Crowning glory

Now, the wedding of Prince William and Kate on April 29 is encouraging more women than ever to top off their special occasion outfits with a daring piece of millinery.

No more apologetic little fascinators; we’re talking avant-garde shapes, bright colours and feathers galore.

Right at the heart of all this millinery excitement is Yorkshire hat specialist Get Ahead Hats, which knows just how important a role hats and headpieces will play in the eagerly anticipated Royal Wedding, as it has been supplying Kate Middleton and her family for some time and is helping many of the guests choose their hats for the big day itself.

“Kate is a big fan of hats and she has been coming to us for a number of years, as have her mum and sister,” said Samantha Abbey, who runs the Get Ahead Hats showroom in Long Marston, between Wetherby and York.

“Kate’s love of hats has definitely spurred a trend amongst younger women and they’re not afraid to experiment with show-stopping styles.”

Kate wore a black felt pillbox hat from Get Ahead Hats to a recent wedding in Yorkshire and has been pictured at many public events in hats made exclusively for her by Get Ahead Hats’ own in-house milliners.

Samantha predicted that many of the younger guests would opt for some of the most modern, eye-catching head wear. “Percher hats and half-hats that have a very tiny brim and are worn at a dramatic angle above the right eyebrow are particularly popular with this age group and would be the perfect choice for the bolder young Royals and their friends,” she said.

She also revealed that Get Ahead Hats had already supplied a number of Royal wedding guests with hats and, although she is sworn to secrecy, she confirmed that many were going for elaborate designs.

“I can’t say who’s wearing what but many of the guests we have been helping have gone for flamboyant styles with large brims,” she said. “There will also be two very dramatic Gwyther-Snoxells wide-brimmed hats going to the wedding, both supplied by Get Ahead Hats.”

In fact, some guests have chosen hats before their outfits and are now having dresses made to match. “One of the Royal Wedding guests has just ordered a striking peacock blue percher from Get Ahead Hats and is having an outfit made to go with it, and other guests have done the same.”

Get Ahead Hats launched in York in the 1980s and now has showrooms in York, Northallerton and Pickering. Sam has hats by some of the country’s top designers and also stocks exclusive styles made by Get Ahead’s own in-house milliners, which can be bought or hired.

“Hiring is an affordable option for those looking for a distinctive hat for one specific occasion and brings royal designer style within everyone’s reach,” said Sam.