Terms and conditions

Welcome to Duchess – hat hire for the bold, the beautiful, and the brilliantly dressed. Please read the following Terms & Conditions carefully before booking. By hiring a hat through our website or in-studio, you agree to the terms set out below.

1. About Us

Duchess is a hat hire service offering luxury hats for special occasions including weddings, Royal Ascot, garden parties, and more. Hats are hired either online or in person from our London studio.

2. Hire Period

The standard hire period is 3 days (including the day you recieve your hat, not including the day you return). Extended hire may be available (fees apply). Your hat must be returned by the agreed date or a late fee will apply (taken off the deposit).

3. Pricing & Payments

You’ll pay the full hire fee upfront, which includes:

  • The rental fee

  • A refundable security deposit 

Your deposit will be returned in full once the hat is returned on time, in its original condition.

4. Cancellations & Refunds

  • More than 30 days' notice: Full refund minus a £10 admin fee.

  • 14 days' notice: 50% refund of the hire fee.

  • Less than 7 days' notice: No refund.

5. Damage, Loss, & Responsibility

We get it—things happen. But while you’re the temporary Duchess, the hat is your royal responsibility.

  • Minor wear and tear - we'll assess and be fair in how much deduction we take from the deposit. Each hat is fitted with a tape on the inside to catch face make up so please keep that on, it's also for hygiene. 

  • Significant damage, loss, or theft will result in a full or partial deduction from your deposit or full replacement value. We will assess if the hat can be 

Please don’t try to clean or repair the hat yourself—we’ve got trusted milliners for that. Do no get your hat wet at all or use steam. 

6. Returns

Hats must be returned on the agreed date, either:

  • In person at the studio (please try dropping at reception in the first instance, and if not 2nd floor studios)

  • By post (tracked & insured, proof of postage required)

Late returns result in late fees or loss of deposit.

7. Fit & Styling

Not sure if a hat suits you? We offer:

  • Studio try-ons (by appointment)

  • Styling advice via email or video call

Most hats are 'one size fits all' unless specified in the description, so please read the descriptions. 

8. Photography & Press

We love seeing you rock our hats! By hiring from Duchess, you agree that we may use photos of you in our hats (with permission) for social media and marketing. You can opt out at any time—just let us know.

9. Privacy Policy

Your data is safe with us. We only collect what we need to process your order and never share your info without your consent. See our Privacy Policy for full details.

10. Contact

Questions? Concerns? Need a last-minute feather fix?

Email: hire@duchesshathire.com
Studio: Central London (by appointment only)

Duchess – for a day, or as long as the paparazzi are watching.