Stephen Jones OBE will exhibit his exquisite hats, with his idiosyncratic designs mirroring the atmosphere of Brighton and Hove.
Designer and master milliner, Stephen Jones OBE, will exhibit his exquisitely designed hats at the Royal Pavilion in Brighton & Hove next month. The hats featured in the installations are taken from his prolific career spanning over four decades.
Jones has dressed many well-known heads all over the world – most recently the Duchess of Sussex, as well as Lady Gaga, Kate Moss and Mick Jagger. He revealed this exhibition is the first chance for some of the designs to be displayed in the environment which inspired them: Brighton and the Royal Pavilion museum.
Stephen Jones OBE said: “I grew up in a seaside town, but Brighton to me seemed exciting, exotic, and it symbolised art and freedom. In 2012, I designed a collection called ‘Chinoiserie-on-Sea’ for which I researched Brighton, and in particular the Pavilion, extensively; and it feels like showing my hats there is almost like a homecoming.”
Hats from ‘Chinoiserie-on-Sea’ will be Jones’ homage to the magnificence of the Royal Pavilion, including hats inspired by its famous domes and impeccable Chinese-inspired interiors. His unique installations are expected to reflect the already beautiful and ornate interiors of the Royal Pavilion’s exhibition rooms.
Following on from the building’s royal ancestry, the exhibition (co-curated by Martin Pel) will include a series of crowns and a new felt hat dedicated to King George IV (the commissioner of the Royal Pavilion). The Banqueting Room’s huge table will host a dinner party for the hats of the most famous wearers, such as the Duchess of Sussex, Kylie Minogue and Missy Elliott.
The legendary milliner burst onto the London fashion scene to study at St Martin’s School of Art, adapting to Punk and New Wave movements absorbing parts of the city. He quickly became one of the most significant hat designers of the late 20th century, with his prestige continuing into the 21st century and today.
Jones will also create an exclusive capsule collection for Harvey Nichols, the partners of the exhibition, for Spring 2019. Other pieces in the collection will also reminisce on his time spent with some of the world’s most iconic designers, such as Dior, Thom Browne, Giles Deacon, Comme des Garçons, and Marc Jacobs.
‘Stephen Jones Hats’ at the Royal Pavilion open on Thurs 7 Feb, running until Sun 9 Jun 2019. For more information and to purchase tickets, please visit the Royal Pavilion website – concessions and family tickets are available.
