At the drop of a hat

DOWN one of the prettiest streets in London’s Belgravia, in the most enchanting shop window of all, dramatic, contoured hats adorned with feathers and curlicues sit just so atop blank-faced mannequins.

The tiny shop has drawn clients from all over the world. Supermodels, celebrities and royalty have all made the pilgrimage here. Philip Treacy’s creations reside in the V&A Museum in London and the Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York. His client list rivals that of any couture house, from Lady Gaga (whose lobster and telephone hats he made) to the landed gentry. Yet, here, you’re as likely to find an ordinary mother-of-the-bride who’s come up to town seeking the hat that will make her fabulous for the special day.

By coincidence, Mr Treacy’s most high-profile client came for a fitting this morning. When I