Sarah Brown's Pillbox Hat: Love It Or Lose It? (PHOTO, POLL)

Sarah Brown, wife of British Prime Minister Gordon Brown, attended the State Opening of Parliament on Wednesday in a tiny pillbox hat. The dress code was formal, and Queen Elizabeth II showed up dressed to the nines (see below).

Mrs. Brown last made fashion headlines in a daringly low-cut gown at a dinner last week.

Quick Poll

Sarah Brown's pillbox hat:

Love it! So retro.

Lose it. So silly.

Share your vote on Facebook so your friends can take this poll

Get HuffPost Style on Twitter and Facebook!

Comments

[whoknew---]

11:12 PM on 11/21/2009

Sometimes I think when you are in a position where people will judge you on your clothes maybe its not the amount of money you spend on clothes but the right type that will accentuate your figure and make you look like a million bucks.

A little time with a fashion consultant just to get the basic knowledge about what can make an average person look stunning.

(I've watched some shows like "What Not to Wear" Stacy London and Clinton Kelly, what they have done to some folks is nothing short of a miracle).

[kylennblack]

09:44 PM on 11/21/2009

Pillbox hats only work with women with small, round heads and Jackie Kennedy. Sarah's is much too big and the tiny hat makes it look even bigger. Not flattering at all.

Poor girl needs a fashion date with Tim Gunn.

[deluk]

09:04 AM on 11/21/2009

It would be fine with something off the wall from Vivienne Westwood.

[Devilslakewoman]

02:58 AM on 11/21/2009

Oh, dear. Not to be unkind, but it does rather remind me of a certain balloon drama in recent news, just a bit done up for the holidays...

[karela]

02:22 AM on 11/21/2009

Poor little Sarah. It wouldn't hurt us to be kind. She has to function in a world where she must compete with women like Carla and Michelle at many functions and she is often required to pose with them. They wear designers and she has to rent her clothes for functions because the U.K. doesn't give her an adequate clothing allowance. Look at the smile on her face. You can see that for once she's wearing something that she feels good about. Leave the lady alone and allow her the little clothing joy that comes her way. It says less about Sarah when we attack her clothes--------than it says about us.

And if the United Kingdom can afford a Queen wrapped in furs and millions of dollars in jewels, you'd think they could afford a decent clothing allowance and professional clothing assistance for their Prime Minister's wife!

[rbryanh]

12:43 AM on 11/21/2009

I understand completely... The only way to keep from forgetting those little handbags is to wear them on your head.

[Seaglass]

11:47 AM on 11/20/2009

Where's the organ grinder?

[naschkatze]

12:41 PM on 11/20/2009

ROTFLMAO

[ontariogirl]

03:45 PM on 11/20/2009

Fantastic.

[Suntio]

09:55 AM on 11/20/2009

Looks like Sarah dressed herself again. *sigh*

[msoverall]

09:40 AM on 11/20/2009

Hmmm, that hat makes her look like she should be working with an organ grinder. Her outfit is too severe for that hat, the hair should be up and the hat not so far back on her head. She put that hat on as a joke, and it is.

[ladydragon]

08:35 AM on 11/20/2009

I like the Queen's hat better !

[GunneraGirl]

01:03 AM on 11/20/2009

nope. doesn't work : small, rather precious and frilly hat, with hair worn down, accompanied by big chunky necklace, worn with a rather severely cut suit. plus that little eleastic band thingey, running through her hair, looks like party-time amongst the kindergarten set.

[schatsie]

10:07 PM on 11/20/2009

Exactly, good description of the entire outfit...It does not work...period...

[Tulka2]

12:11 AM on 11/20/2009

Absolutely adorable on a five-year-old.

[BlackYowe]

11:33 PM on 11/19/2009

A younger more poised women might pull it off but Sarah is not that women.

[Agentlady007]

08:44 PM on 11/19/2009

(Lose it. ) It's so sad The Queen of England can't walk side by side with Prince Philip. Strange world, odd customs. He looks so lonely.

[klondiker]

11:27 PM on 11/19/2009

Yes. My heart bleeds for him.

[naschkatze]

12:42 PM on 11/20/2009

I don't think he's ever been lonely, wink, wink.

[Bafun]

12:45 PM on 11/20/2009

you are so right! he was a big hunter...

[Agentlady007]

09:47 PM on 11/21/2009

Are saying what I think you're saying? Do you believe Prince Philip has had women on the side? Oh - it would be hard to top the Queen. Do you think he's had affairs? No, he is watched closely. I would imagine it's been on his mind though -through the years.

[yellowdoggie]

08:44 PM on 11/19/2009

What is it about British women and their silly hats? Now, I really LIKE that hat Queen Elizabeth is wearing. Ooooooh. Sparkly!