You can see more images in our hat gallery and fascinator gallery.

These pictures show how perfectly we can match your millinery to your outfit in both colour and style.

All hats and fascinators are handmade in the UK to order, so we can make sure you get the ideal accessory for your outfit. If you are interested in wearing Richard Designs Boutique Collection for your special event then just give us a call on 01353 661600 or email info@richarddesigns.co.uk for details of your local stockist.

If you are a retailer and are interested in stocking our hats and fascinators, ring Jen on 01353 661600 or email sales@richarddesigns.co.uk. We can either send you a brochure or you can make an appointment to see the collection in your own shop.

BBEH: Introducing Rockliffe House

Bridal Inspirations for 2011-12

BBEH: Tiaras & Headdresses on the Catwalk

Visit M29 at the BBEH for more than just petticoats

Visit Stand M28 NIEVE Couture for the epitome of luxury in veils, tiaras, jewellery & millinery

If you missed the Boutique Collection by Richard Designs at the Moda show in August (click here to see the bestsellers and news from the show!) don’t fret! This BBEH gives you to opportunity to see the stunning new hats and fascinators for Autumn Winter 2011 & Spring Summer 2012 occasion-wear.

The BBEH is the perfect place to find outfits and accessories for mother of the bride, and exhibitors include top mother of the bride outfit designers such as Jaego, Linea Rafaelli and Sarah Danielle Occasions.

Our milliners Benjamin Dicks and Emily Mann, and designer Kelly Herd will all be at the show and willing to help you to find the perfect hats and fascinators to match your outfits.

All hats and fascinators in the Boutique Collection are hand made in England with the greatest care and attention. A complimentary colour matching service is available, giving you the peace of mind that your client will receive the service she deserves.

To find out more about the Boutique Collection, go to the homepage, or look at the new styles in the hat and fascinator galleries.

The Boutique Collection by Richard Designs is now on the road travelling the UK and beyond with Ben Allen. If you cannot make it to the show and would like to see the new styles in your own shop then give us a call on 01353 661600 or email info@richarddesigns.co.uk for an appointment.

We look forward to seeing you at BBEH this weekend!

Hats

First of all, this stunning BM189H oozes sophistication and femininity with delicate petals and silver crystals.

We took this hat in both purple and pink shades. The pink was on our mannequin, paired with a Jaego outfit.

The BM185H incorporates a beautiful jewelled lace motif with a flurry of feathers and flowers. The sweeping brim completes the contemporary feel of this hat.

You can see that the jewelled lace stands out against deep colours like this blue…

or subtly shimmers against soft shades like this pink.

The classic shape of the BM193H and the autumnal leaf design means this hat was always going to be a bestseller.

Similar to the bestselling BM181H of February’s Moda collection, this BM196H has a soft, sweeping brim and large feather. The updated pleated silk and pearl and crystal brooch detail are finished off perfectly with millinery net.

Fascinators

First up is the Zara Phillips inspired FQ198. This is a real head-turner with its swirls of sinamay, crystal decoration and regimented shape.

The FQ194 is just as striking and continues the trend for asymmetrical discs. You can see here that the flower decoration continues underneath the brim, ensuring you look the part from all angles!

Next is the FQ190, a small disc fascinator adorned with pretty handmade flowers.

And finally, the FQ184 is luxuriously elegant, with the silk pleats a backdrop to the pearl and crystal brooch. The small face veil is very in keeping with our 1940s inspiration.

So there you have it, the hats and fascinators you can expect to see lining the occasion-wear shelves in the coming seasons. These and other new styles have been added to the hat and fascinator galleries, so make sure to take a look!

If you would like to see the new collection of hats and fascinators, we will be showing them at the British Bridal Exhibition, Harrogate on Stand M30. If you can’t make it to the show, then just give Jen a call on 01353 661600 or email info@richarddesigns.co.uk to make a no-obligation appointment with Ben Allen who will show you the stunning new styles in the comfort of your shop.

What do you think of the bestselling new styles? Let us know you comments in the box below!

We are pleased to say that the new collection was a success, with lots of ‘wow’s from the visitors! The new hat and fascinator shapes and luxurious trims went down a storm and we can’t wait for you to have them in your shops and start showing them to your customers!

We will of course update you later on this week with the bestselling new styles, so if you missed out at the show or couldn’t make it at all, you can get an idea of the most popular styles.

The product galleries will also be updated with new pictures of the products which you can browse at your leisure.

We hope to see you at the Moda show this Sunday 14th – Tuesday 16th August at the NEC Birmingham. To find out more about the show and how to register, visit www.moda-uk.co.uk.

We will be on our usual stand position G14 with our stunning new collection of occasion wear hats and fascinators.

The Boutique Collection by Richard Designs will be on Stand G14, shown in purple on the map above

So who can you expect to meet on the stand?

We take a brilliant team to the Moda show, all of whom will give you a friendly welcome and help you to find the perfect hats and fascinators for your shops.

Richard Allen Many of you will have met Richard either at the shows or in your own shops. His knowledge and passion for the Boutique Collection is second to none and he is looking forward to seeing you there.

Kelly Harper Our head designer Kelly (see her inspiration for the new collection here) has worked so hard to make sure that every new style is perfect and unique.

Anna Dodsworth Design Assistant Anna is looking forward to her third Moda show where she will happily show you the new collection.

Ben Dicks Ben is an experienced milliner whose expertise and willingness to help will be clear when you meet him on the stand.

Ben Allen Senior Sales Executive Ben will also be available for a chat on the stand. Many of you will have met Ben when he has come to visit you in your shops to show off our hats and fascinators!

So there you have it, our friendly and experienced team are ready for another Moda show this weekend. Don’t forget, there is no minimum order and you are free to come to the stand and take a look and find out more about us at any time between Sunday and Tuesday. The shows really are the best time to see the collection in its entirety but if you cannot make the Moda show, just give Jennifer a call on 01353 661600 and she will make an appointment for you to see Ben Allen in your own shop.

For more information on the Boutique Collection, click here.

We’re looking forward to seeing you at Moda!

The new hat and fascinator collection from the Boutique Collection is absolutely beautiful. With inspiration taken from the 1940’s and 50’s, the styles are elegant and classic with a contemporary twist. As always with the Boutique Collection, colour is king, and our new colours do not disappoint!

Details include sinamay loops, twists and pleats…

…and millinery net accents.

Exciting new shapes will be released, such as our Victoria Beckham inspired fascinator (you’ll have to wait until Moda to see it!), shallow square crowns, and small brims.

We can’t wait to show you these new styles face-to-face! All existing stockists and those interested in becoming a stockist are welcome to visit us at Stand G14 at Moda this Sunday 14th to Tuesday 16th August. Please visit the Moda UK website for more information, or call us if you have any questions.

Full pictures of the new collection will be added to our hat and fascinator galleries after the big reveal at the Moda Show!

Today we share with you the inspiration for the new collection, including the new colour trends for occasion wear’s Autumn Winter 2011 & Spring Summer 2012 collections, from our Head Designer Kelly.

Autumn Winter 2011

The look for the Autumn 2011 is a mix of heritage classics with vintage glamour, epitomised through the use of rustic jewel tones and luxurious fabrics to create glamorous eveningwear, and deconstructed classic elements within occasion wear

‘Vintage ladylike decorum and Cinematic elegance’ sums up the mood of 2011, and with 1940’s silhouettes and accessories inspiring new collections The Boutique Collection takes loose inspiration from the details and shapes of 1940’s millinery. Knot constructions which are reminiscent of the drape detail on turban style headwear of this era feature, while vintage trims and accent details will give that eclectic look, without appearing fussy.

With the emphasis on prints in occasion wear fashion, our collection will combine unusual textures and tonal block colours that will complement busy prints.

‘Rustic jewel tones and heritage colours’ are prevalent on catwalks this autumn/winter, so our collection takes inspiration from the colour trends that are appearing within catwalk and occasion wear collections for the autumn.

Key colours include:

• Grenadine, or intense ruby red, Bordeaux, Burnt Russet which will be incorporated with our new Red Magma crystal and our Cranberry, Red and Fudge silks.
• Marigold, a burnished gold and Winter Pink will be combined with our new Indian Pink crystal and our Daffodil and Geranium silks.
• Pumpkin Orange, a rich golden tan, Poppy Red and Deep Purple will be combined with our new Dark Indigo crystal and Indigo silk.
• Sea Green, Cognac Browns, and Mallard Green, are accented with brown and milk.
• Introduced to the collection are heritage colour silks such as Hazel, Leek and Beeswax, combined with Antique Plum and Zinc.

Spring Summer 2012

Spring focuses on the fruitful abundance of colour, pattern and form provided by nature to inspire fashion!

We have combined the key trend elements from the catwalk to produce accessories that will complement the forthcoming fashion collections for spring 2012. Our focus has been on the 1940’s and 50’s for millinery influences and trim details. We will combine elements of the eclectic use of nature-inspired trims and colours, with the comforting textures and luxurious fabric trends popular within the said eras, to create classic, yet contemporary millinery designs.

The Colour palette for Spring/summer 2012 is a Colour Symphony, performing harmonies of soft pastels with a crescendo of mid-tones and lyrical accents. Available in the most luxurious fabrics, tactile textures and organic forms, the new collections are sure to be full of inspiring classic shapes, reinvented for eclectic, contemporary millinery hits!

Key colours include:

• Geranium paired with our hot new crystal colour Indian Pink and Poppy red, a bright scarlet shade.
• Tender pastel hue Periwinkle is paired with Province Lavender and Light Sapphire crystals.
• Neutral, nude hue Stone, is paired with Golden Shadow, and earthy, warm Honey, which is paired with new crystal colour Sand opal.
• The vibrant Brights of the new season are Canary yellow, Orangeade, and Grass, which is paired with Fern Green crystal.
• Aquatic Blue hues include new Ocean silk, mixed with Sapphire crystal, along with the deepest of blue silk shades Midnight and Indigo, paired with new crystal Dark Indigo.

We love Carole Middleton’s triple brimmed, lace overlaid creation for her first Royal Procession at the races

Image from here

This tea-party inspired hat is a great statement of British tradition, and looks good enough to eat!

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The Queen looked sophisticated as always on Day 4 with a contrasting brim and crown colour combination, with chevron and hackle feathers and ostrich feather spines in complementing, soft shades.

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Sophie Countess of Wessex wore a striking aubergine dress and jacket, topped off with an large, angular white disc. Curled goose feathers and burnt ostrich plumes in a shade to match her outfit were projecting from under the brim.

Image from here

Princess Anne kept it elegant and chose a soft white, small brimmed hat with a simple bow and feathers.

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From iPad fascinators to cartons of milk, this year’s Royal Ascot didn’t disappoint with the novelty hats. Nor did the style icons of the celebrity world let us down in the fashion stakes. Royal Ascot has always been about style and glamour and it is often said that the fashion is more noteworthy than the horses. 2011, it seems, is no exception.

If you are going to the races this year and need some inspiration on what to wear, check out our hat and fascinator galleries, our designer-picked outfits and advice on choosing the perfect hat for the races.

Did you go to Royal Ascot? If so, did you wear something that caused a stir, or did you keep it subtly stylish? Let us know in the comments below!

We love model Veronica Voronina’s flower and tulle fascinator in lime green and black – it reminds us of our own FQ158

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Belinda Stradwick’s disc fascinator is beautiful with its textured fabric and flower decoration and muted shades of pink and cream.

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The Queen’s pink swirl hat is a great example of how an older lady can wear an on-trend hat. The sweeping fabric overlay swirls into an oversized bow, hitting all of the current trends and yet remaining sophisticated and elegant.

