The Belgian state visit to The Netherlands wrapped up today in Utrecht. Both Queen Mathilde and Queen Maxima wore percher hats for today’s calendar of engagements which included visits to a high tech campus, a food inspiration lab and Heeze Castle.
Queen Mathilde dubuted her third new hat in as many days, described by the designer as, ” a pillbox hat made out of green-blue velvet in a geometrical style called ‘Lys.'” It’s a beautiful design although absolutely not a pillbox! The rimmed saucer base of the design holds the focus of this piece, the multi-looped velvet bow. On its own, this hat is a beautiful colour, shape and scale on Mathilde and when paired with the Esmerelda Ammoun designed lace appliqued coat, the ensemble is spectacular.
Embed from Getty Images Embed from Getty Images Embed from Getty Images Embed from Getty Images
Designer: Fabienne Delvigne
Previously Worn: This hat is new
Queen Máxima’s hat is one we’ve seen a few times before. The designer describes it as a “hat made out of velvet, adorned with a bird made out of paillettes and matching feathers, called ‘Sky Bird'”. While this percher design is also all about its trimmings, it as different from Queen Mathilde’s hat as a percher could possibly be! Pairing this hat with Máxima’s dark purple dress, coat and accessories made for a great contrast that drew out the hat’s pale purple trim while also allowing it to sing entirely on its own. We don’t talk enough about how important good styling is to a hat’s success and Máxima’s ensemble today is a great example of this.
https://www.instagram.com/p/BNcN7qhDyuU/
I adore not only how much Queen Mathilde and Queen Máxima seem to delight in each other’s company but how they each have embraced hat wearing since coming to their respective thrones. This state visit has contrasted with another one simultaneously happening in Portugal where there has been no hint of a hat (nor was one expected). These two queens have developed their own modern takes on traditional royal dressing and I am both relieved and grateful that hats have not been lost in this process.
Royal Hats 