Miss Ava's Millinery

Heading into the wedding season with a look back at a favourite bespoke piece from last year. I just love how the pink pops against the ivory!

I’m now taking on bespoke commissions for this year, admits the juggle of new parent life, so pop me a message if you want to come by my studio for a chat, or to book in a video call if you can’t make it over in person.

A splash of blue from my selection of ready to wear hats.
This style is light and easy to wear, making it ideal for summer weddings and events, and it’s available now to post or collect from my studio.

Tomorrow you’ll find me at , proudly showcasing what my local small business does as part of the Medway Business and Skills Showcae event.

As an Aussie who made Medway my home, I love the local community I’ve found here, so it means a lot to be engaged with it. Thanks to for asking me to be involved!

This month the is playing host to an exhibition of work by residents, including myself. Curated by the lovely , it looks fabulous and makes the most of this cozy gallery space in Rochester.
Pop along before the end of March to see it in person!

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After a rollercoaster of a year, the time has come to take time off to welcome a new addition to our family.
I’ll be closed for all commissions, orders and appointments, and slow on replies, for a while. So thanks for being understanding!

If all goes well, I’ll be easing myself back into the studio and opening books again for all the fun of spring.
Keep an eye out here for updates, or better yet, visit my website and sign up to get an email letting you know when I’m back hat making.

I adore adding a touch of seasonal colour with a felt fedora, which is also one of my favourite styles to make.
I’ve a few ready to wear versions available now, or I might just be able to squeeze in a couple of bespoke ones before maternity leave if you’re quick! Pop me a message to swing by the studio to try some on or have a chat.

A big shoutout to everyone nominated for the awards happening tonight! And to the team behind them!
Wish I could be there to celebrate in style with you all, but an ever growing bump makes it a little tough at the moment!

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CONCEPT, PLANNING & STYLING |
VENUE |
SAILCLOTH MARQUEE & BELL TENT | .co
PHOTOGRAPHER |
PHOTOGRAPHER | .weddings
MODELS |
DRESS | .london
HAIR & MAKE UP |
BALLOONS |
VINTAGE CHINA, CROCKERY & CATERING |
HEADRESS |
FLORIST |
STYLING ASSISTANT |
CELEBRANT |
CAKE |
LETTERING & SIGNAGE |
SHOES & JACKET |
IN COLLAB WITH |

I may have been a little quieter than normal, as I’m juggling millinery with some extra heritage work and baby prep, but I’m still about squeezing in making a few hats whilst I can.
Plus there’re plenty of ready to wear hats and fascinators that you can see in my studio by appointment, or I can pop them in the post too. Perfect to see you through winter!

A few years ago I turned some’s much fabulous necklace into trims for a bespoke hat, giving it a whole new lease of life.

Fast forward a few years and it returned to my workbench so I could adapt the way of holding it in place to suit the new needs and changing hair style of my client. And as a bonus we got to have some lovely time chatting away, which is always one of the best perks of my job!

If you’ve a hat that needs a tweak to help it sit right, just get in touch!

Grey skies call for vibrant hats to brighten things up a little.

I’ve a select few which are ready made, or I still have time to squeeze in some bespoke versions this year before taking a break to welcome the new addition. Just get in touch asap!

Highly wearable in both shape and tone, this sky blue halo headpiece handcrafted from wool felt is ideal for a wearing to an autumn or winter wedding.

Available now from my website in the Occasion Headwear section of my ready to wear collection.

One of my latest makes - a teeny fedora, for the teeny new addition to our family who's due around the end of the year!

This means, I'll be off on maternity leave from around mid Dec and into the new year, whilst I recover and we settle into life with a little bub. As I'm a team of one here, both the studio and online shop will be closed for a while, and responses to enquiries slower than normal.

My bespoke books will close in early November, though do enquire as I'll squeeze in what I can for you. Studio appointment and my website shop for ready-to-wear pieces will remain open until early December, if all goes smoothly!

Once life has settled I'll re-open when I can, hopefully from late Feb to slowly gear up into the busy spring period, though obviously we'll see what reality throws our way.

The best place for updates will be my website - www.MissAvasMillinery.com - as I'll post a header there. Or join my mailing list to ensure you'll hear the latest updates too.

