Oct
23
Calling all dog lovers! Helping the homeless community and their dogs, we are proud to be asked by Awon Golding to helping this wonderful charity with our design being featured in the month of March.
More than just a calendar, Haute Dogs is a lifeline for pooches in need. Now in its second year, the 2020 project is helping a new charity with an even more ambitious target. Please see the links below for details and to order your calendar in time for Christmas.
All the milliners taking part are:
January – Millinery Jill
February – Jane Taylor
March – Lomax & Skinner
April – Juliette Botterill
May – Stephen Jones
June – Lock & Co
July – Philip Treacy
August – Awon Golding
September – Siggi Hats
October – J Smith Esq
November – Dillon Wallwork
December – Edwina Ibbotson
https://www.indiegogo.com/projects/haute-dogs-calendar-2020#/
May
14
The British Hat Guild has officially launched and we are very proud to be amongst the founding members.
The UK’s top milliners and hatters have come together to create a new association dedicated to sharing ideas and promoting our unique heritage.
The British Hat Guild seeks to encourage and promote the following ideas:
Craftsmanship to recognise the excellence and technique of British millinery.
Artistry to distinguish the extraordinary sophistication of its members’ work.
Heritage to acknowledge the authenticity of our millinery tradition.
Creativity to celebrate the individuality and inventiveness of its members.
Education to encourage and support the learning and skills of millinery.
Inspiration to share knowledge and be leaders in their field.
The Guild’s core membership will be for professional milliners and hat makers but will welcome associate members. Originally established in Luton in the 1950s by a group of established hat manufacturers, the Guild ceased to operate in 2003. The newly-revitalised Guild returns, spearheaded by a group of milliners and hat experts including Stephen Jones, Philip Treacy, Noel Stewart, Rachel Trevor-Morgan, Edwina Ibbotson and Lomax & Skinner.
For further information please see The British Hat Guild website or visit their Instagram account.
Oct
04
Thank you so much to everyone who came to our book launch on Saturday. We both feel totally overwhelmed by the incredible support through our family, friends and customers and the community of Lewes. A very enjoyable evening was had at the Depot Cinema, cafe and restaurant it was great to celebrate the book after all the hard work.
‘Millinery: The Art of Hat-Making’ comes out on 7th October. You can order it through Amazon or Waterstones or direct from the publishers GMC Group www.gmcbooks.com or if you are local in Lewes pop by our studio to get a signed copy!
The book provides fully illustrated step-by-step instructions for 12 stunning hats and headpieces, which are suitable for a wide variety of occasions and require minimal tools and materials. The eye catching designs include a felt trilby, a chic pillbox, a leather cap, a feathered headband, a sparking cocktail hat and a bridal headdress.
Novices will find all the advice they need on the tools, materials and techniques required to make the hats. Full of inspirational photography, this beautifully designed book shows you how to achieve high-end, couture results at home.
Oct
05
Fancy wearing your own creation on your wedding day and doing something a little different as part of your Hen day celebrations? Our ‘Hen Party Millinery Fun’ workshop can be booked for up to 12 guests. This 4/5 hour fascinator workshop can be tailored to suit the brides colours and theme for her wedding day. Millinery tuition, equipment and materials are all provided. No previous sewing skills needed.
A break for afternoon tea including Prosecco, homemade scones, lemon drizzle cake and a selection of English teas is also served. (Please let us know any dietary requirements so we can cater for them)
As you can see this lively group of ladies thoroughly enjoyed their day and had a lot of laughs!
Aug
30
Thrilled to see a hat I made for Mike Jagger’s Voodoo Lounge Tour is on display at The Saatchi Gallery London now but it finishes on 4th September so hurry if you want to go. It was along time ago that I made it, 22 years to be precise back in 1994 !
Jan
23
When working with a customer we always start by looking at the dress design. Catrina Dunn’s wedding dress was by Joanne Fleming Design. Catrinas dress echoed a 1930’s era and was cut from the softest silver grey silk satin. The dress had a central panel of detailing in a diamond shape which was embroidered with bugle beads and Swarovski crystals.
During Catrina’s first appointment with us she said she wanted her headdress to be a statement. For this to work with the dress and Catrina’s small frame it was important to keep the piece soft and not too large. When designing I took inspiration from a large feathered leaf and the diamond shape on the dress combining the two together.
Four types of feathers were hand dyed to the palest shade to match the dress. A diamond shape was cut and covered in the silk and then hand sewn with beading, crystals and embroidery. Another diamond is cut to sew each individual feather on in various lengths to create the desired shape. A layering technique was used as some of the feathers were not much thicker than hair.
