This year, Hayley changed her strategy a little bit, as juggling so many trade shows in 2022 had left her feeling burnt out. While she loved seeing our customers face-to-face, something had to give, so 2023 was Hayley’s year to reset and see how we coped selling entirely online. While pausing our trade stand adventures isn’t permanent - Hayley misses seeing you all - it’s been an interesting experiment! And our customers have been amazing, still buying from us and showing amazing support online. Social media is a huge part of how we reach people, and we know that your interactions, comments and shares are vital to our success. So, to people who upload a picture of themself in their Hayfield hat or rocking a feather pin, thank you! And thank you to everyone who helps us reach more people online.
Hayley has worked hard too, ensuring our customers still get that personal touch when they buy online. She’s always happy to answer emails about sizing, colours, feather pins and of course, bespoke feather and hat designs! It’s a tough thing, being a small business owner and responsible for everything. Making the big decisions, the everyday small decisions and everything in between, well that can be tough. And this year, it's been tougher than ever for small businesses. Our costs just keep rising and rising, people’s disposable income is squeezed so much and there’s just a feeling of slight gloom about when things might get better.
But Hayley is determined to thrive, not just survive, and that’s why she’s so focused on ensuring our customers get a great experience when they shop with Hayfield England. The personal touch that ensures people get the perfect hat for them, the gorgeous branding and the gift boxes - they all make sure customers come back time and time again. Our products make amazing gifts, as they’re not just wonderful to wear, but they look great when people unwrap them too. If you’ve left it too late to snap up some Hayfield goodies for someone this Christmas, don’t forget that you can buy them a Hayfield gift voucher and let them pick their favourite style in their own time! You can snap up gift vouchers on our website here.
We’ll finish today by wishing you all a very merry Christmas and a happy New Year. We really do thank you from the bottom of our hearts, and hope that you’ll continue to support small businesses next year and beyond! When you shop with British and independent brands, not only are you supporting a small business providing local jobs and injecting money into our economy when you buy, you also help make the owner’s dreams come true! Thank you.
]]>If you’re in need of some inspiration for this year’s present buying, why not take a look at our gift guide? We’ve gathered some of the highlights from our collection to help you tick everyone off the list.
The perfect stocking-filler
Scrunchies are very much in fashion right now, and ours are made from hair-friendly, luxurious silk. With heaps of different colours available, you’ll be able to choose a scrunchie to match someone’s beloved hat, coat or just pick their all-time favourite colour. Silk is perfect for tying hair back without causing breakage or leaving a kink in the hair when you let it down. https://www.hayfieldengland.co.uk/collections/scrunchies
A gift that’s unique to them
As we mentioned in the introduction, we create bespoke fedora designs that make a truly personal gift for someone you love. Whether that’s a fedora with a personalised pin containing their favourite game bird feathers or a hat finished with a feather wrap and a matching pin, Hayley is so talented at creating designs that people love! Drop us a line to learn more: https://www.hayfieldengland.co.uk/pages/contact-us-2
A gift to hang on the tree
We adore our collection of Christmas baubles which allow you to bring a little slice of country-inspired luxury into your home and onto your Christmas tree! The pretty heart-shaped glass baubles are filled with fox fur, white fox fur, white feathers, cock and hen pheasant feathers or guinea fowl feathers. Each bauble is finished with a pretty navy and gold Hayfield-branded ribbon, and we love the idea of collecting all six to hang on a very country tree! Take a closer look at our bauble collection here:
https://www.hayfieldengland.co.uk/collections/baubles-1
A gift for him
If you’re in need of a Christmas present for the man in your life, we have plenty to catch your eye! From our unisex felt fedoras and newsboy caps to pens hand crafted from rifle casings, you’re sure to find a gift to make them smile – just browse here:
https://www.hayfieldengland.co.uk/collections/mens
A gift that they choose
If you know someone would love a hat or feather pin from Hayfield but you’re not sure exactly which size or colour is best, why not send them one of our gift vouchers? You’ll be giving them the chance to indulge in some online shopping and they can pick whatever their heart desires, perhaps even putting it toward a bespoke fedora to enjoy in 2024… Shop gift vouchers here:
https://www.hayfieldengland.co.uk/products/e-gift-voucher?variant=40004214653060
]]>Our founder Hayley’s journey to becoming a milliner started because she couldn’t find a hat that she really loved for a point to point visit. She was sold on the idea of a fedora with a beautiful game bird feather pin but didn't fall in love with anything she ordered. In the end, Hayley took a fedora she had purchased and set to work adding her own twist. She certainly did something right, because when she wore her bespoke fedora and feathers to the races, the compliments started rolling in straight away.
Hayley decided she could have accidentally found a new business idea, and it was perfect timing too. A riding accident had left Hayley unable to carry on her equestrian career and in constant pain, so she was on the hunt for a new project to channel her energy into. So, what had Hayley done differently that stood out from the other feather pins on the market?
Hand-engineered pins
Hayley wanted to ensure her feather pins didn’t just look pretty but would stand the test of time for owners who love to really get out and enjoy the countryside. We all know how frustrating it is to get something new - a bracelet or beautiful hat - and find it’s ruined after just one use! Her stepdad showed Hayley how to engineer used rifle casings to create elegant pins that would hold a spray of feathers in place for years to come - and that fitted neatly with the country-inspired theme of Hayley’s vision.
Beautiful bespoke feathers
As you might have guessed from Hayley’s successful first foray into designing her own feather pin, it turned out she had a really good eye for design. Choosing the right combination of feathers in terms of sizes, colours and textures might sound simple, but it’s a real skill. Hayley soon had a waiting list of people who had an idea of what they wanted but needed someone else to finesse and create it. Today, you can buy off-the-shelf feather pins from Hayfield, all created by Hayley in the workshop. They complement our fedoras and are perfect for injecting some country-inspired elegance into your outfit. But Hayley also takes commissions from people who want something totally unique.
