Victoria and Albert Museum
The world’s greatest museum of art and design
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Hats: An Anthology by Stephen Jones
'Kiss of Death' bonnet
'Kiss of Death' bonnet
Designed by Jo Gordon
Satin and pheasant feathers
Great Britain
1984
Museum no. T.139-1996
Jo Gordon has taken the traditional structure of a poke bonnet to extremes. The long, menacing feathers project forward over two feet in a tunnel-like brim, which almost obscures the face.
Gordon initially trained as a fine artist, studying sculpture at Grays School of Art in Aberdeen. She then undertook a two-year millinery course at the Royal College of Art. After 1995 she branched out into knitwear, an area in which she continues to specialise and experiment.
