Heavenly Hats

The royals are mad for them, the 1950s and 60’s saw the wider population embracing them, on race day they command more attention than the horses and now, on any fashion runway or street you’ll see them. Hats are back.

From Bianca Jagger to Audrey Hepburn and Jackie O, hats have made a stylish and enduring fashion statement through the ages.

Once a sign of conservatism and respect, they have become a fashion forward item that say a lot about the individual wearing them. With our fascination with fascinators on the wane, decorative headpieces and hats for the modern bride have never been so exciting.

There are designs to complement every face and every gown: from 1920’s cloche  and pill boxes to  wide-brimmed hats, sculptural masterpieces and ornate head-pieces, the  choice is endless.

Wearing an amazing hat can elevate a bridal ensemble from the ordinary to the extraordinary. They can be festive, flamboyant or frivolous. Best of all, they frame a face and are utterly feminine.

Sydney society milliner, Neil Grigg makes a lot of bridal head-pieces with hand-made flowers – sometimes with half or full veils that can be detached. ‘It’s a wonderfully feminine look – sometimes we do lace edging on the veil, sometimes they are vintage.

“It’s a bespoke process, working with the gown and making the whole picture gel. We do a lot of work for bridal parties too – pillboxes with gorgeous little veils and big hats with sheer brims.”

Melbourne milliner, Louise MacDonald has won accolades for her work in both fashion and film. Her head-pieces and quirky hats are popular with brides and bridal parties. Louise is inspired by history and is always on the hunt for embellishments.

“ Because of my background in costume drama, I have a particular love of vintage elements and like to incorporate them. I tend to attract brides that wear dresses rather than gowns, who like a romantic, old world look.”

Melbourne Cup legend, Phillip Rhodes, says the brides he attracts, tend to be women in their 30’s who want something striking. “Classic, sweeping brims go well with the Bianca Jagger look that is big at the moment. “I never use dress fabrics, all my hats are very strong, structured and classy – even when I do flowers - they are bold.”

 John Howard of Hatmaker, Sydney, has a strong bridal clientele and produces a collection specifically for the market. He recently collaborated with gown designer, Johanna Johnson. He says it’s hard to spot a trend in the bridal market, as tastes are so broad and varied.

“We generally attract brides who want something very beautiful and classic with a vintage look. A lot of brides come in for ideas, or say they want a 20’s or 40’s feel.

“What remains constant is that brides that decide to wear a hat or headpiece are bold, confident people.”