Featured Fascinators

I can’t tell you how many people rang me, emailed me and stopped me in the street to ask me about the new rules for Royal Ascot………!!

So….just to clarify…..

Please note the dress code below is NEW for 2012.

Ladies
Ladies are kindly reminded that formal day wear is a requirement in the Royal Enclosure, defined as follows:

• Dresses and skirts should be of modest length defined as falling just above the knee or longer;
• Dresses and tops should have straps of one inch or greater;
• Jackets and pashminas may be worn but dresses and tops underneath should still comply with the Royal Enclosure dress code;
• Trouser suits are welcome. They should be of full length and of matching material and colour;
• Hats should be worn; a headpiece which has a base of 4 inches (10cm) or more in diameter is acceptable as an alternative to a hat.

Ladies are kindly asked to note the following:

• Strapless, off the shoulder, halter neck, spaghetti straps and dresses with a strap of less than one inch (2.5cm) are not permitted;
• Midriffs must be covered;
• Fascinators are no longer permitted in the Royal Enclosure; neither are headpieces which do not have a base covering a sufficient area of the head (4 inches / 10cm).

Lucky then that all my hats conform to these new guide lines!! Seems that one of the new rules is simply that we shouldn’t call them fascinators any more, but the more grown up headdress or head piece!

Maybe something like this……….?!

BM.

Afternoon everyone

….another school year begins, another gorgeous Italian holiday is over and I have to get my head in gear to work and organise and design my new collection…mmmmmm.

If only it was that straight forward! I am still super busy with all my lovely couture wearing ladies…have been sending designs all over the world…America, Australia, Brazil, Germany etc etc. The world appears to have gone fascinator mad!! My order book is still full and there aren’t enough hours in the day…hence my complete failure at blogging!!

Although I’m already moaning about the weather and the cold..(.is Cheshire the wettest place on earth?  Not far off I reckon!!)……I am excited about Autumn and Christmas occasions, the excuse to wear something fabulous and sparkly…as many of my customers are doing….and wrapping ourselves in the richest of fabric, velvets, jewel like silk and  shiny new leather boots!!

There seems to be the annual serge towards all thing country…lots of pheasant feather requests, either long and dramatic or short feathers covering a pill box……give me some tartan and some heather and an open fire and we have the makings of a grand occasion!

Worn perhaps with…….

Saw this in the London Standard and couldn’t agree more!! Thank you Kate!!

Every outfit Kate Middleton has worn since the announcement of the royal wedding has led to a frenzy in the shops as fans imitate her look.

Now sales of fascinators, favoured by Prince William’s bride-to-be, are enjoying a resurgence, retailers said today. Sales have risen by 65 per cent and thousands have been sold in Harvey Nichols and Selfridges concessions in the six months since the royal wedding announcement.

Designer Cherry Chau said sales of her fascinators had more than doubled since last year. “It’s been fantastic,” she said. “Kate is such an icon and she’s been wearing our fascinators for quite some time now – since she was at St Andrews.

“There’s something really cool and really real about her that people just want to have. Her kind of luck, her kind of life, her kind of confidence.”

John Lewis and Marks & Spencer have also seen a steep rise in fascinator sales. In the last week alone, John Lewis said sales of the headgear went up by 26 per cent.

One of the many brands to enjoy the effects of Miss Middleton’s status as a fashion icon is Issa London, whose Sapphire dress sold out within 24 hours of her engagement photocall with Prince William

Snow drops have appeared and I can almost go outside without 6 layers of clothes…..and my email and phone are constantly alerting me to all those organised people out there who are planning there spring summer occasion wear….a few autumn occasions too!! Vintage again seems to be a strong trend….when there is so much scope why not? And I feel fresh and ready to face the new season….have been working on a few new things of my own…

After having been asked by one of my lovely brides recently to try and incorporate some pearls she had from an old necklace into a ‘something’ she could wear all day we came up with the idea of a cuff . Perfect for adding that special pop of colour and detail and also, for her, a great way to do her something old and something new! I loved making the gorgeous, sparkly beady concoction and have been making more since…have attached a few pictures to show my creations…..more to follow…when I get a minute to make them!! Every one will be a one off and I will use a mixture of vintage and new jewels……

How about this with a slinky satin dress……..?

I have just managed to complete my 2011 collection and have it photographed. Have used the lovely Siobhan Kilroe and Jess Womersley this time…we had a good giggle at the shoot and the photos show a really lovely relaxed and yet totally chic view of my new offerings! Website update coming soon………

The time is fast approaching ladies when we will start the trawl of the shops for that perfect hat to wear with the perfect dress and perfect shoes…that you hope will stay comfortable all day!! My advice is, don’t leave it until the last minute…if you can help it…..I know stuff happens, like weather…..colours clashing……some one has bought the same thing! Be prepared….the shops will be getting all their spring summer stock in any time now and before all the goodies have been snapped up you need to be in there ready to pounce!!

I have already heard from many Mother of the Brides…MOTB…..who have decided to work from the hat down! This works well if you are having something custom made that can be in any chosen colour. I work each season with a palette of at least 50 sinamay colours, flowers, feathers, veiling that come in maybe 25 different colours….not to mention the dyed to order pieces and a whole colour spectrum of crystals .There is no need to panic….your colour is out there, some where just find the right milliner to create that perfect headdress for you!

Pictured below are images of one of my most favourite designs, The Ava….just to give you an idea of the many ways different colour schemes can work on the same hat, these are just some of the ones I have made in the last year!! I am always happy to send colour swatches and give ideas for colour schemes….just ask!! A great way to get ideas for fascinators is to send me an image of your outfit and I will then, by return send you images of the kind of headdress I think would work to create the best effect…only ever ideas…I am more than happy to make what ever you would like!!

Ava at www.bethmorgan.co.uk

Ava by Beth Morgan

Custom dyed Ava at Beth Morgan.

Channel this seasons nudes with a mink coloured Ava from Beth Morgan