Tag Archives: Queen Máxima

Dutch Monarchs Join Sail Aruba

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King Willem-Alexander and Queen Máxima continued their visit to Dutch territory in the Caribbean with a stop on Friday in Oranjested, Aruba. There, the royal couple took park in Sail Aruba as part of celebrations for the 200th anniversary of the Kingdom of the Netherlands and the 350th anniversary of the Marine Corps. For these festivities, Queen Máxima chose a new hat to top her tropical white suit.

Queen Máxima, May 1, 2015 in Eudia | Royal Hats

Queen Máxima, May 1, 2015 in Eudia | Royal Hats Queen Máxima, May 1, 2015 in Eudia | Royal Hats

In pinky beige straw, her brimless calot hat featured none of the plumes or blooms we usually see on royal hats- instead, the design of the hat included gentle waves moulded into the straw that gave considerable visual interest and movement to the piece. Queen Máxima anchored the hat with simple pearl hat pins that coordinated with her pearl jewellery.

Queen Máxima, May 1, 2015 in Eudia | Royal Hats

Queen Máxima, May 1, 2015 in Eudia | Royal Hats   Queen Máxima, May 1, 2015 in Eudia | Royal Hats

There are things I like about this hat-  I like that the design is creative and unusual and I thought it hit just the right note of formality on a day that saw the royal couple start a sailing race and enjoy fresh coconut water right from the fruit (and sport some funky sunglasses!). While the shape is interesting and creative, this calot has crossed the line into helmet territory and that’s not something I can get behind. It’s cool and very high fashion but I’m not sure it’s attractive.

Queen Máxima, May 1, 2015 in Eudia | Royal Hats

Queen Máxima, May 1, 2015 in Eudia | Royal Hats

What did you think of Queen Máxima’s new hat?

Desginer: Eudia
Previously Worn: This is a new hat

Photos from Patrick van Katwijk, Patrick van Katwijk, Patrick van Katwijk, Patrick van Katwijk, Patrick van Katwijk, Patrick van Katwijk, Patrick van Katwijk and Patrick van Katwijk via Corbis

Dutch Monarchs Visit Caribbean

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With our royal hat detour this week, we now have some royal hat news to catch up on! King Willem-Alexander and Queen Máxima travelled to the Caribbean on Thursday for a quick two-day visit. Their first stop was on Bonaire where they took part in Rincon Day, a festival celebrating the culture, music and dance of the island’s oldest town. Máxima joined in the festivities with her ruched yellow silk open-topped headpiece. We have seen this piece twice before and both times, I was not complimentary. This time, however, I love it! This piece belongs in a tropical climate (where an open-crowned design actually makes sense) and it is such a better match with this easygoing dress than the formal frocks Máxima has paired it with before. With whimsical jewellery and an up-do, this ensemble is the perfect choice for a Caribbean festival.

Queen Máxima, April 30, 2015 in Fabienne Delvigne | Royal Hats    Queen Máxima, April 30, 2015 in Fabienne Delvigne | Royal Hats

Queen Máxima, April 30, 2015 in Fabienne Delvigne | Royal Hats

Designer: Fabienne Delvigne
Previously Worn: September 30, 2014; June 6, 2014

Photos from Patrick van Katwijk, Patrick van Katwijk, and Patrick van Katwijk via Corbis; and Getty as indicated

British Royal Wedding Four Years On: European Royal Guests

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A wedding  Our look back at the marvellous royal hats worn at the wedding of the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge four years ago now moves from family members to royal guests. First up is hats worn by guests from the reigning royal houses of Europe.

The Norwegian Royals (who are cousins to the British Royal family) were represented by the King and Queen. Queen Sonja thoughtfully turned to British hat makers Lock and Co. for her hat. In white straw and trimmed with a simple curled white feather, the ceterpiece of this hat was its lattice brim which was folded up over the crown. The resulting shape was a modern departure for Sonja but it looked wonderful on her.

Queen Margrethe of Denmark topped her Twitter blue wool coat with a brimless calot hat covered in the same fabric. The calot was trimmed in a  band of the same patterned blue silk fabric as her dress over which several spiky, spiralled feathers were placed. The hat is a characteristically quirky piece for Margrethe and I thought she wore it well. The overall ensemble, however, was an overkill of the same blue fabric and needed breaks in both colour and texture.

Grand Duchess Maria Teresa topped her slate blue dress and jacket with a large dove grey picture hat trimmed with a single, oversize blue ombre rose. The hat is a beautiful one and while I covet it for my own millinery closet, I don’t think it was the right choice for Maria Teresa. Both her suit and the hat seemed to dwarf the Grand Duchess, which was most unfortunate.

