Interview with talented milliner Olivia Roat!
With the wedding season finally here and the weather being unbelievably gorgeous it’s time to start thinking of outfits to wear to these special occasions! If you want to stand out from the crowd and make a fashion statement the perfect hat is the place to start. Now I have recently come across Olivia Roat Millinery, and I have to say I am in love with the pieces! Based in London this young, extremely talented designer creates hats like no other! Extremely creative it’s amazing where her inspiration takes her!
Olivia has two collections – Couture and Ready-To-Wear so there are an array of beautiful designs to admire from classically simple pieces to weirdly extravagant divine pieces!
Her Spring/Summer 2010 Collection is hand made and designed from her Chelsea based studio using traditional techniques with a mixture of gorgeous jewels, leather, feathers and glitter. Trained by Philip Treacy, Olivia launched her first collection last summer and was snapped up by the designer Grachvogel.
I was even extremely lucky to get to interview the talented and amazing designer…
Jamie: What made you decide to start a career in millinery?
Olivia: I have always loved the fashion world but had studied sculpture and presumed that was what I would end up doing. It all changed when I went to a wedding and at that time I was living next to this Aladdin’s cave of a trimmings shop. I made myself something to wear in my hair and people kept asking where I got it from and that was it really. I had happened upon a career that seemed to encompass the best of both worlds.
Jamie: Where do you get your inspiration from when designing a new collection?
Olivia: Everything and anything really – from architecture to cake shop windows. I saw an amazing piece of graffiti art in Southwark that had entwining multi coloured swirls – it was really beautiful. I often go to exhibitions. My mother used to be an interior designer so there were always wallpaper samples lurking about when I was young and I still look at things like that now.
Jamie: We’d love to know more about your Spring/Summer 2010 collection, could you tell us more about it?
Olivia: It was really about designing pieces that would make women feel they are wearing something different and new. That they stand out from the crowd whilst also giving them a feeling of elegance, femininity and confidence. Hopefully I achieved some of that. I was really inspired by nature for this collection - natural forms and feminine curves.
Jamie: What’s been your most extravagant piece you have made so far in terms of materials and price?
Olivia: It would probably be a jewelled tree, it was made from bound gold wire and is dripping in crystals, it retails at £800. It took hours, cost a lot and left me with lots of cuts on my hands and arms from the wire!
Jamie: If you could design a hat for any celebrity who would it be and why?
Olivia: I would love to design for Florence Welch, she has stunning hair and is so very statuesque and stylish. I would also love to make a piece for Helena Bonham Carter in a Tim Burton film. I think she would look great in something really dark and opulent.
Jamie: Your couture pieces are breathtakingly beautiful. How long does it take you to create just one of these pieces?
Olivia: That’s very kind, thank you. It really depends, nearly all the couture pieces take quite a long time. I usually have a few on the go at the same time but a day or two at the most.
Jamie: What has been your favourite piece you’ve created since you started your brand Olivia Roat Millinery?
Olivia: I made a gold leather Viking helmet with gold wings coming from it. I think that has to be my favourite, usually I go off everything I make pretty quickly but I still quite like that one.
Jamie: Who is your favourite milliner designer and why?
Olivia: That’s a tricky one as I really admire a few milliners but probably Noel Stewart, he is very experimental with materials ands I think his designs are really exciting, very modern and urban.
Jamie: Which country do you think has the best style in hats?
Olivia: I genuinely think Britain has the best collection of milliners and as far as wearing hats to weddings and the races I think the British, when they get it right are one the most adventurous and elegant although in Paris I saw a wonderful Parisian woman wearing a cape with red nails holding a cigarette, topped off by a chic little pillbox and not much beats that look.
Jamie: What advice would you give to someone who wanted to start a career in millinery?
Olivia: Do as much work experience as possible – it’s absolutely invaluable.
Jamie: Tell us what the future has in store for Olivia Roat Millinery?
Olivia: A few memorable hats I hope!!
Prices range from £120 to £800.
www.oliviaroat.com
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