Philip Treacy - Philip Treacy Gave Hats To Elizabeth Taylor

Philip Treacy Gave Hats To Elizabeth Taylor

Philip Treacy gifted 25 hats to Dame Elizabeth Taylor.

The famed milliner found the late screen legend to be a "sweetheart" when they met and was pleased he was able to surprise her with the extravagant present after she originally only requested a hatpin.

He recalled: "A couple of years ago, I got a phone call, would Mr. Treacy make a hatpin for Elizabeth Taylor? I said, 'Might Miss Taylor like a hat to go with the hatpin?' and The Answer was yes.

"I went to see her at the Dorchester. I didn't know whether I was going to be dealing with a very tricky person but she was a sweetheart.

"I thought it would be entertaining to do a hat show on her in her room - because, after all, she is an old lady. I tried 25 hats on her.

"She kept saying, 'Which hat can I have?' And at the end I said, 'You can have them all.' I gave her 25 hats.

"She said, 'I must do something for you in return.' But I'd got my return just by hanging out with her."

Philip has designed for a range of celebrities, including Princess Beatrice, Lady GaGa and the late Isabella Blow, but insists not all of his customers are "crazy".

He added: "I love the romance of what I do, although because of Isabella, Lady Gaga and Grace Jones, people think I have crazy customers. Sometimes I get more enthusiasm from the housewife who wants a hat and believes in it."