Lucinda Hostombe Shooter, a womenswear graduate of the London College of Fashion, founded Hostie Hats on the idea that British millinery can feel luxurious without being out of reach.

Colour is where the brand really comes into its own. Rather than limiting you to whatever happens to be in stock, Lucinda can make most styles in the exact shade you need, and fabric and colour samples let you hold the options against your outfit before deciding. There is also a colour consultation service, which takes a lot of the guesswork out of matching a hat to a dress.

She works in quality materials such as sinamay and cut coque feathers, then shapes them into clean, contemporary designs that suit weddings, race days and regattas equally well. Her work has also earned recognition on the competitive circuit, including a Best Millinery win at ANZA Melbourne Cup day in Singapore.