Day 1 of Swedish State Visit to France

Posted on December 2, 2014 by Royal Hats

King Carl Gustaf and Queen Silvia of Sweden arrived in Paris today to begin their three day state visit to France. Queen Silvia. For this arrival, Queen Silvia wore a red pillbox hat to coordinate with her striking red coat. The hat was swathed in a black tulle net veil and appeared to have a fold of black fabric that encircled the side of the hat in an abstract sort of stripe. It also looks like there was a flat red bow at the back of the hat. Silvia wears pillbox hats so very well and this one was no exception. There is a lot going on in this little hat but I thought it was balanced by the red coat and black accessories. What do you think of this new pillbox hat?

Designer: unknown
Previously Worn: I believe this hat is new

Photos from Getty as indicated

Hat Renovation in Sweden

Posted on October 17, 2014 by Royal Hats

Royal Hats Reader Sarah contacted me earlier this week with an interesting hat observation. Do you notice anything between this hat, worn by Queen Silvia for King Carl Gustaf’s official birthday celebration in April 2004:

Swedish Royal Family

and this hat, worn by Queen Silvia for Princess Estelle’s christening on May 22, 2012

Embed from Getty Images

Great observation, Sarah! It is clearly the same hat, with the addition of seed pearls, pleated silk ribbon, feathers and silk blossoms. While I am mildly surprised that Queen Silvia recycled a hat for this important event, the transformation of this hat really does make it into a completely different piece. It is an interesting idea to take a previously worn hat and “jazz it up” for a single, important event (instead of ordering a bespoke hat for that same event which would likely be worn just once). This approach to hat recycling greatly intrigues me.

Which way do you, dear readers, prefer this straw hat? Thanks again, Sarah, for sharing this great observation.

Swedish Royals Attend Opening of Parliament

Posted on September 30, 2014 by Royal Hats

Members of the Swedish Royal Family accompanied King Carl Gustaf this morning to officially open Swedish Parliament. As is tradition, the family was dressed in black and white, a dress code they adopted in the 1970s when the court dress requirement for this event was abolished.

Swedish Royal Family, September 30, 2014 | Royal Hats

Queen Silvia repeated a white ruched calot hat with a large beaded, looped bow. I thought her beautiful pearl jewellery helped tie the hat with her black suit and kept the ensemble from looking too starkly contrasted.

Queen Silvia, September 30, 2014 in Fabienne Delvigne | Royal Hats

Designer: Fabienne Delvigne
Previously Worn: April 5, 2014; June 4, 2013; May 29, 2012; April 26, 2010; May 24, 2009; April 22, 2009; April 15, 2008

Crown Princess Victoria topped her black and white dress with a striped hair bow nestled in her chignon. While I like the integration of the bow with her hairstyle, I really do think royal hair bows are best left to her daughter. It might be too much to dream but can you imagine how fantastic she would have looked in something like this non-royal but very famous black and white picture hat, worn earlier this week?

Crown Princess Victoria, September 30, 2014 in Evelina Persson | Royal Hats

Designer: Evelina Persson
Previously Worn: I believe this headpiece is new

Sofia Hellqvist, fiance of Prince Carl Philip, attended this year’s Opening of Parliament for her first time. She wore her hair back in a neat chignon as well, and topped it with a sweeping headpiece of black and white feathers. From the front view, you can see how nicely this fascinator framed Sofia’s face. I particularly liked how the mix of black and white on both her headpiece and clutch provided just the right compliment to her beautiful black suit. For her first official royal engagement, I think Sofia did very well.

Sofia Hellqvist, September 30, 2014 in Mode Rosa | Royal Hats

Designer: Evelina Persson
Previously Worn: I believe this headpiece is new

Click here to see a lovely seven minute clip of the Royal Family’s arrival. The hats today were not that exciting, I’m afraid, although we did see the official debut of a new royal hat wearer who did very well. What did you think of this lineup of Swedish royal hats and headpieces?

Photos by IBL via Svenskdam; and IBL via Svenskdam

Swedish Monarchs Attend Synod Opening

Posted on September 24, 2014 by Royal Hats

King Carl Gustaf and Queen Silvia of Sweden were in Uppsala yesterday to attend the annual opening of Synod at Uppsala Cathedral. For this event, the Queen wore a black straw hat with a gently upturned front brim and a twisted band of straw wrapped around the crown. This hat is feels rather somber to me- I can’t help thinking that the low brim seems better suited for mourning than a regular royal engagement. A black hat was the right choice to top Silvia’s black and white jacket but I think lighter shape- like that of her black straw beret, feathered pillbox or even this picture hat– would have been a prettier choice. What do you think?

Queen Silvia, September 23, 2014 | Royal Hats

Designer: unknown
Previously Worn: March 16, 2013

Photos from Stella Pictures via Svenskdam

Swedish Monarchs Participate in Vintage Car Rally

Posted on August 21, 2014 by Royal Hats

Last Saturday, August 16, 2014, King King Carl Gustaf and Queen Silvia of Sweden attended the King’s Rally on the island of Öland. The royal couple joined 350 other vintage car enthusiasts in the King’s 1946 Volvo PV 60. For this event, Queen Silvia topped her 1940s inspired red peplum suit with a red and black straw cloche hat. The cloche was trimmed with large straw flowers and bows on the side that trailed in long tails around the bottom of the hat. I don’t expect we’ll see this hat for future daytime royal engagements but it was so very suitable for this event. The King looked quite handsome in a white fedora; I loved how he matched his red polka dot bow tie to his wife’s ensemble.

Queen Silvia, August 16, 2014 | Royal Hats