Balenciaga's hats
Cristóbal Balenciaga's couture hats were some of the most elaborate in Paris, playing with scale, shape and unusual materials
Hats
The V&A's significant hat collection is a revealing and exciting record of the changes in headgear over the past 17 centuries. From practical to fanciful and mass-produced to bespoke, the myriad of shapes, styles, materials and sizes highlight that there is a hat for every occasion.
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While hats have been worn for centuries, millinery is comparatively recent – becoming established over the past 300 years – and concentrates on the more decorative and fashionable side of hat-wearing. Not simply an accessory, hats have the power to impart a message of authority, affiliation, individuality, propriety, rebellion and style.
Collection highlights
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Shoe Hat, designed by Elsa Schiaparelli, 1937 – 38, France. -
Hat, by Svend, made for Jacques Fath, 1951, Paris, France -
Hat, made for Marshall and Snelgrove, 1937 – 39, London, England -
Silk tulle turban hat, designed by Paulette, about 1960, Paris, France -
Hat, designed by Cristóbal Balenciaga, 1963, Paris, France -
Hat, by Aage Thaarup, 1960s, London, England -
Hat, designed by Philip Treacy, 1995, UK -
Tatlin, hat, designed by Stephen Jones, 1982, UK -
Hat, by Otto Lucas, 1954, London, England -
Hat, designed by Lucienne Rabaté, 1946, Paris, France -
Corno ducale, hat, 1675 – 99, Venice, Italy -
Hat, designed by Philip Treacy, 1991, made for Rifat Ozbek, UK -
Cloche hat, made for Liberty & Co. Ltd, 1928, London, England -
Hat, 20th century, Gujarat, India -
Bowler hat, made by Woodrow, 1940 – 50, UK -
Hat worn by Idina Menzel as Elphaba in the original 2003 New York production of Wicked, by Rodney Gordon, 2003, New York, US -
Silk orchid hat, designed by Philip Treacy, 2011, London, England -
Tang geon, indoor hat, 1850 – 1910, Korea -
Tam, hat, 1970s, UK -
Hat, 1950s, US -
Top hat, made by James Lock & Co., 1970s, London, England
Features
Stephen Jones and Dior
Milliner, Stephen Jones, discusses working alongside Dior to create exquisite hats and headpieces to complement their designs
The Pussyhat
Find out how a knitted pink hat became a global symbol of female solidarity
Revealing hidden structures through x-rays
Discover the internal structures of a hat, stays, and a hood - three historic objects from the exhibition, Fashioned from Nature
Millinery in Motion: Stephen Jones
Millinery in Motion presented the work of five of London's most exciting new milliners alongside world-famous hat designer Stephen Jones
McQueen's collaborators: Philip Treacy
Explore the creative collaboration between fashion designer Alexander McQueen and milliner Philip Treacy
'Heads and Tales' by Aage Thaarup
The celebrated Danish milliner describes his first royal commission in this extract from his autobiography
Header image: L-R: Pink velvet cap, designed by Aage Thaarup, 1950-59, England. Museum no. T.255-1985. Ivy leaf hat, designed by Aage Thaarup, 1950-59, England. Museum no. T.254-1985. Hydrangea flower hat; designed by Paulette, about 1955, France. Museum no. T.247-1984. © Victoria and Albert Museum, London