Creating a totally unique hat for someone is probably what I like doing best. It's very exciting getting pictures of someone's outfit and having to design something special from them! The great thing is that as I can use almost any fabric to make my hats and my handmade flowers, so I can match any colour scheme.
I have to say, my customers have great taste and I've had to make hats matching some beautiful dresses lately, including some from Rixo and Vivienne Westwood. So just to give you an idea of the process, here's what I've been up to these past few weeks...
I was inspired to start making my own silk flowers when my mum gave me an antique handmade posy she'd acquired from a vintage textile dealer. Probably originally pinned to an elegant lady's hat. I studied how each petal was made, then attached to a few to create a flower, with a small bunch of stamens at its heart. I enjoyed the process a lot, moreover how much freedom it gave me in terms of variety and colour. On my Coquette pillbox hats, I tend to use a mix of handmade and shop-bought flowers to make more interesting compositions. You can see quite a few examples of this here.
If you've enjoyed seeing what I've created for others, and would like to talk to me about what's possible for your next special occasion headwear, please get in touch. Hopefully together we can design the hat that's exactly right for you.
