The second day of the Dutch state visit to Luxembourg unfolded today with visits to an area of historic industrial buildings undergoing revitalization, a space mining university initiative, Castle Vianden and the Chamber of Commerce.
There’s no two ways around this- it’s an interesting look. The business and development theme of today’s events fit well with a pant suit but these linen culottes, ruffled blouse and silk jacket lack harmony, despite their unified colour. I actually like the headpiece combined with the blouse and shoes but the silk and linen piece are so far apart in terms of formality and polish that the ensemble ends up a cacophony of clashes with a bottom ready for the beach and a jacket ready for the opera. A gold headpiece was never going to bring the look together.
Designer: I join the suspicion of my esteemed colleague Josine Droogendijk at the Queen Maxima Fashion blog that it is from Argentinian jewelry brand Celedonio Previously Worn: this headpiece is new
I don’t know what else to say about this one. Thoughts?
King Willem-Alexander and Queen Máxima arrived in Luxembourg today for a three day state visit and you know, dearest readers, that a state visit means new hats!.
The Dutch king and queen were met by the Hereditary Grand Duke and Duchess at Findel Airport this morning. Princess Stéphanie wore a new almond straw hat with shallow rounded crown and mushroom brim. The hat is trimmed with a large cream silk flower and green silk leaves and feathers that trail toward the back. On its own, the hat is a great scale and shape on Stéphanie’s but in combination with her green dress, tops a wonderfully balanced ensemble. This is such a beautiful look on the Hereditary Grand Duchess.
Designer: Les Folie’s Bibis (Sylvia Martinez). Dress by Natan Previously Worn: This hat is new
The Dutch king and queen were official welcomed at the Grand Ducal Palace by Grand Duke Henri and Grand Duchess Maria Teresa. Queen Máxima wore an eye catching green chartreuse silk dress topped with a new hat. The green felt design features a flat crown and wide, cartwheel brim and is simply trimmed with a Petersham ribbon hatband, brim binding and flat bow at the back.
My thoughts about this hat have flip flopped several times! The shape and scare are excellent on Queen Máxima but my first impression about the colour and use of felt was that the design felt unnecessarily heavy and suited to an outdoor winter event. Sorting through photos, I’ve had a change of heart. Matching a hat to the bright chartreuse silk would have put the ensemble WAY over the top and I suspect the green felt was chosen to coordinate with (rather than perfectly match) and mellow the impact of the statement dress. In that sense, it does well. I just wonder if straw might have been a better weight and texture compliment to the shiny silk and feel more appropriate for the season.
Designer: Fabienne Delvigne. Dress by Natan. Previously Worn: This hat is new
Grand Duchess Maria Teresa paired her pink silk coat with a matching straw beret calot hat, simply trimmed with a small bow at the back. The scale and shape of the hat works very well with the raised collar on the coat and Maria Teresa’s statement earrings bring a bit of sparkle to the sleek pieces. The paler hued dress makes the ensemble work and I think the smaller hat is a great choice for the Grand Duchess, who’s petite height makes large brims sometimes overwhelm her.
Members of the Dutch royal family attended the Four Freedom Awards yesterday to honor this year’s recipients, Erol Onderoglu from Turkey, Bishop Paride Taban from South Sudan, Emmanuel de Merode from the Virunga Alliance in Democratic Republic of Congo and Urmila Chaudhary from Nepal.
Photographs taken at this event unfortunately don’t do the hat justice- it’s a wonderful scale on Máxima and the delicate colour gives it a gentle softness that contrasts well with it’s substantial size.
Designer: Fabienne Delvigne Previously Worn: June 20, 2017
Princess Beatrix repeated a dark purple straw hat with square crown and wide, upturned kettle brim. The hat is trimmed with a folded straw hatband (giving the look of a double layered crown) and a single straw twist at the side. A familiar shape on Princess Beatrix, the rich colour suits her well and pairs well with her graphic dress.
King Willem-Alexander and Queen Máxima attend the annual Dutch Remembrance Day tribute held at Dam Square in Amsterdam yesterday to remember victims of World War II.
Queen Máxima repeated a black felt cloche variation for this event with tall, squared crown and short brim. Yesterday, the piece was simply trimmed with a double Petersham ribbon hatband- on its past outings, the hat was trimmed first with a large white flower and second, a spray of black feathers. This version of the hat is decidedly more stark but I think this works for this type of event. My qualms with this piece are not with the trim but with the height of the crown, which seems to have soared right past cloche territory into the realm of a top hat. It’s dramatic yes but flattering? I’m not sure.
The Dutch royal family gathered in Groningen today to celebrate King Willem-Alexander’s 51st birthday. For this festive occasion, Queen Máxima repeated a relaxed beret in red suede embellished with matching rows of top stitching and top stem.
The hat is a surprising repeat from this same event, held in the same city, in 2004. Not only is the hat a repeat- notice that the denim jacket Queen Máxima wore in 2004 popped up on Princess Alexia today as well.
These connections are really lovely and the hat is well suited to the street party events that made up today’s celebration. I’m just not sure about the pairing of this informal hat with this dress- is it me, or does an embroidered sheer illusion neckline scream for something more structured and refined? If repeating this hat was the fashion goal of the day (it is a lovely nod), I think I’d have preferred it paired with something else.
Royal Hats 