Hats

The V&A's significant hat collection is a revealing and exciting record of the changes in headgear over the past 17 centuries. From practical to fanciful and mass-produced to bespoke, the myriad of shapes, styles, materials and sizes highlight that there is a hat for every occasion.

While hats have been worn for centuries, millinery is comparatively recent – becoming established over the past 300 years – and concentrates on the more decorative and fashionable side of hat-wearing. Not simply an accessory, hats have the power to impart a message of authority, affiliation, individuality, propriety, rebellion and style.

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Balenciaga's hats

Cristóbal Balenciaga's couture hats were some of the most elaborate in Paris, playing with scale, shape and unusual materials

Collection highlights

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Shoe Hat, designed by Elsa Schiaparelli, 1937 – 38, France.

V&A South Kensington

Not on display
Hat, by Svend, made for Jacques Fath, 1951, Paris, France

V&A East Storehouse

View by appointment
Hat, made for Marshall and Snelgrove, 1937 – 39, London, England

V&A East Storehouse

View by appointment
Silk tulle turban hat, designed by Paulette, about 1960, Paris, France

V&A East Storehouse

View by appointment
Hat, designed by Cristóbal Balenciaga, 1963, Paris, France

V&A East Storehouse

View by appointment
Hat, by Aage Thaarup, 1960s, London, England

V&A East Storehouse

View by appointment
Hat, designed by Philip Treacy, 1995, UK

V&A East Storehouse

On display
Tatlin, hat, designed by Stephen Jones, 1982, UK

V&A South Kensington

Not on display
Hat, by Otto Lucas, 1954, London, England

V&A East Storehouse

View by appointment
Hat, designed by Lucienne Rabaté, 1946, Paris, France

V&A South Kensington

Not on display
Corno ducale, hat, 1675 – 99, Venice, Italy

V&A East Storehouse

View by appointment
Hat, designed by Philip Treacy, 1991, made for Rifat Ozbek, UK

V&A East Storehouse

View by appointment
Cloche hat, made for Liberty & Co. Ltd, 1928, London, England

V&A East Storehouse

View by appointment
Hat, 20th century, Gujarat, India

V&A East Storehouse

View by appointment
Bowler hat, made by Woodrow, 1940 – 50, UK

V&A East Storehouse

View by appointment
Hat worn by Idina Menzel as Elphaba in the original 2003 New York production of Wicked, by Rodney Gordon, 2003, New York, US

V&A South Kensington

On display
Silk orchid hat, designed by Philip Treacy, 2011, London, England

V&A South Kensington

Not on display
Tang geon, indoor hat, 1850 – 1910, Korea

V&A South Kensington

On display
Tam, hat, 1970s, UK

V&A East Storehouse

View by appointment
Hat, 1950s, US

V&A East Storehouse

View by appointment
Top hat, made by James Lock & Co., 1970s, London, England

V&A East Storehouse

View by appointment

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**CUSTOM PRINT**

Barbara Goalen in evening dress in the Underground

From £15

**CUSTOM PRINT**

Balmain, Dior and Patou garden party dresses, fashion illustration

From £15

**CUSTOM PRINT**

Voici mes ailes!

From £15

**CUSTOM PRINT**

Printed design for embroidery

From £15

**CUSTOM PRINT**

Silk dress fabric

From £15

**V&A EXCLUSIVE**

Design for a panther on a branch brooch – 8 x 8 mounted print

£10

**V&A EXCLUSIVE**

Design for the Queen's ruby Cartier brooch – 8 x 8 mounted print

£10

**V&A EXCLUSIVE**

Marie Antoinette Style exhibition poster

£5

**V&A EXCLUSIVE**

Les Liaisons Dangereuses by George Barbier - A3 print

£15

**CUSTOM PRINT**

Dior's Justine gown, fashion illustration

From £15

**V&A EXCLUSIVE**

La Rosarie by George Barbier – 11 x 14” mounted print

£15

**CUSTOM PRINT**

Five hat designs, fashion sketch

From £15

**V&A EXCLUSIVE**

The Flower Garden - A4 print

£12.50

**CUSTOM PRINT**

Balenciaga gowns, fashion illustration

From £15

**V&A EXCLUSIVE**

Diamants Mystérieux by Horst P. Horst – print with folio

£60

**CUSTOM PRINT**

Victor Stiebel ballgown, fashion illustration

From £15

**V&A EXCLUSIVE**

Les Filles d'Eve book plate - 8 x 10" mounted print

£12.50

**CUSTOM PRINT**

Winter court robe worn by the Emperor Qianlong

From £15

**V&A EXCLUSIVE**

Une Dame du Chateau by George Barbier - 8 x 10 " mounted print

£12.50

**CUSTOM PRINT**

Phyllis Taylor evening gown, fashion illustration

From £15

**CUSTOM PRINT**

Coral-like chintz textile design

From £15

**CUSTOM PRINT**

Fashion: An Anthology by Cecil Beaton exhibition poster

From £15

**V&A EXCLUSIVE**

Rococo bonnets fashion plate - 11 x 14 " mounted print

£15

Header image:

L-R: Pink velvet cap, designed by Aage Thaarup, 1950-59, England. Museum no. T.255-1985. Ivy leaf hat, designed by Aage Thaarup, 1950-59, England. Museum no. T.254-1985. Hydrangea flower hat; designed by Paulette, about 1955, France. Museum no. T.247-1984. © Victoria and Albert Museum, London

Features

Balenciaga's hats

Stephen Jones and Dior

The Pussyhat

Revealing hidden structures through x-rays

Millinery in Motion: Stephen Jones

McQueen's collaborators: Philip Treacy

'Heads and Tales' by Aage Thaarup

Collection highlights

V&A Shop