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!

There’s nothing better then seeing the face of a client when you show them their commisioned headpiece for the first time!

Stunning commision for a lovely mother of the groom. A slanted sinnamay base in shades of pale and dusky pink with intricate eyelash lace, sinamay twists. Feather flower and sparkling black swaroski crystals.

Clips, combs and Slides:

When a hat or fascinator is a little too much then there are always a wide selections of clips, combs and slides. Easy to wear and striking to behold .Fun and funky and full of pizzazz!

Below are a few of N.Joy.Millinery’s favourite pieces.

Hazel-£40
This little fascinator is made using  pheasant neck feathers that shimmer with iridescent tones of browns, creams and pinks. decorated with vintage lace and sprinkled with glass beads  in matching tonal colours, and bronze seed beads. Attached on a comb

Celestia-£45
Beautiful vintage Royal blue feather spray with hand embroidered beaded lace diamante glass beads and Swarovski crystals! Attached to a clip can be worn as a broach or fascinator the choice is yours!

Philomena-£40
A colourful peacock feather fascinator. With vintage lace detail with black stitching and glass beading. Attached on a comb.  A mini show stopper.

Hallie-£45
A spray of dark chocolate feathers, embroidered with coffee coloured lace with silver cord. Embroidered with stunning gold and bronze glass beads. A glittering piece of headwear for that sophisticated lady.

Damelza-£40
A Beautiful floral lace slide, that sparkles with hand embroidered diamante and glass silver beads. Easy to slip into your hair adding gorgeous glamour to any outfit

Eloise-£55
An elegant Great Gatsby inspired fan comb. Hand beaded, with white pearl imitations, silver glass beads and diamante. With a spray of curled white feathers. A Stunning 1920′s piece perfect for a bridal headpiece or for a glamorous night out!

Ariel-£45
This beautiful clam shell styled comb is covered in an array of imitation pearls, In shades of gold, white and Ivory. Encircling  sparkling diamante. It looks stunning in a classic up do, or placed  in loose curls.

Regina-£50
This stunning little fan comb is all hand beaded using imitation pearls, glass beading and diamante to create a 1920 style,  perfect for any art deco bride.

Cora-£45
This little comb has a 1920 feel to it. With heavily beaded lace white feathers and diamante the perfect accessory for any deco bride.

Cho-£45
This stunning coy carp hair comb is intricately embroidered with glass beads in gold, silver and cream with diamante that glistens like real fish scales. Attached on two combs that slides easily into your hair.

December Commissions

After N.Joy.Millinery’s successes at Made in Cornwall. December became a busy month for N.Joy.

Often N.Joy.Millinery gets commissions from people who have found the perfect outfits and have thought finding a hat or fascinator to match would be the easy part. You can pick up a relatively cheap hat or fascinator in most large department stores. In the generic shades of white navy and black and perhaps a handful of this seasons colours. But to find a true match nothing beats having a piece hand made for you.

Of course having a handmade piece costs money and takes time. But here at N.Joy.Millinery. We strive to work within most budgets and within your time frame. N.Joy usually likes a month to make a head piece this guaranties material deliveries and gives N.Joy the time needed to make your headpiece as stunning as you imagined it. However over the December month N.Joy was put to the test with three commissions two of which she had three weeks for, the other just over a week! It was a challenge to say the least but N.joy loves a challenge.

(Above: Previous Commissions)

The first piece was for a bride having a small ceremony in a stunning white and silver Saks dress suit. She wanted a sophisticated piece that tied in with her outfit and was similar to a piece of N.Joy’s she had already seen.

The piece N.Joy created for her was made on a white, oval, sinamay base with large silk silver roses covered in one hundred Swarovski crystals that sparkled from every angle. Nestled between the two largest roses was a curled ostrich spine and diamond stripped feathers. The base sat at an angle on a  handmade headband made of lightweight wire that is flexible to different head shapes and easy to wear.  Simply sophisticated like the bride to be herself.

