Tag Archives: Queen Máxima

Dutch Monarchs Visit South East Friesland

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King Willem Alexander and Queen Máxima spent a day in South East Friesland on Thursday, visiting a cheese farm, a traditional Skutjesilen sailing school and an eco farm, where they partook in a bike ride. For this engagement, Queen Máxima repeated her large, natural straw picture hat with upswept slice brim trimmed with a tan ribbon hatband, tied with an unstructured bow on the side.

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This hat is a familiar one- as we’ve seen it paired with nine different looks we’ve consistently admired its great shape, scale and go-with-everything natural hue. I think the discussion point here then, is this hat’s pairing with this dress. While the dress’ less structured shape fit with the more casual nature of this visit (a level of formality the hat adapted to easily, further showing its great versatility), this pairing of hat and dress lacks some of the high-impact statement we’ve seen this hat have with other outfits. I’m also not keen on the dress’ particular shade of orange, which I think might pair better with a lighter, creamer hat (or this darker one?).

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Designer: Fabienne Delvigne. It is the “Belissima”
Previously Worn: Sep 4, 2019;Sep 27, 2018;  Jun 21, 2018; Oct 10, 2017; Sep 20, 2016;  Aug 30, 2014; May 24, 2014; May 30, 2013; Jan 24, 2013; Jan 21, 2013; Jul 2, 2011

What do you think of this hat’s outing in South East Friesland on Thursday?

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Photos from Getty as indicated 

Dutch Queen Opens Theater

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Queen Máxima was in Rotterdam this morning to open the Theater Zuidplein. For this event, she wore a new saucer disk hat in stripes of cream, tan and black straw trimmed with a pair of elevated black and cream feathers.

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It’s SO GOOD!! The graphic rings on the hat could read as gimmicky but are beautifully balanced, giving the perfect amount of dynamic contrast to the hat. The hat has a slight retro feel that pairs beautifully with the classic suit, the equally graphic pieces styled perfectly to work in harmony and not in opposition, as so easily could have been the case. The hat’s scale is fantastic, the finishing is impeccable, and the shape, which we’ve not often seen on Máxima, suits her well. The overall look is beautifully styled, the graphic pieces tempered by neutral accessories that lend elegance and polish to the ensemble. It’s all kinds of punchy perfection.

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Designer: Bettina Thomas. It is “African Hoopoe” from the Birds of SA Collection. Dress and Jacket by Oscar de la Renta
Previously Worn: This hat is new

South Africa-based French milliner Bettina Thomas has made some great hats for Queen Máxima and I hope this addition signals an ongoing and growing collaboration. My love for this hat is clear- what do you think of it?!

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Photos from Getty and The Dutch Monarchy’s social media as indicated 

Prinsjesdag 2020

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Members of the Dutch Royal family celebrated Prinsjesdag today, the start of a new session of Dutch parliament. While the event included King Willem-Alexander addressing a joint session of the Dutch Senate and House of Representatives and the royal women wore the traditional gown and hat of 18th century court dress, cancellation of the carriage procession and balcony appearance, thanks to COVID-19 restrictions, gave it a very different feel than in years past.

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We’ve come to count on Queen Máxima to deliver glamour and she did not disappoint, standing out in an ochre yellow gown with horizontal, layered silk ruffles topped with a wired gold bandeau headpiece.

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It’s the first time Máxima has worn yellow for Prinsjesdag and it certainly makes a statement! Originally uncertain about the headpiece, closer views have made we warm to it; its lightness and delicacy works well with the gown, which could so easily be dragged down by a heavier piece. I wish the scale extended across the head in a complete bandeau but as it is, it’s a pretty, pared down piece that seems fitting for a pared down Prinsjesdag.

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Designer: Fabienne Delvigne. It is the “Charme” design. Gown by Claes Iversen
Previously Worn: This hat is new

Princess Laurentien was dressed head to hem in grey, black and camel patterned Missoni knit, a three-piece top, skirt and fringed cape combination topped with a matching bandeau headpiece. The bandeau is simply but effectively trimmed with a black stripe.

