Tag Archives: Queen Máxima

Monday Multiples: Queen Máxima

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In February, Queen Máxima repeated a tawny, muted burgundy Natan day dress with statement beret hat. This dress had previously been worn with a hat clearly made to pair with it, making me think that a second, closer look at these hats with this dress might be in order:

Look #1:  With a museline felt fedora by Fabienne Delvigne with relaxed brim and hatband in the same fabric as the dress worn with a statement necklace on January 31, 2019 to open a new exhibition at the Schunk Museum in Heerlen and on October 2, 2019 for the Sciencemakers Awards

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Look #2: With a pheasant feather covered beret with decidedly 1960s vibe (possibly a vintage hat from the royal archives?) of unknown design worn to a seminar on Indonesia and the Netherlands on February 18, 2020 in Amsterdam

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It’s interesting how Máxima has used texture in both ensembles- the necklace in the first, the hat in the second- to set them off. Lighting clearly also plays a part, the dress showing as more muted and brown-based in the second outing than the first (perhaps, also impacted by the hat with all the brown toned feathers). This leaves me curious, dearest readers, about which hat you prefer most with this frock

Photos from Getty as indicated 

Favourite New Royal Hat of 2019

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2019 saw some truly wonderful hats introduced into royal fashion- hats that awed, inspired and took our breath away. Throughout the year, dearest readers, you have narrowed down your favourite new hats and to a finalist list of nine standout and very beautiful designs. Here are your Favourite New Royal Hats of 2019:

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Queen Máxima’s tawny pink straw saucer covered in pearl-centered feather flowers by Berry Rutjes worn for her Royal Ascot debut on June 18

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Autumn Phillips’ sage green felt beret percher with flying bow and cut feather leaves by Sally Ann Provan, styled by Annie Miall, worn on September 9 to the Braemar Games

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Autumn Phillips’ lattice straw saucer with large silk roses and feathers by Sally Ann Provan.styled by Annie Miall, worn to Ascot on June 22

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The Duchess of Cornwall’s black rounded brimless hat wrapped in feathers by Philip Treacy worn on November 10 for Remembrance Sunday

Zara Tindall’s plum felt teardrop percher with quill and mass of cut burgundy and violet feathers by Juliette Botterill worn to the Cheltenham Festival on March 13
Sincere congratulations to British milliner Juliette Botterill, who claims ‘top spot’ for the first time with this beautiful hat, and to stylist Annie Miall who put this (and Autumn Phillip’s two looks) together. It is the first percher design to be chosen as your favourite new hat of the year, which is fun to see. Congratulations also to Sally Ann Provan, Berry Rutjes and Philip Treacy- you all are bringing colour and beauty into our world through your designs. We need this and we sincerely thank you for it.  
Jump over to this post to see the results in greater detail. So, dearest readers- what do you think of this parade of top royal hats?!
Photos from Andrew Matthews/PA Images via Getty Images; and Getty as indicated

Dutch State Visit To Indonesia Day 3

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King Willem-Alexander and Queen Máxima concluded their state visit to Indonesia in Sumatra on Thursday with several more informal engagements that saw the Dutch queen in a pair of neutral headpieces. The first paired with a coral floral dress, was a repeated open circle headpiece in ruched caramel brown straw.

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We’ve talked about these open-crowned designs here many times before and while they are still not my favourite, I can see how it was a logical choice for a less formal event held on tour in a tropical climate. This particular design pairs well with the dress, adding a neutral grounding that slightly softens the impact of the coral print.

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Designer: Fabienne Delvigne. Dress by Zimmerman. 
Previously Worn: July 7, 2015; April 26, 2014

Queen Máxima’s final piece of millinery for this tour was a new halo bandeau headpiece covered in the same tan linen as her outfit (one some of you will recognize from Konigsdag last year).

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Hats and pants always seem an odd combination to me but this bandeau works well, I think, thanks to its interesting raised shape (which gives it more presence and style than a simple headband) and it’s quiet colour. The design frames Máxima’s face in a very attractive way, adding that extra bit of interest to her overall ensemble without overwhelming.

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Designer: unknown. Outfit by Natan.
Previously Worn: This headpiece is new

For the final engagement, a boat trip to see Silima Lombu Eco Village on the island of Samosir in Lake Toba, King Willem-Alexander wore a casual trilby in finely woven Panama straw, simply trimmed with a charcoal hatband tied with a side bow. It’s great to see a men’s hat on a royal tour and Willem-Alexander wears it well.

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That wraps up the Dutch state visit to Indonesia. Which hat was your favourite on this tour?

Photos from Getty as indicated 

Dutch State Visit To Indonesia Day 2

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The second day of the Dutch state visit to Indonesia continued yesterday with Sri Sultan Hamengku Buwono X and Her Highness Radu Hemas welcoming King Willem Alexander and Queen Máxima to Kraton Palace in Yogyakarta. For this visit, and a stop at a community development project, Queen Máxima repeated her picture hat with upswept ‘slice’ brim in muted leaf green straw.