From a fascinator for a wedding that must perfectly match a dress to a head-turning feather pin for Ladies Day at Cheltenham, Hayley is your lady for bespoke headwear. Some customers have a clear brief, knowing exactly what they want, while others let her choose for them. They might only specify the size or share their favourite colour, allowing Hayley to use her creativity to come up with something unique and beautiful!
Fabulous feather wraps and satin ribbons!
We also get plenty of clients who aren’t keen on a full feather pin, instead preferring to decorate their fedora with a feather wrap. The black and white chequerboard of guinea fowl feathers is always a popular choice, as is the gentle gleam of pheasant feathers. We also have a ribbon in a range of colours, so people can choose a colour that contrasts with their fedora (or outfit!) or a shade that complements it. Of course, there’s nothing stopping you choosing both a feather wrap and a feather pin to really turn heads - anything is possible when you’re commissioning a bespoke hat from Hayfield England.
So, if you’ve got an autumnal occasion coming up or you know you’re going to a winter wedding, why not chat to Hayley about a bespoke Hayfield hat? She can work with you to create a unique piece of headwear that will make you feel like a million dollars.
]]>If a wardrobe overhaul is on the cards this autumn, we have good news - we’ve been busy over the past few weeks and months unveiling several new fedoras and they are gorgeous! With key autumnal trends for 2023 including jewel shades, our new designs have been flying off the shelves and straight into our customers’ regular rotations. Let’s take a closer look at them:
The purple fedora
The ultimate jewel shade in our new fedora collection, this purple fedora will turn heads wherever you go, and we haven’t found a feather pin combination it doesn’t suit yet! The wide-brimmed style is so flattering and gives this fedora a slightly contemporary twist that we think you’ll love. Hands up who would love this colour with a statement feather pin for the opening meet at Cheltenham this November?! Take a closer look at our new purple fedora here.
The fuchsia pink fedora
We launched our stunning fuchsia pink fedora back in the summer, but it’s been such a popular choice that we felt it was worth sharing with you all over again. Our classic felt fedora - which is crushable and shower-proof - in a head-turning pink that will elevate every single outfit you pair it with. This shade of pink is so versatile too, pairing with everything from chic navy or bold black to on-trend caramel, pale pink and winter white. Shop this look here.
At Hayfield England we strive to offer our customers headwear that’s the perfect balance of style, sophistication and substance, and our new fedoras do exactly that. They look equally at home at a point-to-point or to keep your head dry if you get caught by a shower on a Sunday stroll to the pub as they are at the biggest race meetings of the year or a gorgeous autumnal wedding…
Which would you go for?
]]>The Defender Burghley Horse Trials
Thursday the 31st of August to Sunday the 3rd of September
Following on from a superb European Eventing Championships earlier this month, we can’t wait to see all our favourite riders in action at Burghley! The rolling countryside of Stamford, Lincolnshire is the location for this five-star international eventing competition which also hosts the Land Rover Experience, perfect if you fancy test driving the Defender, and an enviable shopping village. We have everything crossed that we’ll get some late summer sunshine for Burghley and think that one of our lightweight Henley Fedoras is the perfect choice to keep you cool and stop the sun getting in your eyes when you’re watching the action!
The GWCT Welsh Game Fair
Saturday the 9th and Sunday the 10th of September
The very first GWCT Welsh Game Fair took place last September and did an excellent job of highlighting the amazing people and pursuits that make our home country of Wales such an amazing place to be. This year, with shooting in Wales under more peril than ever before, this event is a must visit for locals and passionate field sports enthusiasts alike. It takes place at the Vaynol Estate near Snowdonia and features everything from clay shooting and fly casting to gun dogs, country fashion and local food! Any Game Fair is an excellent chance to strut your stuff in your finest country clobber, so why not don one of our felt fedora hats paired with a smart game bird feather pin?
Newbury Show
Saturday the 16th and Sunday the 17th of September
If a good agricultural show is right up your street, then you won’t want to miss the Newbury Show. It used to be called the Royal County of Berkshire Show and last took place in 2019 - yes, before Covid disrupted our lives, and this year returns to Newbury Showground, near the M4 and A34 junction in Chieveley. There’s set to be agricultural and equestrian showing, show jumping tractors and machinery, shopping, food and much more. In the middle of September, the weather can go either way, so we advise packing the car with a waterproof coat, warm jumper, wellies and short boots and perhaps a showerproof fedora with a contrasting ribbon band?
Blenheim International Horse Trials
Thursday the 14th to Sunday 17th September
The beautiful grounds of Blenheim Palace in Oxfordshire are the setting for four days of eventing action, so if between the Euros and Burghley you still can’t get enough of equestrian sport, here’s where to head. There will be both grassroots and FEI international eventing taking place alongside RoR dressage and the eventer challenge, as well as shopping and plenty of excellent food and drink. The same fashion advice applies here as it does for the Newbury Show - bring SPF, sunglasses, a cool summer fedora as some areas on the bowl-shaped course can really become sun traps, but don’t forget rainwear just in case….
Cheltenham Races - the Showcase
Friday 27th and Saturday 28th of October
The Showcase meeting raises the curtain for the 2023-24 season of high-class jump racing at this iconic track and we can’t wait! This meeting is also a first chance for many country folk to don their colder weather fashion for the first time in months, so you can expect tweed coats with fur trims, warm cashmere layers and wool fedoras to be popular choices. If you love turning heads with your fashion choices, especially during a day at the races, why not take a closer look at our new bright orange or stunning fuchsia pink fedoras? They would be the perfect choice twinned with a tweed that has a vibrant yellow, orange or pink shot through it, or a bright finishing touch to top off a smart solid colour winter coat!
]]>We think that dressing for countryside events and days out is a little easier in the cooler months of the year. Tweed jackets and skirts, cashmere sweaters, leather boots and felt fedoras are staples of rural fashion! But of course, when the weather starts to heat up, those items get packed away until autumn in favour of cooler clothing. After all, tweed, wool and leather boots are a tad too warm, even for our most British of summer days! So how can you stay cool and stylish in summer and still fly the flag for countryside fashion?
