About Us

The Courses
I offer a choice of courses suitable for beginners and experienced milliners. I teach no more than six students at a time, so you will get plenty of individual tuition.

I offer three day courses in couture hat making, working with traditional blocking and construction techniques. There is also a two day course exploring 'Fascinators' and a two day course creating Tiaras.
I teach a variety of mid-week, part weekend and weekend courses.
Class hours are 10:00 - 4:30 (with 30 minutes for lunch).

I am also a City and Guilds Approved Centre. This means I also offer the City and Guilds Millinery Level 2 7716 qualification. This is run over twenty days, two days a month for ten months in succession. There is a weekend and a mid-week course.

By arrangement, I can offer intensive courses on a one to one basis and am available for group bookings. Please telephone me to discuss details.

Your Tutor
I trained in Millinery at the London College of Fashion with the Royal Couturier, Marie O'Reagan. After several years of running a successful business in London, 'Lashford's Couture Milliners' moved to the Cotswolds.

I started teaching in 1997 and at first taught recreational courses throughout Worcestershire and Gloucestershire.
Realizing how much I loved teaching I trained to be a teacher.
In 1999 I taught my first City and Guilds Millinery course. I also wrote and taught several new OCN millinery courses.

I setup my own Millinery School in the Autumn of 2002.
I now offer 16 short courses and am also an independant City and Guilds Centre.

The Location
The Millinery School is situated at Bowers Hill on the edge of the Cotswolds in an idyllic rural setting 2 miles southeast of Evesham and 2 miles northwest of Broadway. If you are travelling by train, then Evesham is the nearest train station. If you are travelling by plane then Birmingham International Airport is the nearest airport.

If you are travelling without a car and stay somewhere on my very local accommodation list, I will be able to take you to your accommodation after your first day at the school. I will also be able to collect you in the mornings through out the rest of the duration of your course. I cannot offer this facility on the last evening of any course.

Materials & Equipment
Hat blocks are provided by the School. All other materials are to be paid for by the student (please telephone me for an estimate of your material costs, they vary depending on which course you choose). Before attending a course, you will have the opportunity to establish a trade connection with your millinery suppliers and order your hat materials direct from them in the colours of your choice. An equipment/material list will be sent to you on receipt of your deposit for the course.

Accommodation
For those students travelling from a distance, there are many local bed and breakfast and hotels. Please tick the box on the booking form if you require a bed and breakfast list.

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