Get ahead in one of fashion’s most fascinating dilemmas...

DUST OFF YOUR BRIMS because it’s officially hat season. Summer is here and with it comes weddings, garden parties, communions and race day soirées. All come with their own set of dress codes but the eternal question remains: what should you wear on your head?

For many, a big, statement headpiece that has the power to transform your outfit and obstruct someone’s view in equal measure is the only accessory they’ll invest in. For others, a relatively more affordable fascinator works perfectly for them.

Our relationship with fascinators has somewhat soured over the years. Philip Treacy once said the name sounded like ‘a dodgy sex toy’ when he announced their demise. He has designed headpieces for everyone from Lady Gaga to Grace Jones so he knows what he’s talking about. But despite his distaste for them, I still believe that there is a desire for them. Not the mass-produced sort that look like they have been wedged together with a glue gun, I’m talking about the ones designed with beautiful chic lines that instantly elevate your look into something special.

A real hat is a statement of intent. They require time, work and love, not to mention a lot of ribbon and, for some, physics. Hatters and milliners are architects and what they create often surpasses our wildest imagination. But sometimes even the most beautifully made hat can look like overkill.

A fascinator, on the other hand, is a softer way of saying I’ve made an effort. Remember, it all depends on the quality and execution. The fascinator on the high street will rarely deliver what you want it to but the bespoke version that’s been precisely thought out to enhance the angles and contours of your face is the one you want to be seen in.

The only difference between them is the construction and size but that all depends on the millinery. For bespoke Irish, Roscommon designer Martha Lynn’s architectural pieces (above right) continuously push boundaries, as do those of Carlow native Laura Kinsella, whose romantic headpieces (above left) are so cleverly made, they work with everything. Both are now stocked in So Collective at Kildare Village.

If you want something quirky and creative but don’t have hundreds to spend, Arnotts has jumped on the bespoke bandwagon and now stocks Irish designer Aoife Kirwan. In the Powerscourt Centre, Leitrim milliner Jennifer Wynne stocks her headpieces, while across the road, Om Diva always supports local Irish artists and you often find one-off headpieces and hats that are much more than a handful of feathers sewn on to a base. For vintage finds, sisters Caroline and Cathy in Dirty Fabulous are by appointment only but they’ll whip something special together for you depending on your taste.

A fascinator is a softer way of saying I’ve made an effort