The century of hats

Without hats, we would have no civilisation'Christian Dior once famously remarked. Taking up this theme, The Century of Hats takes us through the past hundred years, decade by decade, highlighting headturning moments in the millinery world and doffing its cap to acclaimed designers and notable events in hat history. Stunningly illustrated, The Century of Hats explores the function and status of headgear, as it reflected the social and political status quo, and examines the different roles hats have played in the life of the twentieth century. Featuring prominent movie icons of the decades, The Century of Hats unfolds as a broad and informative style guide, drawing on a century of trendsetting imagery from Vogue magazine. The book draws distinctions between hatmakers and milliners, men's and women's hats, and handmade versus mass-produced factory hats, as well as explaining the essence of traditional hatmaking tools and techniques. From the purely functional to the highbrow; from top bats, bowlers, boaters and bonnets to the very latest in innovative couture from the world's finest bespoke milliners, The Century of Hats is an indispensable source of reference, brimful of up-to-the-minute information, beautifully styled and complemented by images of the world's finest headgear.