The right fabrics!
Cast your mind back to last summer and that boiling heatwave - did you still step out in denim shorts or even jeans?! Heavy fabrics won’t help you stay as cool and there are much better options on the market. We’re thinking lightweight cotton chinos, breathable bamboo fabric shorts or linen skirts when the mercury rises, and you need to stay cool. Think about the fabrics you’re wearing up top too. Thick cotton polo shirts, loved by lots of country ladies, are warm compared to a floaty cami or smart linen vest.
Choose cool footwear
There’s a time for wellies and long leather boots, and there’s also a time for comfy flat espadrilles, smart moccasins and driving shoes, open sandals in natural fibres and breathable trainers! While it’s tempting to wear the most stylish shoes when winter’s mud finally dries up, remember that our feet swell when we’re hot and even natural materials like leather will make your feet sweaty… We recommend a very thin bamboo sock liner in closed shoes to help your feet stay dry and consider popping a pair of flats in your car if you're wearing heels for a country wedding or event!
Accessorise with a hat and sunglasses
When the heat of the midday sun is beating down, you need to protect your face and your eyes. The sun’s rays not only cause damage to the delicate skin on our face and accelerate ageing, but they can also cause corneal damage, cataracts and macular degeneration that can seriously impact your vision. A hat with a brim to shade your face and a pair of sunglasses with UVA and UVB is the perfect combination, and we have the ideal hat to make sure you always look stylish.
Our Henley summer fedora is crafted from a lightweight yet robust paper straw that allows air to ventilate through, keeping you cool and shaded on those hot summer days. It’s available in five colours - cream, navy, stone, lilac and pistachio - and can be finished with contrasting ribbons or beautiful feather wraps, both with and without a feather pin! The Henley summer fedora is so versatile, working equally well for dog walking and relaxing in the garden or posh summer days out! Take a closer look at the Henley in all its glorious shades and styles here.
]]>These days, Valentine’s Day (or St. Valentine’s Day, to give it the more formal name) is a day when some couples choose to show their love for each other by exchanging gifts and greetings cards. As the name suggests, it’s possible it’s linked to a real-life saint called St. Valentine, but exactly who he was (there are three candidates!) is a little murky!
One thing is certain, and that’s that Valentine’s Day could have roots in both Ancient Roman and Christianity celebrations. Some point to the 14th of February as being the anniversary of St. Valentine’s burial or death, while others say the date was originally marking the Roman celebration of Lupercalia. Celebrated at the ides of February, which falls between the 13th and 15th of February, Lupercalia was a fertility festival, and some historians say that the Christian church adopted and ‘Christianised’ it by calling it St. Valentine’s Day, a little like they did with Christmas!
It’s certainly true that at the end of the 5th century, Pope Gelasius declared February the 14th St. Valentine’s Day and outlawed Lupercalia celebrations for good. However, it wasn’t until a lot later that the day became associated with love as opposed to mourning a dead saint… In the Middle Ages people in France and England believed that February the 14th marked the start of the birds’ mating season, a day for romance. It was after 1400 that written Valentine’s messages began to appear, and the oldest known valentine (which is still in the British Library today) is a poem written by the Duke of Orleans to his wife while he was imprisoned in the Tower of London in 1415.
It was hundreds of years later that Valentine’s Day started to be widely celebrated here in the UK, with records of messages being passed between upper class lovers (most likely the upper classes because they could read and write…) in the 17th century. By the middle of the 18th century, it had become more common for friends and lovers of all social classes to exchange small tokens of affection or handwritten notes on Valentine’s Day. The Victorians used printed cards to replace their written letters, and the commercialisation of Valentine’s Day had begun. Now it’s celebrated around the world and over 150 million Valentine’s Day cards are sent in the USA alone! The 14th of February is also a popular date for people to get married in the Philippines with mass weddings taking place across the country. So, if you’re not keen on this very romantic day, maybe avoid heading there for a holiday in mid-February!
Valentine’s Day gift ideas from Hayfield England
If you’re searching high and low for something special to give your partner this Valentine’s Day, here are our top three gifts for him and for her from across our website:
For him:
For her:
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It’s a fitting end to what has been a truly incredible year. We’ve been busier than ever, taking the trade stand to Badminton Horse Trials, The Game Fair and Burghley Horse Trials. Events are crazy, tiring and fun, and we love every single moment of them! Social media has made connecting with our customers online easier than ever before, and we’re lucky to be running a small business in a time when we have these tools at our fingertips, but there’s nothing quite like meeting people face-to-face! We’ve unveiled new luxury summer hats at the shows, which went down a storm, and Hayley has completed 100’s of bespoke hat and feather pin combinations in 2022. Lots of lucky people who now have a beautiful, unique Hayley creation all of their own! We’ll soon be getting our thinking caps on to figure out what new products or events might be coming your way in 2023, and we are always interested to hear any ideas our customers have. But right now, we’re completing the last frenetic days of Christmas preparation before winding down for the holiday.
If you’re lucky enough to unwrap something from Hayfield England this Christmas, then we would be over the moon to be tagged into your images! Even if it’s a beloved Hayfield hat you’ve had for years and years, still tag us in those festive snaps as we never get tired of seeing how you style our products. It’s the perfect moment to say a big ‘thank you’ to everyone who has supported us in any way this year. Every single action is appreciated, from purchasing our products to recommending us to people, sharing us on social media and wearing our hats to public events to help spread the word. We think we have the best customers out there, so thank you all so much!
Have a wonderful Christmas celebrating with your loved ones, and a very happy New Year! Who knows what the next 12 months will hold for us, but you can be sure we’ll be right there raring to go when January comes around. With lots of love and festive cheer from Hayley and the rest of the team here at Hayfield England – Merry Christmas!
]]>Do you love gift shopping or see it as a chore? We know some people adore searching high and low to find something that brings other people joy, whereas there are plenty of people who think Christmas is more about spending time with family and loved ones. Of course, there are plenty of people who love presents and family time and there’s no right or wrong way to spend the festive period! But if finding something gorgeous for a friend or family member is on your to-do list, here are three top picks from our website to consider!
