Journal

How to commission a hat, from first email to final fitting

A commission is five stages: the first conversation, the colour match, blocking, a fitting, and finishing. It takes one to four weeks for a remake of an existing design and longer for something new...

Bespoke, made to order and ready to wear: the three ways to buy a hat

Ready to wear means the hat exists and ships as it is. Made to order means an existing design is remade in your colour and to your measurement. Bespoke means the shape is designed for you from noth...

Hat designers in London: who makes what, and how to choose

There is no single best hat designer in London. There are several distinct kinds of maker, and the right one depends on whether you want a name, a fitting, a shape nobody else has, or a hat you wil...

Occasion hat trends for 2027: colours, shapes and materials to know

Our forecast for occasion millinery in 2027: the botanical colours, sculptural shapes and natural materials worth knowing, with how to wear each one at Ascot, weddings and beyond.

The pillbox hat: history, the Jackie Kennedy moment and how to wear one

A milliner's guide to the pillbox hat. Its military origins, the Jackie Kennedy moment that made it famous, where to position it, who it suits and how to wear one to a wedding or Royal Ascot today.

Royal Ascot 2027 dress code: what hats are allowed in the Royal Enclosure

The Royal Enclosure at Ascot asks for a hat or headpiece with a solid base of at least 10cm in diameter, and fascinators are not permitted inside it. Here is what the rules mean, what to wear, the ...