One of my Happy Places is sitting outside in the warm bright summer sun sipping my favourite cocktail, the St Clements. This for me conjures up thoughts of big bright hats of oranges and yellows while basking in the sun’s rays.

With the above in mind, I decided to create a big oval shape hat to give the wearer coverage in the sun but not to obstruct the wearer’s view. Using an orange sinamay base colour and enhancing with yellow crinoline bow shapes reminded me very much of lemons. I also wanted to include the sun and the sun’s rays aspect into my design so I thought by adding in the ruched yellow flower like ribbon rosettes to the middle of the bows gave the impression of little suns with the burnt orange feathers cascading down like the warm summer rays.

I wanted to create a hat that was big, bold, beautiful and bright with an air of sharpness and fizz with some added warmth. Just like sipping the St Clements cocktail on a warm summer’s day.

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