The second piece was for a fashionable mother of the bride, who had a glitzy vintage inspired outfit that needed the perfect fascinator to tie it all together.

N.Joy made a chocolate brown, sinamay, teardrop base. Under laid with shimmering gold sinamay that brought a subtle sparkle to the base. The top of the base had hand sculpted sinamay loops made into a bow with stripped pheasant neck feathers. Draped across the bow was stunning vintage lace with delicate hand beading using fine glass beads and delicate seed pearls. Over the top was a layer of light brown veiling that added to that vintage quality. The fascinator was then attached on a handmade headband dyed to the shade of the ladies hair colour.

The third piece was for a step mother of the bride who had a stunning emerald green lace dress that no hat or fascinator seemed to match.

The colour was a rich highly saturated royal green that even N.Joy struggled to match. N.joy ordered  the closes shade of green sinamay she could find and then hand died it until she was satisfied it was the right colour.  She then turned this into a teardrop base with a layer of gold sinamay underneath giving the shimmer effect like the last piece.  Using sinamay loops in gold and green she sculpted a tiered bow effect  at the top end of the fascinator centred with a stunning vintage broach. The vintage broach was antique gold coloured with delicate filigree and tiny gemstones in white and green. The fascinator was finished off with stripped and curled feathers in white and antique gold and sparkling metallic gold veiling. The fascinator was then attached on a handmade headband dyed to the shade of the ladies hair colour. A very festive piece for a Christmas wedding.

                Each commission was as individual as each of the ladies. The final pieces tied in both the ladies out fits and accessories perfectly .For your own commission please contact N.Joy.Millinery.

(Below: Previous Commissions)

Newbies

Heres a few new pieces from N.Joy.Millinery that are not on the site yet enjoy!

An oval saucer shaped hat in ivory sinamay . Embelished with two large dusky pink silk flowers, entwined around a curled ostrich spine, with diamond shaped stripped feathers, in shades of pink and cream! An enchanting piece perfect for the races or a summer wedding

 
A beautiful new bridal piece. Delicate ivory floral lace embroidered with flecks of silver and gold threads. Embelished with glass beads and imatation pearls. Attached on a golden/ivory satin ribbon, edged in a cluster of beads with combs for easy attachment. For an alternative to the traditional tiara.

Another lovely new bridal piece. White, floral corded lace embelished with tiny silver glass beads and sparkerling diamante, attached on a graduated sized chain with diamante pendant. It can be worn across the forehead or at headband height.

An ivory ripple sinamay base, with a pair of hand sculped, pale blue roses and sinnamay loops gathered on a large bow decorated with goose biot feathers and floral lace.

Dark chocolate feathers, embroidered with coffee colured lace with silver cord, embroidered with stunning gold and bronze glass beads. A glittering piece of headwear for that sophisticated lady.

The Royal Christening

Like all royalist N.Joy was excited to see what hats would be worn to Princess Charlotte’s christening.
And we weren’t disappointed. The beautiful Kate Middleton wowed the crowd in an elegant outfit by Alexander McQueen and a stunning hat by the talented Jane Taylor. N.Joy has been privileged to work with Jane Taylor and is a huge fan of her amazing designs. This is not the first time the Duchess of Cambridge has worn a Jane Taylor creation in fact she also wore one to Prince Georges Christening.

 

Both hats are in classic neutral tones and have similar slanted beret shapes. With soft silk organza flower detail.  Kate certainly knows what hat style suits her and milliner Jane Taylor has provided Kate with a stunning selecting over her time in the public eye.

Of Course Kate isn’t the only Jane Taylor fan here are a few more.

Jane Taylor if fast becoming The Royal milliner for the young Royals.
Kate Middleton’s striking sister Pippa is also a fan of the London based milliner and also wore a gorgeous Jane Taylor creation to Princess Charlotte’s Christning.

So keep an eye out for this fashion forward hat designer is taking the millinery world by storm! But back to the Christening the pictures are fabulous enjoy!

