The Most Outrageous Ascot Hats
 

With Ascot fast approaching let’s take a look at some of the most outrageous Ascot hats. Each year there are certain types of hats we expect to see but these ladies may have taken things a little too far. What do you think?

The patriots:-

These ladies like to celebrate being British with designs inspired by the union jack, London land marks and traditional English pastimes like cream tea!

The foodies:-

There is always a large amount of food and drink based hats. I think the above ladies may have gone a little overboard all their hats do is make me hungry! And lets not forget with food you need drink pims o’clock anyone!

This definetly gives a new meaning to the cocktail hat!

The horse lovers:-

Ascot of course is initially a horse racing event so these ladies like to remind us with horse and racing inspired hats.

Bird lovers:-

Hats are often decorated with feathers, but these ladies like to go the whole leg and have an entire bird on their heads.

Bigger is best:-

Some try to aim to have the biggest hats there. Personally I think I’d end up with a headache but then there’s always pain where fashions concerned. At least the umbrella lady is trying to be practical!

The Art Lovers:-

These ladies let art inspire their hats instead of practicality. The middle image shows model Carla Creegan wearing a hat inspired by the artwork of Louise Dear.

There are no words for these next few hats! :-

Anyone need an ashtray?

Most people believe the over the top hat fashions of Ascot are a modern madness, but check out these images from the 60’s and 70’s.

The above ladies were the trend setters of Ascot in their day and were clearly ahead of their time.

So what can we expect this year? Who knows but I’m sure 2016 Ladies day will be outrageously Spectacular!

New Designs

N.Joy has been working on some new designs. Not yet available on her website. What do you think!

For the sophisticated Lady:
                       A  large black sinamay disc, decorated with a stunning, over sized, double headed silk rose, hand dyed in a black to white ombre effect. With curled ostrich spine and stripped feathers. Finished with a spray of ivory netting. And attached on a lightweight couture headband.

For the temptress:
                         A sinamay base covered in flocked velvet leopard print. With a large satin bow and decorative buckle finished with chocolate coloured netting. All on an easy to wear handmade headband. The purrfect cocktail hat.

For the style icon:
                        A royal blue velvet cocktail hat. With large silk and velvet rose sprinkled with grey and blue Swarovski crystals. Surrounded by large pink sinamay loops and navy and baby pink veiling. Attached on a lightweight headband.

For the demure lady:
                   A dusky pink and ivory teardrop fascinator, with sinamay roses and sinamay loops. And light pink veiling .All attached on a handmade headband.

For the fabulous:
                  An Elegant new 1920’s  cloche hat in navy blue felt. With a light blue band. Embellished with two large roses and surrounded by a spray of pearls.    

Which one are you?

The wedding display at The Alverton

After the success of The Great Gatsby display, at the Alverton, N.Joy’s latest display is on the theme of weddings. The Alverton with its impressive great hall, friendly staff, beautiful views and delicious food plays host to many a wedding and is one of the top wedding venues in Cornwall. So it seemed apt to play tribute to this in N.Joy’s latest display.

 In today’s modern world a milliners biggest income is from weddings. N.Joy.Millinery makes lots of fascinators for wedding guest large stylish hats for mother of the brides and intricate bridal headwear in all colours shapes and styles. The Alverton display shows off a small range of N.Joy’s fascinator range.

The first shelf shows some ideas for the bride. A quirky black and pink top hat, for that steam punk bride. An ivory, delicate 1940’s style birdcage veil and a mash of contempary and vintage in a white veiled headpiece with dusky pink hues. Alongside stunning photography of the Alverton hotel and previous Alverton weddings.

The second shelf shows a range of fascinators in all shapes and sizes. A pink and black lace fascinator with bow detail.  A sinamay rose and loop fascinator with stripped feathers in The Alverton colours of gold and black. A simple yet elegant navy blue fascinator with stripped mallard feathers and a cluster of beads. A twee ivory and black polka dot fascinator with flower detail. And something a bit special, a black and pink swirl design embellished with silk rose ostrich feather and dustings of Swarovski crystals. All surrounding the latest advert for The Alverton’s February  wedding fair.

‘Brimming with a whole host of suppliers from amazing photography suppliers to delicious wedding cakes, Breath taking wedding dresses and so much more!

All set in the beautifully unique Alverton hotel and private gardens.’

The third shelf shows a range of pastel coloured fascinators. A grey/pink velvet fascinator with flower detail, A pale blue fascinator embellished with silver lace and hand beaded with glass beads and diamante.  A pink and white lace fascinator with pearl detail. And a fancy lilac and white swirl piece with flower and ostrich feather detail. All accompanied by leaflets of the different services The Alverton weddings offer.

The fourth and final shelf shows a stunning range of show stealing fascinators. An Ivory fascinator with Navy blue silk flower dusted in tiny diamante. A red and black lace fascinator with large satin bow detail and a diamante buckle. My most recent piece a vivid red fascinator with velvet orchids sinamay loops and netting sparkling with Swarovski crystals. A rich chocolate velvet piece with vintage pink brown and cream flower and tonal netting. And finally a dusky pink and silver fascinator with a spray of grey feathers and crystal detail.

Baker Boy Commission-

One of my recurring customers asked me to make her an everyday  hat something to fit her personality, and something that would suit her style.

                Initially I get to know the client, what colours they wear,  what’s a typical outfit for them, What kind of decoration they like. Then I come up with initial sketches and show them to the customer . If they like the sketches I go ahead with the making process.
 
                                         

                The hat I designed was inspired by the 1960’s baker boy style. I wanted to use purples and creams with a floral print. I didn’t want the floral fabric to look too fussy so I decided to only make too panels in the floral fabric and then add a little floral feature on the side of the hat.

                Colours decided, I then had to work out a paper pattern for the hat. I looked at different vintage baker boy patterns and adjusted them to fit my hat. This hat was more like dress making then millinery. Luckily I’ve had plenty of practice in dress making! I then made a mock up hat so I could work out the exact sizing and how much fabric I needed.  For most hats I make in sinamay and felt,  I don’t make a mock up or pattern as the hat is sculpted on a block and is a hard hat as oppose to a soft hat witch this commission was.

                After sourcing the fabric I beguine on the final hat itself. It was definitely a tricky commission but I really enjoyed the challenge. The hat turned out fabulous and suited my customer perfectly.  I even worked in some decorative lining just to add to the cuteness of this piece.

                A commissioned hat, is made by N.Joy.Millinery to the specific criteria of a client a one off tailored to the individual customer. For A commission please email N.Joy.Millinery.

                    In the picturesque county of Cornwall, Once a year for three days The Royal Cornwall Show takes place.  It’s a show that brings the crème de la crème of Cornwall together.        

                Originally The Royal Cornwall was a once a year

meeting of the farmers from the west country area.  Nowadays it’s a huge event that brings people from all walks of life to celebrate the pride of Cornwall.

Natalie-Joy, the owner of N.Joy.Millinery was born and raised on a beautiful  dairy farm in Cornwall . With cows for neighbours and chickens for friends. The farm was her playground.  She grew up making Cornish pasties and milking cows.  But the farmer’s daughter soon swapped the overalls for dresses and the wellies for heels. However the Royal Cornwall soon  brings out the cowgirl again only this time you find her in a hat she even found a cow with a hat on!

                Natalie Joy spent the day enjoying Pims and talking hats, spreading the word about N.Joy.Millinery and proving any days an excuse to wear a hat!

(Follow the below Link to see a short video of The Royal Cornwall Show)

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ShWNNOvRSMU&list=UUQoMiRrAeIVHlv3TquEBU9A

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