Headonism: A Millinery Showcase at London Fashion Week

While style bloggers and their preening subjects worked eccentric looks on the courtyard, in one corner of London Fashion Week’s Somerset House, attention was focused firmly above the neck. Headonism is a showcase of millinery hosted by Royal Ascot- and is designed to draw attention to the sculptural art of hat making.

The show is curated by Stephen Jones, who told us he considered it an “honour to be able to invite talented young designers [including Charlie le Mindu, Piers Atkinson, J Smith Esq, William Chambers and Noel Stewart] to be here. Really I think they see me as an old father.” Jones has worked with nearly every leading light of the fashion industry in his long career- frequently collaborating with Alexander McQueen, John Galliano, Giles and Marc Jacobs to produce millinery to compliment their collections, and has just returned from New York where he designed the hats for Victoria Beckham’s show. Having seen the popularity of millinery wax and wane throughout his career, Jones feels that “hats are really having a moment” thanks to the pioneering designs of Charlie le Mindu and Piers Atkinson (who were both present). And also because of the simple pleasure, and enduring appeal of a piece of decorative headwear “People love having and seeing hats. Why aren’t there more hatshops?!”

‘Haute Coiffeur’ designer (and former hairdresser) Charlie le Mindu, who makes extraordinary hats out of hairpieces, told us about his plans to return to his roots, literally, with a new hair salon in Harrods this Spring. He will showcase both his cutting skills and his hat collection in store- and hopes to be open by April.

Headonism will be on at Somerset House for the duration of fashion week (until the 22nd). Stephen Jones’s hats are available at Dover Street Market and his store.

Photography by Jiro Hsu