Salisbury lives Madeleine O’Mahony
LOCAL HAT MAESTRO MADELEINE TALKS STYLE ICONS, HIDDEN TALENTS AND JUBILEE CELEBRATIONS
Q. Where’s home? A. Home is Shaftesbury but I spent most of my life in Fordingbridge so I call that home too. Q. Is there anywhere else you’d rather be? A. I really love the desert so probably somewhere in New Mexico driving along Route 66. Q. Share a favourite spot in the area... A. Wardour Castle is one of my favourite local places because it is so rich in history, and Groveley Wood in Wilton in bluebell season is absolutely beautiful. Q. Where are your favourite places to eat in Salisbury? A. The Rai D’or or Thai Orchid for delicious Thai meals, and the Compasses Inn in Chicksgrove is a traditional English pub that serves fantastic food. I have also discovered Coffee Darling in Wilton – a lovely coffee shop that sells great lunches and local crafts. Q. Tell us about what you do… A. I design and make hats, headpieces and bridal veils. All the designs are handmade in my studio in Fordingbridge, and I offer a bespoke colour matching service to complement any outfit. I sell to
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boutiques around the country and to local clients from my studio. I get to design, sew and create all day, which I absolutely love! Q. What’s the most exciting thing about your job? A. I love seeing photos of my pieces being worn at special occasions – and it’s very exciting to see Kate and Pippa Middleton wearing my designs. Q. Who would you most like to design a hat for? A. I’d love to design a hat for artist and Guinness heir Daphne Guinness. She is incredibly stylish and avant garde and is completely confident wearing a totally outrageous hat! Q. Do you have any other hidden talents? A. I used to play the piano, violin and oboe, but it’s been a few years since I last played and I’m probably a bit rusty now. I’m also pretty good at making chutney! Q. Top celebrity style icon? A. I love Vivienne Westwood. Not only is she a brilliant fashion designer, she is totally unique and follows her own trends in her own idiosyncratic style. Q. How do you relax? A. I love to walk around the
Top: Madeleine’s ‘Lydia’ hat Middle: The Compasses Inn in Chicksgrove Bottom: Wardour Castle
local countryside, and I exercise at Hudson’s Field every week, which is relaxing even though it doesn’t sound like it! I also design and screen print my own textiles – I studied it at university and have loved it ever since. Q. Have you got any plans to celebrate the diamond jubilee? A. We have a VW campervan and will be driving around the country visiting family and friends and enjoying the celebrations! In the run-up I’ll also be hosting jubilee ‘How to Wear Hats’ talks, with an emphasis on the history of hats during the last century. The talks will also include a chance for ladies to try on my hats and headpieces, to learn which colours and shapes suit them, and to feel confident and comfortable wearing them. [‘How to Wear Hats’ at Salisbury Playhouse, 18 May. Tickets £5 inc lunch. Call 07793 502730] Q. What would be you be doing if you weren’t answering these questions? A. Cutting out individual leather butterflies by hand. They’re for a bespoke headpiece that is being worn by a lady to Buckingham Palace next month. Q. What books are on your bedside table? A. I’ve just started reading Game of Thrones by George R.R Martin – it’s a really big book so it will take me a while to finish! I also have Hats: an Anthology. I was given it as a gift during an exhibition at the Victoria & Albert Museum in London at which I was lucky enough to assist the Selfridges millinery buyers during a ‘How to Wear Hats’ talk. It’s written by milliner Stephen Jones who has designed hats for John Galliano and Jean Paul Gaultier and it’s full of pictures of amazing hat designs. Q. Who would you like to play you in a film of your life? A. Maggie Gyllenhaal – she seems quite normal! Q. Surprise us... A. I collect Mexican religious artifacts and British royal memorabilia!
madeleinemillinery.com
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