Hat History | John Boyd Hats: a millinery hat making interview with Sarah Marshall 

How touching that Mr. Boyd left his dedicated apprentice his legacy.😭What a sweet story and beautiful that she's continuing his gorgeous designs with her own touches. Thanks for a wonderful tour and interview ladies!!!

What a priceless visit! Wonderful intersection of the history, the people, techniques, and continuing enjoyment of this art!

two people who really know their stuff and are enthusiastic about it - what a lovely video

What a wonderful gift to be given! It is such a blessing for the both of you. His name continues and you have a wonderful thriving business that is just fabulous

This was so nostalgic for me as my late mother, who worked so hard for my sisters and I, was a milliner here in Cape Town, South Africa in the late 50's, 60's and early 70's. The owner of the hat shop was a Miss Rieck and the shop was called Marlene's. I remember as a young child been taken to see where she worked. There was a clear distinction between the show room and the work room across the passage. When you went into the work room of Sarah's shop it was all so familiar, with the blocks and the haberdashery drawers. I could almost smell the steam from blocking felt hats. Sadly my Mom died at age 53. I must admit I shed a few tears today watching this video on Mother's Day but it is good to know that millinery is still going strong. Thank you.

Thank you for sharing a glimpse into this treasure trove studio and the lovely story behind it all. The pink fluffy hat was just breathtaking!

Thank you Sarah , so lovely to hear about Mr Boyd and sharing his words of wisdom Love this video and your designs ❤

I met John Boyd over twenty years ago when I was in London. We were doing a Princess Diana exhibit here in the US for charity. We met with Diana's designers to get insight into her clothing, hats etc. John Boyd was the sweetest man. He sat and talked with us about Diana, how shy, young and innocent she was when he first started doing hats for her. I really enjoyed my visit with him and cherish the picture I have with him outside of his shop. Good memories.

Never having been trained in Millinery ( I design and sew clothing as well as do embroidery and knitting) I have always wanted to try using a block and having a go. However a few years ago I was going to a 40's themed wedding and a hat was obligatory. I combed the charity shops to no avail, none of the styles were right or the colours ( my dress was duck egg blue and brown, made from a vintage pattern and 1940's cloth) . One day in desperation I picked up a straw hat for 50p that had the right shape of crown but the brim was the wrong colour. I chopped off the brim and bound the raw edge., then using pheasant feathers found in my garden along with felt flowers I trimmed the hat and it turned out perfectly. I checked photos from the era to make sure I had the style right. So many people commented on my outfit . My idea of heaven would be to work for a while in a shop like John Boyd and I am very envious of you getting to go there and interview Sarah Marshall.x

What an honor to see this milliner Sarah and John Boyd hats:)

The green silk swirl! 💚💚💚

Hi Ilona, fantastic interview with Sarah Marshal in her lovely shop. Thanks to both for getting us to know a bit more about John Boyd. Very interesting xx

Fantastic video. Loved it. Thank you Ilona ❤

Absolutely loved this. My wife and I stayed a few days in London using it as our exploration base. We walked by this shop a few times early in the am or late in the evening. The dog in the window caught my eye ten and in this video. Thanks for the fascinating inside tour!

HI! I really enjoyed your interview and a look inside of a milliner's shop! How wonderful that he left his business to his apprentice! She is one lucky lady. You did a wonderful job interviewing her. I love your hat by the way! You are so poised and did such a wonderful job. You would be a good actress! Thanks so much for your talent filming this and asking such interesting questions! I enjoyed it immensely!

Thank you for taking us on this adventure with you, Ilona! I thoroughly enjoyed it.

I appreciate the owner respecting Mr. Boyd and giving him credit for teaching her, that gets lost on a lot of new people. I wish America had more occasions to wear hats, I think they are fun and lovely. Nice interview.

Hello from New Zealand. I love your posts, Ilona, especially learning these details on structure & the finer features of this fascinating art. That pink swishy number reminded me of Princess Margaret, & that green silk twist us absolutely divine

Loved the interview! You did a fantastic job and it was lovely seeing all the hats.

How wonderful to visit with the millener and her shop. I fondly perused my growing up and the hats, tams i wore. How happy i was to get my new got for Easter for Church. I adored my hat boxes. I was so thrilled to watch this. Thanks!

The greens don’t match on camera Ilona. This interview is wonderfully informative. I’ll start wearing small hats in my area and pretty soon it will become fashionable, as is the way fashion works. I’m on your side👒

Wonderful video and interview. The hats are beautiful but you were stunning in the green hat she put on your head.

l absolutely loved this. What a wonderful story from Sarah about Mr Boyd's generosity, very touching. Thank you IIona for sharing with us ❤

Great story! I love hats. You should show some of the hats though. Kind of a try on.

I love that green comma shape headband

You looked so beguiling in that lovely rose hat - it suited you so will and she’s right, it made your eyes sparkle!

Sweet visit! No cattiness, all positive.

I remember John Boyd , I bought hats for my mother at his Knightsbridge shop .

Oh! When Sarah placed the green silk 'hat' on you. Gorgeous. Suited you so well.

Most enjoyable to watch, my favourite was the beautiful green cocktail hat- very becoming on you.

I love seeing the hats. They’re so beautiful. I’m wondering about price range. I would imagine they’re very expensive, especially bespoke hats. Just elegant and lovely.

Really, really enjoyed this! Thank you for sharing this with us. Wish hats were back in fashion. I’m not afraid to go out wearing a lovely hat. New sub here. Sending best wishes from Down Under 💖💐🌸🌺🇦🇺😎

I would ABSOLUTELY have gone bonkers !!!!!!! You are one lucky girl i loved the pink hat. 😊😊😊

Londoners call it Marry Le bone…love your channel x a really beautiful presentation. So interesting.

