How often do you notice a person nowadays, walking down the street sporting a decorative hat? How often do you wear a hat? For me, just about the only time I cover up my head is out of necessity to block sun or cold — not so much for fashion! But when I was growing up, hats were more of the norm — especially on Sundays. What happened??
Hats are one of those accessories that flirt with both fashion and functionality —sometimes they are completely one or the other, but sometimes they’re a bit of both. Discovering the work of Mary Brooks Picken through the Women’s Institute, I gained more of an interest in hats because of their millinery courses. Millinery — now there’s a lost art! Then, after the uproar over fancy hats at the royal wedding in the spring, I was curious to know a little more about the ups and downs of hat trends (practical or not) throughout the years— and could they be on the way back up again?
I might not be crowning myself with “glory” anytime soon, but I do think it’s fascinating to see millinery making a comeback — especially considering all the work that Mary Brooks Picken did with her millinery courses through the Women’s Institute.
Here are a few of my favorite modern-day hat designers/companies:
- I met Formé Millinery owner, Jenny Pfanenstiel, at the Creative Connection this year. She was never without a beautiful head accessory…
- Violet Craft designed a new children’scloche hat for Indygo Junction pattern IJ922
- I met Leigh Magar, a talented milliner who owns a hat shop in Charleston, SC. a fellow honoree at the Country Living Creative Women Entrepreneurs event in 2009.
- Check out the San Diego Hat Company —In recent shopping ventures, I’ve been impressed with their creative styles and quality design. Many are vintage-inspired, like the one pictured here:
