Our guide to buying Occasion Wear

There is a wide variety of hat styles on the market; making a choice can be confusing for both guests and brides. Here is a description of the most popular shapes:

Oval Brim HatThe Oval Brim

This classic, medium shape is perfect for the sophisticated wearer. The crown is tall but slightly rounded and combined with the medium sized brim this makes for a very soft look.
The Side Turn

The Side Turn is a really great shape for the woman who wants to make a statement and yet not wear an over-sized hat. The brim is finished in a point at each side, and the crown is angular and tall.
The Short Sweeping Lip

Reminiscent of the cowboy style hats, the Short Sweeping Lip has a fantastically stylish inverted-top crown and a sweeping brim for a glamorous feel.
The Tall Sweeping Lip

The Tall Sweeping Lip is the perfect asymmetric hat. The tall lip and sweeping brim is reflected in the angled crown.
The Pointed Lip

The Pointed Lip is quite a small hat, yet it has the sweeping asymmetric brim to keep it on trend.
The Round Brim

The Round Brim is a great updated version of the Small Brim. Slightly larger, but with the same balanced look, this hat will work for almost every function.
The Small Wave Brim

The Small Wave Brim provides all of the style and flair of the Large Wave Brim in a more manageable size for the shorter wearer.
Widebrim HatThe Wide Brim

The Wide Brim is a simple, large brimmed style with the brim sloping downwards.
Upturn BrimThe Upturn Brim

The Upturn brim is upturned at the front of the hat, and the crown has a small lip in it, creating a modern, structured look. The upturn hat is one of the most popular styles for all occasions and outfits and is excellent for photographs!
Large Wave Brim Domed CrownThe Large Wave Brim

The Large Wave Brim is a very large and sweeping brim, designed to softly sweep diagonally across the face.
Medium LipThe Medium Lip

For a classic looking hat, try a Medium Lip, with most of the brim sharply upturned and the rest of it graduating to flat.
Small Brim HatThe Small Brim

A Small Brim is a classic style that is perfect for mother of the bride, and for shorter customers who find that a large brim can drown them, as it has a smaller brim and a taller crown.
Large Wave DiscThe Large Wave Disc

The Large Wave Disc uses the shape of a new wave brim but with its own shallow crown pressed from the same piece of sinamay as the brim creating a flat effect across the top of the hat. This is secured to the hair using two bands.
Mini HatThe Mini-hat

Try a Mini-hat. Perfect for a modern look, these really are just smaller hats. They sit at the side of the head on our unique comfortable band.

Pillbox hats:

An alternative to the sometimes slightly intimidating hat, yet more traditional than a fascinator, these contemporary yet classic creations are available in two base shapes and a selection of kitsch and classy designs.  One of these is the doughnut, which is very ‘on trend’ with the celebrity fraternity at present! Its rounded edges, combined with a retro face veil and edgy, bold detail enliven the most understated of outfits. The slightly more classic box shape, with its square sides, is reminiscent of the Audrey Hepburn fashions making a comeback.  Worn on a sophisticated tilt with highly embellished jewellery decoration, this sinamay crown is perfect for the lady who wants to wow!

Fascinators were first created when women wanted their hairstyle to stand out and so didn’t want to cover it with a hat.  Instead, a fascinator would perch on top of their hairstyle. Nowadays a fascinator is a more established fashion item, and can be worn with simpler hairstyles just as successfully as with elaborate hairstyles.

Top Tips:

TR596BCHats can look beautiful on the shelf, but the end result really is unique to the individual and their chosen outfit. As all of our hats are hand made to order, you can mix and match the hat shapes with the trims. For example if you find that a wide brim hat is too large for your frame or height, but you have fallen in love with the trim, then this can be made to fit a smaller brimmed hat.

A Fascinator adds the wow factor without hiding your hairstyle and can add height.

Delicate feathers look best if you choose a colour that contrasts with your hair tone, so if you are dark, choose light or bright colours. If your hair is fair, go for a contrasting light colour or a deep rich shade.

If you are worried about how to fix your fascinator into your hair, ask to have one of our very comfortable special bands that will gently grip your head and blend into your hair without being seen.