Bowlers, Bergères, berets and beyond, this is the ultimate guide to hats through history. From the lavish fashion hats of Marie Antoinette's court to the experimental millinery of Stephen Jones and Philip Treacy, Hats takes us on a beautifully illustrated journey through class conflict, gendered etiquette and national allegiances to reveal the complex cultures from which each style emerged.
Unlike any other element of dress, hats are able to confer a certain presence on the wearer, whilst working to a seemingly arcane system of codes that govern our behaviour. At which occasion is it appropriate to wear a hat? When is it respectful to take hats off? Why did hats fall out of favour?
Structured thematically with issues such as power and disguise, Clair Hughes explores both historical and contemporary styles, as well as their depictions in art, literature and film, with sharp historical insights and playful narratives. Including head-turning designs at world-famous horse races, the hat habits of royal family members, literary mad hatters and French high-fashion millinery by the likes of Poiret, Vionnet and Chanel, this is the authoritative guide to one of the most culturally rich accessories in fashion.
Hats is the first title in the Elements of Dress Series, edited by Susan Vincent.
From Bowlers to Bergères, baseball caps to boaters, this is the ultimate guide to hats through history. Drawing on historical and contemporary examples, as well as depictions in art, literature and film, Hughes takes the reader on a fascinating journey from Marie Antoinette's lavish hats, through Marlene Dietrich's beret and the hat habits of kings and queens, to Philip Treacy and Stephen Jones' modern millinery workrooms. Packed with historical insights and playful narratives of rebellious and sinister hats that signal villainy and disguise, this beautifully illustrated book offers the definitive guide to one of the most culturally rich accessories in fashion.
Clair Hughes's unparalleled expertise on the subject of dress in literature opens a new door onto the world of hats. Her in-depth study of issues such as manufacture, identity, power, etiquette and meaning is enlivened and animated with voices and characters from fictional, historical and contemporary sources. Through these insightful contextual and anecdotal views the hat is transformed from an inert object to a vibrant living thing. For an understanding of the culture and significance of the hat in western society, this exhilarating and extensive study is an indispensable book.