The Spanish Royals seldom wear hats and this wedding provided us an opportunity to see their millinery style. Queen Sofia chose a light fascinator to in the same shade as her Margarita Nuez lavender silk suit. Made of layered organza and net tulle, the headpiece was studded with the same periwinkle blossoms that formed the floral pompom buttons on her jacket. The Princess of Asturias (as was her title then) topped her Felipe Varela embroidered pink 1930s inspired dress with a coordinating cloche hat. Designed by Pablo Y Mayaya, the cloche hat was a great scale and colour for Letizia. I’m afraid, however, it suffered from over-trimming. With four kinds of feathers (including large pheasant ones). a wide ruched sash around the crowd, a net tulle veil, rosettes and even bits of appliqué lace, this small hat held everything but the kitchen sink and suffered for it.

Princess Máxima (who was not yet Queen) was the picture of refined elegance in a pale pink lace Valentino suit and a silk calot hat designed by Fabienne Delvigne. Head-to-toe ensembles in pale pink risk looking rather boring and flat but the different textures of lace and draped silk created a look that was as interesting as it was harmonious. The artfully ruched silk on the hat gave it a wonderful sense of movement despite its small footprint. The addition of diamond star brooches to the side of the calot gave it a touch of glamour and we now all associate with Máxima and I adore her for adding this bling.

Princess Mathilde (who also was not yet Queen) chose teal blue for her ensemble. Her Armani dress and jacket was crowned with a large picture hat by Philip Treacy. A similar shape to the navy hat worn by Lady Frederick Windsor, this piece featured a wide round brim, moulded crown and vertical looped Treacy signature bow. While I loved the colour on Mathilde, the impact of the wonderful hat was lost against her overly shiny suit.

Crown Princess Victoria followed the pattern of head-to-toe in a single colour, choosing cantaloupe orange for her ensemble. Her large straw picture hat, designed by Swedish milliner  Britta von Koenigsegg, was a welcome departure from the smaller fascinators Victoria usually favours and it looked great on her. This shade of orange is one of the more difficult colours to wear and while Victoria she managed it well, I think the overall ensemble is just too peachy for me.

Rounding out this group of European royals was Charlene Wittstock (just two months later, she would become Princess of Monaco). Her palest-of-pale bluey grey straw picture hat featured a low, rounded crown and gently waved wide brim. With her Akris coat and pearl earrings, the hat made for an extremely elegant and refined ensemble.  High collared coats and picture hats can be a tricky combination but the rounded, slightly open neck on this coat and the easy movement of the hat made for such a perfect compliment.

As we might have expected, the European royals wore wonderful hats to this wedding. Whose hat did you admire?
Photos from Getty as indicated

King’s Day in The Netherlands

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While a great national party of flea markets, concerts, and community-based festivities took place all around The Netherlands today, members of the Dutch Royal Family celebrated the Koningsdag (King’s Day) national holiday together in Dordrecht. King Willem-Alexander and Queen Máxima enjoyed the day with their three daughters, Princesses Amalia, Alexia and Arianne.

Embed from Getty Images
Embed from Getty Images

Queen Máxima unveiled a new hat for today’s celebration. In vibrant pink parabuntal straw, the large brimmed picture hat featured a sharply upfolded ‘slice’ brim and was trimmed simply with a darker raspberry ribbon around the crown. This hat shape has become a staple for Máxima for good reason- it looks wonderful on her. The raised brim removes the facial-obstruction that usually occurs with large brimmed hats and the dramatic shape lends a sense of drama that Máxima carries so well. Today’s all pink ensemble is a daring choice but the darker shade of pink on the hat, gloves, and shoes gives enough contrast to make the outfit work. Máxima wears vibrant colour better than most and today’s ensemble hit a perfect note for the celebratory nature of today’s events.

Embed from Getty Images Embed from Getty Images
Embed from Getty Images Embed from Getty Images
Embed from Getty Images Embed from Getty Images

My only qualm about the hat were the giant hatpins used to secure it. Not only do they look like royal weapons, they interrupt the beautifully smooth curves of this hat.  

Queen Máxima, April 27 in Fabienne Delvgine | Royal Hats

Embed from Getty Images

Designer: Fabienne Delvigne
Previously Worn: This hat is new

I adore Koningsdag because the Dutch royals always look like they are having immense fun. What did you think of Queen Máxima’s hat today? Has it erased your memory of the one she wore over the weekend, as it thankfully did for me?

Photos from  Getty as indicated; Patrick van Katwijk via Corbis

Dutch Monarchs Celebrate Kingdom’s 200th Birthday

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King Willem-Alexander and Queen Máxima joined festivities celebrating the 200th anniversary of the Kingdom of The Netherlands on Saturday in Zwolle. Ever the fearless hat wearer, Queen Máxima repeated her 1960s inspired textured ochre velvet turban for this event. I initially described this hat as a pincushion but after seeing these photos, want to rebrand it as “The Brain.” No matter the nickname, I think we can agree it’s not one of Máxima’s most attractive hats. I want to admire her grit for wearing it but even that feels like a stretch. Thankfully, we don’t usually have to wait long for Máxima to wow us and when she does, we can forget this awful hat and earring combination ever happened.