An Irishman whose childhood dreams swarmed with fantasies of fairytale weddings might just get to be part of one this April. Reports say that London-based hat-designer Philip Treacy will be enlisted by the Royal Family to vamp up the garb of Kate Middleton and her bridal party on the big day.
"As a small child, I loved to watch the weddings [in Ahascragh, Ireland]. They were the equivalent of fashion shows to me. The dresses that people wore, I couldn't believe them, they were incredible. It seemed so glamorous to see these creatures appear in these extraordinary clothes, as we didn't have much glamour where I come from," Treacy wrote on his online biography.
Treacy, a connoisseur of the hat-making industry, began sewing at the age of five, piecing together outfits and hats for his sister's dolls. Since then, he has moved onto life-size clientele and today his creations adorn the heads of Sarah Jessica Parker, Lady Gaga and even the Duchess of Cornwall, Camilla Parker Bowles.
His expertise is so renowned that Lady Gaga applied to be his intern last spring after the two spent time putting together futuristic headgear for her stage ensembles. Gaga continues to wear Treacy's label and has been seen in his creations at the VMAs and in various music videos and interviews.
Parker wore Treacy headdresses to the London premieres of both "Sex and the City" and "Sex and the City 2," proving her loyalty and solidifying her status as a fan. The star paired a pale green Alexander McQueen gown with a butterfly-infused Treacy confection at the premiere of the first movie.
Two years later, Parker followed up this appearance on the red carpet with an electrifying black McQueen-and-Treacy combo again, stunning viewers while simultaneously paying homage to the recently deceased McQueen.
Both celebrities and fashion designers alike recognize Treacy's talent. In 1991, Treacy won his first British Fashion Council award as British Accessory Designer of the Year and was asked by Karl Lagerfeld, chief designer at Chanel, to design for the company. In 1999 Treacy designed hats for Alexander McQueen's white Haute Couture collection at Givenchy in Paris. In 2003, he won The Dream Weaver award alongside Jean Paul Gaultier, Dolce and Gabbanna and Donna Karan.
Treacy has also expanded his craft to include bags, gloves, glassware and furniture. His most notable and extravagant pieces lie in the world of headwear, though. He has stunned fans with unthought-of designs and constantly reinvents one of the most basic fashion pieces. From telephone-shaped hats to ethereal crowns, Treacy has proven he can do it all.
How his crazy and creative concoctions will fit in with the style of the more conservative Middleton remains to be seen.
Who enlisted Treacy to construct two classy covers for her wedding day coif?
Camilla Parker Bowles, Duchess of Cornwall and wife of Prince Charles. Thus, we know the milliner is capable of putting together demure designs and polished pieces.
Look to Treacy's Autumn/Winter 2011 Ready to Wear collection for proof of his subtle mastery. Teal, fuchsia, lavender and a musky brown dominate the scores of hats, some with an air of mystery and others exuding confidence. From a single flower to bouquets of blooms, the accents atop the models' heads spell out utter sophistication.
Treacy is sure to create memorable and elegant pieces for Middleton on the day she transforms from a commoner into a princess. Her Royal wedding will be the perfect occasion for all of Treacy's dreams to come true.
