Off With Her Head is a business founded out of a genuine love of hats. I can’t remember a time when I didn’t love to wear a hat. I even braved the laughter and ridicule of my classmates in High School by wearing my favourite black velvet hat to class back in the early 90’s. So when I first started attending the Whitby Gothic Weekend I made the decision that i would search for the perfect black silk Top Hat to complete my outfit. What I found however was that my dream hat was quite a bit out of my price range especially when I thought of the high winds kicking up on the West Cliff and the chances of my beloved hat flying off into the sea or even being sat on and squashed in the Pavillion.

So I decided that I would look to create my perfect hat on a budget. I armed myself with a quality fancy dress top hat, some mesh veiling, black ribbon, black roses, a needle and thread and my trusty glue gun, then I set to work. When I returned to Whitby in October 2003, I received so many complements about my hat. People asked where I had bought it and where they could get one. I left that Whitby with orders for 30 hats! And so the business was born...

I’ve traded at Whitby twice a year until last year, now focusing mainly on the website, having given up the Whitby stall in favour of spending time with all the friends I’ve made over the years there. The business has grown considerably, as has my talent for design and creation and I’m proud to be able to call myself a milliner. I now focus on creating vintage inspired pieces, and although I work on hats and fascinators from various eras in history, I am a little biased towards the 1950’s as it is my favourite decade. Whatever direction I take, the ethos behind the business remains the same - quality hats and fascinators at a reasonable price.

I hope you enjoy my creations as much as I enjoy creating them.

Lisa x