Inspiration
Cristóbal Balenciaga for Eisa | Spiral Hat Winter 1962 | © V&A Images
A hat begins life as an idea in the mind of the milliner. The sources of inspiration are unending — and often surprising.
Historic hats redolent of romance and adventure are a constant source of inspiration for many milliners. Simple folded shapes such as the tricorne and bicorne can be reimagined, evoking the drama of a bygone age.
Architecture and geometry, travel and exoticism can all spark the maker’s imagination. The natural world, too — flowers, feathers, the sea, animals and vegetation — offers inspiring forms and styles that can be endlessly updated for new creations. Hats are unconstrained by the need for fastenings or neck holes, sleeves or soles, opening a door of fashion possibilities.
