Kate Middleton “Fascinates” With Bold Style

Kate Middleton was a vision in red when she stepped out today in Scotland, a color also favored by the late Princess Diana.But the fashion flock are still chirping about her appearance with Prince William on Thursday, when she wore a “fascinator” — a fancy cousin to the beret, with decoration designed to draw the eye.

Middleton’s velvet and feather topper was custom made for her by the Vivien Sherrif Millinery, a small enterprise based in rural Wiltshire, which creates each of its intriguing headpieces by hand, People reports.

The princess-to-be’s beret included an antique cameo, pheasant feathers and something perfectly appropriate for the future daughter-in-law of the Prince of Wales– Welsh military metals.

Middleton wore the beret to the Trearddur Bay Lifeboat station in Angelseys to christen a new vessel accompanied by her royal fiancé. The headpiece accessorized an ensemble that included a tailored camel jacket, brown scarf and gloves.

Vivien Sherrif specializes in color coordination, often working with retailers to match their collections.

“She has quite a few of our pieces and luckily she wore one of ours today,” Maggie O’Mahony, a member of the milliner’s design team told People. Its designers learned of their photo op when pictures of Middleton began circulating on the Internet.

Besides looking a little windswept on what was a blustery day, Middleton pulled off the ambitious hat, O’Mahony declared. “She’s a really good dresser. She looks lovely.” Hear that, Dame Vivienne Westwood?

And why not rave? Although it’s been widely reported that Middleton has tapped London milliner Philip Treacy to dress heads for the April 29 royal wedding, StyleList couldn’t help but notice the impressive collection of bridal hats on Vivien Sherrif’s Web site.

Middleton, of course, has become a one-woman ambassador for obscure and prominent British designers.

Read about the attention she’s focused on established London designer Bruce Oldfield.

And Middleton’s influence has also impacted the ambitions of the woman who designed her royal engagement dress.