SCRATCHING your head trying to seek out a must-have hat for the Ebor festival?

Well look no further than Abbie Clark’s stunning collection, some of which we feature today. And if you want proof of her credentials, Abbie, a working mum from Ulleskelf with four children, has made it to the final 12 of a national millinery competition with one of her hats on the theme of 1950s glamour.

The hat has also been chosen for a calendar to raise money for brain tumour research.

The creation is a fetching little ‘cocktail’ number in pink felt, and was designed for a client to wear at London Fashion Week. Abbie says her influence came from the flowers in her client’s dress.

“Millinery can be a lonely profession, so to have my work recognised in this way is a real accolade,” she says. “The hat was commented on in a number of blogs after the show, and to have it selected for the calendar is a really nice feeling.”

Abbie produces about 40 hats a year in her studio at home and specialises in designs for weddings, christenings, or a day at the races.

Having four children means she must work around them, and that usually means crafting during the evenings – when they have gone to bed.

She only uses traditional techniques which, together with innovative designs, allow her to produce spectacular pieces of contemporary headwear. “You tend to work on a small scale and for me the real delight is to see my design in context,” she adds. “When a client finally wears it with her dress and accessories, rather than just seeing them on a coat hanger.”

The most unusual designs Abbie produces are undoubtedly wedding day hats; hats designed to stand out from the crowd. But she does subtle too and one of hers was selected for the top 20 ring at last year’s Ebor festival.

So if you want to get ahead get a hat, as the old saying goes. And with one of Abbie’s unique designs, who knows, it might be you in the ring of hats at next month’s races.

• Designs by Abbie. Phone: 01937 531559 info@designsbyabbie.com