Dark Romantic: William Chambers Millinery at LFW

I do like a fabulous hat so I was very much looking forward to stepping in the Headonism section of the London Fashion Week exhibition, as curated by the magnificent Stephen Jones and sponsored by the Royal Ascot.
My eye was immediately lead to the fabulous statement pink flower perched on a pill box base seen above. It's in such a harsh, hard plastic yet the delicately curling petals perfectly capture the gentleness of a flower in bloom and I love this unusual juxtaposition. It's the creation of Glasgow based milliner William Chambers who seems to have a very special and tactile way with materials and a wonderful attention to detail, seen in the subtly jagged edges of leather leaves.
The first hat pictured has the jaunty feel of a buccaneer's attire yet the romantic bloom is overwhelmingly feminine with layers of velvet and fine tulle. Cocktail straws are imaginatively used in ingenious formations akin to exploding fireworks. I adore the use of classic sophistication with fresh new techniques and designs at work in these hats!