Innovative Hats
by Lilly Daché

Lilly Daché (1898 – 1989) was the most famous milliner of her era; before retiring in the late Sixties (when hats were finally shown the door) she had accomplished much in the realm of fashion – designing dresses, lingerie, gloves, bags, jewelery and hostess gowns. While in league with the Hollywood costume designer Travis Banton, her lids adorned many of the craniums of the most glamorous women ever to grace a movie screen.

Although Daché is credited for having concocted such innovations as the molded brim, the half-hat and the draped turban (among others), the attached article concerns one of her contrivances that the fashion historians have over-looked: the theater hat. This was an element of millinery that was designed to have two profiles, one for the street and another for the theater while the performance was on – in which case the larger top element of the hat was to be removed leaving only an ornamental portion.

•Click here to read about the hats of 1942.

•Click here to read about the hats of 1947.