It’s important to have a fitting to check the proportions so any adjustments can be made. An incredible 35 hours was spent making Catrina’s headdress! But all worth it as Catrina was delighted and loved every minute wearing it which makes our day too. Many thanks to Catrina for sending us some photos of the day taken by Ben Joseph Photography.
Apr
29
If you are like us, then your first thought on deciding on a day at the races is not to rush out and buy a copy of the Racing Post to mug up on form, but rather to start thinking about what to wear. Dress codes are strict at the grandest events in the racing calendar, and not following the dress code to the letter can mean you are not admitted to the enclosure for which you have a ticket.
Our advice is to plan your outfit in stages, starting with a dress and jacket, or similar, then shoes, and finally the finishing flourishes —your hat and handbag. Your milliner should be able to hand dye the materials and trimmings for your hat to match your outfit and shoes, so when going along for your first design consultation, make sure you bring the rest of your outfit to ensure a polished overall look.
We also advise that if you are planning a statement hat, then keep this in mind when choosing the rest of your outfit. Were you to opt for a large all-over print or bright feather textured jacket, then you might find you want to go for a more low-key hat when you come to have it designed. The job of a hat is to frame your face and give you confidence, not swamp you. So, if you would like a high impact hat, then you should probably keep the rest of your outfit understated. This also means you can restyle the clothing with a different hat for another occasion.
Ascot
Fancy dress or promotionally branded items are not permitted anywhere inside the grounds during the Royal Ascot meeting.
Royal Enclosure
Formal daywear is required for ladies in the Royal Enclosure.
Hemlines must fall on, or just above the knee
Trousers are not permitted
Strappy, halterneck and off the shoulder tops or dresses are not allowed. Straps must be one inch or greater in width
Your midriff must not be exposed
Jackets and shawls are allowed, but the outfit underneath must comply with the dress code
Fascinators are not allowed, and hats must now have a base of 4 inches or more in diameter. This means cocktail hats are permitted, but they must have a proper base of sinamay or similar. An insubstantial cocktail piece with only a headband base is not acceptable. We advise you ensure your milliner is aware of this requirement, as it is a new addition to the dress code.
For girls aged 10-16 formal dress is required, but a hat or is optional. A fascinator may also be worn.
Grandstand Admission
The rules are more relaxed for ladies in the grandstand enclosure, but ladies are still expected to dress formally, and a hat, headpiece or fascinator must be worn at all times. Strapless or sheer tops are not permitted and although trousers may be worn, but they must be full length and not paired with strapless or sheer tops, even under a jacket or shawl. As with the Royal Enclosure, midriff-baring tops are not allowed.
For girls aged 10-16, the dress code is the same as for the Royal Enclosure.
Silver Ring & Heath Enclosure
There is no formal dress code, but smart dress is encouraged.
Flat Season (May to October)
The general dress code for meetings outside of Royal Ascot is that ladies are encouraged to dress as for a smart occasion.
Epsom
Fancy dress is not permitted in the Queen’s Stand or Duchess’s Stand during the Investec Derby Festival.
Derby Day (Queen’s Stand)
Ladies must wear formal day dress. Sleeveless vest are not permitted, and trousers must be full length and part of a tailored trouser suit. A hat or substantial fascinator must be worn.
Girls must be dressed smartly, but hats or fascinators are not required.
Ladies Day (Queen’s Stand)
There are no set rules on outfit, but ladies are asked to wear a fascinator or hat. Casual clothing, such as sportswear, trainers or jeans is not allowed.
Girls should be dressed smartly, but headpieces are optional.
Derby Festival Grandstand Enclosure
Smart dress is requested, which means that sleeveless tops, midriff-baring tops, sportswear and trainers are not acceptable. Denim is allowed, but it must not be frayed or ripped.
Derby Festival Grandstand Hospitality
The rules are as above for the Grandstand Hospitality area, but ladies are requested to wear a hat or fascinator.
Glorious Goodwood
Goodwood is the most relaxed of the season’s race meets, so there are few formal dress code requirements, but fancy dress is not permitted in any Enclosure.
Goodwood Fesitval
Richmond Enclosure
Ladies must dress smartly, and are encouraged to wear a hat or fascinator. Shorts, jeans and sportswear are not permitted.
Other Enclosures
There is no formal dress code, but flat or wedge-heeled shoes are recommended as there are grassy areas, and areas of decking to navigate.
Overall, the most important thing to remember when considering what to wear for Ascot, Epsom or Goodwood is to enjoy the process of planning. After all, there are not enough occasions left to get dressed up and enjoy a day of fun and finery, — with a flutter thrown in. So happy planning, and good luck on the day.
Dec
09
Millinery is for the moments that matter. The moments you want to remember, and the moments you want to be memorable. That’s why we love weddings at Lomax & Skinner. The chance to be part of someone’s big day, and to share the excitement of creating a beautiful headpiece or veil that will live on in photographs and memories for the rest of their life.
