It was a case of hats off to London's landmarks today as several statues were given a makeover - with new headwear.
Twenty of the capital's icons, including Lord Nelson and Sir Winston Churchill, were given new hats created by 21 top designers.
The project, called Hatwalk, forms part of the London 2012 Festival.
It was curated by internationally renowned British milliners Stephen Jones and Philip Treacy and is part of London Mayor Boris Johnson's bid to encourage people to research and learn about dozens of sculptures of famous figures in the capital.
After 18 months of planning, the hats were placed overnight on statues including William Shakespeare, Robert Burns, Queen Victoria and the Duke of Wellington.
Mr Johnson said: “You’ve got to take your hats off to London. Our city is a melting pot of creativity...the cutting edge style and imagination of London's millinery talent is feted worldwide.
"I can't think of a better way to celebrate the heritage of British millinery and its contribution to our fair city by dressing our most noble of statues, including our most heroic son, Nelson."
Once the display has ended the hats will be auctioned off to raise money for the Mayor's Fund for good causes.
Hatwalk is part of Surprises, a series of pop-up performances staged around London in familiar and unusual places. Other events include pop-up Shakespeare at The Globe Theatre, London, and a life-size inflatable replica of Stonehenge by Jeremy Deller, which is currently touring the capital.
Mayor of London Present HATWALK
LONDON, UNITED KINGDOM - JULY 30: Some of Trafalgar Square's most famous residents, Sir Henry Havelock , King George IV (pictured), Charles James Napier and Admiral Lord Nelson (pictured) have been given a makeover with newly created, bespoke headwear from today, as part of the visual spectacular that is HATWALK, July 30, 2012 in London, England. Commissioned by the Mayor of London, in partnership with BT, Grazia magazine, the British Fashion Council and the London 2012 Festival on, HATWALK brings together 21 emerging and established designers with their works featured on 20 well-known statues across the capital. www.molpresents/hatwalk / www.graziadaily.co.uk/hatwalk. HATWALK is part of Surprises, which sees pop-up performances and once in a lifetime experiences spring up at locations both familiar and unusual across London throughout this summer like no other. (Photo by Martin McNeil/Getty Images for Mayor of London's Office)
Mayor of London Present HATWALK
LONDON, UNITED KINGDOM - JULY 30: Trafalgar Square's most famous resident, Admiral Lord Nelson gets a new hat for the first time in 200 years, as part of the visual spectacular that is HATWALK, commissioned by the Mayor of London, in partnership with BT, Grazia magazine, the British Fashion Council and the London 2012 Festival, July 30, 2012 in London, England. Nelson is one of 20 well-known statues across the capital adorned with newly created, bespoke headwear from today. Lock & Co, the oldest hatters in London, established in 1676, and famed for making Nelson's original bicorn hat, has created an updated version, complete with Olympic torch as a nod to a summer like no other in this city. Curated by world renowned British milliners, Stephen Jones and Philip Treacy, HATWALK brings together 21 emerging and established designers to showcase British millinery at its very best. www.molpresents/hatwalk / www.graziadaily.co.uk/hatwalk. HATWALK is part of Surprises, which sees pop-up performances and once in a lifetime experiences spring up at locations both familiar and unusual across London throughout this summer like no other. (Photo by Martin McNeil/Getty Images for Mayor of London's Office)
Mayor of London Present HATWALK
LONDON, UNITED KINGDOM - JULY 30: Trafalgar Square's most famous resident, Admiral Lord Nelson gets a new hat for the first time in 200 years, as part of the visual spectacular that is HATWALK, commissioned by the Mayor of London, in partnership with BT, Grazia magazine, the British Fashion Council and the London 2012 Festival, July 30, 2012 in London, England. Nelson is one of 20 well-known statues across the capital adorned with newly created, bespoke headwear from today. Lock & Co, the oldest hatters in London, established in 1676, and famed for making Nelson's original bicorn hat, has created an updated version, complete with Olympic torch as a nod to a summer like no other in this city. Curated by world renowned British milliners, Stephen Jones and Philip Treacy, HATWALK brings together 21 emerging and established designers to showcase British millinery at its very best. www.molpresents/hatwalk / www.graziadaily.co.uk/hatwalk. HATWALK is part of Surprises, which sees pop-up performances and once in a lifetime experiences spring up at locations both familiar and unusual across London throughout this summer like no other. (Photo by Martin McNeil/Getty Images for Mayor of London's Office)
Mayor of London Present HATWALK
LONDON, UNITED KINGDOM - JULY 30: Some of Trafalgar Square's most famous residents, Sir Henry Havelock , King George IV (pictured), Charles James Napier and Admiral Lord Nelson (pictured) have been given a makeover with newly created, bespoke headwear from today, as part of the visual spectacular that is HATWALK, July 30, 2012 in London, England. Commissioned by the Mayor of London, in partnership with BT, Grazia magazine, the British Fashion Council and the London 2012 Festival on, HATWALK brings together 21 emerging and established designers with their works featured on 20 well-known statues across the capital. www.molpresents/hatwalk / www.graziadaily.co.uk/hatwalk. HATWALK is part of Surprises, which sees pop-up performances and once in a lifetime experiences spring up at locations both familiar and unusual across London throughout this summer like no other. (Photo by Martin McNeil/Getty Images for Mayor of London's Office)
Mayor of London Present HATWALK