Image from here

We also love the black and white contrast of cricketer Michael Vaughan’s wife Nichola’s fascinator. The simple white decoration is very striking against the black base.

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Of course, we can’t forget to mention Stephen Jones’ creation, no not for royalty or a celebrity, but for a horse!

Image from here

What do you think of the hats and fascinators at Royal Ascot so far? We can see that there is a clear influence from the hats worn at the Royal Wedding.

We cannot wait to see what is worn on Ladies’ Day tomorrow! If you are going to the races we would love to see your pictures – just email them to info@richarddesigns.co.uk or post them on our facebook page.

To see our trends and advice for this year’s races, see our Race Blogs.

For our pick of the best Boutique Collection hats and fascinators for the races see our special gallery.

We’ll be back on Friday with our favourite Ladies’ Day hats and fascinators!

Of course it is not just Royal Ascot that has a Ladies’ Day, but you will be pleased to hear that there are several opportunities to put your best outfit together and make a statement! We have put together a list of Ladies’ Days around the UK, which you can see at the bottom of this post.

Perfect Outfits for the Races

This Elvira dress from Coast is the perfect mix of sophistication and fun with it’s fuchsia embroidery and asymmetrical shoulder detailing. We’ve chosen to match it with our FQ152 Fascinator in fuchsia and silver lake, which fits perfectly with the flower detail and colour. This fascinator sits on the side of the head, which works well with the shoulder ruffle. We love this combination for girls who want to stay cool and have some fun at the races!

This lace dress (style 111814) from Mon Cheri is gorgeous with it’s shimmering deep blue colour. We have paired it with our FQ93 disc fascinator which is perfect for the races with a large flower on the top, and detailing peeking from under the brim. The delicate chevron feathers frame the whole hat perfectly. We have chosen this fascinator in French Navy, Sapphire and Navy.

Linea Raffaelli is a name synonymous with sophistication and elegance with a modern edge. This outfit is not only ideal for mother of the bride but also for occasions such as the races. We love the deep red jacket and waist detail and have chosen to pick up the colour in this hat BM167H with black sinamay and red silk. This hat reflects the elegance in the Linea Raffaelli dress with a sharp angular shape, but delicate feather and flower detail. The BM167H hat also has a stunning large Swarovski stone in the centre of the flower which will shine spectacularly in the sunshine on Ladies’ Day!

This fun, on-trend black and white outfit from Jaego calls for an equally fun fascinator. We have chosen the FQ151 with a large sequined bow to mimic the tie around shrug. This is an ideal outfit for someone who wants to keep it classic but with a twist.

We love this simple leopard print dress from Gina Bacconi. Paired with our quirky fascinator FQ103 it is sure to make a statement.

Michaela Louisa have achieved a simple yet stunning effect with this dress (Style 7120). The black rose print on the luxurious blue fabric pairs beautifully with the rose detail on the BM170H hat which we have chosen to show in Royal and Ocean sinamay, Black organza and Black feathers. The large sweeping feather finishes off the hat perfectly and ensures you won’t go unnoticed.

Popular Ladies’ Days and other events around the UK in 2011

The Piper Heidsieck July Festival 7th July Ladies Day

CGA Ladies Day featuring Party in the Paddock. 13th August Newbury Racecourse

Brighton Racecourse Ladies Day

Chester Racecourse Ladies Day 11th June

Chester Racecourse Ladies Evening 14th June

Chester Racecourse Ladies & Gents Evening 8th July

Ffos Las Racecourse Ladies Evening 16th June

Ffos Las Racecourse Ladies Day 26th August

Windsor Racecourse Ladies Night 25th July

York Racecourse Ladies Day 18th August

Henley Regatta 29th June – 3rd July

Royal Ascot Ladies Day 16th June

Kempton Park Ladies Day 3rd September

Epsom Downs Racecourse Ladies Day 3rd June

Glorious Goodwood Ladies Day 28th July