The making of a Royal Ascot hat

Three champagne cheers for Longines, who had the brilliant idea to get millinery students from Kensington & Chelsea College to design a Royal Ascot hat for Longines ambassador Linnéa Aarflot. Here, we go behind the scenes and reveal the winning piece of headwear.

VIDEO & TEXT Astrid Hiort MUSIC Boris Hiort PHOTOGRAPHY Longines

Royal Ascot is very much a race meet that’s the culmination of spotting and supporting young talent. From the four-legged youngsters blazing down the track to the jockeys piloting them, it’s an event that’s about natural ability and daring.

Enter Longines, racing’s guardian angel, who had the rather clever idea to transfer the support for young trailblazers to a different but equally important element of the prestigious race: the hats! By joining forces with millinery students at Kensington & Chelsea College the aim was to design the perfect hat for Longines ambassador and top dressage rider, Linnéa Aarflot.

Each milliner drew inspiration from Aarflot’s personal style and fashion desires as well as interpreting Longines’ ‘Elegance is an Attitude’ slogan, which resulted in a variety of creative visions from delicate details and looks a la My Fair Lady to minimal lines and lilac shades.

For the final top three selection and winner announcement, the esteemed milliner Rachel Trevor Morgan looked for technical ability, while Longines judged on elegance and Linnéa Aarflot for the overall style and fit.

The Swedish milliner, Johanna Wastle, was named the winner with her silk fabric wrapped around the hat in one elegant movement. The runner-ups were Lily Thomson for her lilac sun flower and Emily Brewell for her interesting combination of Longines’ colour palette.

See all the gorgeous hats from the millinery students in the gallery below & watch the making and selection process in the video