Some commissions carry a little extra sparkle, a touch of serendipity that makes them unforgettable. Jackie’s was one of those.
She came to me for a Coquette pillbox to complete her outfit for a wedding in beautiful Bled. The challenge — and the joy — was to create a hat that would harmonise with her Lottie dress by Celia B in collaboration with none other than Zandra Rhodes. Zandra has long been one of my fashion idols, so being entrusted with this task felt profoundly special. It was as if the threads of my own inspirations were weaving their way into Jackie’s story.
The pillbox itself became a joyful echo of the dress — picking up all its colours, so that hat and gown spoke to each other in perfect harmony. It was playful, bold, and utterly Jackie.
The wedding day itself was a rain-soaked celebration, but Jackie shone all the brighter. She later told me, “My hat and dress made me feel like the Belle of the Ball. The official videographer told me he’d only ever seen those hats in the movies and how eye-catching it was.” Even in the downpour, her ensemble radiated joy and colour — so much so that she won applause from passing tourists.
When Jackie sent me her photographs afterwards, I was deeply moved. She looked utterly glorious. This is the heart of what I do: not just making hats, but helping someone step into a moment of confidence, elegance, and delight. Or as Jackie put it herself: “Your beautiful creativity should be shown off. I brought a lot of colour and smiles to a very rainy but loving day.”
And that, truly, is all I could ever hope for.
