Winning Hats: Curious Trends at Royal Ascot

Hats can really change the way you look – depending on whether you’re dressed in something classically elegant, somewhat mysterious, or totally outrageous. The elegant look works best for weddings, but at Royal Ascot it’s admissible to go a bit over the top – so long as the crown of your head is covered.  In my opinion, Ascot hats should be fun, as well as being stylish, of course. A hat can reflect your personality, and allow you to indulge your creativity.

I have quite a large collection of hats myself, including everything from vintage floral numbers to extravagant turbans. I sewed a diamante necklace onto one of my turbans, so it hangs dramatically over one eye. I once wore a Stetson hat (in aqua blue, covered in fake yellow raindrops) to Royal Ascot. Last year I wore an ostrich feather hat made for me by British couturier Nicholas Oakwell, who actually started out as a milliner. A bit of home embellishment is also very satisfying. I like to recycle hats by adding hair slides… or curiosities like stuffed birds. Why not? Above all, I like my hats to be works of art.

ShopCurious spotted the trend for head covering in 2008 and commented on veils/balaclavas and headdresses a little later. Now millinery students at Kensington and Chelsea College have got a Crusades look going on in their 2014 final collections (see above and below).

Barcoded hats are definitely out, unless they’re unique, like the QR coded example (above top), spotted a couple of years ago. This year, we’ll be looking for original, handcrafted Knights Templar inspired hats at Royal Ascot. And we’re especially curious to see any matching outfits.