Hello felt hat season! Whilst I may be happiest in hot weather, I’m alright with having a good excuse to wear fedoras.

Today on my workbench, a bit of repair work on a hat that’s looking a little worse for wear after being caught in the rain….

And we’re back to autumn… for today in Kent anyway! If you’re off to a wedding or event at this time of year, and not sure how to tackle weather appropriate accessories why not look at a headband style?

Not to much if it’s hot, not too light if it’s cold, they’re a great choice all year round and I can make them in colours and materials to suit your outfit and the time of year.

Take a peek a some ready to wear ones on my website, or pop me an email about a bespoke version.

A peek into my personal hat collection, with one of my latest makes for myself and my current favourite piece to wear in Kent’s current spell of hot weather. Made from a vintage straw which I just love the weave of!

I’d barely dusted off my trusty fedora before going back to my straw boater again for the blast of heat here in Kent!

If you need a last minute summery hat, this cute percher-style boater is available now from my website or to collect from my studio by appointment.

Looking for your perfect hat or fascinator? Pop into my studio in Chatham to try on a range of shapes and styles to see what makes you feel fabulous!

All visits are by appointment so you’ll have my undivided attention and privacy to try on anything that catches your eye or chat about a bespoke design.

Head to my website (linked in my bio) or pop me a message and book in your visit.

Just as I was resigning myself to autumn mode (I’m a definite summer person), we get a little blast of warmth here in Kent!

So I’m honour of that, here’s a flashback to on of the bespoke pieces from summer, created to be worn to a garden party, which seems like a lovely place to spend a day like today!

One of the recent bespoke hats to leave my studio is this cute percher style that my client worn as a guest at a wedding over the weekend.

Not only were the colours chosen to match the swatches of the dress and light coat she had made, but that blue really made her eye colour pop and sparkle!

If you're trying to find a hat that's just right for your outfit, pop me a message and let's have a chat!

Embracing a touch of pale green as we approach the end of summer, and as green is always a favourite of mine to work with.

As we head into autumn, my usual availability for appointments to visit my studio is going to be a little different:
* Mon - Thu - 6pm
* Friday - 10am - 6pm
* Saturday - 10am - 4pm
* Sunday - 11am - 3pm

For anything outside of these hours, pop me an email and we’ll see what works for us both.

FYI, these are the arrival times, with appointments typically booked in for an hour to give us plenty of time for a chat and for trying hats on.

Here at Miss Ava’s Millinery, I pride myself on using a lot of traditional millinery skills and tools to handcraft each and every hat which I create. My favourite tool has to be a hat block, as I use them in most of my pieces to help to bring form and shape to the materials I use as I bring your hat to life.

Plus, there’s something wonderful about them in their own right, and the skill that goes into making them, don’t you agree?

Hurrah for a bank holiday Monday!

I'll be open by appointment between 2pm and 6pm this coming Monday 28 August, so if you’re looking for a hat or fascinator it’s the perfect time to pop on into my studio for a chat about it and to try some on.

Ending the week with a touch of beautifully wearable sky blue, adorned with gorgeous feathers.

Just one of the ready to wear hats which was handcrafted here in my millinery studio in Kent, and it’s available now from my website.

It may actually be feeling a little more summery here in Kent today, but I’m busy working away on my ready to wear pieces to see you though autumn and winter.

This year I’m planning a mix of occasion and every day headwear, in some gorgeous colours and materials. So my studio is currently filled with felts in some jewel tones, all whilst I’m wearing summer dresses....

If you're after a bespoke hat or fascinator for an upcoming wedding or event now is the perfect time to get in touch to have a chat about it.

It looks like my availability is going to be a bit more limited from next month, so do guarantee you’re spot on my work bench sooner rather than later!

I love a splash of red and it’s a colour you’ll often see in my wardrobe. Or in my lipstick. So it’s no wonder that I have a range of vibrant red hats and fascinators in my ready to wear selection.

All of these are available now from my website, and are ready for you to either collect from my studio by appointment or have posted out to you.

Did you know I have a range of hat pins on my website? And, as I love to wear a decorative pin, I also have some of the designs in a shorter length which is perfect for adding a little bit of personality to your outfit.