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This week the Queen is visiting Canada, and I’m not sure if it was watching too much Babar as a child or reading too much about the royal tour after the blitz, but I have a soft spot for the Royal Family. I’m fascinated by our ties to England and the rest of the commonwealth, and by how such an old fashioned and wildly elitest system meshes with our modern world in the form of this grandmotherly figure who visits us once and a while.
Any time the Royal Family visits there’s much talk in the media about how the monarchy is irrelevant, and lots of interviews with people on the street rolling their eyes about it, and my response is always the same:
“… why aren’t we talking about her fabulous hats??”
So in honour of HRH, here are some hats that are fit for a queen ;)
purple felt hat from Retro Repro Handmade – $69
1950′s cream fascinator from Adrian Company Vintage – $34
vintage 1950′s velvet cap from Thrush – $54
royal blue pillbox hat from Red Lips Vintage- $16
{ 28 comments… read them below or add one }
OMG I haven’t thought of Babar in so long. Thank you for reminding me of it. Ah memories!
It’s strange to hear people talking about the Queen in a positive way, because in England nobody really shows much love for her – or most of the Royals for that matter. We all love the Princes (of course!) but I’m surprised we don’t appreciate our Royal family as much as other countries appreciate them!
Well, I bet that if Canada had its own royal family in this whole other class than everyone else, I would be much less impressed too lol
When the queen comes through here the turn out to see her is very low, and generally it’s kind of like Canada’s benign great-aunt has come to visit. I do think it’s all kind of silly, but I also think she’s kind of cute.
Seriously, it’s the hats. I’m just far too partial to hats ;)
Her hats are quite fabulous! I never really thought much about the Queen until I watched a movie about her – can’t remember what it was called, maybe just Queen Elizabeth? It’s escaping me. Anyways, it was interesting and gave me a different perspective on her. My opinion about her was always kind of colored by her apparent dislike of Princess Diana..
But yes, the hats – they are wonderful. I wish I could pull that look off without looking like I am going to a costume party! :)
I’ve been interested in the royal family for a very long time (Charles and Diana’s wedding news clippings interrupt my baby album) and am pretty much fascinated by most aspects of their lifestyle.
I am SO excited for the Queen visiting. Keith is playing at the Forks for her visit!! It’s going to be PACKED but awesome. Now I want a hat too :)
That purple hat is to-die-for! I have to say though, I don’t give the monarchy much thought either way.
BARBAR! that is all.
love love love! the world needs more hats, I think!
I love hats! Aretha Franklin’s hat was my favorite part of the Obama inauguration. Is that bad?
I LOVE hats. I wish people still wore them more often. Everyone looks more classy with a fancy hat. And I’d get less weird looks when I wear mine!
OMG! I am in love with the purple hat! and the blue one is steal!
I am so so so not a hat person but these are too cute and I could definitely see you wearing any/all of them!
Please please please get out of my head! These hats are phenomenal and I am positively gushing over each one.. It is as if you read my fashion sense like a book.
Best,
Hannah Katy
OF course I love the most expensive hat; I think you could totally rock these. Me on the other hand? I only look good in a cowgirl hat :)
Cute finds! Affordable too!
(a) i LOVED watching babar as a kid. (b) i feel i will never be lady-like enough to wear those hats but they are gorgeous nonetheless
OOOOOOOOOOOOH I want the purple one!
I would LOVE to see the queen in that purple number, it’s so “her”! Awesome post as always :)
How I wish I could pull off hats. Vintage hats are just too beautiful. Sadly, they don’t look right on me, so I stick with scarves and headbands.
Oh I LOVE that purple one. Unfortunately, I don’t pull off hats well. My mom, on the other hand, wears crazy hats all the time and pulls them off great. I think it’s because she has really short hair!
Love hats :) we watched The Young Victoria last night and loved the hats, haha.
absolutely gorgeous vintage hats! i love them all!
just stumbled upon your blog and i have to say it is LOVELY! please drop by mine too when you have some time. maybe we can follow each other. =)
Persis
http://onestylemile.blogspot.com/
I saw the Queen when she came to UBC several years ago. I chose a spot and waited for almost 3 hours. I was totally front and center! A little girl next to me has some flowers for her, and she came over, smiling, to take them. And then, some frat boy in the back yelled “I LOVE YOUR HAT!”. LOL! And she grinned a little and nodded and continued on her way.
Awesome.
I was impartial before. But now I love her like I love my crazy great aunt.
PS. Did you see the Globe & Mail this morning?? All hats!
i wish I looked better in hats, i love them so. i also love Babar…too cute!! i have always wanted a real reason to curtsy, i believe i’m very good at it, i should have tried to get close to the queen at the forks today to pull out the curtsy moves! lol
Love it!!! I’m a huge fan of hats.
Australia has this same debate frequently, but I love having the Queen as our figurehead and being part of the commonwealth! It’s not as if she really, actually influences our governments these days and I don’t see what the point is on becoming independent. I thing there’s less benefits than negatives.
Thank you for bringing the plight of the queen’s headpieces to everyone’s attention. You are absolutely correct that they are fabulous and not talked about enough!
I love, love, love the idea of hats but never seem to wear them. I did buy one in San Francisco last year that I’m totally in love with though. And there is just something magical about queens and kings and princesses and things.