Well versed in the art of millinery is Sarah Valentine of Scarlett Valentine who, from her atelier at the heart of the Suffolk countryside in Great Bricett, delights in creating unique and stylish pieces to adorn the heads of brides, bridesmaids and wedding guests.

Sarah started not in fashion, however, but in computers, working at Suffolk County Council, then for a London firm in Hong Kong. She said:

“While working at Suffolk County Council I did a millinery course for leisure really at Suffolk College with Roger Pooler. I chose it because it was unusual and I was always, as a young girl, into arts and fashion. I decided to give up formal work and went to study at the London College of Fashion, taking a course that specialized in millinery.”

Her favourite part of the process, says Sarah, is making the structures and choosing the fabrics: “It’s not just about sewing two pieces of fabric together – you have to have a lightness of touch.”

Sarah has now spent the last 20 years making hats, launching Scarlett Valentine over a year ago.

A particular source of inspiration for the designer is famed milliner Philip Treacy: “His designs are so sharp and so well constructed, They are exquisite. It looks as if the trimming has come from the skies and landed on them. You can’t see any of the stitching and that’s what I try to achieve.”

Vintage weddings are still very big this year, and the designs from Scarlett Valentine are well suited to this style. Sarah makes traditional hand blocked and trimmed hats which can be adorned with anything from handmade silk flowers to ostrich feather pom poms. She also creates cocktail hats, silk and feather headbands and beautiful bridal designs embellished with crystals and pearls.

There’s lots of choice for the mother-of-the-bride too, as well as the option of silk wrist bands for bridesmaids, with key fabrics this year being lots of shot silk, which gives a two-tone effect.

“Every piece is so different,” says Sarah. “I’m very interested in unique pieces. Recently I created a winter hat, it was a red felt button hat trimmed with red felt flowers. I made it over a week and took it to a fair and sold it that weekend- it was very striking.”

Sarah has even made hats out of maps and leather!

“Silk flowers are really quite now and I will be making lots of flowers and flowered headbands in 2011. I also see more brides wearing their hair swept to the side with a few simple silk flower pieces at the base of the head.

“I think there is a hat that suits everyone but it’s about having the confidence. Everyone has different features and a unique style it’s just a matter of finding the right shape and colour to balance and compliment this. We encourage people to try on as many styles as possible – hats aren’t all traditionally shaped any more – there’s a lot more variety.”