SS12: The Stephen Jones Experience

I am a bit of a geek when it comes to Stephen Jones' hats. The man creates millinery marvels, and always gives the impression of being a lovely chap when I've seen him both in person and in the press. I absolutely adored the exhibition he curated at the V&A museum in 2009, Hats: an Anthology by Stephen Jones. I still regularly reach for the accompanying book for a dose of fabulous inspiration. I dream of having a huge collection of hats, a millinery wardrobe of sorts, and a Stephen Jones' design has just got to be in there.
The day I visited the V&A exhibition was quite the fashion whirlwind. As we finished our viewing my father and I noticed that there seemed to be a buzz going on as a queue wound round the corridor. We enquired at the desk and were told about the ensuing Fashion in Motion show which was such good luck as I had no clue the exhibition had any accompanying activities, now I always check.
Not only that, we were then handed the best front row tickets! Maybe it was the Chanel shopping bag that did it? Whatever it was, the show was an absolutely amazing millinery showcase and also a wonderful experience. I'd been having such a bad time with my health, having to drop out of school, but the whole day made me feel really special and I got to see Stephen Jones himself! I did a little blog post on the show in my very early blogging days but sadly my camera of the time did not fare very well!
Fastforward to London Fashion Week for SS12 and the exhibition space at Somerset House and here are some of the delightful hats I spied. I also spotted Mr Jones himself smiling away in the courtyard one day. Isn't this bow just dreamy?