Easter bonnets: Anthony Peto's new collection would inspire you to modernise this childhood trend

Behold 'Le Bucket'. The hat shape has morphed from humble, fold-up pal of the golfer and hip hop star to the more exaggerated proportions and brims seen on the Parisian catwalks. This season, the bucket is having something of a moment, like its accessories sister, the bucket bag.

The hat shape dates back to the 14th century when its functional purpose was to protect your face. In the hands of genius chapelier Anthony Peto, his exaggerated 'Stardust' straw hat (left) features "a swarm of butterflies that just happen to hover over the hat in the shape of a bow. It is a magical moment - that is the impression you are meant to get from it," he adds. "And in terms of wearability, there are so many colours there, you can pretty much match the hat with anything."

Part of the appeal of the bucket, Anthony believes, is that working with something that is a little bit awkward-looking makes it look more modern. His bucket is made from wheat straw which originally used to come from the fields around Florence where it was known as Italian or Tuscan straw. It is now supplied in a 6mm braid, and using a kind of sewing machine, the braid is sown together in the shape of a hat and then blocked to give it the firm shape.

"It's almost like sculpture, and it's interesting to watch the process because you see the hat just taking shape before your eyes, from a tiny piece of straw that is sown into a little dot and it gets wider and wider, going around in circles," says Anthony, who has a video on YouTube on making a hat by that technique.

Anthony also uses sisal to great effect in myriad colours, and creates extra drama by wrapping pieces inside a tulle "cage". Feathers are ideal for summer hats "and if used judiciously," says Anthony, "can give quite a lot of originality to a look." A perfect case in point is his easy-wear headband (page 16) made from colour-tipped ostrich feathers.