A Festive Red Fedora
Is there any better way to cheer up the gloom of midwinter than wearing a bright and beautiful hat? A splash of colour to jazz up a tweed race day outfit or perhaps to coordinate with a colourful coat! Our divine red Dorset Fedora is made from 100% wool felt and looks so striking finished with a classic monochrome guinea fowl wrap.
Country-Inspired Cufflinks
Our website isn’t just a treasure-trove of goodies for women, we also have unisex hats and these divine Hayfield cufflinks which are perfect for the men in your life. Our cufflinks are hand-engineered from 20-bore shotgun caps each with an embedded Swarovski crystal and are available in a silver or antique bronze finish.
https://www.hayfieldengland.co.uk/collections/cufflinks-1
Luxurious Silk Pillowcases
If you know someone who spends their time and money making sure that their skin and hair looks as youthful as possible, why not buy them a luxurious silk pillowcase? They are made from 100% pure mulberry silk which is kind to the delicate skin on your face and helps to prevent hair breakage. The result is smoother skin and happier hair in the morning, and these beautiful pillowcases are available in classic white or chic grey silk. Remember we also have a collection of bright and colourful silk scrunchies which make ideal stocking fillers and are equally kind to hair!
https://www.hayfieldengland.co.uk/collections/pillowcases
This is just a small selection of the gorgeous hats and accessories you can find on our website, so make sure you take a closer look around. Something which is adding a little more urgency to our gift hunting this year is that, to put it mildly, Royal Mail is in a bit of a mess. While strikes in early November have been called off, there are still due to be over 115,000 workers on the picket lines on Black Friday, and the action might continue into December. Whatever you think about the reasons why the workers are striking, the action will have an impact on Christmas shopping this year. We’re advising our customers to place their orders early, if possible, to avoid their parcel being stuck if a strike happens when it’s in transit.
]]>If you’re one of the lucky people who bought a Hayfield fedora this year then you might be wondering how to care for it, especially now that we’re getting ever closer to winter. That means a higher chance of rainy days, muddy ground and pesky gusts of wind to steal your hat and pop it on the ground… So, here are some tips for caring for your fedora so it stays looking good for many years to come:
If it gets soaking wet...
Our fedoras are shower-proof, keeping your head dry if there’s a short rain shower or if there’s drizzle all day long, but a spell of heavy rain will cause it to get saturated. If that happens to you, shake the excess water off the hat and then let it dry at room temperature. Don’t use direct heat, such as putting it next to an open fire, on a radiator or going at it with your hairdryer, as this can cause it to misshape. Once it’s dry then you’re good to go again!
If it gets muddy...
As previously mentioned, the combination of a windy day and lots of mud around could lead to your hat getting muddy, and that just won’t do! We recommend letting the mud dry completely (and remember about not using direct heat as per the note above) before brushing it off with a clothes brush.
If it gets dusty...
We know lots of our customers are animal lovers and that means you’re fighting a constant battle against dust in your homes. We know that even after a couple of days with lots of animals around everything can be covered with a fine layer of dust - including your fedora. We recommend using a lint clothes roller to gently remove dust and animal hair to make sure your hat looks its best.
If it gets stained...
We recommend you use a clothes brush first to see if a stain can be brushed out, and if that doesn’t work try a damp, lint-free cloth to dab at it. It can be tricky to get tough stains out, so that’s why it’s important to take the best possible care of your hat - perhaps using a hat box.
Luckily, we can help with that! We like to think we’re helping you take good care of your new fedora as all our hats come in a sturdy box. This is perfect for storing your fedora when it’s not in use as it will stop it getting dusty and prevent it being crushed by accident, which so often happens if they’re kept on a coat rack next to heavy winter jackets. Our boxes are beautifully branded in our signature Hayfield blue and gold, so they certainly aren’t an eyesore, nor do they look out of place tucked on top of a wardrobe next to F&F boxes or smart designer shopping bags!
]]>Autumnal fashion trends
Now that Burghley is over, the summer holidays have ended and children have gone back to school, autumn is suddenly upon us! The weather has shifted to being cooler and damp, the evenings are a little darker every day and the trees are starting to turn. We must admit that while summer is a very special time of year, here at Hayfield we can’ get enough of autumnal style. Our most popular product, and the one which really launched Hayley’s business into the limelight, is the fedora and it was just made for autumn and winter fashion. This is a time of year when a cosy sweater and jeans is the perfect attire, when long leather boots and sturdy shoes are a must and when scarves, hats and gloves suddenly become part of your day-to-day wardrobe.
This year, the nineties really are making a comeback in fashion for all ages, so expect to see jeans in bootcut and even flared cuts starting to replace skinny jeans. That means that whereas we’ve all been tucking our jeans into Spanish-style boots from a certain UK brand for years, now cowgirl boots, which are literally made for a bootcut jean, are back in style. That’s not to say you should immediately throw out all your skinny jeans and long boots, but we can’t wait to see how British country girls style a slightly new look this year!
Colour is set to be a big deal this autumn and winter too, with bold and bright colours set to be in the shops as well as the more muted tones of autumnal fashion. Given that lots of countryside outfits are based around tweed, leather and wool in greens and browns, we can’t wait to see how people inject some colour into their ensembles - perhaps not on a shoot day though… At Burghley our best-selling color was bright pink, and we very much hope people will tag us into their images for how they style them over the coming months.
That’s a wrap on shows for 2022
That’s it for shows and events for the rest of 2022, but we have so many amazing memories to look back on. Hayley loves nothing more than meeting people on the stand and being able to help them try on different styles and colours of hat until they find the one which immediately looks and feels perfect. It’s such a special moment and you can see the person’s outlook and confidence change in a few seconds, something which we can’t quite replicate with online sales! We will be back out in spring next year and are already planning which events to head to, so make sure you keep an eye on our social media feeds.
