The Way You Wear Your Hat: Famous Hats Through The Years
Written by H, Posted in Fashion, Gloves / Hats / Scarves, Men, Women
Happy Hat Day! If you follow me on Pinterest, you know I’m a huge fan of hats and the art of millinery (check out my Millinery Pin Board). In honour of Hat Day, I’ve compiled some of my favourite examples of fine millinery.
- Vivien Sheriff fascinator as worn by Kate Middleton: In her first public appearance after her engagement, Kate Middleton styled a Vivien Sheriff fascinator adorned with various feathers and a cameo brooch. Although considered a classic statement in the UK, this was the fascinator that launched a trend across the pond. After Kate, girls everywhere in the US and Canada started wearing fascinators as accessories to summer weddings and formal ceremonies.
- Philip Treacy hats as worn by the Duchess of Cambridge Kate Middleton: Based out of London, Treacy is an incredible milliner, an artist in his own right. Each of his designs features intricate details and weaving, and quite often a fanciful bow. Although famous the world over, worn by everyone from Sarah Jessica Parker to Lady Gaga, it’s his designs worn by the Duchess that have really caught some serious attention.
- Custom Givenchy jade green velvet hat worn by Audrey Hepburn: Worn for a shoot in Vogue magazine, Audrey’s Givenchy chapeau was a luxe domed jade-green velvet number with tassels. The photo, taken in 1964 by Cecil Beaton, made the Givenchy hat famous.
- Halston Pillbox hat worn by First Lady Jacqueline Kennedy: It was the pillbox hat he made for Jackie Kennedy that solidified Halston’s reputation as a designer. Made to wear for President Kennedy’s inauguration ceremony (along with a beautiful fur muff, hello), Halston’s pillbox hat was copied several times over for ladies across the nation wishing to embody just an ounce of Jackie Kennedy’s elegance.

Eisenhower greeting Jackie Kennedy (wearing Halston pillbox hat) and President Kennedy at the inauguration.
- Bailey Hat Company Fedora made famous by Humphrey Bogart: Before Sinatra was Sinatra, Humphrey Bogart was the king of cool. Not only is he considered the greatest male star in the history of the American cinema, Humphrey Bogart was a style icon before there were style icons. From the Maltese Falcon to Casablanca, his custom fedoras designed by George S. Bailey are often imitated.
- Lock and Co. Fedora worn by Frank Sinatra: Hands-down, Frank Sinatra was one of the most stylish men of his generation. The fedora was at its coolest when worn by Frank. It took me some research to find out who the designer was behind many of Frank’s hats; as it turns out, many of the designs Frank wore came from James Lock & Co. Ltd. (the same company that holds the royal warrants for the Prince of Wales and the Duke of Edinburgh).