THE MILLINER'S TALE

Stephen Jones has been creating wondrous, gravity-defying hats since the heady days of the Blitz Club a decade and a half ago. His first commission came from the proprietor of the club, Steve Strange; and it didn't take long before his headgear was sitting atop the raggedy plaits of Boy George. But although Jones's fashionable creations gained him instant notoriety, it is his talent for making striking hats for all occasions that has been responsible for the continuing growth of his business. Jones makes hats for Galliano, Givenchy and Balenciaga; Philip Treacy, the other great Nineties hatter, began his apprenticeship with Jones. Last November, Jones opened his first shop, which is in London's Covent Garden. This Easter, the milliner offers tips on when and where to wear his hats.

MELANIE RICKEY