I’ve been mulling millinery in my mind, ever since I saw The Duchess two weeks ago. Millinery, if you care to know, is the art of designing, making or selling hats. It’s believed the term originated from Britain in the 1700’s, where traveling haderdashers from Milan made good trade selling items necessary to dress (including hats). These salespeople were called “millaners,” signifying their city of origin.
It’s my secret wish to learn millinery. I think I wouldn’t fare very well with the design aspects of it, as I can’t make sense of space to save my life. But I’d love to learn how to crown hats with glorious embroidery, sequins, ribbons and plumage. Watching The Duchess made me remember this wish, because Keira Knightley wears the most gorgeous hats in the movie, playing the role of Georgiana Cavendish Spencer, the Duchess of Devonshire.
I even like the crazy ones with fur on them (though I wouldn’t wear real fur myself!) The real Georgiana was a fashion icon in her time, so it isn’t a surprise that she was the picture of opulent style in the film . The portrait on the right is an actual one of her. (I once saw a painting of her in the Huntington Library, not knowing her history, and I looked her up when I got home because she was the most stylish of the lot!)
Hats off (pun intended) to the film’s costume designer, Michael O’ Connor. I love how he made a curly girl look fab in a cloak! 
October 7th, 2008 at 9:24 pm
i love this post! i wish you could still be allowed to wear some as beautifully frilly and not be called a flower pot.
btw, i always thought Millinery was where you mill sugar :\ (yes, i am that dense sometimes)
October 8th, 2008 at 1:33 am
Oh yeah, I love hats too, but I don’t like them placed over my head, one piece of info: I hate using umbrellas too.
October 8th, 2008 at 11:01 am
Those hats are stunning. I especially like tricorns on men
It’s a bit of a coeincidence that you’re talking about wanting to learn about millinery. I was watching a show on BBC 1 I believe about fashion and they showed how to make your own hats! It’s dead simple and only costs £10+ instead of buying them for £250+! I’m sure there are websites out there.
October 8th, 2008 at 10:14 pm
sigh, i sometimes wish i was born earlier when people dressed better. hahaha! love the hats!
October 8th, 2008 at 11:15 pm
If only we can wear hats like those in this day and age.
Hats are really pretty.
October 9th, 2008 at 11:05 am
Those hats are so gorgeous.
The only thing that would be ugly is hat hair. Ugh. Hats are not good with me.
October 9th, 2008 at 12:15 pm
nice niche! not a lot of people design hats
October 9th, 2008 at 7:11 pm
Ross
- You WOULD think that of MILLINERY. Haha.
Sheng
- We’re opposites! I’m “takot sa araw.”
Sinta
- I knew it! I’m going to try to find some resources on hat-making online.
Caryn
- I know what you mean. I don’t think I would mind those dresses very much.
Leah
- Halloween’s coming up—I think that’s the only time we can get away with hats like that these days!
Toni
- Hat hair for a person with curly hair is worse!
Mai
- Maybe I’ll take a stab at it (”maybe” being the operative word!)
November 5th, 2008 at 6:18 am
They are quite amazing hats in that movie. I think that hats can make the difference between looking good and looking amazing if only people would wear them more often - the advantage of being female means you don’t have to take them off inside and hence not usually any hat hair!