Crown prince

It comes as no surprise that Louis Mariette's logo is a Cinderella-style crown. After all, parts of his life story read a bit like a fairytale. "I was actually born in Malawi. My father was from the island of Mauritius. When he migrated to Malawi he was an illegal crocodile hunter. My mother ended up remarrying a British guy who worked as a vet, and we moved from Malawi to Swaziland to Botswana."

See what I mean? Already our story has a step-parent, crocodiles and faraway kingdoms. Sharing a white leather couch in the splendorous Sloane Square flat that serves as Louis' home, showroom and studio, we are surrounded by all the trappings of a fantasy world; feathers, masks, birdcages, hundreds of fragrant candles, fresh flowers, shells, pearls and crystals wink out from every wall and surface. A towering arrangement of fruit and Florentines provides further temptation.

Louis certainly knows how to set a scene; he originally trained in hospitality and his first career was professional party planning. It was a twist of fate that led him to millinery. "There was an amazing stylist, and he saw me making these little headpieces for my clients because I'd want them to feel really special for the parties," Louis explains. "He said, 'I'm doing a big show in Milan, why don't you do 25 hats for me?' I put all my soul into the project and it was a stunning show."

When Louis got back to London, a fairy godmother - in the form of a certain well-known shop - entered the scene. "A few days later I got this call and these people said, 'We'd love to come around, we heard about your show.' As I was about to put the phone down I said, 'Oh sorry, who's this?' It was Harrods calling, and they ended up buying the collection." Not only that, but they commissioned Louis to create a platinum and diamond hat worth £1.5m to serve as the centrepiece of their millinery department launch.

Since then his work has been worn by the glamorous, the great and the good, including Jerry Hall, Alek Wek, Lisa Butcher, Jodie Kidd and Sophie Dahl. "What I love about what I do is the fact that I'm not restricted at all. If I just want to create something on my own I'll do it," he says. "It's great because photographers and stylists love that as well. For magazines, photographs, shoots - the more imaginative and avant-garde the better." It's true; the fashion press can't resist his lofty and outlandish sensations, which is why if you've been paying attention you'll have seen Louis' work perched upon the head of Kate Moss in Vogue, on Amber Valletta in Italian Vogue or Gwen Stefani in i-D.

A survey of the studio suggests that here perhaps not even the sky is the limit. Couture clients can seek inspiration from headpieces featuring embellished animal skulls, drifts of paper flowers or spiky plumes threatening to take flight. One giant example comprises a sheet of coral studded with scallop shells, red crystal starfish and big, fat pearls. While none of the hats here could be called conventional, some are less flamboyant than others. I quietly try on a micro pillbox hat flourished with a dash of fabric - and promptly decide I've never looked better.

The most recent development is a range of sparkling ready-to-wear accessories designed to accompany cocktail dresses. "The Bejewelled pieces are small, very elegant pieces that are like hair jewellery. There's a time and a place to wear a headpiece or a hat, so I designed this range - it's elegant and understated but it just catches your eye's attention. Sometimes less can be more."

After the fairytale start to his own fashion career, Louis is now helping others find their paths to fame and fortune. He's one of the judges in the fifth season of Britain's Next Top Model on Living TV, the show that sees 20 girls battling it out on catwalks and in photography studios as they try to win a lucrative modelling contract.

Chattering about the other judges and the tight rapport they developed, he says Lisa Snowdon is the mother hen of the three, while he affectionately describes model-turned-photographer Huggy Ragnarsson as "absolutely bonkers". The friendships have been fun, but it's still fashion that gets him most visibly excited. "I have my passion of wearing clothes - fabulous, exotic, outrageous. The whole production team and the models were all waiting with baited breath for me to arrive with each new outfit. Watch the show and you'll see some rather jaw-dropping outfits let's just say!" So much for that theory that less can be more I guess.

While travel has always figured prominently in Louis' life - and is a constant source of materials and inspiration - he remains devoted to London and praises the creativity, eccentricity and confidence of the capital's citizens. As he paints a colourful picture of legendary parties at his old Chepstow Villas flat I start to see what he means; one tale involves Louis dressed as Marie Antoinette on roller skates slicing through crowds of tourists making their way to Portobello Market...

"I still love good old Daphne's for a meal, and of course Tom's in Notting Hill Gate. Beach Blanket Babylon, I always have outrageous times there. I love food - anything that's exotic and unusual. One of my favourite restaurants is Awana."

Slim and lithe, he doesn't particularly look like a man who eats heartily, but it turns out he's a keen runner. He's become very involved in The Children's Trust, and is running the marathon on their behalf this year. "Obviously in a fabulously OTT fancy dress outfit," he clarifies with a grin.

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