Race To London’s Chicest Headwear Designer Lisa Tan Millinery!
Race to London’s chicest headwear designer Lisa Tan Millinery!
“I think millinery is the only accessory – apart from diamonds – that can really turn heads and make a woman feel like a million dollars. As long as a woman feels comfortable in her hat, she’ll exude confidence, look incredibly elegant and attract attention for all the right reasons.”
Classy headpieces will always be an elegant accessory and as the sweet summer is here, we decided that this is the perfect time to start thinking about dusting off your headwear or investing in some fabulous new pieces – yes, why not? Undoubtedly the perfect occasion to debut your chic new accessory is at the races or at a sophisticated summer party and we spent all of last week obsessively googling all things Royal Ascot. But for us it was the hats, not the horses, that stole the show. Having spent a week senselessly staring at the beautiful creations that Ascot had to offer, it only seemed appropriate to get some insight into the millinery world with London based designer Lisa Tan.
The headwear designer has an impressive background in not only millinery, but in the wider world of fashion and has worked for both Burberry and Heidi Klein before becoming a fully-fledged designer in her own right. In an attempt to integrate her two passions: her creative flair and her long-standing interest in the international horse-racing scene, Lisa decided to move to London to pursue a career as a designer and create her millinery brand full of adventurous and daring yet stunning creations.
Here at YCB, we love seeing talented designers in their own creations and as a frequent hat wearer, Lisa often creates pieces that she would want to wear – following the notion that if you won’t wear your design, who will! And it comes without saying that all hats are road tested by Lisa herself, all are carefully thought out pieces that can be sported as both a daring and classy accessory depending on the occasion.
It’s great to stand out but we want it to be for the right reasons. The design process begins by going through images of current fashion shows, and taking note of colours, silhouettes and themes for the season – so the designs always look current and compliment fashion trends perfectly. Emphasis then goes into designing a collection to accompany these looks, creating a seasonal silk print with the aid of textile artist, Hannah Baker. Lisa describes these prints as “quite quirky and unique… sometimes one print can inspire a whole collection”.
When asked about her dream client, Lisa responded, “someone who knows their own style, and comes to you because they know you can deliver them their perfect hat. It’s a bonus if she happens to be an avid race goer who isn’t afraid to take a fashion risk at the track”.
Lisa’s AW14 collection shows off her bold side and it’s all about opposites: light and dark, strong and feminine, quirky and elegant. Hannah Baker’s especially adventurous print ‘Octopussies’ – which features swirling octopus tentacles in bold colours and pairs with the looping mirror organza ribbons, appears on several pieces in the upcoming collection. Amazing! With such confident prints you’re bound to turn a few less decadently styled heads at the racecourse.
If the races aren’t your thing then you’ll always have the opportunity to flaunt one of these beautiful designs on another occasion – we’re talking Wimbledon, garden parties and weddings – as Lisa Tan has too added bridal pieces to the collection. Working as beautifully designed wedding hats, her creations will truly be works of art and undoubtedly conversation starters, as they offer a further splash of vibrancy to any outfit. These bridal pieces are far more practical and comfortable but their unique structuring will leave you feeling elegant and sophisticated. The hats feature detachable veils and are certainly not as wild as signature Lisa Tan pieces yet still provide the perfect finishing touch as they enable you to create a look that is not solely focused on the dress. As head pieces can both enhance your hairstyle, frame the face, and are definite show stoppers – why wouldn’t you want to wear one?
We understand that shopping for headwear can be a daunting task, especially if you’re not usually such a advocate when it comes to wearing head pieces. For those novices amongst us Lisa has provided three points that will guide us to outfit perfection this season:
“It is easier to find your outfit first, and then decide on millinery. It’ll give you a reference point, and it will also help your milliner in the designing process. The tendency can be to literally match your hat with your outfit, but nowadays the trend is to complement, rather than match. Just remember you can always have a different coloured hat and tie it into your outfit with your other accessories.
Alternatively, you want to go the classic route and match your hat – preferred by the Queen, who never fails to impress – Milliners can dye fabrics to the precise colours which is a strong option.
“Comfort, Comfort, Comfort – You’ll be wearing it all day, and the last thing you’ll want to do is constantly visit the ladies’ bathrooms to re-pin your hat. If you have concerns about the comfort of your hat, tell your milliner before you leave their studio.”
Quirky, creative and a little bit different, what more could you possibly ask for?