The boutique will be open as usual for sales, commissions and appointments – it is getting very busy for weddings and races so please do allow yourselves plenty of time to get the beautiful hat for your special occasion.

Robyn Coles Millinery started as a spare room project making bespoke pieces for friends after my redundancy from a merchandising position at a famous London boutique. Just over a year later and we have shown twice at London Fashion Week (the first time was famously on completely nude models of varying shapes and sizes), taken on two assistants and opened our first boutique in a Victorian arcade in Cardiff.

We have succeeded as we offer a fairly rare product and service. Milliners are few and far between, we are the only milliners in Wales with visible retail premises where all products are made onsite. Bespoke fashion is also rare outside of Savile Row! We work with a wide range of clients; some know exactly what they want and we simply turn their millinery dreams into reality; some have only an outfit and we help them dream something up that suits them best.

We have made bridal headpieces incorporating the inherited jewellery of grandparents past, shaped giant lilies from foam paper using hair straighteners and created spirals by moulding around rolling pins.

Plans for 2013 include expansion with more stockists both in the UK and US. We may be just a small company but its with ideas like ours that big changes are made, changes which we hope will affect the way we shop, the way we produce and the way we do business.

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We spoke to Robyn about the shop and she told us: “I wanted to offer a very relaxed environment for people to come in, take a look, ask questions and try things on if they want to. I’ve literally brought my studio to the premises and passers by can see me making the hats and the whole process from design to finished product.

Working in the arcade has been brilliant so far as the other retailers have been so welcoming and I’ve had loads of shoppers also pop their head in to ask what’s going on and how long I’ll be there.”

If you fancy taking a look at milliners at work or trying on some of the wonderful creations, pop in before Christmas to 29 Castle Arcade, Cardiff. You can also visit www.robyncoles.co.uk for further information.

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1. Be comfortable
A hat is often a sign of someone with confidence, so if you feel awkward you will probably look awkward, try as many styles on as possible until you find your ideal piece.

2. You are a hat person
Contrary to some people thinking hats just don’t suit them, there really is a style out there for anyone and everyone.

3. Girls allowed
Traditional etiquette dictates it’s appropriate for women to wear hats inside a church, but it’s considered inappropriate for men. If a woman wears a hat into a theatre she may leave it on, unless it causes those behinds to strain their necks around it to see.

4. Keep the mystery
Men normally remove their hats when entering a building or reaching their destination.

Removed hats are to be held in hand in such a way that shows only the outside – the lining ought never be visible.

5. Shorter people can wear hats
It’s often more flattering to go for a headpiece with an upwards lift which will give a few extra inches to your height as opposed to a big formal hat with a downwards facing brim which can dwarf you.

6. Consider your face shape
Generally the following rules apply:

Square – Go for a wide-brimmed hat, particularly when worn at an angle or wearing the brim asymmetrically.

Wide – Try an ‘off the face’ style. Bretons or pillbox hats worn on the back of the head should all suit you.

Oval – Lucky you! This face shape can usually suit any hat. Wear hats straight across the brow or straight across your hairline. Make sure that the crown is never narrower than your cheekbones. This applies to all hat types.

Round – Bigger hats and those with brims worn at an angle.

Long – Brimmed, full hats. Tall narrow hats should be avoided.

7. Specs appeal
If you wear glasses, try wearing your hat with the brim turned up, as it’s more flattering. Brims that swoop up on one side and asymmetrical shapes will also complement your frames.

8. Hats can be used to disguise a hangover
Just team with sunglasses.

Extra large hats can be also used as a social barrier to avoid kissing people you dislike at weddings.

9. It’s not all-white
Wearing white to a wedding is generally bad etiquette and this does extend to hats and head pieces.

However, I’m of the opinion that as long as you aren’t top to toe in bridal colours it should be acceptable, just break it up with other colours.

It’s also advisable to check these aren’t the bridesmaids colours either.

10. Match the season
Wool and felt hats are to be worn from September to February, and straw and sinamay hats ought to be worn from March to August.

Robyn Coles is available for consultations at her new pop-up shop at 29 Castle Arcade, Cardiff.Open until December 24, bespoke hats are made on site and Robyn is also selling a new range of Welsh wool bobble hats.

That’s why meeting exquisite milliner Robyn Coles has been a true blessing. Robyn, a brilliant milliner, who has shown her creations at London Fashion Week, opened and launched her hat-studio-exhibition on Friday.

Within the charming Castle Arcades in Cardiff as its surroundings, Robyn’s studio will be this Winter’s most interesting attraction with the chance for visitors to come and learn more about Robyn’s fabulous hats.

Miss Squiggles was there to witness Robyn’s tremendous works on Friday and even had the chance to try a couple of hats and she will tell you this: the girl really knows how to work some ‘hat-magic’; but please have a look yourself by visiting her studio and exhibition at Castle Arcade, Cardiff, and don’t forget to send all my love.

Robyn has been working for the biggest names in fashion including Armani and Liberty before retraining as a milliner at the London College of Fashion.

Do you want to know more about Robyn and her amazing creations?

Have a look at her website: robyncoles.co.uk and join the hat-magic.

www.misssquiggles.com

She took to the catwalk at the White Rabbit Studio in Shoreditch, east London, with four other nude models, including actor and comedian Jeff Leach. Coles, 31, from Pontypool, South Wales, said she wanted to include Cahill, who is a friend from home, because it is rare to see pregnant women on the catwalk. “She was one person I knew would be more than happy to get her kit off. I thought it would be nice if she would be pregnant for the show. You never see that kind of thing in fashion.” Coles said it was important for her to use models of different shapes and sizes in her show, but admitted her main motivation for getting them naked was for publicity. “As an unknown designer you have to find ways of getting people to your show. I wanted to use different models and different sizes. I’m a big believer in that. With accessories like hats it doesn’t mater what size or shape you are.”