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I’ll be honest- the 1970s throwback feel, the knit pattern and colour combination of this ensemble doesn’t appeal to me at all. My own bias aside, I have to concede that the choice of a bandeau shape with this outfit was a great call. I particularly like how the bandeau’s black stripe provides a punch of great graphic contrast and links well with the black stripe at the waist of the top. I appreciate the retro glam feel of this ensemble (Laurentien carries it better than most) but all that pattern and all that fringe put it over the top for me. Although…. haven’t we all been waiting months and months for some over-the-top royal fashion?!

 


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Designer: Eudia. Gown by Hardies Couture. Both are made of Missoni fabric. 
Previously Worn: This hat is new
The dress code of this event usually brings us some dramatic looks and, thankfully, Queen Máxima and Princess Laurentien did not disappoint. What do you think of this year’s pair of Prinsjesdag bandeaux?

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You can see all of the hats Queen Máxima has worn to Prinsjesdag over the years at this post

Photos from Getty as indicated

Monday Multiples: Queen Máxima

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One of the most vibrant hats in Queen Máxima’s wardrobe is a large coral straw disk edged in beige straw binding, trimmed with multicoloured feathers inspired by the Carmine Bee-Eater bird. Made by South African designer Bettina Thomas, the Dutch Queen has paired this memorable hat with two ensembles:

Look #1: With a coral tonal printed Natan coat dress worn May 20, 2015 to open a sculpture exhibition in The Hague

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Look #2: With a beige silk ruched waist dress, also by Natan, worn October 15, 2019 in India

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Which dress do you prefer most with this hat?

Photos from Getty as indicated 

Monaco Royal Wedding: Other Reigning Royal Houses

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With lots more hats to still admire, we continue our look at the July 2, 2011 religious wedding of Prince Albert and Princess Charlene with guests from The Netherlands, United Kingdom and Jordan, Thailand and Morocco.

Princess Máxima, as was her title at the time, debuted a hat at this wedding that has since become one of her most-worn pieces. In warm-hued caramel straw, the familiar ‘slice’ shape is sharply upturned on one side that curves back off the face to effectively highlight it. The hat is simply trimmed with a wide Petersham ribbon hatband in the same colour tied in a side bow. The combination of caramel hat and tangerine silk dress was a little out-of-the-box but worked well on Máxima, brilliantly playing of Willem-Alexander’s crisp white tropical dress military uniform.

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Designer: Fabienne Delvigne. Dress by Natan.

The Countess of Wessex topped her sleek slate grey pleated sheath dress with an exuberant hat. A large grey saucer, placed at a steep incline, the design’s focus was its trim- large sprays of cut feathers in varied shades of grey and finished with a sizable diamanté cluster on the outer side of the hat. The colour variation in the feather trim gave great depth and movement to the hat and while the overall look was monochrome, the sleek lines of the dress contrasted with the hat’s lavish trim to provide enough textural contrast that kept the look anything but flat.

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Designer: Jane Taylor. Dress by Amanda Wakeley.

Princess Michael of Kent wore one of her characteristically wide brimmed hats, a finely woven white straw design with low crown and curved brim trimmed with an oversize beigey-blush silk rose under one side of the brim.  You’ll notice no seam at the base of this hat’s crown, its smooth lines flowing out to the brim, like a cloche. The seamless shape creates a downward front curve of the hat, pulling it down visually, and making me really wish the flower was above the brim in a more traditional placement to lift the look. As it is, almost touching Marie-Christine’s shoulder, the flower competes with her amazing necklace. Although, who, am I kidding, we’re all unable to divert our eyes from those sleeves.

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Princess Sara al Faisal of Jordan (second wife of Prince Faisal bin Hussein) brought some colour to this wedding’s fashion with a head to toe look in vibrant magenta. Her button percher, covered in what looks like the same silk as her dress and jacket, was trimmed with a large silk rose and deep burgundy curled cut feather. Different shades of deep pink in the rose trim gave the hat great dimension and saved the overall look from being one-note.

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While not in hats, Princess Sirivannavari Nariratana of Thailand and  Lalla Meryem of Morocco and her daughter, Sharifa Lalla Soukaïna Filali, represented their respective countries in exquisitely beautiful national dress that deserves inclusion in our sartorial tour of this event.

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Well, what do you think, dearest readers? Which hats and ensembles stand out here are your favourites?

Jump to this post for an index of other royal hats that appeared at this wedding. 

Photos from Getty as indicated