Celebrity stylist Deborah Sheridan-Taylor says, “Keep proportions elegant, structure strong and try not to let your hat enter the enclosure five minutes before you do.”

Know yourself before picking a headpiece

Pulling off a headpiece begins long before popping anything on your head. “It sounds obvious, but the real trick to pulling off a headpiece is knowing your personal style first,” says Sheridan-Taylor.

“What do you want to say? Which era or decade do you want to lean toward? You don’t want to feel like you’re auditioning for a role in My Fair Lady.”

Instead, opt for silhouettes and colours that suit your everyday style. “The fascinator should complement your outfit, not dictate it,” she says.

If you’re unsure where to start, Sheridan-Taylor suggests creating a Pinterest board or images of hats and outfits you’re drawn to.

Build your look around one hero piece

If you’re staring at a riotously floral dress wondering how to style it, Sheridan-Taylor says it’s important to stay restrained.

“Pick your battles,” she says, “choose one clear element and build around it. If your dress features a bold print – say, multicoloured irises – just pick out one of the colours and echo it in your accessories.”

If that proves too fiddly, then Sheridan-Taylor says to ignore the print altogether and match your hat to your shoes instead. “That top-and-bottom pairing works wonders, magically pulling the whole look together.”

And one accessory that may have slipped your mind is make-up.

“Don’t underestimate the power of good make-up,” she says. “Don’t leave it as an afterthought – a well-made-up face is just as important as the hat that sits above it.

“The right smokey eye or plum-coloured lipstick can make the whole look sing.”

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Stylist-approved millineries

When it comes to her favourite millinery picks of the season, Sheridan-Taylor has some British-based labels she loves.

“I will always love the Zellova pillbox from Emily London. It’s simple and suits most faces, always understanding and delivering the assignment.”

For those after a slightly higher-drama showstopper, she recommends feathers, “[it’s] super theatrical, and worn with modern tailoring like a sharp white trouser suit is just perfection.”

And for a retro take on the traditional headpiece, the Sixties are having a resurgence in formalwear, and Sherdian-Taylor says pillboxes are the way to go this season.

“I’m obsessed with the Silk Petal Bomb – clue’s in the name – by Rachel Trevor-Morgan,” she says.

“It’s playful but sculptural, the kind of piece that turns heads without even trying. Worn with a knee-length shift dress and a sharp cat-eye flick, it sits somewhere between Julianne Moore in A Single Man and peak Jackie O.”

Be brave – but don’t overdo it

Whatever you wear, don’t dilute your personality in the pursuit of etiquette.

“I’m always in favour of originality – that means stepping away from polite colours in traditional shapes unless they’re genuinely you,” says Sheridan-Taylor.

“Too often, people either throw everything and the kitchen sink at a look, or retreat into timid, apologetic outfits. Neither works,” she says, “be brave and as they say, mighty forces will come to your aid.”