]]>Anyone who has ever been part of a trade stand team at Badminton will know that the atmosphere during setup and in the evenings is amazing too, chatting with other business owners and getting ready for the crazy rush of visitors as the week goes on. Hayley had been busy preparing for Badminton for months (really since around Christmas time…) ensuring that there were plenty of our signature feather pins in all shapes and sizes ready for visitors to the Hayfield England trade stand. We also took our range of silk scrunchies and pillowcases, country accessories and of course, oodles of fedora hats in all colours and sizes! Our new Luxury Collection also made an appearance, with these three seriously chic summer hats selling well thanks to the gorgeous weather during the event. The classic Henley Summer Fedora was our overall best-seller, with visitors snapping this one up with game bird feather trims, ribbons and with feather pins for a little extra
We were over the moon to see Laura Collett and her beloved London 52 put in an amazing display in all three phases of the event to take the title. This tough determined lady makes no secret of her aims and ambitions, and we just adore that it was seeing the legendary Pippa Funnell win Badminton many years ago which set Laura on the path to where she is today. We’re already looking forward to Badminton 2023 and this year’s event has only reminded us of how important our trade stand is.
We are grateful to every single one of our customers for their support, whether they buy from us online or in person at an event. Online sales saw us through the pandemic and introduced the Hayfield brand and our feather pin-and-fedora combination to a wider range of customers, but we really did miss taking the trade stand out and about. Badminton once again reminded us of why seeing customers face to face and catching up with fellow business owners is so important. We’ll keep you updated on social media and our blog about our future events and where you can find our trade stand over the coming months.
For now, if you were one of the people who visited our stand at Badminton and snapped up something lovely to take home, don’t forget to tag us into your social media pictures when you’re out and about rocking your Hayfield goodies!
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If we’re lucky enough to have a hot and sunny summer, it’s important to take a few steps to help you stay cool and to stop your skin and eyes being damaged by the sun. A cool summer hat is a great option, as it will provide shade for your head and therefore relief from the heat, but a brim or a peak will shade your face too. Even if you love tanning (but remember that there’s no such thing as a safe tan and sunscreen is important for everyone), it’s imperative that you protect your face from the sun’s powerful rays. UVA rays have a longer wavelength and can penetrate the dermis, the middle layer of your skin, so are responsible for skin aging, whilst UVB rays are shorter and cause burning and the risk of skin cancer.
Shading your face from the sun helps to protect the delicate skin around your eyes from damage and could have an even more important benefit. There’s also some evidence to show that wearing sunglasses or a visor (or a hat with a brim) to stop direct sunlight hitting your eyes can help prevent cataracts from forming in later life. So, if you head out in summer with plenty of sunscreen, sunglasses and a summer hat, you’ll be protecting yourself from discomfort now and aging and health issues in the future.
Luckily here at Hayfield we have you covered (quite literally!) for stylish summer hats. One of our best-selling hats since we first launched it is the Henley Summer Fedora. Crafted from lightweight and airy paper straw in a range of colours, it can be finished with anything from a colourful ribbon or a smart leather band to a pretty game bird wrap. Perfect for anything from dog walking to a day at the beach or a summer country wedding! We’ve more recently unveiled our Luxury Collection of three gorgeous summer styles which take hot-weather chic to the next level! All three are handcrafted from Toquila straw with two (the Heloise and the Adalia) boasting elegant wide brims, and the Graciana featuring a slightly more modest brim - but they will all keep the sun from your face!
The Luxury Collection will be added to the website soon, perfect timing as summer should be just around the corner…
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For some, Cheltenham is as much about the fashion as it is the horse racing, and it’s a great place to spot some brilliant country fashions, with a LOT of tweed taking centre stage. There isn’t a strict dress code for Cheltenham in the same way as there is for Royal Ascot, but it’s still the jewel in the crown for British jump racing so racegoers tend to aim for a certain look. You’ll see lots of tweed on both men and women, tartan and houndstooth checks too, and leather and suede boots to keep feet warm and dry. Cashmere and fur wraps, stoles, scarves and cuffs are a great way to prepare in case there’s a chilly wind blowing across the Gloucestershire hills.
That very real possibility of any weather, from spring showers, sleet and snow to warm sunshine, also means that hats are big news at the Festival. From fedoras and trilbies to baker boy caps, it’s more unusual to see a head without a hat than a head with a hat! Hayley is kept busy for months in the run up to the Festival making bespoke feather pins and amazing feather and hat creations for our customers to wear over the 4 days of racing. When the Festival kicks off, we’re always waiting with baited breath to be tagged into photos and see how people have styled their Hayfield hats! This year did not disappoint, and we’re delighted to share some of them with you here.
This stunning burgundy fedora is paired with a guinea fowl feather wrap which perfectly complemented the lady’s monochrome outfit. Then this divine baby blue fedora with matching ribbon and feather pin which helps to set off a chic dove grey and baby blue ensemble for this customer, while her friend has gone for a camel fedora with a tan leather band to match her boots. Then we have another guinea fowl wrap, this time paired with a classy black fedora and a longline grey wool coat and cute tartan miniskirt for some fun country style.
Another customer cut a really striking figure in a pale cream wool jacket with a contrasting camel velvet collar and fur cuffs. A camel fedora with a spray of feathers was the perfect accessory to bring the whole look together and really turn heads! And finally, a gorgeous dove grey fedora paired with a baby blue wool jacket (we just love this combination whichever way around it’s done) and a navy-on-navy fedora with a crisp white shirt. Country-inspired perfection!
]]>Does anyone else feel as though the summer went by in a flash? One moment we were looking forward to rules being relaxed and events finally returning, the next the evenings are drawing in and there’s an autumnal chill to the morning air! I love autumn, with the chance to wear toasty sweaters, long boots and a smart fedora hat (no prizes for guessing which brand!) to walk to the local pub for a cosy drink. But I do miss summer, with the bustle and hubbub of shows and events, long warm evenings and so much light!
