Coco Chanel: born into poverty, abandoned by her father, sang in grimy clubs to make a living.

Not a great start in life. But she knew how to turn heads, and it began with a topper.

Carry on the tradition with Maison Michel, a Paris-based milliner whose art director Laetitia Crahay doubles as the accessories designer for Chanel. (The look book was shot by Kaiser Karl himself.)

Choose from headpieces, hairpieces, veils and proper hats. Made-to-measure silk fedoras, pearl-laden headbands, flapper girl-inspired feathers or sequin-trimmed panamas are guaranteed to put you just the right side of over the top.

Because remember, fashions fade but style is eternal.

Just a little heads-up from Mademoiselle.

Available at Browns, 23-27 South Molton Street, W1K 5RD (020 7514 0016 or brownsfashion.com); online at net-a-porter.com. To see styles, go to michel-paris.com.