A tip of the hat
Staff at London's Lock & Co. report that sales of formal hats are booming ahead of the wedding of Prince William and Kate Middleton
Assistant manager Jayesh Vaghela brushes a vintage silk top hat.Peter Macdiarmid
The original design and a bill of sale from 1805, right, for Admiral Horatio Nelson's hat.Peter Macdiarmid
Assistant manager Jayesh Vaghela holds a Conformateur device, which measures the shape of a customer's head when buying a hunting, bowler or top hat.Peter Macdiarmid
Assistant manager Jayesh Vaghela holds a Conformateur device on the head of a customer.Peter Macdiarmid
A customer tries on a hat.Peter Macdiarmid
Vintage top hats lie on a box in a basement stock room.Peter Macdiarmid
An employee lifts down a hatbox.Peter Macdiarmid
A customer tries on a Panama hat.Peter Macdiarmid
Conforms, copies of the shape of a person's head, from Charlie Chaplin, left, and Lord Lucan are displayed behind glass.Peter Macdiarmid
Retail manager Andrew Baselgia steams a Homburg to retain its shape.Peter Macdiarmid
Employee Nicholas Payne-Baader examines a collection of vintage top hats in a basement stock room.Peter Macdiarmid