Perhaps it was being so brilliantly busy with the trade stand which made the summer fly by so quickly? We kicked off with the amazing invitation to take a pitch at the Royal Windsor Horse show. Already one of my favourite events in the equestrian calendar, this year was even more special. It marked my first event since the pandemic turned life upside down and it was invitation-only. What a stamp of approval for a brand I’ve poured my heart and soul into. In last month’s blog we reported on a vintage Game Fair at Ragley Park, again one of my favourite shows.
More recently I’ve been proud to take Hayfield England to some totally new events for us. I hope it helps us reach new customers and expand the brand even further. Over the August Bank Holiday weekend, we had an amazing time at the Bath & West Country Festival. It was held on the same site as the iconic Royal Bath & West Show near Shepton Mallet in Somerset and gathered lots of amazing food and drink producers, countryside displays, livestock shows and more. Our stand was busy the whole weekend and we hope there are now lots of Hayfield England hats being worn across the West country!
I’ve also just returned from exhibiting at the Goodwood Revival for the very first time! This iconic event has been on my radar for a while and it’s safe to say I was excited about seeing how it went. The Revival combines the glamour of motor racing from the circuit’s original heyday (from 1948 to 1966) with racing, driving displays and everyone wears period dress. The atmosphere was brilliant, the sun shone (most of the time!) and it was the perfect way to wave goodbye to an excellent summer of events.
Make sure you keep an eye on the Hayfield England social media feeds to find out where I’ll be popping up next with the trade stand as we inch closer to (yes, I’m already thinking about it!) – Christmas!
]]>Those of you who follow us on social media will have seen that we FINALLY got to take the Hayfield England trade stand for a spin, and it was to one of our all-time favourite shows – the Royal Windsor Horse Show. This is such an iconic equestrian event held in the grounds of Windsor Castle and it’s safe to say that this year’s event didn’t disappoint. Because the event took place several weeks before ‘freedom day’ the number of tickets on offer were limited, but it didn’t seem to matter to the lucky people who got them. The atmosphere was just incredible and to be able to see customers face to face and take in some exceptional equestrian sport was such a treat. The sun shone and it felt like being back at home after so many months of uncertainty.
We count ourselves very lucky to have been one of the brands selected by the organisers to take part, and we were privileged to create bespoke hats and feather pins for the show committee members. There was also a brilliant surprise coming our way, when Sophie, Countess of Wessex not only wore one of our designs for her day at the show, but also featured in numerous publications wearing it! From the Daily Mail online to Tatler, it was the most incredible week and is proof that hard work really does pay off. Our next stop is the Game Fair at Ragley Hall in Warwickshire and, once again, we’re so looking forward to chatting to customers and soaking up the atmosphere of an event.
As we write this, we’re seeing some scorching weather, and that means it’s time to dig out summer hats, short shorts, vest tops and floaty dresses! Even those of us who love the sun need to be careful when it’s this hot as our homes here in the UK just aren’t set up for this weather. A summer hat is the perfect way to keep the hot sunshine off your head and shield your face from harmful UV rays. Our summer Henley fedoras were a hit during those long hot months of 2020 and we’re over the moon to have just launched a new summer hat range just in time for high summer 2021.
The new Hayfield England Luxury Collection comprises 3 elegant wide-brimmed hats woven from the finest Toquilla straw in Ecuador and then hand-finished here at the Hayfield England studio. The three styles are all named in Ecuadorian Spanish as a nod to their origin, with names chosen to reflect the elegance and strength of the women who wear Hayfield accessories – Adalia means ‘noble’, Heloise means ‘renowned warrior’ and Graciana means ‘grace’. We think these 3 styles plus the Henley summer fedora mean there’s a summer hat for every style and taste – we hope you agree!
Our followers know how much the team here at Hayfield England missed seeing our lovely customers and supporters face to face during the various lockdowns and cancellations caused by Covid. That meant it was with great excitement that I signed up to take the Hayfield England stand to the Game Fair this year, which came hot on the heels of a really successful Royal Windsor Horse Show. The Game Fair is a brilliant celebration of all thing’s countryside and rural, and it’s one of my favourite events on the calendar. The organisers tried everything to put the 2020 event on, including moving it later in the year to September, but it was not to be. Thankfully this year’s event was perfectly timed to take place after many of the final covid-19 restrictions were lifted and we could enjoy an event which really did feel like normality had resumed!
The Game Fair is held at the stunning Ragley Hall in Warwickshire and brings together leading figures from the worlds of shooting, fishing, hunting and the rural lifestyle for 3 days of displays, competitions, networking and most importantly… shopping! The sheer variety of different brands who were attending was brilliant, and for all of the business owners who took a stand there the record attendance was a welcome change from the cancelled events and uncertainty we’ve all grown to dread.
Our stand was busy from start to finish with people snapping up Hayfield goodies! As you would expect from a fair attended by lots of country sports enthusiasts, our fedoras and summer Henleys adorned with game bird feather wraps and pins sold very well indeed. The new luxury collection of elegant summer hats was also a hit, and the collection of silk scrunchies and pillowcases proved popular. It was such a tonic to see people enjoying their first ‘proper’ day out in many months and we’d like to say a very big ‘thank you’ to everyone who came to the stand to say hello.
We already have the 2022 Game Fair firmly in our diaries and hope to see you all there. It’s taking place from the 29th to the 31st of July and promises to be bigger and better than ever before! Now, we’d better get to work on some new products ready to bring with us in just under 12 months’ time… Sign up so you’re first to hear when the tickets go on sale by clicking here.
At the moment, the UK seems to be beset with sudden downpours which are rather more suited to April than May, but I’m told warmer, sunnier weather is on its way. The forecast for the bank holiday is looking better and I’m excited to see what my followers and customers get up to in the sun over the long weekend.
Just in time for the arrival of (hopefully!) all that hot and sunny weather, I’m over the moon to unveil the new Luxury Collection of summer hats. The new summer hats are all hand-woven from high quality Toquilla straw in Ecuador before being blocked, bound and trimmed by hand here in the UK. These elegant hats are the perfect accessory for summer days out and will help keep harmful rays from damaging the delicate skin of your face and neck.
