Hats were an important part of Diana's new Royal life. Before here engagement. She owned a few here and there. At one count she had over 100 in here wardrobe. Hats were a regular accessory for royal women. On foreign trips, ascot races, or formal public occassions, royal women were obligated to wear hats.
Diana started trends with her hats as with here other fashions. Hats were made to match a certain outfit. And sometimes were designed to pay homage to a particular country. As in the red hats chosen for trips to Canada and Japan. In Hong Kong a hat with the top designed to look like a pagoda was worn.
Always mindful of money, some hats were re stitched and re fashioned to suit other needs. Milliner John Body created the early Diana style with feathers and samll caps and the small face veil. It wasn't until Diana met Phillip Summerville that the large wide brims she is know for took shape.
