Philip Treacy (a Treacy quote which is often reproduced): Treacy had previously written a piece for "The Guardian" in May 2001 on what defines the "perfect hat". Treacy's hats are also associated with English royalty, with thirty–six worn at the 29 April 2011 Royal wedding of Prince William and Catherine Middleton, including the controversial fascinator style hat worn by Princess Beatrice of York. The so–called "pretzel hat" was auctioned for charity by Princess Beatrice on eBay for $130,000 (£80,100.01) on the 22 May 2011. Treacy felt the criticism regarding the "pretzel hat" was very extreme (the hat had its own Facebook page
Philip Treacy Anthony Treacy was born on 26 May 1967 in the small village of Ahascragh, in County Galway in the Republic of Ireland, whose population was circa 500. Treacy says that his interest in sewing started at age five, and that his obsession with the weddings in the church across the road from his house, inspired an early passion for fashion. At age 17, Treacy moved to Dublin in 1985, to study fashion at the National College of Art and Design, where he spent a 6–week work experience with British millner, Stephen Jones. In 1988, Treacy won an MA scholarship for