I’ve chosen three hat designs to make up the new Luxury Collection – the Adalia, the Heloise and the Graciana. All three names are Ecuadorian Spanish as a little nod to the provenance of these hats. Adalia means ‘noble’, Heloise means ‘renowned warrior’ and Graciana translates as ‘grace’. Perfect for my strong, independent and beautiful customers to wear with pride! Here’s a little more information about each design:
I love the way the wide brim gives this hat an easy elegance whilst protecting your face from the sun. Plus, the natural colour works beautifully with relaxed timeless summer styles. This hat is trimmed with a sleek satin band and finished with a Hayfield-branded luxury antique brass button.
The Heloise is bleached in Ecuador to give it a crisp, clean white finish which I think is perfect for chic summer accessorising. The wide brim ensures a graceful and elegant silhouette and will shade the delicate skin of the face and neck from harmful UV rays. The addition of a pretty grosgrain ribbon and a Hayfield-branded luxury antique brass button are the perfect finishing touches.
The Graciana is the small-brim version of the Heloise, a wonderful choice for those looking for a summer hat with understated style and elegance. Hand woven and bleached in Ecuador, the Graciana is then finished in the UK and trimmed with a white grosgrain ribbon around the outer brim and complemented with a black grosgrain ribbon and the new signature Hayfield-branded antique bronze button.
All three styles are available in 3 hat sizes (the measurements below are the circumference of the head just above the ears):
Small: 55cm / 6.75 inches
Medium: 57cm / 7 inches
Large: 59cm / 7.25 inches
I predict that these will be very popular indeed, so make sure you take a closer look and snap one up in time for summer adventures!
I love researching and exploring new products to add to the Hayfield England collection. My customers and supporters are always so supportive, and I want to ensure that I’m always developing new ranges which tick all the boxes for them – beautiful items which are functional too. That’s why I’m so excited to unveil the latest additions to the Hayfield England website. I’ve added a collection of silk scrunchies and pillowcases which are perfect for countryside-loving ladies who care about the condition of their skin and hair.
The Hayfield England Silk Pillowcases are crafted from 100% high-quality mulberry silk and are available in white or silver. These oh-so soft pillowcases feel so good against your skin and are a truly luxurious addition to your bedroom. Silk pillowcases also have a range of benefits for your skin and hair, from preventing ‘sleep creases’ on your face after a night of slumber to supporting skin and slowing down the signs of aging. Those with fine or easily tangled hair will find their tresses much more manageable and less prone to breakage once they start using a silk pillowcase.
The second new product to be added to the Hayfield collection is also made from gorgeous real silk – our collection of silk scrunchies! These are perfect for those of you with long hair who need to tie it back for riding and other outdoor pursuits but worry about traditional elastics snagging and breaking your hair. Or perhaps you need to tie hair back to ride before work but then end up with a kink in your hairdo for the working day? If so, silk scrunchies will be a total revelation. They reduce the friction and tension on hair so that it stays put but it doesn’t break. The lack of friction means healthier hair and no annoying kink in your hairdo when you want to let it free at the end of the day!
I’m always working to expand the Hayfield brand and add products which I think my customers will love and find useful. Alongside Hayfield’s iconic fedoras and feather pins there are also hat bags, homewares, cufflinks and pens. Make sure you take a look if you’re on the hunt for a present or just fancy treating yourself!
]]>I can’t quite believe that we’re already nearing the end of November and that Christmas is just over a month away. It has been so amazing to be able to go to events, see friends and family and enjoy something close to normality over the last 6 months but that has meant the festive season has snuck up on me a little bit! Luckily, I have had the time to get in the studio and have been working hard to create plenty of feathers for hats and pins. I’m pleased to report that there are more than enough for everyone who wants to snap them up for a Christmas present.
I know that when I put together my Christmas wish list to send to my friends and loved ones and when I (finally!) start my own festive shopping, it will be with a focus on small businesses. It’s all too easy to log onto the website of a well-known big brand and fill up your basket with presents, but the benefits of shopping small mean it’s worth making the effort. Small businesses help to create local jobs and that means they are putting money back into local communities. Small businesses will typically pay a truly representative tax bill, which helps the country to run as it should, rather than the Amazons of this world who don’t seem to pay very much tax at all…
Every purchase you make from a small business really does make the owner and workers there do a happy little dance of joy! You’re more likely to get exceptional, personal customer service from a small business versus the anonymous ordering and delivery process you get from a big brand. If you have any questions about colours, sizes and bespoke options, you can get in touch with a small business owner and get an answer before you place your order. That’s got to be so much better than buying multiple sizes or colours of an item only to send all but one back…
If you’re sticking with small brands this Christmas, please do take a good look around the Hayfield shop. My feather pins make a fabulous gift for a stylish country lady, and they come in a beautiful, branded gift box making them even more special. There are some stunning combinations of game bird and other decorative feathers to choose from. I can also undertake bespoke commissions for feather pins and hats if you’re after a totally unique present (though I would recommend getting in touch as soon as possible for those), and there’s so much more to choose from! As well as the feathers and hats we also have luxurious silk scrunchies in 21 colours (which also come gift boxed!), silk pillowcases, baubles, cufflinks, candles and more. If you have any questions or would like to pick my brains about a fedora and feather combination, just drop me a line or send a DM on social media.
]]>We’re back in our tranquil little spot in rural Wales after a fantastic visit to the Horse of the Year Show. As we look out the window of the Hayfield studio, we can see trees changing colour, the leaves starting to fall, and farmland being prepared for winter. It’s a great time to reflect on 2021.
This year’s event season has seen Hayfield England be invited to our beloved Royal Windsor Horse Show as it took place for the first time in two years and try the Goodwood Revival for the first time. We also stopped in at the Game Fair for our countryside and sporting fix! We topped off that busy few months with a visit to the Horse of the Year Show and it was the perfect way to end the event season. The atmosphere was incredible, and it really did feel like normal life was back. Seeing the amazing horses and riders in the rings, the crowd so excited to be there and so many wonderful businesses in the Retail Village was a reminder of how good equestrian events can be. Here’s hoping that we can carry on seeing each other and enjoying events like this throughout the winter months – and have a sociable Christmas too!
