a bit clunky. While the colour is great, I’m not sure the shape flatters.

Embed from Getty Images Embed from Getty Images

Designer: Angela Kelly made by Stella McLaren
Previously Worn: This hat is new

The Duchess of Cornwall repeated her royal purple felt brimless hat in a gently rounded helmet shape, trimmed with a large spray of  purple goose biot feathers. It’s a bold shape that she carries off well despite it’s clunky (again!) mushroom shape – the colour is divine, the spiky feathers play down the helmet vibe well and Camilla’s soft hairstyle lightens the look. The modern hat pairs really well with Camilla’s traditionally cut velvet coat, the two pieces combining to create a rather regal statement.

Embed from Getty Images
Embed from Getty Images

Designer: Philip Treacy Bruce Oldfield dress and coat.
Previously Worn: March 11, 2019

The Duchess of Cambridge repeated her dark green percher saucer hat trimmed with large, pleated flower on the back raised side of the design.

Embed from Getty Images

Today is the first time we’ve seen this hat not worn with a green coat and despite its small scale, holds its own. The styling here, coordinated with a purse and shoes in the same colour against the neutral coat, allows the hat to stand out more than we’ve seen it before. Coordinating Charlotte’s green coat makes a particularly sweet connection.

Embed from Getty Images Embed from Getty Images

Designer: Silvia Fletcher for Lock and Co. Coat by Catherine Walker. 
Previously Worn: Mar 17, 2017; Dec 25, 2015

Princess Beatrice, who was joined for the first time by her fiance Edoardo Mapelli Mozzi, wore a bandeau in forest green peachbloom felt accented with a beautiful pleated swirl motif. The design is a beautiful colour on her and the pleated detail gives such interest to the piece, making it much more special than a simple bandeau.

Embed from Getty Images
Embed from Getty Images

Designer: Juliette Botterill. It is the Knotted Felt Band from AW 2019. Coat by The Fold London
Previously Worn: This headpiece is new

Princess Eugenie wore a navy blue headpiece described by the designer as a “silk covered headband, adorned with cut feathers and a silk bow.” The colour is lovely on her and the layered cut feathers give some beautiful dimension, height and movement to the design.

Embed from Getty Images Embed from Getty Images

Designer: Juliette Botterill. It is the Silk Feather Bow Band from AW 2019
Previously Worn: This headpiece is new

It’s a lovely parade of jewel-toned designs so far (we’ll look at remaining hats worn by the Wessex ladies, Princess Anne, the Countess of Snowdon and Lady Sarah Chatto tomorrow). For now, what are your thoughts on these first five designs? Enjoy the Queen’s Christmas message below.

Photos from Getty as indicated 

Merry Christmas!

Posted on by

Today, on Christmas Eve, we look back at two sweet photos of Queen Elizabeth, boarding the train in London to travel to Sandringham for Christmas. The first photo might be one of her first hats, in 1929, while the second is a memorable flared crown shape worn in 1965. May all our travelling bonnets make such statements!

Wherever your travels take you this holiday season, I wish you a very Merry Christmas and New Year filled with joy, love, hope and peace.

Embed from Getty Images

Embed from Getty Images

Photos from Getty as indicated

State Opening of Parliament

Posted on by

Queen Elizabeth delivered the Queen’s Speech in the House of Lord’s Chamber this morning, officially opening the next session of Parliament.

Embed from Getty Images

For the second time in recent memory, the event was less formal than usual and saw the queen in a hat. This time, she repeated repeated her muted jade straw hat with straight-sided, domed top crown and short cartwheel brim, trimmed with green silk flowers and a multi-looped straw bow.

Embed from Getty Images

The high profile of this  event provides us with views of this hat from all angles, showing just how good it is. The colour stands out so beautifully against the gold wall backdrop and domed crown, while not my favourite millinery shape, is so well balanced by the hat’s brim and trim. A straw hat is an interesting choice for the Queen in December but the hat’s lightness, especially combined with her floral frock and patterned silk cloque coat, makes a bright, hopeful ensemble that feels like a fitting lift for Britain’s current political climate.

Embed from Getty Images Embed from Getty Images

Designer: Rachel Trevor Morgan
Previously Worn: June 3, 2019; May 22, 2019; May 15, 2018; June 23, 2017

What did you think of the Queen’s choice of hat to open Parliament today?

Embed from Getty Images

Photos from Getty as indicated