You can’t call a hat a chapeau if it hasn’t been bought from an atelier. You must visit an atelier, whether you are in London or Paris, to learn about coq feather mountings, vintage blushers and Lily of the Valley Sprays. Chic side-perchers, and other elegant headpieces.
VV Rouleaux The corner of Marylebone Lane & Belstrode Street has opened an atelier for bespoke work. It is the place to go for £419 pillboxes and Royal Ascot-worthy raised halos in Sinamay. The London haberdashery is known for its embellishments and trimmings, and now it’s bringing its magic to last-minute occasions and summer dressing. Experts can design, create, and deliver a beautiful bespoke hat design within 3-5 days and will also be offering a Ready To Wear edit of over 100 handmade hats designed by VV Rouleaux’s Creative Director and founder Annabel Lewis.
“I am inspired by color and texture and am surrounded by 8,000 ribbons and trims whether it flowers, feathers, braids, tassels, crystals, and vintage bits and bobs. There is nothing I love more than discovering vintage veiling or beautiful passementerie in the VV Chapeaux Archive boxes. Some pieces are from 1950’. I am also inspired by decorative bits used on tassels and furniture in historic houses and castles and Châteaux”.
Annabel opened her textiles and trimmings shop back in 1990. The name VV Rouleaux comes from the French word “rouleau,” which means “a small roll or coil of material.”
Says Annabel; “We pride ourselves on our unique selection of ribbons and trims, sourced from all over the world. Whether you’re looking for something delicate and feminine or bold and graphic, we have it. And our fabrics, tassels, pom-poms, feathers, and other decorative elements are just as inspiring.”
You can now order a custom-made hat in as little as 3 days. Choose from over 30 hat shapes and then adorn with VV Rouleaux’s vintage and exclusive handmade embellishments. The atelier uses feathers, silk and Velvet flowers, crinoline net, ribbons and gems. Ribbons in over 50 colours and 8 widths are available. They come in silk satin, velvet, and pure grosgrain.
VV Chapeaux is able to create unique and extraordinary hats, without the need for a lengthy fitting process. Its Ready to Wear Collection has wide brims and headbands. Miss Lewis Individually design the base. Highlights from this year’s collection include the ‘Del Mar Deb’ The stunning bouquet is made of Swiss braid straw, with Italian sequined Anthurium flowers hand-stitched from the 1980s. ‘Scabious Lilac Gloire’
There is also the Kingfisher Madge’s Bow made with handmade 1980’s velvet petal leaves and named after milliner, Madge Chard, who mentored Annabel’s mother.
Black Tango Noir (£565) is finished with wisps of black burnt peacock feathers. The £495 Pink Impatience Comete has a polished, shimmering Abalone shell surrounded by two diamond-cut spiked feather mounts.
The atelier offers customers the opportunity to try on the collection and leave with a hat exclusive the same day. The collection can also be ordered online.