Mad hatters - some "stylish" hat creations

Following the royal wedding's unique outfits, here are some of the best ever hat creations.


Royal ridicule: Princess Beatrice and Princess Eugenie arrive at Westminster Abbey in their much-mocked Philip Treacy hats.

The mad hatter strikes again: On another occasion, Princess Beatrice, puts on a brave face while an angry swarm of butterflies attacks the side of her head. Where’s a royal protection officer when you need one? 

Meanwhile, an explosion of white feathers on a young girl could look sweet, but the sweep of felt underneath is harsh and looks like it is sawing Princess Eugenie's head in two.

Is it wise for Tara Palmer-Tomkinson to draw attention to her new nose with this harsh blue arrow which cuts her face in two and points straight at those cocaine-ravaged nostrils?

Once again, Treacy doesn't know when to call it a day, adding twirling twigs and gothic flowers to Victoria Beckham's perfectly neat satin pill box.

What do you get when you cross a small cowpat with a pair of yellow butterflies, a sickly green rose and a clump of brown chicken feathers? No, I don't think Sarah Jessica Parker knew either. 

Jade Parfitt confirms her membership of the Addams Family by allowing The Thing to take a rest on top of her head.

Over-the-top: No wonder Beyonce looks a little nervous posing next to this Frosty The Snowman face-framer. The feathers look sharp enough to take one of her eyes out if Lady Gaga makes any sudden moves.

Bird-brained idea: With pheasant feathers sprouting like angry snakes from a too-small crown, this asymmetric black straw saucer manages to make Jodie Kidd's face look absolutely gigantic. A technically clever hat which, like so many of Treacy's other efforts, doesn't even attempt to make the wearer look pretty.

There's far too much going on with this headwear. Naomi Campbell in plunging black leather doesn't need a white lace titfer with foot-long feathers sprouting all over it to draw attention to herself.

When you are dressing someone with features as mesmeric as Sophie Dahl's, it is criminal to distract the eye with hundreds of little dots and dashes in front of her face. This hat's wearing her, not the other way round.

Swamped: The Duchess of Cornwall shows off her deportment while balancing an upside-down jellyfish on her head. It's another example of the milliner showing off his skills and forgetting there's a face underneath.

Unflattering: Why is Sophie Wessex wearing one of Shrek's molars on her head? In this instance, the pheasant feathers are useful to indicate that this is a hat. The colour is almost deliberately ugly.

Hope you liked our selection of these so called "stylish" hats.

Kate Middleton designs her royal wedding dress

Kate Middleton has vowed to reveal nothing about her wedding dress until the moment she enters Westminster Abbey on Friday week. However, rumours are saying that she has actually designed it herself. The 29-year-old, who briefly worked for the High Street chain Jigsaw, has a keen interest in fashion. And as soon as her engagement was announced she took it upon herself to start creating her dream frock before she went to an established dressmaker to put her ideas into practice. 

Kate Middleton in a Sophie Cranston
coat at a wedding in January

According to one impeccably-placed source, Kate has taken inspiration from her History of Art degree – particularly the Renaissance period, as she studied in Florence during her gap year. She has also included what is described as a ‘nod’ to the iconic Emanuel wedding dress worn by Lady Diana Spencer, but has avoided including any of its ‘flounce’.

Yesterday Sophie Cranston, of the low-key label Libelula, was tipped as the creator of the wedding dress. The bride-to-be stepped out in one of Miss Cranston’s vintage-inspired coats at a wedding in January, causing speculation that she might be in the running. 

Design 1 from the Libelula
bespoke bridal collection

Design 2 from the Libelula
bespoke bridal collection

The gown in question is under lock and key at Clarence House. Rumours are saying that it is ivory satin and lace, with a pearl button detail and a 10ft train. One friend in the know said: ‘All we have been told is that the dressmaker is fairly unknown and from a relatively small design house. But make no mistake, whoever’s name emerges on the day, this is very much Catherine’s dress.’ Although he has been kept in the dark about the gown, William has agreed with Kate that she can auction it for charity after the big day, with the proceeds going to a range of charities including the Prince’s Trust.

Friends have also revealed that Kate plans to wear diamond-and- pearl earrings on the day, although it is not known if they are new or family heirlooms. She will borrow other pieces of jewellery from the Queen including, it is believed, a dazzling tiara. As for shoes, Kate was recently seen in the VIP shopping area of Selfridges London store along with her mother, Carole, and sister, Pippa, surrounded by a heap of stilettoes by designer brand Gina.

Buckingham Palace declined  to comment yesterday on  suggestions that William and Kate will become the Duke and Duchess of Strathearn. The title, which refers to an area of Perthshire and once belonged to Queen Victoria’s father, has not been in use since 1943. Tradition dictates that senior members of the Royal Family have a Scottish as well as an English title to cement the union of the two nations. As well as being Duke of Cornwall, Prince Charles is also Duke of Rothesay.

David Beckham makes a rare appearance as a cover boy

He normally leaves the magazine shoots up to his fashionista wife Victoria. But footballer David Beckham made a rare appearance as a 'cover boy' for men's glossy Fantastic Man. The 35-year-old poses for the glossy a shoot by Alasdair McLellan at a pie and mash shop in David's native East London.

Just an East End boy: David Beckham poses in a pie shop for the new issue of Fantastic Man magazine

However, unlike his racy shots for Armani underwear and his fragrance ads, David is fully-clothed, dressed head-to-toe in designer gear. In the accompanying interview, the father-of-three speaks about his love for the traditional Cockney dish. He said: 'Being an East End boy, I do miss my pie and mash. 'I’ve been living out of England for the last eight or nine years. Whenever I can get down there, I get down there.'

Dapper: Beckham sips a cup of tea and reads the paper for a moody shot

Beckham posted a sneak peek of the images on his official Facebook page, which has over 8.7million followers. He wrote: 'Check out the Spring / Summer cover of Fantastic Man Magazine, which hits the shops next week.. Will post a few pictures from inside as well, hope you like...  

Cover boy: The shoot marks one of David's rare magazine cover appearances

David and his wife Victoria revealed earlier this month they were expecting a baby girl - a sister for their three sons. It is believed the couple found out recently when Victoria had her 20 week scan. She is due in July. The Beckhams will attend the Royal Wedding next month before heading back to Los Angeles for their daughter’s birth. This is one of Victoria’s biggest problems at the moment - what will she wear? What does a six-months pregnant woman wear to the royal wedding?