Noel Stewart is a renowned British milliner based in London. Born and raised in Leicester, he moved to London to study at the Royal College of Art, which became the launching pad for his remarkable career in millinery.

Noel honed his craft under the guidance of industry icons Stephen Jones, Rachel Skinner, and Philip Somerville. His career and designs are both enigmatic and exceptional, seamlessly blending contemporary aesthetics with traditional millinery techniques. Inspired by architecture, Noel’s hats are sublime creations that merge luxurious materials with comfort, resulting in headpieces that are both wearable and elevating. His work spans collaborations with leading fashion brands, as well as theatre, television, and film productions.

He has designed for prestigious names including Mulberry, Hussein Chalayan, Stella McCartney, Viktor & Rolf, JW Anderson, Hermès, Oscar de la Renta, Givenchy Haute Couture, and Valentino.

Noel’s creations have adorned celebrities such as Angelina Jolie, Lady Gaga, Keira Knightley, Kylie Minogue, Cara Delevingne, Victoria Beckham, and the Duchess of Sussex.

His headpieces have appeared on screen in productions like Damsel (2024), Emma. (2020), Mary Queen of Scots (2018), Murder on the Orient Express (2017), and The Danish Girl (2015). For Murder on the Orient Express, he collaborated with Oscar-winning costume designer Alexandra Byrne, creating hats and headpieces for Michelle Pfeiffer, Daisy Ridley, Penelope Cruz, Lucy Boynton, and Olivia Colman.

Recently, Noel and his team completed work on a new production of Fiddler on the Roof at the Barbican, and crafted hats for the ongoing Balenciaga Haute Couture show in June – July 2025. The 53rd Balenciaga Haute Couture show featured Noel’s extraordinary wide-trimmed plumage hats, carbon hats and whimsical t-shirt hats.

When asked about creating Ascot hats or helping clients choose from his atelier, Noel says:

“Finding the right hat should be a playful exploration. It should be a joyous expression of discovering themselves.”

This podcast is hosted and produced by Lauren Ritchie and edited by Maria Volkova for MillineryInfo