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On this hat’s first outing, we discussed in great detail, this hat’s construction faults. It’s a shame- the brim of this hat could be so fantastic had it been properly cut on the bias and treated to more refined finishing. The colour is lovely on Máxima and executed more successfully, the hat could be a beautifully pairing for this delicately patterned frock. ‘Nuff said.
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Designer: Fabienne Delvigne. Dress by Natan

Previously Worn: May 16, 2019; June 5, 2018 

Later in the day, the royal couple visited the Prambanan Temple. For this, Queen Máxima changed into her textured, natural straw hat with wide cartwheel pleated brim trimmed witha flat, multi-looped bow in caramel satin.

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The pleats on either side of the brim significantly alter its shape and, together with the roughly woven straw, make the look of the hat decidedly less formal. It gives this design interest, and while it’s not my favourite millinery shape in Máxima’s hat closet, it’s nice to see something out of the ordinary.

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Designer: Fabienne Delvigne. Dress by Zimmerman
Previously Worn: June 23, 2017

Did yesterday’s outings alter your thoughts on these two hats?

Photos from Getty as indicated 

Dutch State Visit To Indonesia Day 1

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King Willem Alexander and Queen Máxima arrived in Jakarta, Indonesia yesterday for a four-day state visit.

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The visit officially kicked off today with a welcome at the Bogor Presidential Palace in West Java by President Joko Widodo and his wife Iriana and visits to a Dutch cemetery and Pipiltin chocolate factory. For this program of events, Queen Máxima wore a new calot hat formed from overlapping crescent shapes made of textured golden brown straw.

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The Dutch queen wears warm neutral shades so well and this hat’s hue pairs well with her printed silk georgette dress. It’s the shape that I’m not sure works- from some angles, it close-fitting scale and shape take on a helmet vibe and I wonder if the flowing lines of the dress might work better with a brimmed hat.

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Designer: unconfirmed. Fabienne Delvigne has made several similar shaped designs. Dress by Natan
Previously Worn: This hat is new

I’m curious, dear readers- what do you think of Queen Máxima’s new hat?

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Photos from Getty as indicated 

Auschwitz Liberation Commemoration

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Numerous heads of state gathered in Auschwitz, Poland yesterday to commemorate the 75th anniversary of the liberation of Nazi concentration camp, Auschwitz

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Queen Mathilde repeated a black felt fedora variation with relaxed brim, trimmed with a felt hatband tied in a side bow.

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Designer: Fabienne Delvigne
Previously Worn: November 11, 2018

Queen Máxima wore an black felt formed beret trimmed with a scrolled frog braid. The elegantly restrained design felt particularly fitting for this event. King Willem-Alexander wore a traditional Jewish kippah in gold embroidered blue velvet.

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Designer: Philip Treacy. It is OC 665 from AW 2019
Previously Worn: This hat is new

Queen Letizia wore a bandeau headpiece in black velvet.

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Designer: unknown
Previously Worn: This headpiece is new

The Duchess of Cornwall repeated her black wool hat with ruched crown and faux-fur cuffed brim.

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On Monday, The Duchess of Cornwall attended commemorations to mark the 75th anniversary of the liberation of Auschwitz-Birkenau, the largest of the Nazi concentration and death camps in Krakow, Poland 🇵🇱. The Duchess led the UK delegation joining world leaders and more than 200 Holocaust survivors who returned to Auschwitz to mark 75 years since the Nazi death camp was liberated by the Soviet Army. Survivors and dignitaries laid candles to pay their respects to the victims and The Duchess also had the chance to meet Holocaust survivors and talk to them during her visit. 📷: PA #princecharles #princeofwales #camilladuchessofcornwall #duchessofcornwall #princeandprincessofwales #dukeandduchessofcornwall #holocaustmemorialday #auschwitzbirkenau

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Designer: Lock and Co. “Natalia” design in black
Previously Worn: Dec 14, 2017; Mar 18, 2017; Feb 27, 2017;  Dec 16, 2017;  Nov 28, 2016; Mar 16, 2016; Mar 18, 2015; Mar 13, 2015; Dec 10, 2013; Feb 7, 2012;  Feb 6, 2012; Jan 27, 2012

At such sobering events, fashion feels trivial and irrelevant and I struggled over covering this event. The only thing I want to say is that these four, restrained hats each feels a fitting choice for a memorial like this where the story really should not be about a hat.

Photos from Getty as indicated 

Dutch Queen Attends Union Conference

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This morning, Queen Máxima attended CNV Vakmensen’s (a very large Dutch union) anniversary conference, repeating her textured pink bandeau headpiece. The embroidered fabric used on the headpiece and coat are studded with small sequins.

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There are numerous things to like here- the scale is great, large enough to give the headpiece some presence but not overwhelm, the fabric texture gives great dimension and the sequins add subtle sparkle when in motion. These things all balance the pale shade, making a very polished yet interesting ensemble for the Dutch Queen, who wears it very well.


Designer: unconfirmed. Coat by Claes Iversen.
Previously Worn: Oct 23, 2018

Thoughts about this headpiece today on its second outing?

Photos from Getty as indicated