Paulette Codner displays a lovely straw hat.

Easter is regarded (at least by church goers) as traditional hat season and Easter Sunday the day for formidable Easter bonnets. But just how much do you know about hats?

First things first Millinery is the term used to describe the craft of hat making.

Blocking: This is the stretching of the hat material over a heated aluminium mould (called a block) to form the basic hat shape. A block is made for each style hat.

Trimming: The trim of a hat is as important as the shape. The two must be balnced to achieve a successful design.
Milliners add the trim and, with an expensive hat, give it its individuality. Trimming usually involves some hand sewing although, depending on the material, some trims are glued on. It can take a milliner between fifteen minutes and two hours to trim a hat of quality. Very elaborate hats with veiling, drapes and flowers can take even longer.

Sinamy: Sinamy is produced in the Phillipines, from the banana tree. It is a thin fabric and typically two, three or four layers are bonded together for the brim and the crown. It's finer and more fragile than straw.

Some Hat Styles:

Top hat, bowler, trilby, pill box, forage, boater, lampshade, breton and cloche

Choosing a hat:

An outfit works best if the hat is a colour that tones in rather than matches.

The shape of your face matters:

Square face: Avoid square hats as these emphasise angular jawlines and temples. Look for dramatic styles particularly if you are medium or large build.

Long face: Avoid high hats with shallow crowns, which will perch on your head and make your face appear even longer Go for wide hats with upturned brims, which will draw attention to your eyes and make your face appear even wider.

Oval face: People with oval faces usually have small features. Avoid dramatic styles, which will drown your features. Avoid fussy frills and large trims that will swamp your face. Opt instead for classic styles that will let your face shape make the statement

Round/heart shaped: Avoid straight brims that cut the facer in two; these make the cheeks look rounder. Go for upturned brims that draw attention to the eyes and lift the face giving the illusion of height, not width. High crowns, particularly square shaped also detract from a round face shape.

Consider wearing the hat at an angle. If the brim cuts at a slight angle across the forehead or over one eye, it slims the face.

Glasses

If you wear glasses, look for off the face shapes with upturned brims, for example, Breton style.

Wear the hat with the brim level or just above the eyebrows. Hats look best with as much hair out of the way as possible
Finally store hats in hat boxes.

- Source: Hat Guide from Lola Hughes of John Lewis.

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