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Welsh fashion designer Robyn Coles took that advice to heart when choosing how catwalk models should show off her new range of headgear.

The models appeared at the White Rabbit Studio in Shoreditch, east London, in a naked procession that included actor and comedian Jeff Leach.

Coles’s friend and former Miss Wales Sophia Cahill helped out by joining in too, despite being eight months pregnant.

“Today, me n my baby strutted that catwalk head held high, no man was holding my hand…. #singlepregnantwomen,” she later said on Twitter.

She had previously promised: “I will be walking down that catwalk head held high! Middle finger held even higher!”

By contrast, comedian-turned-male-model-for-the-day Jeff Leach quipped: “Hope seeing me nude in The Metro this morning doesn’t put you off your muesli!

“Having said that, crime in the city is down 14% this morning!”

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And how better to ensure the fashionista’s focus rests solely on these stunning creations with no danger of distraction by scarves, sashes or shirts? Every model will be nude.

Because boobs wouldn’t be distracting at all. Anyway, because of a packed schedule we had to miss the show, but caught up with Coles via email afterwards. Here’s what she had to say about using naked models to showcase her hats:

Fashionista:
How long have you been designing hats?
Robyn Coles: I have only been a milliner since last summer, before that I was a buyer/merchandiser for brands such as Armani, Liberty and Browns. My career change came last year when I felt that I wanted to make my own creative contribution to the world of fashion. It is so rewarding to make something with your own hands and scary to be on the other side of the fence with regards to fashion selection.

Why naked models?
It’s a basic, honest publicity scam! As a new designer I want to get people to see my work and now. I hope that people who look at the show like the light-hearted choice of nudity, appreciate the different forms of the human body and above all – like my work. It was about getting as many people there as possible. Furthermore I like to think that it highlights the ease of accessories in that you don’t have to be a certain shape or size to wear a hat. It is always good to see diversity on the catwalk, and accessories is the best way to do that.

After the show did you get buyers who were interested in your work?
I already have a deal with a company called www.lovehats.com and they are selling the collection right now. I am also selling on my own website. I am having meetings with a few other buyers after Paris is done. I had a lot of press interest though!

How did you choose the models? In particular the pregnant one?
Sophia is a friend of mine and she has done a lot of pagentry and glamour modelling so is confident with her body, I also thought it was great bonus that she was pregnant as you never really see that on the catwalk. Jeff was another friend who is an all round fan of nudity, I knew that he would want to be involved. Then we cast some life drawing models such as Alex, the lady with the lovely long grey hair. She is Italian and so she has a wonderful air of confidence about her body. Then we had Katie who is a burlesque dance going by the name of Lady Cave. Again as she is a performer she is so confident about her body and they all were wonderful, when they came off stage they were so excited they all just wanted to do it again!

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Cheekily choosing to send out her models in nothing but their natural state of undress and of course her hats, the designer shamelessly (and really one must applaud her) set out to get as much press as possible for her daring.

Opined the designer: ‘As an unknown designer you have to find ways of getting people to your show. I wanted to use different models and different sizes. I’m a big believer in that. With accessories like hats it doesn’t mater what size or shape you are.’

All the hats are felt for autumn/winter so they are ideal for winter weddings and races. Winter hats don’t have to be monochrome.’

With 4 models being used for the show, including the actor and comedian Jeff Leach (and of course you can see the humor in all of this….) one of the models who was reportedly more than happy to participate was the very pregnant former Miss Wales, Sophia Cahill.

With Ms Cahill well into the final trimester of her pregnancy, the designer is said to have wanted to include Cahill because it is so rare to ever see pregnant women on the catwalk.

Reflected Ms Coles: “She was one person I knew would be more than happy to get her kit off.

“I thought it would be nice she would be pregnant for the show. You never see that kind of thing in fashion.”

No word whether next years collection will be shown naked yet….

www.callywagandvagabond.com

Glamour model and former Miss Wales Sophia Cahill appeared at Welsh milliner Robyn Coles’ debut show wearing nothing but a series of striking hats.

She took to the catwalk at the White Rabbit Studio in Shoreditch, east London, with four other nude models, including actor and comedian Jeff Leach.

Coles, 31, from Pontypool, South Wales, said she wanted to include Cahill, who is a friend from home, because it is rare to see pregnant women on the catwalk.

‘She was one person I knew would be more than happy to get her kit off. I thought it would be nice she would be pregnant for the show. You never see that kind of thing in fashion.’

Coles said it was important for her to use models of different shapes and sizes in her show, but admitted her main motivation for getting them naked was for publicity.

‘As an unknown designer you have to find ways of getting people to your show. I wanted to use different models and different sizes. I’m a big believer in that. With accessories like hats it doesn’t mater what size or shape you are.’

In the show Cahill sported three peacock blue hats, all with blue and maroon adornments.

Coles said: ‘All the hats are felt for autumn/winter so they are ideal for winter weddings and races. Winter hats don’t have to be monochrome.’

The designer would not confirm if her future shows would feature fully nude models, merely saying: ‘I’ve got loads of stupid ideas for next time.

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