The hat is invaluable and is set to become even more so next spring when wedding trends will centre around more restrained, slender silhouettes, topped off with the hat itself.

As Monsieur Dior once said, ‘A hat is essential to any outfit. It completes it. In a way, a hat is the best way to express your personality’.

Captivating, magical and elegant, the hat is an invaluable ally at the wedding ceremony, though it should be worn preferably in the morning, never after 5pm and, most importantly, only if the mother of the bride is also wearing one. Carrying it off is all about attitude, a play on proportions depending on your height and the circumference of the hat. The wearer needs to feel at ease, while the hat should not ‘obstruct’ other guests or hide them in group photos. Whether masculine and refined with a flower, complete with Hollywood-style wide brim, in straw if the wedding is in the country, or a fascinator for more formal occasions, the hat must suit the dress though need not necessarily coordinate and should accompany rather than contrast. This year’s ceremony wear trends favour bright colours, including all shades of blue, from powder to aquamarine, hot pink as well as classic gold and silver, but also take inspiration from the garden, with bouquet-patterned silk and dresses that feature oversized floral designs. Silhouettes range from the flowing sheath to the more 50s style dress, with a pinched waist, generous skirt, and midi-length hemline. All created in wispy, lightweight, ethereal materials to be worn together with the all-important hat. The pairing works even better because the season will see a focus on shoulders, which also have a decorative function, while doing away almost completely with collars, thus giving the hat free reign.

Giuliana Parabiago