Like perfume, it has to be personal.
Good news for hat lovers, and you must be a hat fancier or you wouldn’t be reading this blog; The New York Times has recently published an article recognizing the role headwear plays in the fashion industry.
It appears that hats are making a resurgence both on and off the runway. I believe this is due, to a large degree, through exposure in movies, television and on high profile celebrities.
For example, the vision of Nicole Kiddman in the movie Australia, impeccable in her riding habit, sent more than a few women googling “top hat”. Polly Singer Couture Hats and Veils was fortunate –or prescient to have just added Coverside to the line. The depression era cloches worn by Angelina Jolie in her recent movie The Changeling, vintage pieces similar to our Molly and Ruby Tuesday, add much to the character’s fragile allure. Another beauty, Jennifer Aniston appeared on 30 Rock in a fedora trimmed with masses of feathers reminiscent of our Fall Folly, and Camille.
One thing about celebrities, they know how to wear hats. Barbara Streisand wears hats when gardening, Bette Middler dons them on bad hair days, Paris Hilton, Beyonce, Queen Latifah and Julia Roberts all recognize the advantage of a well designed hat for sun protection as well as for an extra touch of glamor.
In the New York Times homage to the hat, milliner Albertus Swanepoel, who was a runner-up at the CFDA/Vogue Fashion Fund Award commented,”The key to wearing a hat well, is making it your own. You almost have to have a relationship with it, ” he said. “But not in a precious way. You have to wear it with a certain carelessness. Like perfume, it has to be personal.”