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Marylebone Talks.... with V V Rouleaux

We caught up with Annabel, the founder of V V Rouleaux, on the upcoming summer season and what to prepare for, as Londoners and those travelling in for special occasions. A modern haberdashery, and experts in ribbons, trimmings, hats and accessories, Annabel has created somewhat of a destination with her iconic shop in Marylebone that is an Aladdin’s cave for creative, design-hungry and famous Londoners for over 20 years. From a bespoke hat (or chapeaux) to stunning embellishments from feathers to silk to crinoline netting, this is your destination for dressing preparation this season, and quite frankly, any season! 

Annabel tells us what to prepare for, and how best to do it. 

What are some of the big annual events to plan for this summer?

These events include Epsom Derby, Ascot, Wimbledon, Henley Royal Regatta; as well as social evening events such as the Serpentine Gallery nights or the Met Gala, to name a few. 

What makes your store so special?

V V Rouleaux can be described as an ‘Embellishments Heaven’, which is really all you need when you are dressing up for the day or night. These embellishments include lapel pins for men, flowers galore and feather flowers. For instance, an idea would be to trim an outfit by adding ostrich feathers to add an elegant and luxurious touch. 

What is the etiquette for wearing hats at events?

It’s a free choice for all but for those wishing to look the part and elevate themselves to the high echelons of society, it is important to get it right, otherwise, it can feel uncomfortable. Hats are a must for Ascot, depending which area you are in, but if you’re there for fun, you can go wild with colours and extravagance. 

What about weddings? 

Even if wedding guests don’t want to wear a hat, they can finish their look with a headdress. It sets off the whole outfit and makes it really elegant.

What is the process of hat design?

First, customers start by choosing the shape that suits them best by trying on our 100 ready-to-wear hats. As a second step, they usually choose the best colour to match with their outfit / accessories (it doesn’t have to match exactly but it could be within the same tones of colour and a good mix of elements). Then, we pin it together to show how the final product will look like. We take a photo of the customer, then we create the hat without any fittings, which can be collected within 3 days or even 1 day, if we can fit the customer in.

And what if you have a hat in hand already?

In this case, it is a great way to reinvent your look and to have fun by designing a few embellishments to breathe new life into your hat. For instance, if you already have a good hat shape, we can design a masterpiece, by adding some outstanding embellishments.

What’s your ideal day in Marylebone Village?

Besides making hats, we love helping customers build the best outfit for their events by advising them re the best shops on our street. For example, Ella across the road has the best dresses for special occasions such as weddings, Ascot, etc. and Kastur Jewellery have beautiful earrings for every occasion, at the best price. The ideal day in Marylebone village would be to shop from the different shops in the neighbourhood to help create the perfect look.

Visit the store at 102 Marylebone Lane, London W1U 2QD
www.vvrouleaux.com/