There are few things more distinctly British than the summer social season: a choreography of gardens, races, regattas, and lawns, where dress codes are as meaningful as invitations. This summer, this ritual finds a new stage inside the Crystal Moon Lounge at Corinthia London, where Hats Off to the Summer Season! reimagines the art of occasion through a collaboration with Lock & Co. Hatters, the world’s oldest hat shop and one of Britain’s most enduring family businesses, as an elegant celebration of British cultural rituals, seasonal dining, and sartorial heritage.
The result is less exhibition than living tableau: a curated passage through centuries of millinery, with exceptional hats installed among the Crystal Moon Lounge’s luminous columns and anchored by a central floral display by resident florist, FLOWERBX, that feels closer to a salon than a showcase. Marking Lock & Co.’s 350th anniversary, the curated summer installation brings together two storied London institutions in a shared homage to craftsmanship, occasion, and timeless style. Founded in 1676 on St James’s Street, Lock & Co. Hatters remains under the stewardship of the seventh generation of the founding family and continues to define the art of millinery for royal, cultural, and sporting occasions alike.
Having opened ahead of Chelsea Flower Show, the exhibition traces the evolution of British summer dressing through a series of unique hats and headpieces, spanning centuries of design and occasion-led style. The display draws inspiration from the defining moments of the British social season, from Wimbledon and Henley Royal Regatta to Royal Ascot and Chelsea Flower Show, in addition to some of millinery’s most enduring silhouettes: the bonnet, the bowler, the pillbox, and more.
Following the success of Corinthia London’s recent cultural programming, including a photography exhibition by celebrated artist Lorenzo Agius, this latest installation transforms the Crystal Moon Lounge into a living gallery of seasonal British elegance. To complement the visual narrative, both the Crystal Moon Lounge and The Garden restaurant will present menus inspired by quintessential British summer fare.
Seasonal ingredients and refined interpretations of classic dishes celebrate the rhythm of the British countryside and coast in peak season in The Garden, offering a relaxed, yet sophisticated expression of outdoor summer dining in the heart of London.
Afternoon Tea in the Crystal Moon Lounge will echo this sensibility, pairing delicate patisserie and time-honoured creations with a sense of occasion and theatre – a composed progression of savoury to sweet that mirrors the elegance of the installation beyond its windows, with highlights including Kentish Raspberry Cheesecake, Highgrove Honey Puff Pastry, and Apricot Bakewell Tart. The result is a seamless interplay of fashion, gastronomy, and heritage, and an invitation to experience the British summer social season, brought vividly to life at Corinthia London.
Further information
Corinthia London
Photo credit: Brave New World
