JUDITH Bell studied fashion at London's School of Art. Now, after some

years designing exclusive made-to-measure womenswear and for high street

stores, she has turned her skills to making highly original, not to say

unconventional, headgear.

Her unisex hats are made from machine-washable polar fleece, the sort

of material normally found in expensive ski jackets and in winter

climbing gear. This lightweight material is ideal for warming; winter

hats are a world away from those woolly caps that make the wearer look

like a menacing car thief or be-pomponed train-spotter.

''One of the problems with a woollen hat is that the wind can go

straight through it. My hats are made with a thermal fabric that is

windproof,'' says Judith.

The inspiration comes from the standard deck of playing-cards: the

kind of hats worn by the King, Queen, Knave, and Joker. Judith uses the

colours found on the cards like bright red, yellow, green, and blue.

''But I can do self-coloured hats, too.'' The most popular so far is,

undoubtedly, the most outrageous. The Joker hat has crazy bobbles that

come with optional bells. Judith says that her warm, witty, and

cost-conscious hats are hugely popular on the ski-slopes.

She does other polar fleece hats named Glacier and Arctic Circle

(circular and triangular-shaped respectively). They are a bit more

subdued and don't have quite the same riotous effect at apres ski

revels.

* ADULTS' hats are #15, children's #12. For more information contact

Judith M. Bell Designs, 52 Abercorn Road, Edinburgh, EH8 7DP (tel/fax:

031-661 1688).