Top tips for wedding headwear

With the Royal Wedding just days away, we've enlisted the advice of top milliner Louis Mariette to give us his top tips for how to rock the perfect hat

With wedding fever gripping the fashion desk (just who will be designing Kate's dress?), our minds are wandering to the rest of the wedding party, what the guests will be wearing and the all important headgear.

It only takes one look at Ladies' Day at the Races to know that a hat can make or break an outfit. With this is mind, who better to give us hot headwear tips than Louis Mariette, the official milliner of the Investec Derby 2011.

1. Proportion - 'It is critical that you are totally honest about your dimensions and if possible, have a friend to give feedback on your outfit,' says Mariette. Royal Wedding guests should bear in mind that 300+ fashion journalists will be analysing their every fashion statement - you have been warned! If you are petite, a huge, wide-brimmed hat may be overpowering so go for a smaller style or a fascinator instead.

2. Angle - 'The simplest tilt of a hat can give the theatrical expression needed to finish off a look. A tilted brim angled over one eye can give a mysterious, fun and flirtacious look bringing out an extrovert side of your personality.' Helpful if trying to catch the eye of a certain younger prince...

3. Hair - 'Women invest enormous time and money in our hair so our headwear should showcase this - rather than hide it!' Make sure your headgear's not going to leave you with the dreaded 'hat hair' if you have to take it off later and get your locks looking gorgeous.

4. Embellishment - 'Think about the dress, shoes and handbag and also how the elements of an outfit can be incorporated into your headpiece. This can range from silk flowers to crystals and pearls.'

5.Security - 'No ladies, this isn't a call for a bodyguard, but hairgrips! Inevitably a gust of wind will seize upon your wide-brimmed beauty on the big day and carry it off into oblivion unless you make provisions in advance and secure the damn thing safely on your head.' Given the typical British bank holiday weather, a mini can of Elnett is also a sound investment.

So there you have it ladies - top tips from the man of headwear himself. So whether you are heading to the races, attending the Royal Wedding (Ed: I'm still waiting for my invitation...) or attending your own imaginary living room Royal wedding, there's no excuse for a sartorial disaster.

Friends of Kate, are you reading?

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