Stepping into autumnal style
The arrival of wet, windy and cooler weather means it’s time to switch out summer clothes for your autumn wardrobe. Tweed, cosy knitwear and long boots are all eminently practical, and part of a stylish country wardrobe. We adore the autumn and winter fashions, pairing country shades of tweed green, chocolate brown, navy and camel with deeper, jewel-like colours such as gold, burgundy and teal. But this year in particular we’ve seen wild swings in temperatures, meaning you can easily get rather hot under the collar if you don’t have layers to peel off! We recommend a transitional wardrobe with lightweight knits over base layers and breathable, natural fabrics.
Of course, here in the UK rain is never far away so a jacket or coat is essential in autumn. A heritage tweed will see you through showers and heavier rain with ease and ensure you stay looking perfectly stylish throughout. Keeping your hair dry and in place (whilst looking fantastic) with one of our smart fedora hats. They are crushable and showerproof and suit a wide range of occasions, from dog walking with a friend to a day at the races or smart lunch. If you prefer an understated look then a fedora decorated with a simple leather band or contrasting ribbon might be just the ticket. For those who love a little more decoration, our fedoras with beautiful feather wraps or a spray of game bird feathers will be the perfect autumn accessory. Why not take a closer look at the different styles and colours we have?
]]>And just like that… It’s nearly Christmas! This year has absolutely flown by, and it truly seems like last Christmas (with all its drama and last-minute cancellations) was only a few weeks ago, not 12 months ago. Are you feeling prepared, with decorations up, a fridge full of food and all your presents purchased and wrapped? Or, and this is definitely us, are you watching the days fly by and wondering when you’re going to squeeze it all in?!
If you’re a last-minute shopper and you have some stylish country folk on your list, we might just be able to help. Our website is packed with goodies which will delight people of all ages and our last posting date is Monday the 20th of December. There are our gorgeous silk scrunchies, perfect stocking fillers and available in 21 colours and patterns. They’ll care for your hair and help you look fabulous to boot! We also have silk pillowcases, ideal for caring for your skin and hair and for a snooze worthy of a princess. Of course, we’re best known for our felt fedora hats and feather pins, perfect for a show stopping outfit for the Boxing Day family walk, a festive day at the races or when you escape to the pub to get some ‘fresh air’…
If you’re on the hunt for a gift for a country gentleman, we can certainly help you out there as well. We have our smart men’s fedora hats, which elevate any outfit and help ensure the wearer’s head stays warm and dry. There are also our hand-made cartridge pens in a range of finishes and our shotgun cap cufflinks. Just click on ‘Shop Now’ to browse.
If you don’t get your ducks in a row and miss our last posting date, there is still another way you can get your hands on something to give on the big day. Our e-gift vouchers are ideal if you don’t know what hat size or colour someone would like – or if you’ve left it too late. We love the idea of people being all festive and cosy on the sofa over Christmas and browsing the Hayfield website to see what to spend the voucher on. And maybe even planning a bespoke feather pin with all their favourite colours in it!
So, as we near the end of 2021 we hope that you all get everything you want for Christmas, whether that’s a houseful of friends and family, a Hayfield fedora of your own or simply some peace and quiet… We also want to take this opportunity to say a huge ‘thank you’ to everyone who has supported us this year. It’s been yet another crazy one and we just couldn’t do it without our amazing customers and followers helping to bang the drum. So, from Hayley and the rest of the team – have a Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year!
]]>For my very first blog of the new year, I’m taking a (very!) tongue in cheek look at what 2022 might hold for us all… and I must state that of course I’m keeping everything crossed that we can finally wave goodbye to Covid-19 this year and get back to living our lives normal! But for now, let’s kick off with a very silly look at what life might be life in 2022. what we could look forward to in spring ‘22…
Spring
Boris Johnson announces that he will be riding the favourite in the Cheltenham Gold Cup at this year’s festival. No 10 staff are quick to deny reports that this news has only been announced to distract the public from the news that he held a shooting weekend at Chequers during lockdown. Boris himself goes on the record to say that Carrie’s Instagram post of a game pie came from Deliveroo and wasn’t made by her. Boris is later seen riding out in Lambourn to bolster his story, but on a good weight-carrying cob (and on the lead rein) rather than the latest Nicky Henderson stable superstar.
Summer
Now that all restrictions are finally lifted on our lives, and Boris Johnson announces No.10-style garden parties for everyone to mark the occasion, British people rush to check their weather apps to make plans for the months ahead. The forecast for June, July and August is for back-to-back gloomy skies and rain with average temperatures of a measly 16 degrees Celsius. How very British. The Queen’s platinum jubilee is a repeat of the £12 million diamond jubilee celebrations which saw the queen having to endure the wettest of British summer days. Brits eventually give up on outdoor activities and head indoors for a self-imposed summer lockdown to avoid the rain and mud.
Autumn
The cost-of-living crisis means that petrol is now so expensive that horse owners are able to rent out their horses to local commuters for £25 a day. Horse owners across the land celebrate finally having enough money to go on exotic holidays like ‘normal’ people, and non-horsey folk finally understand why passing wide and slow is a big thing in the equestrian world… Sales of high-vis rocket and Shetland ponies start to creep onto more children’s Christmas lists than ever before. Have these people ever seen the Thelwell cartoons?!
Winter
Christmas 2022 approaches and there are rumours of another Covid-19 variant emerging in the USA. Just when we all thought life was completely back to normal, people begin to panic about one final lockdown and going back to square 1. Thankfully, ‘the Losercron variant’ turns out to be a political stunt by Donald Trump as he launches his bid to be re-elected as President of the USA. The world rejoices, Trump is placed in Florida exile, and everyone has a much happier Christmas than they’ve had for 3 whole years…
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