DECADES ago every village and town had a producer of women's hats, but gradually fashion trends changed and the businesses went into decline.

Now the skills of the milliner are almost completely gone, but in a quiet corner of a village lost in time one milliner has made a comeback.

Talented Wendy Sellers has brought back a milliners shop to the village of Lacock, called Dramaticus.

She uses the old skills that used to be on show in the picturesque village to make beautiful hats. She now offers a bespoke service with no two hats the same.

Mrs Sellers, a former antique dealer, first became interested in millinery 16 years ago, learning all about hats completely from scratch.

She said: "I have always been fascinated with hats and went on a course in Devon. About four years ago I went on an intensive refresher course and then set about opening my own shop."

Mrs Sellers did not only want to sell hats, she also wanted to put the skills of the milliner on show for people to observe.

In pursuit of that ideal she has set up her milliner's workshop in Lacock's busy West Street.

There she produces the body of a hat on a block and starts to create the finished masterpiece.

She said: "I often never know what the hat will finish like and I look for inspiration in colour and line.

"I just love making hats. They give people pleasure and I get a lot of satisfaction from that. I could never get bored with this job."

She makes hats for different special occasions with appropriately Royal Ascot season being one of her busiest times.

She said: "Ascot is a time when many ladies push the boat out and go for something completely out of the ordinary, quirky and bold. I am in my element when I can produce a hat to suit their flamboyant moods."

Her other speciality is making hats for weddings and she often advises the customer not only on colour but the shape of a hat to suit their face shape.

Mrs Sellers has recently finished her 2008 collection with hats of all shapes and designs in her new display.

She also has a collection of period bonnets that she would like to supply to film companies shooting period dramas in and around Wiltshire.

8:00am Friday 25th April 2008

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