Hats off to Lord Nelson’s new hat

Been to Trafalgar Square recently? Then you may have clocked Lord Nelson’s new headgear.

Lock & Co, the oldest milliners in London, established in 1676, and famed for making Nelson’s original bicorn hat, has created an updated version complete with Olympic torch as a nod to a summer like no other in London.

Nelson is one of 20 iconic statues from William Shakespeare to Winston Churchill, currently starring in the Hatwalk millinery extravaganza across London.

Curated by world renowned British milliners, Stephen Jones and Philip Treacy, Hatwalk brings together 21 emerging and established designers to showcase British millinery at its very best, in partnership with BT, Grazia magazine, the British Fashion Council and the London 2012 Festival.

General Sir Henry Havelock by Philip Treacy

Nelson’s neighbours have also been given a makeover. Philip Treacy, best known for his catwalk collaborations with Alexander McQueen and design for Princess Beatrice at last year’s Royal Wedding at Westminster Abbey has crowned the British General Sir Henry Havelock with a headpiece inspired by the juxtaposition between old and new.

King George IV atop his horse by Stephen Jones

While across the square, millinery great Stephen Jones, famous for collaborating with international fashion houses including Versace and Jean Paul Gaultier has restyled King George IV with a golden-domed design inspired by the luxurious Brighton Pavilion.

General Sir Charles James Napier by newcomer Sophie Beale

The art of millinery is one of the great British crafts and has undergone resurgence in recent years, as British designers; including Philip Treacy and Stephen Jones continue to dominate the catwalks on a global scale.

Here’s milliner Stephen Jones talking about Hatwalk yesterday at BT House in Hyde Park and giving a little sneak preview of what fashion might feature in the Closing Ceremony of the Games:

Once the fantastic display has finished all of the hats will be auctioned off to raise money for the Mayor’s Fund for good causes. To find out more about all the hats visit the Grazia website.

In the meantime, come and view the complete collection of all the hats – life-sized copies of the headwear on the 20 statues – at BT House, BT London Live in Hyde Park during the Games.

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