What's in a name?

I often name my hats but there's little rhyme or reason in the process. Sometimes the name comes first, it's part of the inspiration for the piece and an essential part of the design as with "Ever So Umbel"

 

This piece was inspired by the umbels growing all over our land and I do like a little pun now and again, a bit of humour in my millinery is essential.

 

Sometimes the piece is made and the name comes afterwards:

 

 

This piece is "Breeze", I thought it looked a little windswept somehow.

 

With other pieces there is more of a story.

 

Here's the latest piece from the studio.This is Westwood, a piece I have made in various colours and stylings many times over the years.

 

 

 

Now you might assume, and I wouldn't blame you, that it was named for the marvellous Vivienne. She is a hero of mine and it would make sense

 

 

 

but it's not the case although she plays a part.

 

 

The original Westwood headpiece was made for myself many years ago for a family trip to the races. The base was sinamay, shaped as the new piece but trimmed with a sinamay flower and a few biot feathers. Nowhere near as fancy as this one.

 

We went to Ladies Day at Windsor Races, a day out I would thoroughly recommend, it is a small and very pretty course and you can arrive by boat, a most romantic and pleasing start to proceedings.

 

 

 

Our boat struggled a little. We were travelling upstream against the current which was very strong and slowed us down. When we got to the race course the first race was about to begin. It was a dash to the bookies for a bet with little thought for the form or the going or even the jockey's colours.

 

I guess this is where Viv comes in. The horse that caught my eye was "Westwood" and it seemed appropriate so I banged in a tenner, on the nose (each way always seems so wimpy to me).

 

My Dad was unimpressed - you've got no chance! He might have had a point, the odds were 33-1. But what did I care, I had to have a punt on one of my favourite designers.

 

It was an exciting race...

 

 

 

...and what do you know....he did it! Westwood romped home for me and it was the start of a great evening. One of my sisters was picked as a finalist in the Best Dressed Lady competition, I bought some champagne and by the end of the night the winnings were gone.

 

But it was a lot of fun and my headpiece had a name. What else could I call it?

 

So, the Westwood is a lucky piece. If you are off to the races it's a style you might want to commission, it could weave it's magic for you.....

 

And if you see any horses running at 33-1, bang on a ton! You'll be quids in.