Shopping: Shop Talk

WHEN YOU'RE off to meet the Queen, it's difficult to know what you should wear, but one Texan lady recently knew exactly what she needed. On her way to the grand event at the Palace of Holyrood House in Edinburgh, she dropped in on Claire Tester, the milliner behind Angus & Hamie Hats. Tester's traditionally-made hats are glamorous, fantastically idiosyncratic creations in silk, velvet and ostrich feathers which range in price from pounds 20 for "Modest" or pounds 35 for "Cooks Day Off", to pounds 160 for "Tribal Queen".

Tester's extraordinary hats, such as Beekeeper's Hat, pounds 70, shown right, are currently on display at the MacRobert Art Gallery in Stirling. Although the exhibition is closing today, the good thing about it is that it is a chance to buy your favourite exhibit at a knock-down price. Hats will be sold at a third of the usual price during today's grand sale so, if you are in the area, take yourself off to the gallery and pick up a bargain bonnet. And, for those unable to make it along to the sale, you can buy Tester's hats at The Hat Shop in London, or commission your own hat directly from Angus & Hamie Hats.

The sale takes place today from noon to 5pm at the MacRobert Art Gallery, Stirling (01786 467159). Angus & Hamie hats is at Kinknell Bridge, Auchterarder, Perthshire (01764 663335)