Ilona, you are rocking that hat in this video and the perfect accent for your outfit.

On my London bucket list. Love the 40's & look good in that style. Oh to dress with hats & gloves.

This was beyond excellent!!

Amazing. I just love the workshop. Thank you, great video.

What a delight. Thank you 🙏 ❤

An amazing story. It is on my list to visit next trip to UK.

How very interesting. I have met Sarah ,my friend Peter Lewis Crown of Lachasse took me in to meet her when she was in Beachamp Place. He knew John Boyd . Peter is now 93

A fabulous video. Thank you so much for making it. I am a huge hat fan - especially of the 30s-50s. Best wishes from Lottie in Suffolk.

Never in my life did I imagine that I would be watching a Vlog on hats! What fun! 👒

Thank you, now I'm daydreaming of how much fun it would be to come to this shop for a bespoke hat (and I don't have many hats, this just popped up in my recommended). Maybe something fun for the Kentucky Derby. 😀 It's wonderful that he willed the business to her. Your interview had such a good energy and your outfit is too fun, love it. Green is your color. 👋 Hello from Ohio, USA.

What a delightful, and insightful, video. Thank you ❤

I so enjoyed this visit. Absolutely love you’re channel ❤

Wonderful, thank you for this. It's a privilege to subscribe to your channel.

What a wonderful video! I really enjoyed watching the interview

I’ve enjoyed your channel so much ℹ rescuing hats but I don’t have the skills to bring them back to life. How I wish I could get with you both! My dream Roxanne

I really enjoy watching your videos ❤️ thanks for the effort ☺️

I loved this!!!! X

Lovely! And inspiring. Thank you.

What a fun and interesting video. I was wishing for someone to try them on and I was so happy with the fashion show at the end

Hi, What a lovely shop. I wouldn't say no to spend some quality time there just touching the blocks and soak up the smells of making hats for royalty. Also would love to tying all the hats in the store. What a lovely lady to interview. And the wonderful story about Mr. Boyd. I'm so glad to have gotten to hear about it. You looked so lovely in your green little hat interviewing Ms. Marshall. I'm a newspaperman's daughter and I learnt a lot from my father about how to interview and making reports. From me you get an A+ for this report. I at least enjoyed the video immensely. I loved all the hats she put on you and you looked great, even in the really fluffy one. My favorite on you were that green little number. I don't know if you can rent hat blocks, but if can maybe you could 🙃and make a very similar one for your own studio😊. It looked like that block was made with you in mind. Yours, Ann

Thank you for sharing Illona, love your outfit, especially your hat, very chic!

That green number has stolen heart! ❤❤❤❤❤

I love the green hat you are wearing.

That was fascinating! Thank you ! Does anyone remember Gwynn Mallard who made hats that were featured in The Post magazine for the 1951 Festival of Britain? I do hope that hats come back into fashion. When I moved from England to Texas i brought all my hats with me..still have them ,but I did not realise that Americans are allergic to hats (note the strange little blue bow worn by a certain lady at The King's coronation.

Wow you looked really pretty in the last black hat with the rose.!!

Lovely video !!

Lovely lovely lovely!❤

You have a wonderful face/head for hats! They all look good on you!

Love them all. TFS

Omgosh...I want that brown and cream hat!!! Im in love!!!

I promise to visit this shop when I visit London❤

Thanks for a lovely video, so interesting to see. Would love if you made more of this visits!!!

The green swirl hat looks like the one Audrey Hepburn wore at the end of Roman holiday. Love the color & the style is just so sheik .

Made me want to wear a hat!

I love that video with a touch of history too. You look so beautiful in your hat. I always wear hat and i love it. I wish i am a milliner too. I am now 65 and i think its too late. By the way this is the first time i spotted your video. I wish that Sarah was wearing hat too. It would be nice. I think hat adds glamor to a lady.

Soooo beautiful! I’d like one of each ❤❤

You looked lovely in the Green silk hat.

My Grandmother was a Milliner - she wanted me to follow her - but alas , I did bookkipping😢

He knew what he was doing leaving it to you. His pride must've of been you. Or the hats. Or both ❤

Love to have a specialised hat made for you.

Ps. The black hat with the rose suited you very well

The polished look of a hat, lovely hat styles to elevate what is being worn by ladies for a special occasion. About the child laborers who weave hat material - what happens to these children who are occupied with making that material - are they given money to go to school, or are they sent out ask strangers for cash donations.

I love you watching your show

Wondering on the cost of these hats.

I still have my mothers hats from the 50s and 60s. I wish I could find someone who would appreciate them. Sadly, many women especially in the US no longer care how they look. today's look is all about looking sexy and powerful. Sexy and powerful are an oxymoron. Looking like you care about your appearance and are worthy of respect is what gains you power as a woman. As they say,s__ sells, but if you can't be respectable and respected you have a very short shelflife.

Want one of each

Charming.

Salve a tutti...amo tantissimo i cappelli e non esco mai di casa senza.. purtroppo però dove abito io quasi nessuno li indossa per cui mi prendono per una stramba😢 spero di venire a Londra e visitare questo meraviglioso negozio un giorno 😊😊

That blue hat the dog had on, what hat block did they use to create that

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Question… Is there a museum housing all the Royal Hats …?

My maiden name is Boyd however I live in the US.

Can a hat be worn at an evening wedding reception?

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I am new to this subject and fascinated by it. Does one buy the hat first and match the dress to the hat or vice-versa?

What exactly is a going away hat?

Great visit. The interviewer looked like she was wearing rabbit ears glued to a salad bowl. Surrounded by such beautifully designed and produced masterpieces, hopefully, she invested in something smart and lovely.

Cod

So a Millinery is someone who makes hat’s?