Piers Atkinson’s

Designer update

Piers Atkinson’s Hat Voodoo

September 20, 2011

Since launching his line of tongue-in-cheek toppers in 2008, London-based milliner Piers Atkinson has become the go-to hatter for fashion insiders (Anna Dello Russo), princesses (Beatrice and Eugenie), and pop stars (Lady Gaga and Rihanna) alike. Last night at London’s Sanderson Hotel, Atkinson, who’s also recently released a Topshop range, debuted his Spring collection to the likes of stylist Anna Trevelyan and artist Andrew Logan, both of whom are longtime friends and collaborators.

“The inspiration was really to celebrate the people who work backstage in the theater,” said Atkinson, whose mother used to design hats for the Royal Opera. “The other side of the inspiration was the jungle and sweaty, sexy, fabulous women.” Playing with the kitschy glamour found in Hollywood’s interpretation of exotic places, Atkinson’s collection was aptly named Hot Voodoo. To the beat of bongo drums, models took to the plastic palm-covered stage wearing a mini straw beret adorned with hot pink glitter-dusted parrot feathers, a purple leather pillbox finished with a plastic passion flower, and a turquoise ostrich-feather number that looked like the mane of some tropical breed of lion. On the safer side was an oversized fuchsia fedora and a floppy flower-embellished sun hat. Each look was paired with platform Charlotte Olympia shoes in juicy hues, as well as punchy tribal bathing suits by the ever zany Zandra Rhodes. And the finale hat, worn by singer Paloma Faith in her modeling debut, was a dazzling Swarovski-drenched version of the designer’s signature cherries.

“I love Piers’ hats because they’re just mad expressions,” said a pink-haired Rhodes. “They’re fabulous frivolity.”

—Katharine K. Zarrella

Photo: Courtesy of Piers Atkinson

tags: Piers Atkinson, Swarovski