Hats Above The Rest

Jaqueline Byrne Fascinator and Vintage Beige Turban - £135

By Holly Barder

It was ‘hats at the ready’ as Royal Ascot descended upon us again last week. Berkshire racecourse played host to more hats than horses, as ladies paraded must-have (and misguided) millinery on the turf. From pretty and quirky to downright wacky, the pressure was definitely on to be hats above the rest.

Plus, the likes of Vivienne Westwood, Matthew Williamson and milliner-maestro Stephen Jones took to the catwalk in the Bessborough restaurant this year, so the fashion stakes have never higher!

Ascot Hats 2010

While necklines and hemlines and everything in between have their own chapters in the Ascot attire rule-book, headgear gets a bit of an easier ride: you must wear a hat or a substantial fascinator, at least if you are entering the Mecca otherwise known as the Royal Enclosure. In other words, a feather clip attached to the side of your head ain’t gonna cut it! Beyond that, ladies can have fun topping off their outfits, and from the pap-snaps, they are certainly doing just that.

Vintage Black and White hate - £90 and Vintage Red hat with net - £130

Hats – and I mean good old-fashioned head coverings, not beanies, trilbies or baseball caps – are no longer an everyday wardrobe staple, and as such they can be the hardest pieces to find. But discover a good one, and it will see you through your summer social calender and beyond. While Ascot is the event of the British summer social season, we also have Henley, the Cartier polo, countless summer weddings…

So, whether you are looking for feather, frills or flowers; lace, jewels or bows; traditional or eccentric; small, large or super-sized, check out these fabulous finds.

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