"I love hats; I love putting hats on. They are artwork."
— Zara Tindall
When a member of the Royal Family calls hats "artwork," it carries weight. Tindall has worn hats to some of the most photographed events in the world, from Royal Ascot to family weddings to Olympic events, and her appreciation for millinery is genuine.
The comparison to artwork is apt. Like a painting or a sculpture, a great hat involves composition, colour, texture, and form. It is designed to be seen, to provoke a response, and to create beauty. The difference is that this artwork sits on your head and goes wherever you go.
I love that Tindall says "putting hats on" with such enthusiasm. There is a ritual to it. The moment of positioning, the adjustment in the mirror, the smile that follows. It is one of the small pleasures of getting dressed, and it deserves to be savoured.
"Every hat that leaves my studio is a small artwork. It is sculpted, finished, and signed with the same care as any piece in a gallery."
— Kathryn Lee
Did You Know?
Zara Tindall, born Zara Phillips, is the granddaughter of Queen Elizabeth II and an accomplished equestrian in her own right. She won a silver medal at the 2012 London Olympics in team eventing. Her down-to-earth approach to royal life extends to her fashion: she favours bold, well-made hats that show genuine personality rather than following a formula.
