Smells Like Chapeau

(LONDON) Stephen Jones is about to become the first milliner to have his own fragrance, The Daily has learned. The iconic hat maker, whose asymmetric and outrageous head pieces have graced the runways of such prolific designers as Jean Paul Gaultier, Claude Montana, Zandra Rhodes, Thierry Mugler, and Dior, is collaborating with Comme des Garçons founder Rei Kawakubo to launch a women's fragrance. "Fragrance and hats are ephemeral and romantic," Jones told The Daily. "It's the same mentality--almost more so than hats and fashion. I'm a tiny little company and I needed somebody who would be into what I'm doing."

Possible fragrance names are still being considered, though the scent is expected to debut in July 2008 and be distributed at 500 to 600 points of sale. "It's like making a hat," Jones compared. "I did all the sketches and Rei approved them and said, 'left a bit, right a bit.'" Jones and Kawakubo first met in 2005, when the former, in celebration of his company's 25th anniversary, installed an exhibition at Dover Street Market called "Quarter C." "I told Rei when I met her that I've always wanted, and would love, to do a fragrance," Jones recalled. "Twenty minutes later she came back and said, 'Let's do it!'" The scent, according to Jones, will be "futuristic but rococo." Regardless of its success, it's already become a point of inspiration. "I'm going to do a hat version of the bottle," he quipped.
JIM SHI