Bridal style
We don’t have a set style for our bridal millinery and we are not dictated by bridal fashions. Our style is led by the bride, her personality, the location of her wedding, and of course, her dress. We have created showstopping avant garde millinery for high fashion weddings, and chic minimalist headpieces for intimate civil gathering, and loved both equally.
The joy of wedding millinery design is in making the one hat, veil or headpiece that is the perfect finishing touch to a dream outfit. Not everyone dreams of their wedding day, but everyone wants to look and feel their best, so our bridal style is to perfectly interpret the wishes of the bride.
Bridal design
We are couture milliners, so there are no restrictions on what we can achieve. We have sample designs for our brides to try on (some of which are pictured here), but every element of the design can be tailored and personalised. Each part is hand sewn and hand shaped, which gives us the freedom to realise any design.
It is not just the physical shape of the piece that can be altered, we can hand dye the fabrics and trimmings to perfectly match any dress. Alternatively, we can use dress fabric as coverings, and to make trimmings. The embroidered flowers on our Esme veil headdress (pictured) were cut out from a dress fabric and hand sewn.
All of our designs are handmade to the highest standard, but for our bridal millinery, we believe in particularly close attention to detail. Feathers are hand trimmed and dyed, and the fabrics are carefully selected. We work to create a piece that will be treasured for generations. Some of our clients have chosen to display their hat after their wedding.
The Lomax & Skinner bridal service
Planning a wedding can be a stressful business, so our bridal service is focussed on making the millinery design process stress-free, and fun. Between us we have many years of experience in designing and making bridal hats, headpieces and veils, so we can offer expert advice and smooth service. For details of our couture design process, please see here.
Like our hats, our bridal service can be tailored to the exact requirements of the bride. We can create co-ordinating pieces for the bridesmaids, Mother of the Bride and Mother of the Groom, and even buttonholes for the gentlemen. We can also arrange group consultations and fittings, so why not consider a bridal millinery party?
To discuss any part of our bridal service, or for an informal discussion of your wedding plans, please contact us at studio@lomaxandskinner.co.uk, or call 07949 123693.
The beautiful dresses in this shoot were designed by www.joanneflemingdesign.com.
Oct
20
For us, design is about more than looks. Good design does not just look good, it feels good too. The craftsmanship, the fitting, and even the sourcing of materials, all have to be right to ensure our clients receive a finished hat that is worthy of our name.
Inspired design
Our inspiration comes from all over, and the starting point for a design can be anything from a sketch from nature, a cloud spotted from our studio window, or the personality of a client.
We love to mix vintage and contemporary elements in our designs as millinery has a rich history, but each piece we create is an original. We believe millinery is a living art form, not a heritage craft.
Bespoke millinery design is all about creating something beautiful that is suited to the personal style of the wearer. So, our ultimate goal is to create a hat or headpiece that our client will receive lots of compliments on, and thoroughly enjoy wearing.
Traditional craftsmanship
We trained under the late Frederick Fox, for many years milliner to the Queen. The techniques we use and the quality of our craftsmanship are firmly in the tradition of English couture millinery.
Each element is created by hand, using hat blocks, hand shaping, and hand sewing. Every hat we produce is fitted specifically to the wearer, and fully lined for comfort.
Quality materials
All of our materials are of the highest possible quality to ensure our designs stay fresh. Where fabrics are woven, they are of a good, heavy weave that will not pile easily. Where they are dyed, either pre-dyed or hand dyed by us, they are done using the best quality dyes, so the colours will not easily fade.
Wherever possible, we source materials locally. For example our pheasant feathers are sourced from Thorney Moss Game Farm, just outside Lewes. The responsible sourcing of feathers is important to us, so we only buy feathers from reputable suppliers.
Jul
09
We were really excited with our recent collaboration with Joanne Fleming www.joanneflemingdesign.com Joanne creates stunningly beautiful dresses taking inspiration from 1900’s to the 1950’s.
Her exclusive designs are worn by stylish women wanting something different, elegant and feminine. Her designs can be seen gracing the pages of fashion magazines and catwalks worldwide.
The dresses are made from exquisite laces from Italy and France, hand dyed and intricately crafted into contemporary designs.
Jo asked us to design a capsule collection of bridal hats and headdresses for a garden photo shoot she was planning with her amazing designs.
We went over to Jo’s studio in Brighton and choose some beautiful laces to work with along with some old photographs to use as inspiration. We designed a range of six hats for the shoot. Two of the hats were large pieces and took about a week each to make including creating the toiles and hours of hand sewing delicate pieces of lace.
Jo was delighted with all of the hats and we had fun on the shoot.
