Ladies fashion hats have gone in and out of fashion over the years.

But at the moment they've come very much back into vogue, thanks largely to the Duchess of Cambridge and her penchant for elegant headwear.

So I decided to drop in to meet millinery teacher Elaine Mergard.

What I discovered was a hat maker with a passion for creativity and customers at the very top of Australia's social ladder.

» Listen to the interview