Hats of Lymington milliner Sara Colacicco take starring role in BBC's adaptation of Great Expectations

A LYMINGTON hat-maker’s talents are starring in the BBC’s new adaption of Great Expectations for which she designed hats for the character of Estella.

Sara Colacicco, a milliner, said she was “thrilled” to see her creations in the TV series worn by Shalom Brune-Franklin who plays Estella, the great love of lead character Pip.

Speaking from her Sara Tiara shop in Lymington High Street, she said: “When the publicity trailer came out, Estella was wearing this purple hat I made for her – it was just so exciting to see it on screen.

“Obviously I had seen it on Shalom during fittings, but finally seeing it in the drama was just amazing.”

Sara was recommended to top costume designer Verity Hawkes to make the hats and other headpieces for the Charles Dickens adaptation, including Estella’s bridal hat.

She said: “This is the first big screen project I’ve ever been involved in but I have already been busy making hats for other upcoming costume dramas. Verity is an amazing artist, and she painted these really beautiful paintings of the costumes she had in mind for Estella.

“I then used them as inspiration for the theme and colours of the hats.”

Sara, who is a self-taught milliner, praised support from local woman Jenny Drury who sourced for her an “amazing collection of antique fabrics and lace”.

Sara said: “I made lots of hats for Estella but the bridal headpiece was the best creation. It was quite a long process to make it, but when it was finished it just looked stunning.

“Being involved in such a big series has just been so brilliant. I would love to do more and am really looking forward to watching the drama and seeing more of my hats on screen.”

Sara, who founded her label in 2011 with her partner Pier Bosma, is now planning a Great Expectations themed collection for her Lymington shop.

She said: “I’ve been posting similar styles of hats and headpieces on my social media to the ones in the series and there has been a really good reaction to them.

“I want to do a collection with a Great Expectations theme and will have some of the hats on show in the Lymington store.”

Sara used to sell antique and vintage clothing 20 years ago before deciding to start designing her own clothes.

Her signature garments in Harris Tweed, finished with exclusively designed silk lining are “inspired by both the countryside and by metropolitan, avant-garde and historical influences,” she said.

Sara is a member of the British Hat Guild, a national association of professional milliners, hatters and headwear designers.

As reported in the A&T, Buckler’s Hard, near Beaulieu, also plays a role in Great Expectations with filming there last summer.