LONDON, ENGLAND - JULY 30: Some of Trafalgar Square's most famous residents, Sir Henry Havelock , King George IV, Charles James Napier (pictured) and Admiral Lord Nelson have been given a makeover with newly created, bespoke headwear from today, as part of the visual spectacular that is HATWALK, July 30, 2012 in London, England. Commissioned by the Mayor of London, in partnership with BT, Grazia magazine, the British Fashion Council and the London 2012 Festival, HATWALK brings together 21 emerging and established designers with their works featured on 20 well-known statues across the capital. www.molpresents/hatwalk / www.graziadaily.co.uk/hatwalk. HATWALK is part of Surprises, which sees pop-up performances and once in a lifetime experiences spring up at locations both familiar and unusual across London throughout this summer like no other. (Photo by Martin McNeil/Getty Images for Mayor of London's Office) HATWALK is part of Surprises, which sees pop-up performances and once in a lifetime experiences spring up at locations both familiar and unusual across London throughout this summer like no other. >, July 30, 2012 in London, England. (Photo by Martin McNeil/Getty Images for Mayor of London's Office)
Mayor of London Present HATWALK
LONDON, ENGLAND - JULY 30: Some of Trafalgar Square's most famous residents, Sir Henry Havelock , King George IV, Charles James Napier (pictured) and Admiral Lord Nelson have been given a makeover with newly created, bespoke headwear from today, as part of the visual spectacular that is HATWALK, July 30, 2012 in London, England. Commissioned by the Mayor of London, in partnership with BT, Grazia magazine, the British Fashion Council and the London 2012 Festival, HATWALK brings together 21 emerging and established designers with their works featured on 20 well-known statues across the capital. www.molpresents/hatwalk / www.graziadaily.co.uk/hatwalk. HATWALK is part of Surprises, which sees pop-up performances and once in a lifetime experiences spring up at locations both familiar and unusual across London throughout this summer like no other. (Photo by Martin McNeil/Getty Images for Mayor of London's Office) HATWALK is part of Surprises, which sees pop-up performances and once in a lifetime experiences spring up at locations both familiar and unusual across London throughout this summer like no other. >, July 30, 2012 in London, England. (Photo by Martin McNeil/Getty Images for Mayor of London's Office)
Mayor of London Present HATWALK
LONDON, UNITED KINGDOM - JULY 30: Some of Trafalgar Square's most famous residents, Sir Henry Havelock (pictured), King George IV, Charles James Napier and Admiral Lord Nelson have been given a makeover with newly created, bespoke headwear from today, as part of the visual spectacular that is HATWALK, July 30, 2012 in London England. Commissioned by the Mayor of London, in partnership with BT, Grazia magazine, the British Fashion Council and the London 2012 Festival, HATWALK brings together 21 emerging and established designers with their works featured on 20 well-known statues across the capital. www.molpresents/hatwalk / www.graziadaily.co.uk/hatwalk. HATWALK is part of Surprises, which sees pop-up performances and once in a lifetime experiences spring up at locations both familiar and unusual across London throughout this summer like no other. (Photo by Martin McNeil/Getty Images for Mayor of London's Office)
Mayor of London Present HATWALK
LONDON, UNITED KINGDOM - JULY 30: Some of Trafalgar Square's most famous residents, Sir Henry Havelock , King George IV (pictured), Charles James Napier and Admiral Lord Nelson have been given a makeover with newly created, bespoke headwear from today, as part of the visual spectacular that is HATWALK, July 30, 2012 in London, England. Commissioned by the Mayor of London, in partnership with BT, Grazia magazine, the British Fashion Council and the London 2012 Festival on, HATWALK brings together 21 emerging and established designers with their works featured on 20 well-known statues across the capital. www.molpresents/hatwalk / www.graziadaily.co.uk/hatwalk. HATWALK is part of Surprises, which sees pop-up performances and once in a lifetime experiences spring up at locations both familiar and unusual across London throughout this summer like no other. (Photo by Martin McNeil/Getty Images for Mayor of London's Office)
Mayor of London Present HATWALK
LONDON, ENGLAND - JULY 30: Some of Trafalgar Square's most famous residents, Sir Henry Havelock , King George IV, Charles James Napier (pictured) and Admiral Lord Nelson have been given a makeover with newly created, bespoke headwear from today, as part of the visual spectacular that is HATWALK, July 30, 2012 in London, England. Commissioned by the Mayor of London, in partnership with BT, Grazia magazine, the British Fashion Council and the London 2012 Festival, HATWALK brings together 21 emerging and established designers with their works featured on 20 well-known statues across the capital. www.molpresents/hatwalk / www.graziadaily.co.uk/hatwalk. HATWALK is part of Surprises, which sees pop-up performances and once in a lifetime experiences spring up at locations both familiar and unusual across London throughout this summer like no other. (Photo by Martin McNeil/Getty Images for Mayor of London's Office) HATWALK is part of Surprises, which sees pop-up performances and once in a lifetime experiences spring up at locations both familiar and unusual across London throughout this summer like no other. >, July 30, 2012 in London, England. (Photo by Martin McNeil/Getty Images for Mayor of London's Office)
Mayor of London Present HATWALK
LONDON, UNITED KINGDOM - JULY 30: Some of Trafalgar Square's most famous residents, Sir Henry Havelock , King George IV (pictured), Charles James Napier and Admiral Lord Nelson have been given a makeover with newly created, bespoke headwear from today, as part of the visual spectacular that is HATWALK, July 30, 2012 in London, England. Commissioned by the Mayor of London, in partnership with BT, Grazia magazine, the British Fashion Council and the London 2012 Festival on, HATWALK brings together 21 emerging and established designers with their works featured on 20 well-known statues across the capital. www.molpresents/hatwalk / www.graziadaily.co.uk/hatwalk. HATWALK is part of Surprises, which sees pop-up performances and once in a lifetime experiences spring up at locations both familiar and unusual across London throughout this summer like no other. (Photo by Martin McNeil/Getty Images for Mayor of London's Office)
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PA/Huffington Post UK | Posted: 30/07/2012 11:56 Updated: 30/07/2012 22:45