“I like good strong words that mean something.”
– Louisa May Alcott, Little Women

Do you speak Hattish? Do you need a phrase book? We’ve put together a few of the words and terms regularly bandied about the milliner’s studio. I hope you enjoy it. I hope you learn something, I really hope you have an opportunity to use “kippa” or “xian” in a game of scrabble.

A is for Ascot – The premier racing event in England at which hats are required attire for both ladies and gentleman.

B is for Block – wooden form used to shape the hat: the act of shaping felt or straw with steam.

C is for Cloche – French for bell: a hat which fits close to the head and is worn low over the eyebrows.

D is for Doll hat – a tiny hat worn perched to the front of the head and cocked

E is for Easter bonnet – along with Derby and Ascot, Easter is a traditional hat wearing occasion.

F is for Feather mount – a trim detail made up of a group of plumes bound together.

G is for Grosgrain – a type of very fine quality ribbon used for hat bands and for decoration

H is for Hat – an item of clothing worn on the head; from the saxon word meaning hood. Also for Horsehair – a very open woven braid originally made from the mane or tail of a horse, now made of synthetic.

I is for Illusion – netting used as ornament for hats

J is for Juliet cap – a skullcap worn by Renaissance women, often trimmed with jewels and pearls. worn now as a style of bridal headpiece.

K is for Kippa – askull cap worn by Jewish males. Also called a yarmulka.

L is for Leghorn – fine italian straw

M is for Milliner – one who designs and makes hats. Also for mercury – the element credited with making hatters mad.

N is for Newsboy Cap – a style of men’s hat popular in the 1920’s

O is for Opera hat – also called a gibus or tophat. A tall formal hat in black or gray silk worn by gentlemen for evening wear.

P is for Parisisal – a fine flexible straw used in dressy summer hats.

Q is for Quaker hat – rounded, low crowned hat

R is for Rosette – a decoration consisting of strips of fabric or leather in a concentric arrangement resembling a rose. Also called a cockade.

S is for Skimmer – a low flat crowned hat with a medium width brim, also called a sailor hat or boater. Also for Saints Catherine of Alexandria (France) and Clement (England). the patron saints of milliners.

T is for Triple crown – A series of three events in thoroughbred racing. The Kentucky Derby, The Preakness, in Maryland, ending with The Belmont in New York.

U is for U.S.A. – the country where all Polly Singer hats are made.

V is for Veil – netting used to cover the head and face of a woman.

W is for Whimsey – a diminutive hat, often trimmed in veiling worn cocked. Also called a fascinator.

X is for Xian – capline made of oriental straw.

Y is for Yarmulke – skull cap worn by Jewish males

Z is for Zibeline – thick soft fabric of lustrous wool and animal hair such as mohair used in the production of some winter hats.

by Jan Masters Yon