Queen Máxima was at the Hermitage Amsterdam today to open the new Outsider Art Museum. For this opening, she repeated a hat in chocolate brown felt we haven’t seen on her since 2006 . It’s an interesting piece that carries a slight retro feel thanks to its square, top hat shaped crown and cloche shaped bell brim. It’s a fine enough hat but Máxima has several other hats of similar shape which might be contributing to my ambivalence about this piece (it feels like we’ve seen it in several iterations before).

Designer: likely Fabienne Delvigne
Previously Worn: March 21, 2006

The combination or streamlined hat and draped dress is a good one but the colour falls flat for me. Since November, Queen Máxima has been on a neutral millinery streak, wearing only brown, grey or black hats. I’m more than ready for this vibrant queen to step out in something more colourful.

Photos from Albert Nieboer/dpa/Corbis, Albert Nieboer/dpa/Corbis and Hollandse Hoogte/Corbis

King Willem-Alexander and Queen Máxima were at the Commando Corps at the Binnenhof in The Hague this morning to award the Militaire Willemsorde, the oldest and most prestigious medal in the Kingdom of The Netherlands awarded for exceptional bravery on the battlefield. Queen Máxima used the occasion to début a new pillbox hat in grey felt trimmed sparingly with a band of grey ribbon around the base and a slim double bow at the side. It’s a very simple hat that  I thought was improved with Máxima’s addition of a diamond brooch (why don’t we see more jewels dressing up royal hats?) although I would still prefer it scaled up to a slightly larger proportion. With her lace dress, grey coat, and stunning drop pearl earrings, the hat makes for an elegant ensemble.

Designer: unconfirmed
Previously Worn: This hat is new (and different than this very similar design)

What do you think of this new hat?

Photos from  Patrick Van Katwijk/dpa/Corbis, Patrick Van Katwijk/dpa/Corbis, Patrick Van Katwijk/dpa/Corbis, Patrick Van Katwijk/dpa/Corbis and Patrick Van Katwijk/dpa/Corbis

Queen Máxima was in Vlaardingen today to award the Geuzenpenning medal to the to Migrant Offshore Aid Station (MOAS), an organization that helps refugees in need at sea.For this presentation, she repeated her tan silk linen headpiece with matching swing coat. The retro vibe of this ensemble is great on Máxima and the neutral colour lets her gold jewellery sing. If only this hat was the pillbox it looks like it might be from the front…

… instead of the doughnuttiest of doughnut hats that it reveals  to be from the back.

Designer: Fabienne Delvigne. It is the “Tino” design.
Previously Worn: November 13, 2014

I think these brimless hats are an attempt at more informal pieces of millinery, which I can appreciate. I have even come around to a few of them (here and here). While I adore this piece from the front, the back view makes it fall flat for me. What do you think of this hat on its second outing?

Photos from Patrick Van Katwijk/dpa/Corbis, Patrick Van Katwijk/dpa/Corbis, Patrick Van Katwijk/dpa/Corbis, Patrick Van Katwijk/dpa/Corbis and Patrick Van Katwijk/dpa/Corbis

King Willem Alexander and Queen Máxima continued their state visit to France today with a meeting with the mayor of Paris, a look at sustainable transportation, meetings with business and economic initiatives, a symposium on peace and security and a visit to Le Carillon, the café targeted in recent attacks on Paris. For this busy programme, Queen Máxima repeated the brown mohair calot hat we first saw her wear last fall.

  

Embed from Getty Images

Embed from Getty Images

I have reservations on this piece. The first time we saw it, I questioned its material. Today, I question its pairing with this Natan coat. The calot shape works so well for Máxima (her hairstyle is showing it off to perfection today) but the mix of textures in this ensemble simply don’t work and I’m left wishing she had left the coat at home.

Embed from Getty Images

   

Embed from Getty Images

Designer: Fabienne Delvigne
Previously Worn: November 12, 2015

What do  you think of this hat’s second outing in Paris today?

Photos from Getty as indicated; Hollandse Hoogte/Corbis, Patrick van Katwijk/dpa/Corbis, Hollandse Hoogte/Corbis, and Patrick van Katwijk/dpa/Corbis