electra films blog

How to find the perfect hat or fascinator

posted by: Karrie on 11 April 2008

If only I'd known about this before - something my mother never told me ...

Part of the wide selection available

For my son’s wedding I bought a very expensive hat only to see an identical one walk down the aisle! “Keep smiling” was my mother’s advice, so I complimented the other hat’s owner on her excellent taste!


At The Moat House, Acton Trussell wedding fayre I came across a company you will just love.  Sarah Challinor from Get Ahead Hats, Blue Cross Farm Derrington near Stafford was exhibiting hats and fascinators.  She is part of a UK wide group of farmers’ wives milliner (define)s (T: 01785212793) and they specialise in having a massive range in each of their country home showrooms. (Sarah has over 300 hats and 100 fascinators in stock and she makes leather or silk handbags to match too.) Even more impressive, she can get immediate delivery from their other showrooms, with access to over 4,500 hats!

They don’t stock just seasonal fashion, so if you have to rush off to a tropical wedding in December you will have no problem.  Fitting rooms are in every showroom, so hats can be seen with ‘the outfit’ and trained fitters, alterations and trimming to match your outfit ensure the perfect accessory.  Step outside to see the colours in natural daylight and imagine yourself at your wedding or day at the races.

The Queen’s milliner, Phillip Sommerville, is one of the company’s suppliers, but all their millinery is UK sourced.  Prices for hire range from £40 - £95 and to buy one of their designer handmade hats your investment will be between £95 - £500.

When I was being a fairly obnoxious and rebellious teenager my father in exasperation said that when I got married he ‘would throw his b* hat in the air’.  When my youngest son gets married I’ll know where to go, and if I take my mother too, then I doubt very much if we’ll see a duplicate hat at his wedding.  I may even hire a hat by the Queen’s own milliner (sighs blissfully). In the meantime, perhaps Ladies Day at the races ...

If you’ve found this post useful, or you know of any original wedding shops, products or suppliers with ‘wow factor’, please pass it on using the form below - or email me if you’re ‘blog-shy’!