Philip Treacy & Lyons Tea

Galway-born milliner Philip Treacy unveiled his latest creation earlier this week at Dublin's Dylan hotel. Inspired by Lyons Gold Blend Tea - the one-of-a-kind hat was specially made for the capitol's upcoming Taste of Dublin festival where it will be displayed, from June 11th, at the Lyons Gold Blend tent.

Having designed hats for Alexander McQueen and Karl Lagerfeld; not to mention Sarah Jessica Parker's peacock topper for the London premiere of 'Sex and the City', Treacy is no stranger to the spotlight but it was his love of the Irish brew that piqued his interest in the brief. "When the request came through to the office, I jumped at the chance as I grew up drinking Lyons," says the Ahascragh native. "It's a national institution," he adds "like Cidona or Mikado biscuits!"

Charged with capturing the essence of Lyons Gold Blend, the quilled handicraft reflects 'the fluid movement of tea swirls in a cup' with black pheasant and red coq feathers curled using Treacy's signature technique. It's combination is a perfect one, according to the milliner, who believes 'people drink tea and wear hats because it makes a day better' - simple pleasures in challenging times.

Simple pleasures do come at a price however with an outre Treacy setting you back anything up to €1,500. Then again he only produces 10,000 hats a year and is in high demand by dozens of celebrities including Madonna and Boy George who've both sported his famous fedora. "I've been really lucky to have some of the most extraordinary people wearing my hats," admits Treacy who counts Liz Taylor as one of his favourite clients. "She invented celebrity extravagance and is proof that icons can be very nice as well."

Luckily, you don't need a Liz Taylor bank balance to be with the chance of winning Treacy's tea-inspired haute couture design. Fans can enter online at www.lyonsgoldblend.ie; or at the Taste of Dublin while enjoying a smooth cuppa in the Mad Hatter-inspired tent. It's a golden chance to sample a stylish Irish tradition.

Image: Andres Poveda, Corporate PR