‘Who wants to be a Milliner?’ Cowley Manor, Wed Sept 19th 2012

Here at Cheltenham Fashion Week we are crazy about hats and happily take any opportunity to wear one.  For us therefore, this event was one of our highlights as we got the opportunity to see this wonderful craft in action.

On September 19th 2012 we held a live Millinery competition at Cowley Manor Hotel where 3 renowned milliners competed against each other in front of a live audience, all using the same materials.

Denise Innes (www.britishschoolofmillinery) and Fern Bereen (www.hatfestival.co.uk) compered the evening, after which the audience voted on their favourite creation.

We were thrilled to have the opportunity of watching the magic of Holly Young (www.hollyyoungboutique.com) Ani  Townsend (www.anitownsend.com) and Catherine Povey (www.catherinepovey.co.uk)as they created 3 stunning hats .

Each hat was spectacular in its own way and it was an agonising decision to chose a winner.   However,  after careful deliberation Catherine Povey  was crowned the winner and presented with a hat block, generously donated by Guy Morse Brown (www.hatblocks.co.uk) All three hats were then auctioned to make money for our chosen charity Hop Skip and Jump.

The audience was then treated to a wonderful Vintage Hat show by Linda Ivell of Deja Vu Vintage, followed by the guest Milliners A/W12 collections.

Trimmings generously donated by The Trimming Company. (www.thetrimmingcompany.co.uk) who have a wonderful selection of materials to tempt you into making your own hat!

Photography courtesy of David Riera (www.whistleandtaylor.co.uk) Nick Atkins ( www.nickatkinsphotography.com) and Spencer McPherson (www.mcphersonstevens.com)