Hats on Statues!

Let's be honest, only the British would think of doing something like Hatwalk. Anywhere else surely it would be sacrilege or an affront to national history, but no, in Britain this is art, displayed in all its quirky, playful glory. Whoever thought of the idea to gather together some talented milliners and ask them to design hats to place on the bronze heads of British history's monarchs, generals and literary figures was inspired. Then to put this on for 4 short days during the Olympics, when the world's eyes are on London... Utterly barmy, eccentric and terribly British but a fantastic demonstration of where art meets fashion.

Not wanting to miss this, I of course went on my own Hatwalk. Sadly the First was down to Bank station one lunchtime to see the 1st Duke of Wellington, fabulously attired in a Union Jack hat with tricolore feathers designed by Ian Bennett and was inspired by the Duke's bicorn hat:

Then the next day it was to a buzzing Trafalgar Square. Bradley Wiggins had just won Gold for GB, but I was there for the hats. George IV and his horse looked quite wonderful in their gold crowns designed by Stephen Jones, well suited to both statue and the day's events:

Here is George IV again, this time looking onto Nelson, high atop his column:

Then further down was Major General Sir Henry Havelock, with his Philip Treacy-designed headwear:

The comment by Philip Treacy on the Hatwalk site explaining this creation is brilliant and quite lovely how he wants to 'cheer up' the stern Major General:

"He was a rather forbidding and fierce character and I really felt he could do with some cheering up: especially since he sits in Trafalgar Square which in the build up to the games has been the focus of pre-olympic excitement. I thought he needed a hat that placed him at the heart of the celebrations rather than on the outside, looking on, sternly."

 On the other side of the square stands General Sir Charles James Napier who was wearing my favourite hat. The stunning and delicate design by Sophie Beale was inspired by Napier's adventures at sea with a flowing shape reminiscent of tumbling waves and images of birds in aquatic colours:

Finally, standing aloft above the square is Nelson. He wore a patriotic and Olympic themed hat by Lock & Co a company with a grand tradition who, interestingly enough, are the company who made Nelson's original hat in the early 19th Century:

Apparently, the event was commissioned by the Mayor of London, who we all know is an awfully shy and retiring chap. If anyone else got to see this short-lived exhibition and saw any of the other many hats around London, do let me know what they were like!