After a year of grey days, the Tootsie Rollers wowed at Royal Ascot in a rainbow of colour! A pastel rainbow inspired by the incredible NHS and all the amazing work they’ve done this last year.
I always love designing for the Tootsies, every year is such a different challenge. This year felt so exciting getting ‘back to normal’ with Ascot welcoming back hat wearers (if slightly smaller numbers than usual).
Making petals…
I’ve put together a little video of the making of the Ascot headbands for instagram (http://www.instagram.com/beesmithhats)
They started with vintage paper straws to match the Pretty Dress company dresses. All in pastel ice cream shades. The base is a wide headband with a 4″ width to conform the Royal Enclosure dress codes.
![](https://bee-smith.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2021/06/straw-rotated.jpg)
![](https://bee-smith.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2021/06/straw-2-rotated.jpg)
![](https://bee-smith.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2021/06/straw-3.jpg)
Then each headband has 55 hand dyed petals. I always use eco-friendly dyes in my work. Each headband has at least 3 different shades of dye, often mixing and redyeing colours on top of each other to get the desired result.
![](https://bee-smith.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2021/06/yellow-petals-rotated.jpg)
![](https://bee-smith.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2021/06/pink-petals-rotated.jpg)
![](https://bee-smith.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2021/06/lilac-petals-rotated.jpg)
![](https://bee-smith.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2021/06/blue-petals-rotated.jpg)
![](https://bee-smith.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2021/06/mint-petals-rotated.jpg)
The finished product
275 petals later the headbands looked wonderful on the opening day of Royal Ascot! Each with their own matching face mask of course.
![](https://bee-smith.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2021/06/tootsies.jpg)
Get the look:
We can make these headbands in any colourway to match your outfit, just contact the studio for details: https://bee-smith.co.uk/contact/
Tootsie Rollers: http://www.emgmusic.co.uk/WP2/live-acts/the-tootsie-rollers/
Dresses: https://www.theprettydresscompany.com/leyla-dresses-t190
Make up: https://trinnylondon.com/uk/
Glasses: https://www.wolfeyewear.com/
Jewellery: http://www.anniehaakdesigns.co.uk