Hat thumbnail 1
Not currently on display at the V&A

Hat

1950s (made)
Artist/Maker
Place of origin

Hats were considered an essential accessory in the 1950s. The two main styles during this time were small skull-caps, or wide ‘saucer’ hats. A hat such as this one would be suitable for a cocktail party or dinner.

This hat was designed by milliner ‘Paulette’ (Paulette Marchand, 1900-84), who designed and made hats for many of the top Parisian couturiers such as Robert Piguet and Elsa Schiaparelli. Her hats were also favoured by celebrities such as Edith Piaf and Greta Garbo.


Object details

Categories
Object type
Parts
This object consists of 3 parts.

  • Hat
  • Hat-Pin
  • Hat-Pin
Materials and techniques
Dyed feathers
Brief description
Closely fitting skull cap of feathers with two hat pins, made by Paulette, Paris, 1950s
Physical description
Closely fitting skull cap of yellow and black game feathers, probably chicken, and two hat pins. With 2 'horns'.
Style
Production typeHaute couture
Gallery label
[group label] Hats Hats were regarded as the finishing touch to an outfit. A wide choice was available, from large picture hats to tiny, feathered creations that perched on the head, secured only with a hat pin. [34 words] 1. Yellow and black feathers Paulette (Paulette Marchand, 1900-84) Paris 1950s Worn by Mrs Opal Holt, and given by Mrs D.M. Haynes and Mrs M. Clark V&A: T.151-1982 2. Horsehair hat trimmed with fabric rosebuds Simone Mirman London 1953 Worn by Doris Langley Moore V&A: T.113-1980 3. Pink velvet Aage Thaarup (1906-87) London 1950s Given by Mrs Blair Cook V&A: T.255-1985 4. Black ostrich feather Cristóbal Balenciaga (1895-1972) Paris About 1955 Given by Mrs Loel Guinness V&A: T.60-1974 4. Yellow straw Jacques Heim (1899-1967) 1950s Given by Mrs Vivienne Lawrie V&A: T.370-1996(22/09/2007)
Credit line
Given by Mrs D.M. Haynes and Mrs M. Clark
Object history
Opal Holt was born in Canada in 1887 but lived in the US until the end of the Second World War. She travelled extensively between the wars and was in the first plane to land in Bali. She married Herbert Holt, a Canadian who lived a large part of his life in England, as her third husband in 1946. They came to England and Europe every summer and Opal Holt began buying clothes in Paris for her life in England, and for the Bahamas in Winter, over a period of about thirty years. She died in 1980.

Given by Mrs D.M Haynes and Mrs. Clark (nee Holt; Opal Holt's step-daughters).
Historical context
Milliner 'Paulette' (Paulette Marchand, 1900-84) established her eponymous millinery shop in 1939, first on the Avenue Victor-Emmanuel and later the Avenue Franklin D. Roosevelt.
She worked throughout the war, designing for Robert Piguet. She went on to create hats for Schiaparelli, Chanel, Cardin, Ungaro, Mugler, and Laroche. She designed hats for Greta Garbo and Edith Piaf, and designed the Duchess of Windsor's hat for the Duke's funeral. She received the Legion of Honour in 1974, and continued working up until her death.
Summary
Hats were considered an essential accessory in the 1950s. The two main styles during this time were small skull-caps, or wide ‘saucer’ hats. A hat such as this one would be suitable for a cocktail party or dinner.

This hat was designed by milliner ‘Paulette’ (Paulette Marchand, 1900-84), who designed and made hats for many of the top Parisian couturiers such as Robert Piguet and Elsa Schiaparelli. Her hats were also favoured by celebrities such as Edith Piaf and Greta Garbo.
Collection
Accession number
T.151 to B-1982

About this object record

Explore the Collections contains over a million catalogue records, and over half a million images. It is a working database that includes information compiled over the life of the museum. Some of our records may contain offensive and discriminatory language, or reflect outdated ideas, practice and analysis. We are committed to addressing these issues, and to review and update our records accordingly.

You can write to us to suggest improvements to the record.

Suggest feedback

Record createdJanuary 30, 2008
Record URL
Download as: JSON