Chris Hazlehurst wanted to find a beautiful hat to wear to her niece’s wedding but she was struggling to find a hat which she liked the look of and fitted comfortably. A chance remark from a friend led her to Sue Wood Millinery. After leaving her contact details, Sue got in touch to arrange an initial consultation at her studio…
The Consultation
Chris had some specific requirements for her hat. She wanted a felt hat which matched the blue of her chosen outfit with a shape and structure akin to Ayda Field’s hat from Princess Eugenie’s wedding and some elegant black veiling to decorate. Sue talked Chris through the different options for colours, fabrics and adornments.
“Sue instantly gave me a warm welcome. I was struck by her lovely personality and instantly felt reassured. I had no idea what the cost was going to be but Sue gave me a quote and I was very impressed with the value for such a bespoke item. I could see where it was going.”
The Hat
After Sue had constructed the hat, Chris was invited back for a fitting. Blue wool felt was blocked in a beret style and as Chris was looking for something structural rather than frilly and flowery, Sue created a wave shape from the remaining felt and added a swirl of contrasting sinamay for a perfectly formal finish. The hat is secured to the head by a comb, making it very light and comfortable to wear.
“When I returned for the fitting and saw my hats I was thrilled to bits. After meeting Sue at the consultation, I had every confidence that she was going to create just what I wanted. I didn’t think for one moment that I wouldn’t like what she produced”.
The Wedding
“Everybody loved my hat. My daughter thought it was fantastic and even my grandsons approved. I have another wedding in September and I am going to wear it again. I would love to work with Sue again and would not hesitate to recommend her. The whole experience was lovely and relaxing. I could really tell how keen Sue was on her subject and how well qualified she is.”
Images of ceremony from Rhyl Journal