Hats off to the ladies of Ascot!

The once strict regulations of the ascot ladies day seems to have relaxed a little this year giving way to some outlandish fashion! Some funky fascinators some happening hats and some err interesting works of art!

Some ladies thought it was all about size! with large ornate headdresses with brightly dyed ostrich and pheasant feathers. (not sure how much of the races the lady on the left actually saw!) Others opted for quirky little numbers.

Some ladies attracted attention for all the wrong reason though hats off to the milliners who made those concoctions stay upright!

For me these ladies wore the best hats by far!  Pure class! Large hats in pastle colours work because their striking without being an eyesaw.  Red suits everyone teamed with white and black equals pure elegence.

And it wasn’t just the men who went all out for Ascot this year, I’m loving the peacock top hat it takes a real man to wear that many sequins!

And who better to finish with then her majesty who looked beautifully demur in her colour coded pieces.

Fascinate me
I’ve been busying myself with a few projects recently so heres a little update of some recent pieces, N.Joy!

Georgeous new slanted saucer shaped hat. Made in light grey sinnamay with black floral lace hand beaded with shimmering grey freshwater pearls and tiny glass beads, and spotted with swaroski crystals. The under side has a layer of smaller floral lace that makes this hat astheticly pleasing from all angles. A stunning hat in a shape that flatters all face shapes.

A rich red sinnamay sculpted into a small circular fascinator. With velvet orchid shaped flowers glittering with amber swaroski crystals. surounded by sinamay loops and latte coloured netting. Attached on a hand made headband and lined with mocha coloured silk dupion gorgeous!

An ivory fascinator with latte coloured veiling and chocolate brown lace lined in silver thread, with intricate hand beading using stunning freshwater pearls in shades of dusky pink and champagne aswell as glimmering glass seed bead. Finished with a sinnamay bow and decorative button . Placed on a handmade couture headband.

Beautiful light purple fascinater with a circular base,with gorgeous sinamay roses and a large ivory bow with delicate beading, a top a handmade couture headbad. a stylish little number!

An ivory crinkle sculpted fascinator. With white lace appliquehand embelished with tiny silver glass beads and imatation pearls. with a large bow and a spray of dotted grey veiling . Pure sparkles!

Collaboration with Russell Robin Hair Studio.

       At a recent charity event Natalie-Joy (N.Joy) met the lovely owners of the Russell Robin hair studio.  Wearing one of her own creations N.Joy and Robin (one of the dynamic brothers who own and run the studio) got into a conversation about fashion hats and hair. N.Joy was invited to a collaboration shoot mixing Robin Neal’s creative hair colouring and styling with N.Joy’s distinctive headwear.

                N.Joy was thrilled to work with someone who had worked with celebrities like Amy Winehouse, Rodger Moore and Depeche Mode. As well as working with well know singers and actors. Both brothers have travelled widely with their work and exhibited their artistic hairstyling at such events like Malan fashion week and the Brit awards. To a budding young business women like N.Joy this was an opportunity not to be missed. The brothers originally from Essex trained and worked in Regents Street London but moved to the beautiful location of Cornwall to bring up their families though this has not but a dampener on their career.

       N.Joy has been lucky enough to do a lot of amateur modelling in her youth so she was delighted to not only have her hats used in this shoot but to be the model as well.

                A few days before the Shoot Robin took N.Joy’s dark auburn somewhat straggly locks with its grown out fringe  and split ends and transformed her to a radiant redhead with dramatic blunt fringe.

      On the day of the shoot, Robin put N.Joy’s hair up in a high French pleat styled updo and put her in front of the camera with a collection of hats and outfits the quirky shoot had a distinctly 60’s feel to it, directed and shot by Robin (who is also a talented photographer). The shoot was a brilliant success. The full shots have not been released yet but here’s a sneak preview. Keep watching for the final shots and Advertising campaign .

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.