A Royal Affair: Why Millinery is the Hottest Revival in Fashion
Move over, fast fashion—heritage craftsmanship is making a stylish comeback. This summer, an unexpected but ultra-chic collaboration between Ascot Racecourse, CHANEL, and The King’s Foundation is putting the spotlight back on one of fashion’s most expressive accessories: the hat.
If you’re obsessed with fashion that tells a story, this is your moment. British millinery—long associated with royalty and haute couture—is being revived for a new generation, and the centrepiece of this revival is a new annual bursary created to nurture fresh talent in hat design.
Millinery may feel a world away from KL’s buzzing streetwear scene, but trust us—it’s the next big thing in slow fashion and statement style.
🎓 CHANEL, Ascot & The King’s Foundation: Empowering Young Milliners
The new British millinery bursary, launched in 2024, is awarded to a standout graduate of the CHANEL & The King’s Foundation Métiers d’Art Millinery Fellowship in Partnership with le19M. Think of it as the Ivy League of hat design, with placements at legendary institutions like:
- Maison Michel, Paris – the go-to atelier for CHANEL’s iconic headwear
- Highgrove, the King’s private estate where the CHANEL Métiers d’Art Training Atelier is based
- Trinity Buoy Wharf, London – a creative campus run by The King’s Foundation
🧵 Felicity Barnard, CEO of Ascot Racecourse, puts it best:
“Hats are a cornerstone of Royal Ascot’s legacy, and we are dedicated to championing this beautiful craft. This year is a significant milestone as we celebrate 10 years of the Millinery Collective.”
👑 Why Royal Ascot Is the Ultimate Millinery Runway
Fashion meets fantasy every summer at Royal Ascot, Britain’s most glamorous horse racing event—and the world’s most iconic celebration of headwear. From bold sculptural pieces to elegant vintage revivals, millinery takes centre stage.
In 2025, visitors saw something special:
🎨 Emily Hurst, this year’s bursary recipient, will debut a custom-designed Royal Ascot-inspired hat—her first major showcase as a designer.
📍 Where to spot it:
- Queen Anne Enclosure, Royal Ascot
- London Fashion Week, as Ascot joins the official calendar for the first time
✨ Inside the CHANEL Millinery Fellowship: A 35-Week Style Bootcamp
This isn’t your average internship.
The CHANEL & The King’s Foundation Fellowship is a 35-week journey combining old-world craftsmanship with modern fashion acumen. Fellows get exclusive access to:
- Atelier training at Highgrove and London
- Industry placements at Maison Michel and other UK ateliers
- Creative exposure through exhibitions and fashion weeks
🎓 Daniel McAuliffe, Education Director at The King’s Foundation, says:
“This is a brilliant opportunity for young milliners as they take the first steps in their careers… especially at what is arguably the world’s most iconic hat-wearing event.”
📝 Application Tip: Aspiring designers should have a strong foundation in fashion design and a passion for heritage craftsmanship. A portfolio that showcases innovation with tradition is key.
