When you can't visit our studio

Apr

11

When you can’t visit our studio

You may have seen one of our hats online or whilst out and about but you just can’t get to our studio in Lewes. Do not worry there is so much we can do nowadays with technology, even buying a hat!

If you email us a picture of yourself in your outfit we can advise which hat shape will suit you and the occasion. If your outfit is being made by a dressmaker it is likely we will be able to view it online and be sent photographs at every stage. If you would like we can use the material from the outfit for a perfect match. We also offer a hand dyeing colour matching service.

Many of our smaller cocktail pieces are attached to a hidden Alice band so the fit is universal but larger brim and crown hats do need to be made in your own individual head size to ensure complete comfort on the day.

To take your head measurement, take a dressmakers tape measure around the head, at the level of your middle forehead, where you would wear a hat. It’s very simple measurement to take but we would recommend having a friend to do it, it’s tricky peering in the mirror with a tape measure trying to read what it says in reverse!

The customer in the picture above lives in Canada and emailed us to order a hat for her daughter’s wedding taking place in the UK. She couldn’t make it to our studio so everything was done by email and photographs, including the last minute change of colour to the trimming as her jacket hadn’t arrived with the rest of her outfit and at the very last minute a new one had to be purchased.

Jan

23

Making a bridal headdress

Bespoke / Customers / Real Brides / Weddings Posted by Rachel Skinner / 0 comments

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.

Jun

05

Eliza

Bespoke / Weddings Posted by Sarah / 0 comments

We just have to share this lovely little promo film from Brighton based production company Studio From The Sky http://www.fromthesky.co.uk featuring our ‘Eliza’ headdress looking stunning with Joanne Flemings gorgeous bridal designs http://joanneflemingdesign.com

Apr

29

What to wear to Royal Ascot, Epsom and Goodwood horse racing

Ascot Posted by Rachel Skinner / 0 comments

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

Bridal Millinery at Lomax & Skinner 2015

Weddings Posted by Rachel Skinner / 0 comments

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.

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