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Fascinators sold at Farmer's Market give women a regal air

'It's going to be fun. We're going to feel like Meghan today. I love her, so she's so adorable. And I love Harry. They seem so good together' Pat Sheridan

Anyone who tuned in to watch the royal wedding of Prince Harry and Meghan Markle yesterday was no doubt mesmerized by the stylish fascinators and hats carefully selected and proudly worn their guests.

Women arrived adorned in headpieces that came in a variety of shapes, sizes, colours and textures.   

Far across the pond in North Bay, a group of relatives attending a wedding that same afternoon, took their cues from the royal guests and decided to make a fashion statement by purchasing fascinators of their own to wear.  

“We’re all wearing fascinators to my cousin’s wedding. We talked about wearing fun hair stuff to the races down in Toronto for years and we decided why not buy something today? It seems like a good day,” explained Trish Sheridan.

They expect the fascinators will give them a regal air.  

“It’s going to be fun. We’re going to feel like Meghan today. I love her, she’s so adorable. And I love Harry. They seem so good together,” laughed Pat Sheridan.

Walking into the wedding, the fashion headpieces will likely turn a few heads.

“Absolutely. They’ll think we went a little crazy. We’re going to have a little bit of fun with it,” Karen Sheridan said with a grin.   

Adding to the fun was that they were trying on the fascinators and hats at a vendor’s booth on the opening day of the North Bay Farmer’s Market.

Kerry Somerville is a milliner, by definition, someone who sells or makes hats.  In this case, Somerville does both from her business, KHS Millinery in Astorville, outside of North Bay.

Somerville makes custom fascinators and hats for weddings and special occasions.

“I’ve already sold a few today. It’s hat Christmas at my house today. In England, everyone wears hats and fascinators to weddings. The UK is pretty much the centre of millinery heaven, so I’m wearing a fascinator today too. It’s so exciting,” said Somerville.

“Mine is kind of a saucer fascinator. It’s made out of sinamay, a woven fibre that is stiffened to keep it in shape. You can wear them for weddings, graduations, bridal showers, baby showers. What I do is something called ‘hat hire’ so you can rent a hat for a special occasion.”  

Events like the royal wedding are cause for inspiration.

“They looked pretty good. Lot’s of different colours. I can see what everybody’s wearing and go from there,” said Somerville.

The next big event for this milliner is the Queen’s Plate at the end of June, where she will be wearing one of her own custom-made creations.

“They have a best-dressed contest, and when I went two years ago I finished top ten in best dressed for hat and dress, so that was pretty exciting for me.”