Sir Arthur Sullivan (1842 –1900) is best known as one half of the Gilbert and Sullivan partnership, composers of comic operas such as HMS Pinnafore and The Pirates of Penzance. Sir Arthur presented a challenge for London Milliner Gina Foster who admitted she is more used to the sort of VIPs who attended last year’s Royal Wedding (she dressed 25 guest’s heads) than the theatrical hall of fame. She explained; ‘Sir Arthur Sullivan is certainly a far cry from my usual clients'. Gina took inspiration for the headpiece from his Japanese comic opera, The Mikado. The statue sits on the Embankment close to the Savoy Theatre where the work was first performed. It’s been great fun to do something completely different – although I’m not sure ‘The Mikado’ style will be appearing at Ascot next year!’

Gina Foster trained under Noel Stewart and Stephen Jones and studied millinery at Kensington and Chelsea College. She now creates two collections a year under her own name providing hats for the most glittering events in the social calendar.